“No, it isn’t—I borrowed two of the heating packs last subrev! But I can’t find them now!”
“Azad! There isn’t time!”
“I think they’re in our bedroom! If I’m not back in one subchron, close the hatch!”
“Azad!” her mother screamed, but Lotte could already hear him hurrying toward the second floor.
Elayn Jens reached the bottom step and pulled Lotte close to her.
“Is Daddy coming?” Lotte asked, but her mother just shook her head, her mouth moving as she silently counted the passing michrons.
And then the rumbling began.
At first Lotte barely noticed it, but the steady noise continued to build. It began to sound like the rush of water when the rivers thawed in spring, and then it grew louder still until it began to sound like the echo of thunder high in the mountains.
“Mommy—?” Lotte s
