"The circle," he repeats. He looks down, tracing the arc of its circumference with his eyes. One hand lifts toward, but does not touch, the invisible barrier in the air over the chalk; he closes his hand and his eyes and drops his arm to his side all in the same moment.

"Assuming you mean I'm literally trapped in here," he says, "then for my health and safety and the health and safety of anyone else nearby, you need to let me out immediately."