The fourth day after their return was the kind of day Bai Li secretly
liked most. Nothing went wrong.
No zombies reached the lobby.
No one needed rescuing.
No equipment failed.
The water pressure stayed steady.
The electricity held.
The weather was good.
Even the river was calm.
Bai Li spent most of the morning on the balcony with Lili. She was
repairing one of the planter boxes because the wooden side had started
separating from the frame. Lili sat beside her with a small collection
of screws.
"Big one?" Lili asked.
"Small one."
"This one?"
"Yes."
Lili handed it over.
"This one?"
"No. That one is too long."
Lili sorted the screws carefully.
Yan Cijin stood at the balcony door watching them.
"You two look like you're running a workshop."
Bai Li did not look up. "We are."
"For a vegetable box?"
"A vegetable box is important."
"Of course."
Bai Li held out her hand without looking. "Another screw."
Yan Cijin looked at Lili.
Lili immediately handed her one.
