"That isn't an answer."
"It is. You just wanted a more detailed one."
Bai folded her arms. "You were standing here when I went to check the
power unit. You were standing here when I came back. You were still here
when I went to put the tools away. I thought you might have forgotten to
eat."
Yan's face softened a little. "I ate enough. I'm just thinking."
"About Aunt Lan?"
Yan looked back toward the city. For a moment she seemed to consider
denying it, but then she nodded. "About her, and about my mother. She's
trying so hard not to worry us that I think it's making her worry more.
She hasn't said anything about the call since this morning. She keeps
doing little jobs, as though if she can stay busy enough, she won't have
to think about what she heard."
"It isn't working," Bai said.
"No. It isn't."
Bai moved to stand beside her. She was close enough to see the faint
tension around Yan's eyes, though Yan's expression was otherwise
