The Porter’s Line
There is a telephone on the wall beside the desk. Nobody will pick up in person and nobody will ask you anything. Lift the receiver, press a key, and listen.
Out of the story: short recordings you can play here, one at a time. Nothing plays until you press it. Every recording has its transcript, written out beside it, and the line never asks you for anything.
The telephone
Everything the line says is written beside it, for anyone who cannot hear it or would rather read.
Lift the receiver
You have reached the In-Between Hotel. The desk is through the lobby, past the fire.
For reception, press 1. For lost property, press 2. For this week’s line from the seal log, press 3. For the Bell, and help outside the story, press 0.
1: Reception
Reception. The chandelier is lit and the carpet is dry. Rooms are not assigned by telephone; come up to the desk when you are ready.
2: Lost property
Lost property. Anything left at the desk is kept, labelled and dated, until somebody comes for it.
3: This week’s line from the seal log
The most recent line entered in the seal log this week, as it reads in the UK. A new line is entered at seven each evening.
No line has been entered in the seal log this week yet. It is entered at seven in the evening.
0: The Bell: help outside the story
This is the Bell. This part is outside the story, and it is real. If you are in danger now, or someone else is, call the emergency services: 999 in the UK, 911 in the United States, 112 in the European Union. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans are free on 116 123, day and night. In the United States, call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Anywhere else, find a free local line at findahelpline dot com. These numbers are also on the safety page of the website.