Seafoam Islands

Twin sea caves in a low rocky island, worn straight through by the current. The island itself is a mass of dark wet basalt, its surfaces rounded and polished by water. Two great arched openings face the sea at water level, tall enough to enter and utterly black inside. Swell surges into the openings and back out in a slow regular rhythm, throwing white water up the walls. The rock above the arches is streaked with salt and hung with rime even in warm weather. Ledges of paler stone step down toward the water, slick and weed- covered below the tide line. Fine ice crystals fringe the mouths of the caves where the cold air meets the sea air. Deep green water fills the channel between the two openings. The island has no beach and no landing except the ledges. Cold pours out of the caves in a visible haze.