Liff is again in the final days of Landfall, scavenging the emptied town for beetle grubs, weeds, leather to boil, and wood to burn. The colony has failed, winter has arrived, and Liff has nothing left except a treasured book about clever, brave girls surviving impossible odds.

Liff steps into the central square carrying firewood and the book, and finds two women waiting. One is a short, dark woman dressed like someone from the Founders' time; the other is a tall, pale, imperious figure who seems witchlike to Liff.

At first Liff assumes the strangers must be Seccers or Watchers and reaches for a stick to defend Landfall. Hunger overwhelms ideology and fear, however, and Liff abandons the stick to ask whether the women have food.

The shorter woman kneels, calls Liff by name, identifies herself as Miranda, and offers food, warmth, help, and escape. Though the pale woman looks impatient, Miranda's extended hand gives Liff a reason to trust the moment.

When Liff takes Miranda's hand, the contact feels momentous, as if the entire planet is focused on them. Liff is suddenly filled with hope and thinks that perhaps this time the story can end differently.