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"We’re going to get you out of here," she told the two girls "Gather your things"

One of the young boys cas back into it, apologizing to her, when Juliette heard another strange squeak

What now?

She dabbed her irls reluctantly did an adult’s bidding, finding their things and eyeing one another to ear bag She used the handle to separate the zipperedin the rat’s nest these kids had created, when she heard a tiny voice

Calling her na, past tools and bottles of water, under her spare coveralls and loose socks, until she found the radio She wondered how Solo could possibly be calling her The other set had been ruined in her suit--

"--please say so," the radio hissed "Juliette, are you there? It’s Walker Please, for God’s sake, answer me--"

23

• Silo 18 •

"What happened? Why aren’t they responding?" Courtnee looked from Walker to Shirly, as if either of them could know

"Is it broken?" Shirly picked up the small dial with the painted marks and tried to tell if it had accidentally moved "Walk, did we break it?"

"No, it’s still on," he said He held the headphones up by his cheek, his eyes drifting over the various coer we have" Courtnee atching the scene in the generator rooh the observationShirly stood up and peered out over the control panel toward the main entrance Jenks and soainst their shoulders, yelling at the others The soundproofingon

"Hello?"

A voice crackled froers

"Who’s there?" he called, flicking the switch "Who is this?"

Shirly rushed to Walker’s side She wrapped her hands around his ar "Juliette!" she screamed

Walker held up his hand, tried to quiet her and Courtnee both His hands were tre as he fumbled with the detonator and finally clicked the red switch

"Jules?" His old voice cracked Shirly squeezed his arm "Is that you?"

There was a pause, and then a cry fro on? Where are you? I thought--"

"Where is she?" Shirly whispered

Courtnee watched them both, her cheeks in her palms, mouth open

Walker hit the switch "Jules, where are you?"

A deep sigh hissed through the tiny speakers Her voice was tiny and far away "Walk, I’m in another silo There’s more of them You wouldn’t believe--"

Her voice drifted off to static Shirly leaned against Walker while Courtnee paced in front of the from the radio to the

"We know about the others," Walker said, holding the mic below his beard "We can hear theo of the switch Juliette’s voice returned

"How are you--? Mechanical-- I heard about the fighting Are you in the ned off, Juliette said so to someone else, her voice barely audible

Walker raised his eyebrows at the

"Hoould she have heard?" Shirly asked

"I wish she were here," Courtnee said "Jules would knohat to do"

"Tell her about the exhaust About the plan" Shirly waved for the microphone "Here, let me"

Walker nodded He handed Shirly the headset and the detonator

Shirly worked the switch It was stiffer than she thought it’d be "Jules? Can you hear me? It’s Shirly"

"Shirly--" Juliette’s voice wavered "Hey you You hanging in there?"

The eht tears to Shirly’s eyes "Yeah--" She bobbed her head and sed "Hey, listen, so vents But remember that tiht--"

"No" Juliette cut her off "You have to stop them Shirly, can you hearis for the servers The only people up there who--" She cleared her throat "Listen to me Make them stop--"

Shirly fumbled with the red switch Walker reached over as if to help, but she finally got the device under control "Wait," she transmitted "How do you knohere the vents lead--?"

"I just do This place is laid out the same Goddammit, let me talk to theain There was a blast of sound froenerator room as Courtnee threw open the door and ran outside "Courtnee’s going," she said "She’s going right now Jules-- How did you--? Who are you with? Can they help us? It’s not looking good over here"

The tiny speakers crackled again Shirly could hear Juliette take a deep breath, could hear other voices in the background, heard her give coht her friend sounded exhausted Weary Sad

"There’s nothing I can do," Juliette said "There’s no one here One one The people who lived here, they couldn’t even help theh again "You have to stop the fighting," she said "Whatever it takes Please-- Don’t let it be because ofShirly heard shouts in the generator roouys?"