*sounds positively frantic with worry, his tone only heightened by the sudden swell of hope (We can talk) (If you want)* *starts to babble, as only he can, all his words running together* I'll call when I get back, Ehtello, I promise I'll call. We'll talk. Oh, I miss you so much. (*and his heart is lifting, almost imperceptibly, and he does not know when it is that he is talking to dead air (the tunnel)* Please, I'll do anything, I promise, I'm sorry, I-- *trails off weakly, and looks at the phone, and see that there is no reception (and that it is dark)*