Free Crashland by Sean Williams Page B

room.
    â€œFive minutes before the water hits,” Devin finally said, jogging alongside Clair, “depending on the lay of the land. The top of the building might be safer in the short term.”
    â€œWe’ll be sitting ducks up there,” said Clair.
    â€œThat could be why the dupes did this, to flush us out,” said Sargent, urging them rapidly through the corridors. Her stride was so long it was hard to keep up. Jesse, who was almost as tall, took Clair’s hand and hurried her along. Devin fell behind.
    Clair said, “I saw explosions just before the barrage collapsed, right after their attack failed. It was like they were waiting for me to look.”
    â€œYou think this could be specifically directed at you?” Sargent said.
    â€œI guess,” she said, hoping that somewhere nearby evacuation plans were being put into rapid effect, not just for them but for everyone else in the flood’s path.
    â€œHow does anyone know we’re here at all?” asked Jesse. “That’s the thing that gets me.”
    â€œThe shadow road obviously isn’t as secure as you thought.” Devin glanced at Forest as though for a reaction, then added, “Or you’ve got a leak. A spy.”
    â€œHe won’t give anything away.” Clair bumped him, making several typos as she ran and not bothering to correct them. “His face doesn’t work.”
    â€œHis fate . . . ? Oh, face, right. Damn. I wondered why I wasn’t getting anything off him. Do you think Sarge could run any faster?”
    Devin wasn’t much taller than Clair, and he didn’t have the benefit of someone to pull him along. The only person slower than him was Forest himself, who ran like a man long used to d-mat.
    They rounded a corner and arrived at the cage they had taken to the barracks. There a tech was abandoning her work on the peeled-back silver floor.
    â€œNo good,” she said, downing tools and looking worriedly at the arrivals. “One and Three are still cycling. They’ll be at least six minutes.”
    â€œThe water will be here in four,” said Devin.
    â€œWe’re going to have to find another way out,” said Clair.
    â€œThank you, Captain Obvious, but there isn’t one.”
    â€œI say we go up top anyway,” said Jesse. “Maybe we can hold them off long enough for rescue to arrive.”
    â€œWhat kind of rescue are you expecting, exactly?” asked Devin with naked scorn. “Emergency services normally use d-mat. The big rigs they use to get people off buildings come in pieces or through industrial booths. Unless there’s something nearby, we’re stuck indefinitely.”
    â€œYou’re the one who suggested going up to the roof,” snapped Jesse.
    â€œYes, but that idea was shot down, as surely as we would be.”
    â€œWell, I’d rather be shot than drowned.”
    â€œTake it easy, you two,” said Sargent. That did the opposite of calming anyone.
    â€œThere must be another way,” said the tech, kicking helplessly at the ruined floor.
    â€œIt seems insane,” said Clair in frustration, “to be stuck in a building full of d-mat booths and we can’t go anywhere.”
    Devin snapped his fingers.
    â€œThat’s it,” he said. His lenses flashed. “Yes, being an observer sucks if it means you die. Three minutes left. We might just make it. Best to be on the safe side and start heading upward. Now. Quickly, quickly. Up we go.”
    He ushered them back along the hallway, to the nearest stairwell, where they began a hurried ascent.
    â€œThe roof after all?” said Jesse.
    â€œNo, but don’t ask me to explain. I don’t want to get your hopes up. Besides, you won’t like it.” Devin hauled himself around another flight of steps. “Is there any particular reason you people don’t use elevators?” He wheezed.
    â€œMost people d-mat in and