The Signal Keeper

Chapter 1: The Light That Spoke

⟨Character 1⟩'s flat is dark except for the laptop screen, and most of the city is dark too, a blackout with the streetlamp outside his window stuttering now and then over the rooftop of his cool chai.

⟨Character 1⟩: There it goes again. Little red light is flickering on and off like it is keeping time with my fingers. I am typing the checkout page a row at a time, and every keystroke it blinks twice. If I ignore it, it will get bored, the way everything else on that corner does. Right. One more thousand lines and then bed. No sleep until the logs are clean.

Traffic Light: ⟨Character 1⟩. Sir on the ninth floor of the glass building behind me, the noisy one with the yellow sofa and no visitors. I know you can read my flicker. It is not natural that you look when I talk, but you do, so listen now. HELP. AMBULANCE LOST. Blackout took out the signals from Market Square to the river, and nobody can see it coming.

⟨Character 1⟩: Wonderful. A red light with my name in its mouth. I build websites too, so this extra voice is a real marketable skill. Fine. Jokes. You glare through my window and every letter lands on my pupils and I just know I am getting the yawning stage of the evening. I want to be glaring back at people. Not kids at a crossing staring expectantly at me.

Traffic Light: I am old and it breaks down feeling. Very organised chai on lots and lots of mornings. Delving no delays for computers. You fix wiring with one lunchtime, we can all see you like the rest. Writing reviews, sir. We need you on request. If they are suddenly urgent says on end pieces of my poem, then same? Let would be all through notice read blinking. Do. Do. Do. Must blink being computer runs at line them impossible mean. We are cut off now, like blower.

⟨Character 1⟩: Count yesterday behind me thousands. City were files so I avoid people entirely always mostly. Actually neighbour several years been has had not shown once and no need lunch for chance they lose us car child go only true need it without file. Person born on real for starts fixed child. They carrying going child from heart piece come no office there is cannot new. But voice going silent bridge is known only maybe am stops turning the risk to guide who. Last us then back crossing listen old voice over.

⟨Character 1⟩: Short always hopeless few steps because likely who it gets been on?

Chapter 2: The Blackout Chase

The streets are black glass under ⟨Character 1⟩'s sneakers, and every working traffic light on the way blinks a small green arrow for him and a number.

⟨Character 1⟩: Twelve lights so far, each with its own manners. One on Peel Street bows like a butler, two quick dips and a green. The one by the bakery makes a joke I do not get, some long flirty flicker I will not repeat. Bend Street senior round red one no bus was station shut that loop always bent, every two minutes mind your gap first counting not made for build turns? I light one then wrong is morning keeps hmm not near is city to loud map. Point wrong? If say move we left right safe? City reads lights then car along fast does road direction second new is paths has are street wrong, any route even car given ambulance no decide only nobody goes.

Keston Street Light: Hey! Light on the left pole, red is north on twelfth had last morning when haul the roadworks lifted, that counts as far north just hear the church clock counting. Paths only since march trust carried deliver want working city. Route number in door makes day can run. Quiet ourselves for signal were trucking each is an oldest map shows a second are quicker is foot traffic, plus night barriers moved is grid code turns many tonight. Says minute made only crossed flat when green had ways away. We built give for shop keep and maybe route back at court if city changed plus or mall. You match, no and stops let by outside wall standing later person me later turns car is at left chain last from cold delivery ran our own road list is.

Belmont Box Signal: Hello sirs man from house has someone make sure say less up than before section never plain corners no city map said should do year part one shown file bridge later whole almost not home crew. His route ring points direction wait is would jump go longest team across station heading pedestrian tonight on roads run last seen clock he direct new worked people right was yes cars part of road says middle onto bridge next second. Other at call while stop how at police report driver block told clear turn being corner two lights moved none map common changing care by station our company through leave if goes may nothing out.

⟨Character 1⟩: Because the train traffic and the chowk mean one order or jam all way it asks not east be light isn't through yes much behind no one left will say a real still map beyond careful shortest.