The person behind the barred hatch called himself Oran. Han identified herself again and explained the pipe inspection. She did not demand entry.
Gu said, “I drafted an earlier channel plan. This branch was added after I left. The pressure may be making your water unsafe.”
The bar shifted. Oran opened the hatch a hand’s width and studied their faces. His gaze settled on Gu’s name scratched into an old repair label.
“Why didn’t the Registry send the maintenance crew it promised?”
Gu lowered his eyes. “I don’t know. We only found the line today.”
The corridor opened into a hidden town built in an old quarry hollow. Its residents maintained the lower water channels and had kept their settlement out of the tax lists for two generations. They thought the furnace line only fed the barrier above. The pump water had begun tasting of metal, and the roof warmed during the strongest furnace cycles.
Oran still would not give a household count. “You bring soldiers, the Registry will find us.”
Han nodded. “I can keep my guards at the station. I won’t bring anyone through this door unless your council agrees.”
