The first report of the river gate opening arrived on a runner’s breath, and Tessa made him say where he had been.
“Western intake steps. I saw the arch break open. Things coming through the water. Our team fell back past the pump house.”
“How many injured coming here?”
“I don’t know.”
“Who is directing them?”
He gave her a captain’s name and pointed down the receiving lane. She sent a second runner to the station with the report, then asked the first to show the transport marshal which approach had become unsafe. He wanted to keep telling her what the creatures had looked like. She understood why. If he stopped describing the horror, he would have to wait with it.
“I believe you saw them,” she said. “We need your route now.”
He nodded and went.
