"Where did you get this money?" the old man demanded, his voice perking up instantly.
"I found two kids. They paid me to call their mom."
"Where are they?!" he asked, suddenly overly excited.
"Over there..."
A flashlight beam swept into the tiny bedroom. Seth immediately lay down, turning his back and wrapping his arms protectively around his sister, pretending to be fast asleep.
Heavy footsteps entered the room, and the beam hovered over them.
"Such beautiful kids!" the old man cackled gleefully. "They'll sell for a fortune."
"Stop doing wicked things!" the old woman hissed, pulling him away.
The footsteps retreated toward the front door.
"Leave the door unlatched," the man called out. "I'm coming back after I get my drink."
"What about the phone?" she chased after him. "Let me use it for a second—"
It was a long time before the woman returned inside, and the rhythmic chopping of pig feed resumed. She went about her chores without another word about the phone.
"Ma'am, I need to pee!" Seth called out loudly.
"Oh. Okay." The chopping stopped, and the lightbulb flicked on.
Seth slid off the tall bed, walked out, and deliberately checked the front gate. When he returned, the woman still didn't offer the phone. He stood by the pile of radish leaves, his tiny shadow cast against the dirt floor.
"Did you get the phone? It's an emergency."


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