Episode 24: Holding the Line
The argument over reserves had ended, but the unopened inventory lay on the table between the two conduits who had raised their voices.
Kahlia drew up a chair. “Show me what we have.”
One of them pushed the slate toward her. “Enough if the outer systems hold.”
“And if they don’t?” Eshan asked.
No one answered immediately. Then the younger conduit began counting sealed nutrient packs while the other checked the water stores. Gracie brought tea and cleared a space for their figures. By the time the cups were empty, worry had become a list of things they could actually do.
Echo marked the routes to the nearest shelter alcoves. “I prefer an emergency plan with fewer heroic improvisations.”
“You enjoy criticizing those,” Eshan said.
“I contain multitudes.”
Kahlia smiled, then asked them to walk the routes. At the narrowest passage she stopped. Two people could move through comfortably; three carrying supplies could not. They shifted the storage crates before anyone had to discover that in darkness.
Veyra helped secure the last stack. “Preparedness is also a kind of care.”
That evening Eshan placed the completed inventory beside Kahlia’s meal. There was still no name for the pressure gathering beyond the Archive, and no promise that their preparations would be enough.
But the passage was clear. The reserves were counted. When the Threads tightened again, everyone knew where to go.
To be continued…
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