close sesame , i said and dropped the phone back onto the receiver . can you please come in here ? `` all who were willing to leave , at any rate . pulling out of the memory , nash coughed , wishing someone would just shoot him . i thought about phoning bill , but i 'd called him before when i 'd been worried about my safety . he had been everywhere , and seen everything . the pitcher of sweet tea on the table was empty , and so was my glass . 