The operator saw the neighboring light flicker and did not end the contribution.
It was a rehearsal. The bands were disconnected from every source, the reserve indicators driven by the bench model. Everyone knew that. The volunteer in the chair had been told she could stop whenever she chose.
“Stop,” she said again.
The operator’s hand hovered over the control.
“If you give me a moment—”
The volunteer reached for the physical switch herself.
Her fingers fell short.
Tessa stopped the entire exercise.
