The megacity’s thin places had stabilized only to a degree, but equilibrium remained conditional. Yasin felt temblors in attention indeed in moments of apparent calm a stairwell that rumored movement when empty, murk that dallied too long, reflections deranged in familiar windows. Residual energy persisted, subtle but inarguable, signaling that the chassis was alive, responsive, and changeable. Samira arrivedmid-morning, eyes surveying reports and charts with sharp focus." There are anomalies we have not seen ahead," she said." Thresholds that reply singly, creating new slants without previous encouragement." Yasin studied the annotated