Tammy had managed to get her shoulder rig over the suit. She had one of those that just rode across the shoulders, no belt to put through straps. When I'd been shopping, all the holsters that just crossed the shoulders moved around on me too much. Part of it is having narrow shoulders. I'd have had to have the holster cut down. I don't buy things that have to be fussed with. Not dresses or holsters.
Reynolds smiled at me. "Larry's really disappointed that he can't come along."
"I' m relieved," I said.
She frowned at me. "I thought you'd want him to back you up."
"Yeah, but a gun can't help him if the ceiling caves in on us."
"You think it will?" she asked.
I shrugged. I'd concentrated on getting suited up, on small details, on Wren's quiet teasing. I'd managed not to dwell on the thought that we were about to walk across a floor that might collapse underneath us, then walk under it and wait for it to collapse on top of us, while wading through water full of coffins and vampires. What could be better?
"Let's just say I'm cautious."
"And you don't want to risk Larry."
"That's right. I don't like the idea of Larry getting hurt, by anything." I stared at her while I said it.
She blinked hazel eyes at me, then smiled. "Neither do I, Anita, neither do I."
I nodded and let it go. I'd done my parenting bit. I wasn't even sure why I didn't trust Tammy, but I didn't. Women's intuition, or maybe I just didn't trust much of anybody anymore. Maybe.
Tucker came back to us. "Time to suit up." She looked right at me.
I nodded. I let her help me adjust the mask over my face. I closed my eyes and concentrated on my breathing--in, out, in, out. In diving if you breathed too fast, you could blow your lungs. Now it was just a way to keep from hyperventilating.
She fitted the suit's hood over my head. I watched her do it and knew my eyes were a little too wide.
Wren's cheerful voice came over the radio in the mask. "Breathe normally, Anita."
"I am breathing normally," I said. It sounded odd to be able to talk normally while my own breathing was wheezing, loud and ominous in my ears. With a regulator in, you couldn't talk, though I'd learned you could scream with a regulator clenched between your teeth. Sounds echo like a son of a bitch under water.
With the helmet over the mask, visibility was not the best. I practiced turning my head, seeing just how big the blind spots were. My peripheral vision was almost gone.
Tammy's voice came over the radio. "It's hard to see in this thing."
"You'll get used to it," Tucker said.
"I hope we're not in this get-up long enough to get used to it," I said.
"If we say 'run,' run like hell," Tucker said.
"Because the floor will be caving in, right?" I said.
I think she nodded, but it was hard to tell through the layers. "Right."
"Fine, but when we get to the stairs, I have to take the lead, and if I say 'run like hell,' it means the vampires are going to eat us."
Wren and Tucker exchanged glances. "You tell us to run," Wren said, "we'll ask how fast."
"Agreed," Tucker said.
"Great," I said. Truthfully, it was a damn relief not to have to argue with anyone. No debate. What a relief. If I hadn't been sweating like a pig, listening to my own breathing echoing horrifically like The Tell-Tale Heart, having to relearn how to walk in metal-lined boots, I'd have said working with the fire department was a break. But it wasn't. I'd have rather rappelled down on ropes with Special Forces into a free-fire zone than shuffle along in the mummy suit trying not to lose it. It was just a phobia, dammit. Nothing was wrong. Nothing was hurting me. My body didn't believe the logic. Phobias are like that. Reason doesn't move them.
Wren stepped onto the floor. It made a noise like a giant groaning in its sleep. He froze, then stomped his feet so hard I thought my pulse was going to spill out my mouth.
"Shouldn't we be quieter?" I asked.