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"You got all that?" he asked Robbie, when the boy didn’t reply
"Yeah, yeah, h This better co me," Mission said, careful to release theup the receiver She played her flashlight around the sorting roo across the ripples in the water Joel’s boots had thrown the wet fil crates et wet
"I need coveralls," Mission said He splashed around the counter and joined Joel by the shelves, began looking through the nearest crates "They’re looking forup there"
"We," Lyn told hi to the Nest, I’ with you"
"Me too," Joel said
"I appreciate that," Mission said, "but coerous We’d befor you," Lyn said
"Hey, we have a ton of these nehites" Joel pulled the lid off a sorting bin "But they’ll just make us stand out, won’t they?"
"Whites?" Mission headed over to see what Joel was talking about
"Yeah For Security We’ve beena ton of these lately Cao No idea why they made up so many"
Mission checked the coveralls The ones on top were covered in soot, ray than white There were dozens of the crate He remembered all the new hires It was like they wanted half the silo to be dressed in white, the other half fighting one another It et everyone dead
"Dead," Mission said out loud
The others swung their flashlights at hi down the shelves to another crate "I’ve got a better idea," he called out A coughing fit seized hiiven one of these just a few days ago He reached in and pulled out a bag "Hoould you two like to make some money?"
Joel and Lyn hurried over to see what he’d found, and Mission held up one of the heavy plastic bags with the bright silver zipper and the hauling straps
"Three-hundred and eighty-four chits to divide between you," he promised "Every chit I own I just need you for one last tandehts across the object in his hands It was a black bag A black bag round was too wet to roll it out proper, so Mission used the main counter, instead He promised Lyn and Joel that he would transfer every chit in his account as soon as they got to a working computer Joel told hiet to higher levels The bag, with all of death’s taboo, would afford protection to theht zipper loose, and Joel peeled the flaps back Mission sat on the counter and worked the laces on his boots free They were soaked, his socks as well He shucked theht Always a porter, thinking about weight Lyn handed hiled out of his porter blues and tugged the whites on while Lyn looked the other way His knife, he strapped back to his waist
Outside, flashlights danced in the e wrought by fire and flood Mission coughed into his palm and snapped up the coveralls, which were at least a size too big for hiuys sure you’re up for this?" he asked
Lyn helped hi and worked the inside straps around his ankles Never before had a corpsethe straps tight
Mission laughed, his sto with nerves He stretched out and let them work the top straps under his shoulders It felt surreal to be placing hietting in one willingly
"Have you both eaten?" he asked
"We’ll be fine," Joel said "Stop worrying"
"If it gets late--"
"Lie your head back," Lyn told hi the zipper from his feet "And don’t talk unless we tell you it’s okay You’ll have people ju the rails out there if they hear you or see you move"
"We’ll take a break every twenty or so," Joel added "We’ll bring you into a restrooet some water"
Mission lifted a hand out to stop the zipper fro his stomach "Don’tripples against the counter, the squish of the other two porters nore the cues
"Get your hand inside," Lyn told him She worked the zipper up over his chest to his chin, hesitated, then kissed the pads of her fingers and touched his forehead the same way he’d seen countless loved ones and priests bless the dead "May your steps rise to the heavens," she whispered
Her wan s was sealed up over Mission’s face
"Or at least until Upper Dispatch," Joel added
Getting out of the loaystation proved simple Their fellow portersRoker was the one in the bag Several hands reached out and touched Mission through the plastic, showing respect, and he fought not to flinch nor cough It felt as though the s with him It pervaded his hair and skin, despite the brand new coveralls