Page 135 of Pocket Wife

Helix white.

A tiny status bead on its side blinks once, then goes dark.

The field worker beside her whispers something the recorder does not catch.

Lucy does not touch the coupling.

Good.

I release the breath I did not know I was holding.

She lifts the slate closer. “Reviewer Noll, Adjudicator Salo. There is a modern Helix coupling attached to the old feeder channel.”

Corvek’s voice remains smooth. “Shelter preparation requires emergency water access.”

“From our clinic route?” Lucy asks.

“The shelter is intended to house your vulnerable residents.”

“Using water you blocked them from reaching unless they enter your shelter.”

No one speaks.

That is answer enough.

Reviewer Noll’s face loses its official blankness. “Helix, identify the date of feeder coupling installation.”

Sen says, “We need technical counsel.”

Noll’s voice sharpens. “Identify the date.”

Corvek looks away from the screen.

Only for a second.

I see it.

So does Lucy.

Sen answers finally. “Installed under humanitarian readiness permit eighteen days ago.”

Jessa’s chalk stops against the board.

Eighteen days.

Before the registry.

Before contamination.

Before the water hold.

Before Helix had any honest reason to prepare a shelter that drank from the valley’s emergency reroute.

Salo’s voice carries controlled fury. “Did Helix disclose this coupling in its safety petition?”

Sen says nothing.

Corvek’s panel flickers once.