Chapter 48: World On Fire
We formed the bucket line as fast as we could.
Luan Feng at the well, Luan cousins stretched from the south wall to the clinic, the garrison soldiers who had come running from the outer post filling in the gaps. The river was faster than the well and someone had already started a second line from the bank, Zhao Lin and Zhao Jun both knee-deep in the shallows passing buckets up the chain, the water dark in the firelight and not enough.
I was four places back from the clinic wall, taking the bucket from the cousin behind me and passing it forward, taking another, passing it. The motion was mechanical. It was not the problem.
What is the actual threat here.
I passed a bucket. Took another.
The fire will burn what it has already taken. The buildings are burning. What is still at risk.
I passed it forward. The cousin behind me shoved another into my hands.
People. Where are the people and what is hurting them.
I turned my head without stopping the pass and looked at the compound.