The elevator went down for too long.
B1 passed without a sound.
B2 made the floor hum under Caleb's boots.
B3 smelled of bleach.
B4 made Rina's tracker flash once and go dark.
Iharu's hand moved to her elbow.
She reached back first.
B5 took the air out of the elevator until everyone breathed smaller.
Caleb kept his palms open at his sides. The silver wanted the walls. It wanted the cables above them. It wanted the useful answer of breaking anything that carried them deeper.
"Mine," he said.
The metal stayed metal.
Sam stood beside him with the Record tucked under one arm and both hands visible. He had wrapped the green cover in a gray hospital blanket from the truck, because the center had asked for a book and Sam had taken that personally.
"Blanket helps?" Caleb asked.
"It makes me feel rude."
"Then it helps."
Tali watched the floor lights. "Recommendation. No one steps out ahead of Sam unless the room requires violence."
