“Please answer me! I’m your friend,” she called again.
She had to call a third time before the man answered. His voice was fainter now.
“I have no friends,” he replied. “Why can’t you just go away and let me die in peace?”
For a moment Judy didn’t know what to say. She was ready to help him. But how could she?
“He wants to die,” she whispered. “Oh, Horace! We must do something. Do you think he’s a prisoner in there? Maybe he can’t open the door.”
“Ask him,” Horace suggested.
“Are you locked in?” called Judy. “We’ll get you out, somehow, if you are.”
“It’s no use,” the man replied. “I’d rather die here than in prison. Now go away!”
“I think we’d better. We’ll have a look around and then notify Peter. This is news, all right,” declared Horace. “Probably this man is one of a gang. Maybe he was hurt escaping from the police.”
“But Horace,” Judy objected, “this man’s hurt, and he needs help. We should call Dad.”