The gauge passed the red mark while Iven was across the gallery.
Isel saw it first. She struck the alarm bell with the wrench in her hand and shouted, “Pump down!”
The test loop’s motor continued to turn. Water hammered through the pipe in short, hard pulses. Belen ran for the inlet valve, but Isel caught her arm and pointed to the other side of the housing.
“Not across the hot line. Use the bypass.”
Iven reached the pump control and pulled the lever to its lowest setting. The motor slowed, but the pressure needle climbed another fraction. Annet opened the bypass. A jet of hot water struck the covered drain and vanished into the channel below.
The needle fell. Isel closed the inlet, waited for the pressure to settle, and opened the drain. The hammering stopped.
For several seconds, no one spoke. Then Meret wrote the time on the board.
“Anyone hurt?” Iven asked.
