[ WP ] In a post apocalyptic world , you find a cell phone on the floor , ringing . Telephone services have been gone for 30 years .

Most scavengers did n't dare to scale the skyscrapers on the ruined mound of earth that was once Manhattan. That was what made Cloud and Rain so valuable. 
 
 The pair of 11 year olds were light on their feet, quick-witted and had a knack for spotting the most valuable chunks of Old World technology. When the ringing started, neither of them panicked or rushed for the sound. 
 
 They hid. 
 
 They hid and waited for the cycling marimba chorus to stop, but it would n't. Cloud, who had stashed herself in the entry closet of the apartment, stuck her head out first. 
 
 `` I do n't think it's dangerous.'' 
 
 Rain had been further in the room when the ringing started and had hidden herself behind the tattered remains of a couch. While crouching behind it, she had studied the fabric to see if any of the leather was salvagable, but it was tattered and stunk. Cats, most likely. Cats were the ruin of most things this high up. 
 
 Rain slipped out from behind the couch and made her approach. The ringing was coming from a piece of machinery positioned at the end of a long table. It was all white with a silver rectangle thrust into the center of it. The rectangle was the source of the noise, and was flashing light across one side of it. 
 
 `` It's a screen.'' 
 
 The two girls walked closer to it, step by step, each of them wary that it might be a trap: they'd once encountered a home security system that ran on an old microfusion battery that had chased them around for an hour. By the time Cloud was in reaching distance, though, the girls had lowered their guard. 
 
 `` What's it say?'' 
 
 Cloud squinted. `` Reminder: 11 AM, Spin Class. Tap to dismiss.'' 
 
 She tapped the screen and the ringing stopped. Cloud frowned some more and reached out for the rectangle and plucked it from the rest. 
 
 `` Cloud! It could be dangerous!'' 
 
 `` No, I do n't think so. I think it's a phone.'' 
 
 `` Really?'' Rain leaned over Cloud's shoulder. `` The thing like a radio?'' 
 
 `` Yeah but they used to do a lot of other things too, grandfather told me about it. I've seen some of these in the workshop, but none of them work. I wonder how come this one still works...'' 
 
 She handed the device to Rain, who started to touch the surface. She made a face at it. 
 
 `` C... con...'' 
 
 `` Contacts.'' Cloud examined the rest of the machine. The old phones used to have batteries, but it was far too small to hold a microfusion battery, which meant that it was still getting a charge from something. 
 
 `` G... gamus?'' 
 
 `` Games. Here, let me show you.'' Cloud took the phone back, pretending she knew what she was doing. she touched a few icons and marveled at how they swiped and flickered on the screen. Satisfied, she handed it back to Rain. 
 
 `` What is it?'' 
 
 `` It's a game. Something about a bird, just touch it, you'll figure it out.'' 
 
 She did, then immediately spat a curse. Then she reset the game and started again. Cloud went back to the machinery examining the base. There were several more rectangles of dark metal glistening in a patch of sunlight pouring in through the hole in the wall. 
 
 `` Solar cells! That's how this thing keeps charging, it has solar cells!'' Cloud went to work immediately dumping away the other chunks of metal and bits of electrical wiring from her pack. `` With this, grandfather might be able to get a lot of the Old World tech working! Come on, we have to get it home right away.'' 
 
 Rain had settled onto a chair, absorbed. 
 
 `` Rain!'' 
 
 `` Yeah, yeah, fine... just as soon as I get this stupid bird... come on bird... avoid the pipes!'' 
 
 Cloud snapped the phone away and tucked it into her pocket.
