The tall brush extended nearly to the edge of the building, where they could enter through any number of floor-to-ceiling openings—giant windows destroyed in the Partial attack. Almost the entire ground floor was open around the perimeter, supported by a series of central pillars. There was nothing but reception desks and waiting areas; any records they could find would likely be in the offices above, and Kira spied a stairwell door standing partly open. She pointed it out to Samm, and he nodded, his chest rising and falling in slow, deliberate rhythm. She counted softly under her breath: “One, two, three,” and then they leapt up and ran, bolting across the rubble-strewn floor to the door beyond. Kira reached it first, several steps ahead of Samm, and when he staggered through, she slammed it shut behind him. He leaned heavily against the wall, gasping for breath, his eyes closed.

“I don’t think anyone saw us,” she said. “We can rest here for a minute before moving up.”

“If I rest, I’ll fall asleep,” said Samm. He struggled to open his eyes, but his lids seemed heavy and unresponsive. “Keep moving.”

“Are you going to be okay?”

“We have to keep moving either way,” said Samm, “so it doesn’t matter.”

Kira tried to protest, to tell him that they could come back later, but he wouldn’t listen. “We won’t get another chance at this. I can make it.” He gripped the railings with his hands, one on either side, and raised a leg that looked as heavy as lead. Kira inserted herself under one of his arms, wrapping his hand around her shoulders, and put her own arm around his waist, helping him along. His breathing was deeper now, almost as if he were already asleep. His steps were arrhythmic, and sometimes it took him three or four tries to find the right height for a stair.

“You’re doing fine,” said Kira, though she knew something wasn’t right. What the hell is going on? “Just a few more.” She held him tightly, supporting almost his full weight as they climbed. “That’s right, just a few more.” At the top of the first flight of stairs she opened the door, and he collapsed through it onto the floor. The smell of earth and plants filled the air, and she saw footprints of cats and birds in the dust that covered the carpet. “Samm, are you okay?” It didn’t look like anyone outside could see them in this spot; it was as good a hiding place as any. “Samm, talk to me.”