SF Drabble #279 “Saturday Morning at the Directorate.”

The phone rang, and Halbert reached over lazily and picked up the receiver. “Hello?”

He was greeted by a series of strange whines and grunts, mixed with wet smacks and slurps, as if a wild dog was trying to eat the phone at the other end.

Halbert sighed. “Your translator isn’t working. Try unplugging it and then plugging it back in.”

There was a pause, a few clicks, and then he heard, “How is that? Can you understand me now?”

“Yes, it’s fine now. How can I help you?”

“Ambassador Klesk calling for you, sir: will you hold?”

“Of course.”