The shelter was cramped. It was meant to store supplies, not people. Ellie sighed. It was less cramped every day, every time the suddenly hostile machines stole someone.

 

“To Hutch,” said Luiz, handing Ellie a cup of moonshine. She took it and drank but did not bother to hide her grimace.

 

“It’s my fault,” she said. “I missed.”

 

“Everyone misses sometimes.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

They sat in silence until Jordan found them.

 

“Mayor says she needs you,” he blurted.

 

Luiz groaned. Ellie swore.

 

“It’s serious. It’s about this machine.”

 

“What machine?” Ellie sneered. “What about it?”

 

“We think it wants to talk.”

Chapter 71

Chapter 73