The rain changed direction during the night.
Neri woke when it struck the west window hard enough to rattle the loose outer pane. She listened to the stove, the yard and Iven’s breathing, then got up to put the little catching cloth below the sill before the first bead reached her picture.
Outside, Ressa was already shouting to someone about the upper yard drain.
By morning, the rain had stopped sounding like weather and begun sounding like work.
Iven found Sera at the lower clinical rooms with her coat wet to the shoulders.
“The south collection court,” she said. “Runoff’s entered the old waste channel and backed into the walking paths. We’ve moved the first households out of the lowest row.”
“Source water?”
“Still separate. Thessa’s checking the service points. I want the paths held apart before someone decides a dry-looking puddle is safe to cross.”
