The notice board was crowded with end-of-term schedules and lost glove announcements. Lyra cleared a space in the center, right at eye level.
She pinned the parchment with four brass tacks.
EXPEDITED RECOVERY MISSION
Target: Sector 4, Devil's Elbow.
Objective: Retrieval of Seismic Survey Array left during evacuation.
Notes: Device contains continuous vibration logs from the avalanche event. Data recovery priority: High.
Departure: Tomorrow, 0500 hours.
Lead: Cpt. Valcrey.
"Seismic Survey Array?" Gareth asked, reading over her shoulder. "We don't have a seismic array. We have a sled made of dead bear."
"He doesn't know that," I said. "He knows we had a lot of strange gear. And he knows that if we have vibration logs, we can prove the snow didn't fall. It was pushed."
Lyra smoothed the paper. "It's dry enough," she said. "Official seal. Pierce stamped it without asking why."
"Pierce knows when to look the other way," I said.
