The first stripped hinge lifted again while Nessa watched it.
Kestra Vol drove two floor hooks through the crate runners. The storehouse chain pulled left, the delivery rail pulled right, and the box settled between them with its lid bowed upward.
"Your unloading shift begins after the cargo stops moving my wall."
Nessa put the flat of her cutter across the hinge. "Your wall can wait until I know what is pushing from inside."
Ty's skull occupied the shelf above his rib sling. Jade stood beside him with her white hand tucked against her waist and her open right eye turned toward the box.
"Five routes leave that lid in different directions," Jade said. "Only one returns toward the hardware taken from Oltin."
Kestra passed a return cord around the far runner. Her copper knee tried turning with the crate until the strap at her belt stopped it.
