`` hello , '' i said , knowing and holding the phone about three inches from my ear . sometimes he looks and smells like he just jumped in a lake . but a single thought changed his mind . i think hes gon na try and open the swing bridge and keep them from crossing , she replied . martin looked at her , for the first time in hours . 'did you say all of us ? ' he had just finished reading the morning paper which lay on the desk before him . 