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“With Sera and Tavi helping? A few days if people volunteer.”

Tavi raised a lower hand. “The machine will need several hours between scans.”

“Why?”

“Because parts become hot.”

“How hot?”

He considered.

Sera answered for him. “Last time the lower housing melted my examination tray.”

Dreven closed his eyes briefly.

Keth’s mouth twitched.

“Then,” Dreven said, opening his eyes again, “we begin with volunteers. Medical records remain with Sera unless a device presents a direct threat to the camp.”

Kesta studied him.

He caught her looking. “What?”

“Nothing.”

“You use that word when there is definitely something.”

She felt the beginning of a smile. “I was noticing you can change your mind without suffering visible injury.”

Dreven’s expression went dry. “Do not spread that rumor. I have a reputation.”

Tavi covered his mouth with two hands. The other two were not quite enough to conceal his amusement.

Even Pela’s ears lifted.

The tension around the table eased for a moment before she pulled the second ledger toward herself.

“Now the harder problem.”

Kesta glanced at the water figures on the display and suspected she knew which problem Pela meant.

The quartermaster touched the line bearing Kesta’s name.

“Arrival status. Ration status. Protection status. Trade consequences.”

Kesta sat straighter.

Dreven’s face became noticeably less amused.

Pela saw it and gave him a look. “You created the problem. You may survive hearing it discussed.”

“I did not object.”

“You were preparing to.”

Dreven’s tail struck the chair leg once.

Kesta looked down so he would not see her smile.