Now that the gas has been vented, the engineers at the plant discuss how to repair the pool. Renee, a fluid-dynamics engineer, suggests sliding a piece of stainless steel into the pool to patch it, explaining that this measure will stop the water flow and allow them to fix things from the outside. However, they soon realize that they have no way of securing the metal. Someone suggests welding it underwater so that it adheres to the lining of the pool, but they have no way of obtaining an underwater welder and gear in time.

Carla interrupts their conversation over the radio. She suggests a local man, R.J. Brown, who used to have a boat repair company and is now a trucker. Everyone realizes that “any other day, even the thought of something like this being a viable alternative would have been ludicrous” (151). Ethan tells Carla to drive out to R.J.’s house and get him to come in. Joss agrees to go with her.

Joss rides with Carla to go talk with R.J. On the way, they reminisce about high school. Joss recalls her high school boyfriend, with whom she had a relationship for many years; the boy was Ethan.