Nothing from Welga or Oscar. Nor from Connor or Jady Ammanuel, who had taken a ship back to America the day before. Welga should have reached Eko-Yi, but the station had said nothing beyond confirming the supply capsule’s arrival. Thank God for that, at least.

After the launch, the Americans had scared everyone by sending fighter jets into Indian airspace. To save face, the Indians had scrambled their interceptors. No one had fired, but everyone in Chennai had received the alert via emergency drones, and the situation continued to be tense. Neither India nor China had dared to send up another rocket, but the air forces of both countries kept harassing the American ships and planes. Such a difference from her grandparents’ times, when India and China were enemies. Back then, her country couldn’t afford to antagonize any of the Western powers.

The US was convinced that the dakini came from Eko-Yi, and that the station must remain under embargo, but they hadn’t released any recordings of their captured operative. Nithya knew the truth about her origins from Welga, but the rest of the world remained skeptical and fearful. The fighting at the borders in North Africa had intensified. Eko-Yi was so remote and so small. How could they have the resources to do so much damage? She wondered why the US didn’t show footage of their captive. Had this one also died? At least they hadn’t sent a military force to the space station. That could precipitate another world war.

Carma tugged on her arm. “Amma, can I wear my jewelry now?”

“Not yet. Some bad things happened before the blackout, and I can’t risk you being on.”

“What about all the other stuff, like our daily pills, you know, for infections?”

Nithya nodded. “I’ll order them. Sita, is there an updated design for a health pill?”

“Yes, the Ministry of Health has issued a design for today.”

“Order six for adults and one for a child.” Baby Mouna was too young to take a pill.

Nithya moved on to a list of mundane tasks, taking pleasure in what had felt like chores before the Machinehood had possessed the world. “Sita, is hot water running?”

“Yes.”

Nithya attached chargers to the blox-based furniture. Tonight, they would all sleep on beds. She charged up clean clothes for herself and Carma.

“Sita, send an order for smart-fabric for three adults, one infant, size two.”

Zeli called out, “No, we can manage. We know how to wash our clothes.”

“I insist. And speaking of washing, who wants the first bath? Chitthi?”