“Hard to see how a culture can develop without it,” said Hutch. “An intelligent species will be driven to explain how they came into existence. How the sun sinks in the west and shows up again in the east every morning.”

“Maybe,” said Ken, “there really is a divine presence.”

“You know,” said Hutch, “we need a way to let Wally know we’re still alive. Something better than waving at him.”

“That brings us back to the flashlight,” said Ken.

Beth joined them, with a plate full of buns that were as close to cinnamon as she could manage. They were just finishing when Arin arrived. He appeared to be in a happy mood. “Hello,” he said in English before sitting down with them. He picked up one of the buns, tasted it, and broke into that gigantic smile.

“I think he likes it,” Hutch said. Beth poured a glass of water for him. Ken tried to explain that they were hoping to locate a flashlight. Arin got up, went over to one of the lamps, said something, and turned it on. Then he lifted the lamp from the table and pointed it at the wall. “Kaka,” he said.

Great. This time he got the message.

“Excellent,” said Ken. He looked around the table. “I think he means they have one.” He spoke again to Arin with both words and gestures.

“Who’s he talking about?” Hutch said.

Arin responded and Ken’s brow wrinkled.

“What did he say?” asked Beth.

“He says we don’t need it.”

“Maybe you need to talk to him some more.”

Ken tried again. Arin held up a hand, suggesting patience. Then he said something.

They all waited for the translation.

“I’m not sure I’m getting this right,” said Ken. “I think he’s saying he has a surprise for us.”

“That doesn’t sound good,” said Hutch.

But when Ken tried to elicit an explanation, Arin only got frustrated. He pointed at his mouth and shook his head. Wish we had a language. He got up, went inside, and came back with the notebook. He opened it to a blank page, produced a pen, and handed both to Ken. Then he pointed at the ceiling and pressed a finger on the pad. Write something.

Write what?

The finger that was pointing at the ceiling moved as if following something.

The Eiferman.

Arin spoke quietly. “Tola hycut.”

“It means ‘hello,’ ” Ken said.

“Okay.” Beth looked at her husband as if she was surprised that he wasn’t following. “He wants you to say hello to Wally.”

“And how,” Ken said, “do I do that?”

“Tola hycut.” Arin took the notebook and gestured as if to throw it toward the ceiling. Then he gave it back, pointed at the pen, and at the blank page.

“Maybe they do have radio,” said Beth.

Hutch wasn’t buying it. “If they do, we would have heard something coming in.”