Rilo Morr's scream came through the wall beside Elara's bed.
"Cistern floor is opening! Tera is under it!"
Caleb's silver line held a hole the width of two fingers. Through it, black water poured upward around the school cistern. Tera Vos hung from the repaired fourth valve with one burned hand.
Nemi's bandaged hand could not close around the pump shear.
Twenty-three school children crowded on a roof ledge above them. Their ladder ended inside the cistern.
Caleb and Elara were still naked when the bearing opened.
Elara pulled the caregiver call.
"Kikaru, field contact in this room. Bring the privacy cover and a mechanical cut for the west wall."
Caleb released the thin silver line from his chest. Its far end stayed through the wall, held by the learned bearing rather than his current touch.
He dressed while keeping his body away from it. Elara closed her gown with her left hand and asked for help with the upper fastener only after the shoulder strap held.
