The Portland cityscraper had an older generation architecture. The dynamics of housing an entire population under one roof had not yet been fully explored when developing the first generation of buildings. In older neighborhoods, people were packed more densely and with less open air. The false sky here was only twenty feet above them, and they paved the streets in a hybrid concrete instead of the textured ceramic she had seen in the others. It smelled here, too, similar to Bethlehem’s stink, but with a staler humidity, like the dampness of wearing a rain jacket on a hot day.
The sham family made it to the security checkpoint at the entrance of the diocese. Alyssalee did her best to be touristy and hoped it didn’t come off over-the-top. Sophie played along, and Cole played... just Cole. P
