Editing Amaryllis in the Ice Country:Chapter 8 (section)

===Part O===

“Not enough…?”

I ask Viscaria in the Senate Hall of the Village Council.

“Yes…overwhelmingly lacking.”

Viscaria explains to me slowly.

“Three days after the meeting is over, and the total number of batteries we found is almost about five hundred or so, regardless of size. And also, less than half are rechargeable and can be used directly.”

“Then, can’t we use some of the recharging cables from the Snow White?”

I ask as a matter of fact. “No can do.” Viscaria shakes her head.

“The displacement to the surface is only about five hundred meters, but the actual distance might be tens of kilometres. We’re really lacking in cables.”

“Hmmm, so we can only use the batteries we have…?”

“Yes.”

Viscaria grabs the beret, and seem to be at a loss of ideas as she places it on the table.

The only generator of the village is the ‘Snow White’. The ‘crystal furnace’ inside the Spindle can generate a lot of electricity, and the villages maintain the daily operations through this electricity. The cables to recharge are located all over the village, and anyone can recharge as long as they remain in the village.

But this operation is different. All electrical facilities can’t be used from the moment we leave till we reach the surface. We need to rely on the electricity we have at hand, three hundred people’s worth.

“Based on the headcount, we need to maintain at least twenty hours of battery power. Our current stock can’t hold ten hours’ worth. It’s not enough.”

“Got it. Anyway, I’ll try getting a census of the village again.”

“No other way here.”

Viscaria adjusts her cap, “I’ll go to the clinic.” And stands up, saying this,

“I’d check on the heavy facilities.”

“I’ll go check on the icemobile, even though it’s probably not going to be of much use.”

And so we head to our separate ways, looking for clues.