Chuck

He took tickets and often worked in the projection room and slept in the barn-like building at night, for he, like Arthur, was a hay fever sufferer.

The building was air-conditioned, even though not with the scientific perfection of the cave.

Anyway, Hoskins swore it helped.

So, Arthur called the theater, knowing that the late movie would have been out now for about an hour.

The phone was downstairs.

He could picture it from his and Fran's excursions there by a window in the lobby.

Hoskins' room was above.

The phone rang and rang.

It was like those others.

As he was about to give up, a click made it suddenly, importantly different.

And there was Hoskins.

His old man's quavering voice...

Sleepy and querulous.

But it made sense as he understood when Arthur identified himself.

The other man made some protest about, was this a joke?

But Arthur went on.

But the caretaker broke in.

There's really some people lying there, Mr. Hodges.

Think there must have been an accident.

I'll have to go out and see.