Tao was putting things away indoors when she heard the bell. She lifted her head and listened. The notes were clear, just as they always were when a breeze came by.

Near the doorway she saw Ahe outside, his hands clamped over his ears and his face quite content. She looked at his hands, then at the little bell still swaying beside him.

Ahe had shut a little door over his own hearing. He had not shut Tao's. The bell remained in the same place, sending its notes through the open doorway.