Pell arrived before dawn carrying the measurements of a pipe that had moved another finger’s width overnight.
He spread the sheet on Senna’s workbench. The temporary band around the cracked south-district main had shifted toward the lower lane, and a wet line had appeared beneath it. His crew had cleared carts and stored goods from the route. Families in the nearest rooms had been told where to go if the band opened.
“I haven’t moved them yet,” he said. “The upper tank still has water, but not enough to keep it closed all day.”
Iven looked at the sheet. “How long to fit the new ring once it’s finished?”
“Four hours if the bolts line up. Six if they don’t.”
“And the temporary band?”
“It could hold until evening. It could also decide it has done enough.”
Senna set the replacement bracket beside the sheet. The bearing sat in its new seat, clean and lightly greased. “Then we finish the hammer and give it a proper test.”
