Jenny and Suzy spent a bit of time looking over the maps before Claire asked them to leave, as she needed to make up some reports for the base leaders.
When the two of them left the building, the air had somewhat shifted, bringing in a dusty mist.
Beside them stood a dry-goods stall run by a woman in her forties. She kept her head down, tidying cloth sacks, only occasionally looking up to call out to passing pedestrians in an even, unhurried voice.
Suzy caught the scent of food—the rich smell of hot oil mixing with the toasted aroma of pan-fried flour, wafting over from the corner of the street.
Her pace slowed slightly, her gaze settling on a low table near the stall.
Jenny noticed where she was looking and glanced over, catching the smell herself. "Hungry? There's a noodle shop right up ahead. The food's decent and it won't break the bank. My treat."
