[She's not going to bother explaining it, right now: there isn't time. She descends the staircase and, giving a quick once-over of the living room, is relieved to see one such object present. Hurrying over to it, she lifts what she assumes is the handset-- a strange mutation of it, but nonetheless recognizable-- and waits a moment. When nothing happens, she tentatively asks:]
no subject
[She's not going to bother explaining it, right now: there isn't time. She descends the staircase and, giving a quick once-over of the living room, is relieved to see one such object present.
Hurrying over to it, she lifts what she assumes is the handset-- a strange mutation of it, but nonetheless recognizable-- and waits a moment.
When nothing happens, she tentatively asks:]
...operator?