Chapter 17: Seconds

Katja and Harvey were behind the lanyard crates before the door finished opening.

Three guards in gold lanyards came in carrying a stew pot between them, one handle each.

They looked sleepy and well fed.

Behind them came Dot, in her apron, with her ladle in her fist.

"Set it on the crate, gentlemen," Dot said. "The Mayor says the prisoner eats."

"The Mayor said nobody eats," said the first guard.

"The Mayor isn't here. I am."

She ladled a bowl for each of them first.

"Seconds," she said. "Eat it standing, I'm not made of chairs."

They ate.

Nobody swings a hatchet on a full stomach.

They were on their third bowl.

When the pot was empty, Dot walked them to the door.

"Back to the lobby," she said. "Sleep it off. That's an order from the kitchen."

They went. They thanked her.

She shut the door, turned the key behind them, and stood still until the boots had faded down the hall.

Then she held up the key ring on one finger.

"First one dropped it in the pot," she said. "Hon, you can come out."

Katja came out from behind the crate, covered in flour.

"Nobody's crossing the bridge tonight," Dot said. "Every gold lanyard in the building is awake."

"At first light I'll bring forty Tier 3 families to the bridge. You two slip out in the crowd."

"So you stay locked in until then. It's the one door nobody checks."

She put a stack of white tablecloths on the crate, with a lamp and a loaf.

"There's two inches of wall between you and the lobby," she said. "Rule Seven. Go to bed."

She locked the door behind her and left them there with the lamp.

For a minute neither of them moved.

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