Part of him really juts wants to go for it, but at the same time he just can't excuse this. There's no reason not to let him tell his dad he's leaving - it wouldn't take any extra time. Not any more than this conversation is taking. Part of his resistance is childish petulance, but the rest is genuine uncertainty and fear.

He reaches to try to grab the phone again, regardless of Childermass's hand being there. He doesn't know what's going on, but this isn't how his dad said it would be.

"I want to talk to my dad," he insists.