Chapter Three - Even Underground Burns

There were no patients, only two low-power cooling boxes and several trays of drugs sorted by color. In the back, a woman in a fire-resistant vest sat against the wall holding a radio. "Finally," the woman said, lifting her head. "I'm Sophie Klein, cache coordinator." Her skin was washed out, but her lipstick was still unnaturally bright, as if she had chosen to preserve the look of authority even while the world burned. She said there were forty-two people in the shelter already. Water and food were being rationed by the book, provided nobody opened the level-two storage door without authorization. "What's in level two?" Elliot asked. Sophie hesitated. "More water. Diesel. And a cooling loop that can support two zones."