Swamped Chapter 188 Page 5

She thinks for a bit.

“Well, right now he’ll be in the restricted area, and I can’t exactly just give you permission to go there. It’s also ethereally sealed off, so if you were getting any funny ideas about going in there, they won’t do you any good. I suppose that means you’ll need to get his attention.”

I don’t suppose you have an idea for doing that? you suggest hopefully.

“Easiest way would be for you to start the password mechanism for getting in, and then don’t do anything. That should alert him that somebody’s there without triggering a full-on alarm, that only goes off if there’s a wrong password. Head past the third door that way and go right at the next hall, then keep going until you see the restricted area. You’ll know it when you see it, there’s a lot of signs warning about access. Then just move the lever next to the door.”

And what if he thinks I’m an intruder?

“Tell him, ‘Without life, there is no ocean, only water.‘ It’s his favorite phrase from the holy books, which is obscure enough he’ll realize someone told it to you. That should let you explain that I sent you. Be sure to do the phrase first, if you try to do any sort of explanation he’ll think you’re faking. Now, I really am busy, so I’d appreciate it if you’d get going.”

This is quite awkward, but you have no other ideas for what to do. You follow Sister Kenton’s directions, and sure enough the restricted area is highly visible. There are several signs indicating that this is only for officers with authorization, and the door is made of metal rather than wood.

But the door is also open, and the lever that you were told to pull is broken off.

You can’t see the inside of the room from here, and going through the door doesn’t work because despite the damage, the ethereal boundary is still up.

Well, this is probably important enough that Sister Kenton will understand if you have to interrupt her. But you don’t get a chance, because you suddenly feel something holding you in place.

A priest walks out with a black eye and a bloodied nose. He’s holding up his hand in a casting pose.

“Are you with them?” he shouts.

Without life, there is no ocean, only water, you respond. Sister Kenton asked me to share that.

You feel the pressure on you release.

“In that case, you can save me a good amount of time by passing on a message to her while I trigger the alarm,” the priest says, lowering his arm.