inbox.

[hornswoggle]

action + written + crystal

Comments

crystal;

[katabasis]

[Without preamble, so abrupt that it as a strong unanticipated jerk on a tether—]

Come immediately to the division office.

[hornswoggle]

[ The tone of his voice clangs like an alarm. There's first the muffled chatter of voices, that dull as John moves away. ]

What's wrong?

[katabasis]

[He can't say Nothing, so for a fleeting moment he doesn't answer.

Then:]

She's alive. She's here.

[hornswoggle]

[ There is a short stretch of silence.

It is the truth. There's no need to waste time pressing for certainties. But the elimination of that question leaves room for all the other jangling inquiries to crowd in (Is she hurt? Is she alone? How did she arrive? Is she—) to the point where John can't say anything at all.

A single observation slices through everything, coming to the forefront: It's going to take me so long to get to them. ]

I'm coming.

[katabasis]

The door is unlocked.

[Everything else will be served better by being said in person.]