Eli chose the longer route with the reservoir’s newest reading beside his hand.
He did not move the reading out of sight before speaking. The worsening curve belonged to the cost of his choice. So did the additional line, the awkward turn, and the supplies that could not be carried through it.
“We go by the service descent,” he said. “Independent communications. Section checks as we move. An injured person needs a way back.”
Mira looked at Juno’s travel calculation. “The extra time is real.”
“Yes.”
“If the reservoir changes while we’re still carrying equipment through that turn—”
“Then we measure what changed and decide from there.”
Her expression hardened. “You can’t answer every lost minute with another decision.”
