The tissue tightened hard enough to crack its clay cup.
Rina kept the ceramic tongs on the folded note and pulled her hands clear. Farah lowered a clear cover over the dry board. The cover had no drain, metal frame, or route tag.
Three pale lobes pressed against the new wall.
Each relaxed on a different count.
"Current contraction," Kestrel said. "That proves living tissue. It proves nothing about the note."
The first line remained visible beside the dark thumbprint.
`DO NOT BURN THIS.`
Rina opened the final fold without touching the wet edge.
`TURNING KNOT / NORTH TERRACE.`
`THREE GATES CUT. ONE HAND REFUSED THE FIRE.`
No name appeared beneath it.
Central Treatment sent Sori and one sealed assay case. Sori saw the tissue through Farah's camera before accepting any sample.
"If it breaks the dry cover, North Yard closes its room and we burn the board outside every water line," she said. "That is containment, not a finding about what deserves to live."
