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“Still there?”

Remi looked up, saw her friend silhouetted above her on the top deck “Still here”

“Might want toin case I spill water on you It’s a crude systeuide the bucket so it doesn’t hit the mosaic when it lands” She lifted the pail onto a hook, the rope creaking in the pulley as she turned the crank The bucket was no more than a few feet dohen a loud crack startled them

“What was that?” Reh over her head

It took a moment before Renee answered “The pulley, I think”

“Whatever it was can’t be good Maybe we should skip the water”

Renee, still holding the rope for the bucket, nodded But when she tried to straighten up, there was another crack and the water-filled pail rushed doard Atte to stop it, she slammed her foot on the coil of rope It ripped out fro, and knocked her over the side of the scaffolding Suddenly she was the one falling as the bucket fleard Remi braced herself in an attempt to break her friend’s fall But the rope went taut and the woh for her to reach

“Are you okay?”

“Holy …”

It wasn’t until Renee started spinning that Re holding her up “Grab the scaffolding,” Remi shouted

Renee reached out, caught one of the pipes, and pulled herself to a stop Several seconds passed before she gave what sounded like a sh “Remember that frat party ent to our first year? This feels like that hangover”

“It’s going to feel a lot worse if you fall” Renal

“You think that extension cord’s strong enough?”

Re down the side of the scaffolding “Not sure that’s a good idea Hang on I’ to climb up Maybe I can pull you onto the deck and cut the rope” But the moment she stepped onto the ladder, she heard another loud crack as dirt and debris fell from above

She froze Onedown