Chapter 33: Names Outstanding

The root slid through the dust beside the safe and curled toward Callum's work light. "Do not touch it," Sau-lin said. Callum already had the iron bar in his hand. "That instruction arrived late." "It arrived before the foolish part." He set the bar down. Sau-lin raised an eyebrow. "I'm moving it to my other hand." It struck for his wrist. Sau-lin caught the light's cord and pulled. The lamp skidded across the concrete. Callum lurched back as the white tip stabbed the place where his palm had been. Pain drove through Sau-lin's hand. The root point under her skin sharpened, a different pain from the faded burn the key had left. Callum's fingers closed over the answering mark in his palm. Behind them, the copper mesh struck the plywood barrier. The sealed node pressed against Sau-lin's ribs in slow pulses. "Move away from the shaft," she said. "So it…