Free Silo 49: Deep Dark by Ann Christy Page B

of coveralls, they clung to the leg and ended above the ankle. Rather than boots, they all wore soft slippers most often worn while at home to keep feet off of chilly floor tiles.
    Overall, the effect was certainly eye-catching and Joseph's eyes had widened in pleased surprise and then narrowed suggestively when he saw her. "I like that color green on you. It's much prettier than gray."
    She gave him a mock glare and he quickly added, "Of course, you're pretty in any color."
    Sela rolled her eyes at them and then linked her own arm to her father's on one side while Marina did the same from the other. They set out across the landing, now quieter and with far less traffic, and followed the curved walkway toward the Wardroom. The few people they passed nodded and smiled and pretende d not to stare at their outfits but Marina could feel their eyes. A quick glance at Sela told her that she felt them too. Two bright spots of pink stood out high on her cheeks but she didn't stop or bolt back to the hotel. Marina counted it a victory.
    The Wardroom was tucked inside a part of Level 50 where residences that held specific purpose were. Most were tied to some post or another and only inhabited by the holder of that post. Families could and did live with those post holders on occasion, but in general the posts were temporary ones. Most people wouldn't risk the loss of good quarters more convenient to the rest of their lives in order to move to these awkwardly situated small ones.
    In some cases, they were used only as offices for the post holder or left entirely vacant by the person who should live there. Marina had checked the residence location for the Hardi that had sent the watch in for reclamation. It was a part of the residences somewhere inside Wardroom territory not tied to a post.
    She had been keeping her ears pricked for any mention of the name and would keep on doing so, though she wouldn't approach the woman if she found her. Marina wanted to interview her about the watch but she didn't want that information until after she had spoken with o fficials. In the off chance she had something really interesting or revealing to tell, Marina didn't want to be put into the position of having to lie more than necessary.
    Marina and Joseph were vaguely familiar with the Wardroom quarters because Joseph had been very close to being chosen to hold such quarters at one time. Another deputy had been the council’s final choice and he had been a good choice. Older than Joseph and with experience in both the Down-Deep and Mids stations, his selection as the Law Enforcement Liaison to the Emergency Management Council freed Joseph up from consideration for the length of the selectee's term, which stood at seven years.
    The Emergency Management Council, or EMC, had told Joseph that the age of his child had been a factor in his not being chosen , for which they were both grateful. By the time the next selection came about that would not help him. In the future, he might very well spend many of his nights far from her bed and in the rooms of the Wardroom.
    On the upside, those who lived in these residences were allotted any and all meals in the Wardroom at no charge as it was assigned as their primary cafeteria. For everyone else the price was fixed at one half of a vacation day chit per meal, no matter which meal. Marina had never eaten there before and Sela had never even heard of it prior to her parents informing her of their plans. Joseph had been hosted there, along with the other final candidate, during that last round of selections. He seemed so excited to share this experience with his family, despite the cost, that his feelings had spread to Marina.
    Joseph opened the door for them and then handed the attendant, a slight man attired in the pink coveralls of the service industry, three half-day vacation chits and a slip of paper that confirmed their reservation. The man gave the slip only the barest glance and the chits no attention at