The runner came through the archive door with a damp note from the river crew. West and north remained disconnected. Wuchen’s command line now reached fewer stations. Yan read the update and saw the effect on the ledger: two provincial marks had dimmed, while the local release records stayed visible.
The storm had not disappeared. Water still pressed against the river crossing, and the dark western node would need inspection after the surge. The outer crews had narrowed Wuchen’s access, not solved every danger.
Wuchen pushed a new line toward the river district. Yan caught the brush with a metal brace from the desk. The contact drove the brace into his palm and opened a cut. He held it only long enough to keep the stroke from reaching the provincial mark, then dropped it before the edge could cut deeper.
Dalan stood beside the archive door with the river report. “The station is flooded. The lower brace is under water.”
Wuchen reached to tear the page away. Yan blocked his arm with the bent brace. “The report came before your order.”
“The river district needs the central line.”
“It needs a dry crossing and a safe valve.”
Wuchen pushed the brush forward again. Yan drove his body against the desk and shifted it a handspan. The alignment between brush and river seal broke. The command left a crooked mark that failed to reach the node.
