The missing seventh bowl left a white circle in Jade's damaged eye.
Her left eye saw clean wood where the bowl had protected the cart from oil. The right saw a line leaving that circle, crossing the lane, and entering a house whose numbered strip lay beside its door.
Three other lines ran from three other houses.
They met beneath the handcart.
Jade crouched far enough away to keep her white hand behind her knee. "Someone under this cart carries the routes from four cleared houses."
Nessa put the flat of her cutter against the axle. "Then the cart moves after we separate the load from whoever is carrying it."
Ty reached for the handle. Jade caught his forearm with her living hand before his ribs moved.
"The person under there needs our help, and the route wants your help to arrive first."
Ty left the handle where it was. "Tell me which part I can lift without borrowing the decision."
A nail struck stone behind them.
