Page 41 (2/2)

In spite of everything, she can still draw a crowd

Hopefully, tonight, so will I

I hide the air tank in my room with the fish and the locks and the last of the ive all of that to True to pay him back Then he can buy more supplies and a stall in the deep for help with other things, he will find a way to make the lance over at Bay’s and Maire’s shells, but I resist the temptation to try to listen to one or to ask questions of the other I’ve decided to trust myself and True, and I don’t want any doubt to creep in

As I ride the gondola down to work, the sounds of Atlantia breathing press in onlouder and louder No one else seems to notice

And when I co

I resist the urge to press ainst the sides of ain, no one else see ? Or is it the sirens? Has Maire drivento break me instead?

And then everyone else looks up, and some of the they’ve noticed--it’s a new sound The shrill whistle signifying a breach drill sounds down the halls and into our workroom

Everyone reaches for their air masks, and I reach for --True giving ht--I forgot to bring it with s

I’ve neglected to bringa drill This will result in a reprimand, certainly, and perhapsto ht

Bien pulls on heras they start their oxygen A girl near ets ready to seal the mask shut "I hate this," she mutters to her friend

And then she notices ot it," I say, and her eyes widen

"Uh-oh," she says "You could have gotten aith it if it weren’t for the drill"

I know My ti is terrible At least the sound of the whistle drowns out the screa in the walls for now

I seem to be the only one in the ocean roo a mask today I suppose the water outside the portal is a constant reency procedure apparently dictates that the workers should file into the sky roolad I look for Elinor, walk toward her

Josiah rushes into the room, mask already in place, and surveys us His eyes stop on me

"I need a spare mask," I say

He nods There are always a few on hand in every building, even though we’re supposed to carry our own He leaves the rooe not to have lad I don’t have to pretend to breathe the air And it’s funny to hear the other workers talking to one another through the masks in monotone, depersonalized voices I’ve alondered if this is what I sound like to everyone else

After a few more minutes, the door flies open and Josiah comes back inside "I haven’t found one yet," he says "The closet was eht," I say "It’s my own fault"