The worker who remembered the red steps was waiting beside Vesa when Mingyue returned to Proxima.
He had drawn the two water-control buildings on a piece of broken packing board. One stood beside the old distribution road. The other was lower, closer to the flooded section of the district.
"The steps were painted so people wouldn't use the loading ramp," he said, pointing to the second mark. "If the water reached the storage shelf, the lower room is nearly full."
Mingyue took the board.
"Can you show Dorian's people the outside doors?"
"I can show you where they used to be."
"That will do."
Vesa repeated the woman's original directions. The road name had broken in the middle; the worker tapped both buildings instead of pretending it settled the question.
"She hasn't answered again?" Mingyue asked.
"No. This is what I kept before we closed it."
