Read The Grasshopper King Online
Authors: Jordan Ellenberg
The Grasshopper King (35 page)
“Sir? Or Ma'am? Can you tell us where you are? Is someone threatening you? If you can make a sound safely, please make it once for yes and twice for no. Sir? If you can stay on the line another minute or so we can trace the call and we'll have police there. Ma'am? Can you tell us where you are?”
A man came on the line.
“If you're saying something, we can't hear you. Please bring your mouth closer to the receiver if you can safely do so. If you can't safely make a sound, just stay on the line and we'll find you.”
The woman: “Larry . . .”
“It's
OK
. It's probably just a prank call.”
Was I supposed to hear that? Beyond the fence, to the east, the sun was an innocuous white spot on a sky as blue and blank as pool water.
Behind me, a shout; the others had seen me. Here came their footsteps now, squelching in the mud.
“Are you still there?” the man said. I hung up the phone.
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