Ty pulled the second brick loose before the next vent fired.
The service pin shook in his hand. Heat ran through the metal and into the joints of his fingers, where bone grit had already started to set again. He kept his wrist low, dragged the brick through the paste, and turned it sideways across the paired slots.
The vent struck from below and bucked the bridge.
White powder slapped the brick and split toward the outside rail. Some climbed anyway. Less than before. Enough still reached the runner and packed under the guide tooth until JJ drove her shoulder into the case.
"That one bought us barely half a breath," JJ said. "I need the next one before the case climbs again."
Ty set the bent pin into the third brick hole.
"Then stop counting breaths and start counting lifts," he said. "Tell me when the runner starts rising again."
"I can do that while something crushes me," JJ said. "My talents have become deeply depressing at this point."
