Crashland by Sean Williams Page B

went in after her, then Devin, then the tech. It was already a squeeze before Forest wormed himself into the middle. Jesse, the second tallest after Sargent, and the skinniest overall, went to slide into one of the front corners, but the fit was too tight.
    â€œDon’t be afraid to push,” said Devin. “We really have to go now.”
    Clair could hear water gurgling in the hallway outside. She shut the office door in the vain hope that it would slow the flood down.
    Jesse balked.
    â€œI can’t,” he said, taking one step back from the booth. “I don’t want to.”
    â€œYou have to,” Clair said. “Don’t argue.”
    â€œBut it isn’t fair!”
    â€œSo what? Get in or you’ll die!”
    She pushed him angrily inside, using all her body weight against his. It was an uneven contest, and he fought her for an instant, trying to wriggle out of her grasp. She wouldn’t let him. No way was she leaving him to drown or be shot by dupes, not when something as simple as going through a booth could save him.
    Finally, he tucked his arms into his sides and closed his eyes in resignation. Clair pushed harder. Various groans ensued as the others did their best to make space for him. Sargent raised her arms above her, and Xia squeezed her head into one of PK Drader’s armpits. He put his arm around her and pulled her even closer, until she complained about being unable to breathe.
    Digging her feet in as firmly as she could on the soggy carpet, Clair used all her weight to get Jesse in. And then he was in, and Devin laughed and said in a muffled voice, “Cozy, isn’t it?”
    It was Clair’s turn.
    She bit her lip. Water had entered the room and was rising rapidly up her ankles. She splashed back a step, ignoring the creep of cold water up her calves, and rubbed her hands together. The booth was full. There was no doubt about that. No one else was getting in there, and as the water reached her knees Clair knew she didn’t have time to wait for the booth to cycle through.
    â€œIs this water a problem?” she said.
    â€œNot unless the shield is breached,” the tech said. “We’ll be okay.”
    You have to go without me , Clair wanted to say, but she knew Jesse wasn’t going to stand for that, and she couldn’t let both of them drown. There had to be another way. Looking at the mass of arms and legs and bodies squished together, though, she simply couldn’t see it.
    â€œClair?” said Sargent. “What are you going to do?”
    Water was up to her thighs. She went up on tiptoe, feeling light on her feet.
    And then she knew. There was space in the booth, if she just looked at it a different way.
    â€œJesse, hold out your hands. You’re going to have to take my weight. Everyone else . . . get ready.”
    He did as she told him, bracing himself against the side of the booth and the people behind him.
    She stepped one foot into his hands, pressed down, and lifted herself up out of the water. Placing her hand on his shoulder, she launched herself over everyone else’s heads, into the booth, and brought her dripping legs in after her. People shifted, taking her weight as best they could. She tried her hardest not to kick, hoping she wasn’t elbowing anyone in the face. There were more groans. She ignored them.
    â€œRight,” said Devin. “Let’s do this.”
    The door hissed shut, stopping and starting twice so people could pull errant limbs inside.
    Clair’s face was pressed uncomfortably against the mirrored wall at the back of the cage. All she could see was her own reflection. But at least she was out of the water. A fleeting thought of how awful it would be to drown inside the booth came and went. She closed her eyes tightly and hoped the doors held.
    â€œAre you sure it’s going to scan us correctly?” asked Jesse. “We’re not going to end up all mixed up