Valen asked for the water mark before unfastening his coat.
The worker at the upper wheel began with his old formal title.
“Your name,” Valen said.
The man supplied it.
“And the present position.”
That answer was more useful. The operator showed the limited movement he had attempted and the point where the gate bound against the new debris. Valen watched the indicator, the shaft and the accessible guide. He did not ask the man to try harder for a more important witness.
“You stopped there?”
“Yes.”
