The first feeder turned toward Elara.
Fourteen bodies remained on their knees beneath East Market. Their receiver spines had folded after the world-view closed. Thirteen pointed into the dead bowl of the Array.
One moved.
Bone clicked under its wet hide. The spine rotated west by six degrees and stopped.
Soma checked the bearing.
"That is her field-order signal."
The second feeder turned toward the tea-counter phone at Aldgate.
The phone had no battery. June had removed it after Kim's last minute of access and put the battery in a biscuit tin on the far shelf.
Its screen lit anyway.
```
BOTH HANDS STILL OPEN.
MY KNIFE CAN KEEP THEM THAT WAY.
```
Rina put the phone beneath Aldgate's window camera. Full frame showed the empty battery slot.
"Cost first," she said.
Kim took nine seconds to answer.
```
THE CUT CROSSES HER THROAT.
```
Caleb's fist closed around the copper chip Elara had passed through the gap.
"What does that mean?"
Another message appeared.
```
