The first wall city answered through a kitchen sink.
Cairo's archive faucet opened by itself. Clear water ran uphill from the drain and formed a square on the ceiling. Inside it, a woman washed rice beside a stone window while black blades pressed against the outer glass.
"Orra Gate south kitchen line," she said. "Tell us who fired."
The second city answered through the archive radiator. A seated figure appeared behind its metal ribs with both hands buried in a wall of salt.
"Vela Basin holds return section two hundred seven," the figure said. "State the source of current firing."
The third answer entered Mara's copper mesh. A child's voice counted impacts while a public bell rang behind him.
"Kitt Harbor wall is taking white recoil. We have no shot record."
Rina opened three evidence lines.
The rice washer identified herself as Pera Don, a current resident of Orra Gate's outer south district. She claimed no office.
