Page 122 of Pocket Wife

It inhales.

Sen speaks with careful control. “Large corporations prepare contingency materials.”

I highlight the overlay title.

Solaris Valley Basin Clearance Scenario.

Not contamination.

Not safety.

Clearance.

Reviewer Noll’s face changes at last.

Only slightly.

Enough.

Lucy’s voice comes across from the panel table. “You had the evacuation map before you had the excuse.”

Corvek recovers faster than any decent man should. “Scenario planning is not execution.”

“No,” I say. “But filing it as emergency safety response after creating the trigger event approaches fraud.”

Noll raises a hand. “Central Review will not make fraud findings in this session.”

Salo answers, “This tribunal will.”

The two officials look at each other across the split display.

There it is: jurisdiction, pride, caution, and the thin path where lives have to fit.

Noll speaks first. “Immediate mandatory evacuation is stayed at this time.”

Relief strikes the room hard enough to bend people forward.

Noll continues before it can become hope. “It is not dismissed. Due to unresolved infrastructure uncertainty, north reserve distribution is placed under temporary safety hold pending trace verification. No water from the north cistern may enter clinic, school, or residential supply for twelve hours. If verification is not complete by then, this review will reconvene with evacuation authority still available.”

Nara closes her eyes.

Lucy’s relief vanishes.

Corvek has not received the evacuation.

But he has received pressure.

Twelve hours without the reserve will not kill the valley.

It will frighten it. Strain it. Force choices.

And if any pump fails, any child worsens, any old person panics, Helix will file again with sharper teeth.

Salo turns to the panel. “Can Solaris Valley maintain supply without the north reserve?”

Lucy looks at Samuel.

Samuel looks at Jessa.