Anna's phone rang, and shrill voices packed into circuits screamed a polyphonic melody: Liliana, calling from out of country. She jumped out of bed and picked up.
“I'm through,” Liliana said, and the voices in the electronics quieted down. “We're now ten, down from a hundred.”
“That's great,” Anna said, almost meaning it.
“Won't have time for much coordinating before the final round, so you better be ready by then.”
“I will,” she said, pacing the bedroom. “We will.” She opened a blind to reveal a muddy dark sky. She said, “Good luck.”
Liliana was quiet, as if mulling something over—or perhaps it was the delay in the signal—then she thanked her and hung up.
It was not quite morning but Anna could see the horizon bruising, so she decided against going back to sleep.
(Continue reading...)
