At the edge of the cleared lane, the travellers began counting heads. 🌿
THE BOOK OF TAD
PAGE 19
OUT OF PLACE 🪨
The warning was quieter now, passed from traveller to traveller instead of shouted across the water.
A traveller with a split reed basket came over. “Everyone’s clear. What now?”
TurboTAD looked across the trampled flowers. For the first time since the final lamp, no one needed pulling out of danger.
“Keep this lane open,” he said. “If anyone arrives, tell them why.”
“I’ll take the far side,” Zale said. Then, after a beat, “By the sensible route.”
Glint kept his lantern dark. “Promising start.”
Zale gave him a look, but swam off with the traveller.
TurboTAD joined Glint above the flattened weeds. His booster lay cold against his back. The Builder flow key stayed still on his harness.
Glint stopped so sharply that TurboTAD nearly bumped him.
“Don’t put your flipper there.”
TurboTAD pulled back. Beneath the crushed stems, a straight grey edge broke through the silt.
“A stone?”
“One cut too straight to be natural.”
Together they eased the weeds aside. Zale returned as a shallow carved line appeared.
His smile faded.
“That’s a route marker,” he said. “First Builder work.”
TurboTAD studied the exposed corner. Silt packed the crack along its base. It had been buried long before the wake reached this lane.
Zale brushed away one last strand and uncovered the broken base.
“This isn’t where it belongs.”