That crab—seemingly trivial—reverberates in Ish’s mind. His relief at saving a fellow living thing exposes a deeper need for connection and for small acts that affirm purpose. Returning to the town, he salvages useful gear: a solar charger, medical supplies, and a copy of Darwin. He posts markings on a church steeple to document his route and leaves a written note: “Ish — looking. If you find this, I will be at the river.” It’s an offer and a test.
On a supply run, Ish encounters a small coastal town and finds it too silent, until he hears a clattering at the harbor. A crab—large, red-shelled, and inexplicably feisty—has been trapped under a broken lobster trap. Ish's attempt to free it becomes unexpectedly emblematic. He struggles to lift the trap; the crab pinches his finger, narrowly drawing blood. After a quiet stand-off he gently rescues the creature and places it near tidal pools where it scuttles away, only to return minutes later as if to thank him.
A sudden, distant noise—an engine—breaks the stillness and injects the episode with tension. Ish freezes, weapons at the ready. The engine fades, but the reminder of other humans alters his calculations: the world now contains allies or threats. He chooses to prepare for either, reinforcing traps around camp and revising his note to include a time and a simple symbol: a crab.
