--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: now ringing the superintendent at the…" description: "\"“now ringing the superintendent at the field command post, and praying that she was in time. * * * Heart beating like a jack hammer, Nikki eased her wa..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/joy-ellis-11963_brick-wall_now-ringing-the-superintendent-at-the-fi_1077913.jpg" --- # now ringing the superintendent at the field command post… ![“now ringing the superintendent at the field command post, and praying that she was in time. * * * Heart beating like a jack hammer, Nikki eased her way along the rough red-brick wall of the old dental block. Ahead of her, and moving fast, but with a light-footed, almost delicate precision, were…” quote by Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/joy-ellis-11963_brick-wall_now-ringing-the-superintendent-at-the-fi_1077913.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/joy-ellis-11963_brick-wall_now-ringing-the-superintendent-at-the-fi_1077913.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a2f/joy-ellis-11963_brick-wall_now-ringing-the-superintendent-at-the-fi_1077913.jpg) > ““now ringing the superintendent at the field command post, and praying that she was in time. \* \* \* Heart beating like a jack hammer, Nikki eased her way along the rough red-brick wall of the old dental block. Ahead of her, and moving fast, but with a light-footed, almost delicate precision, were Joseph, Dave, Vinnie and the two marksmen. Nikki knew that her solo performance was not only hazardous, it was critical to saving Snipe’s hostages. Even so, she’d never felt so well protected. If anyone could defuse the situation safely, she believed that it was Joseph. As she watched, they disappeared beneath the heavy plastic. She saw in her mind’s eye the turning of the key that they had obtained”” [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Nikki relies on her team’s skill and trust to safely defuse a hostage crisis, feeling protected. **In simple terms:** Teamwork and trust enable success in danger. Key Takeaway Trust and teamwork in crises. Themes courage teamwork trust danger Mood tense hopeful Type dramatic inspirational When to use this quote - hostage negotiations - military operations - emergency response - team drills Key Concepts risk assessment leadership psychological safety Questions to Reflect On - How does trust affect performance under pressure? - What builds confidence in high‑risk teams? A Different Perspective Team dynamics can falter under stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Brick wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brick-wall/) [Hostages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hostages/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [When death gives us a long lease of life, it takes as hostages all those whom we have loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-curchod/when-death-gives-us-a-long-lease-of-life-it-takes-as-hostages-all/) [Suzanne Curchod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-curchod/) > [Terrorists don't take black hostages. That's the truth. I have yet to see one of us on the news reading a hostage letter. Like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/terrorists-don-t-take-black-hostages-that-s-the-truth-i-have-yet-to/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [“You’re the man who used to rescue hostages for a living. You are not allowed to not get out of this one. So stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/you-re-the-man-who-used-to-rescue-hostages-for-a-living-you-are-not/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [I would have promised those terrorists a trip to Disneyland if it would have gotten the hostages released. I thank God they were satisfied…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-north/i-would-have-promised-those-terrorists-a-trip-to-disneyland-if-it/) [Oliver North](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-north/) > [No commandment surpasses the one concerning the liberation of hostages, for they are among the starving, the thirsting, the stripped, always in danger of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elie-wiesel/no-commandment-surpasses-the-one-concerning-the-liberation-of/) [Elie Wiesel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elie-wiesel/) > [“The goal with hostages is to gradually lower expectations; in nonhostage crises, it's to lower emotions.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-cullen/the-goal-with-hostages-is-to-gradually-lower-expectations-in/) [Dave Cullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-cullen/) > [President Carter famously said the hostages were the first thing he thought about in the morning and the last thing he thought about at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-koppel/president-carter-famously-said-the-hostages-were-the-first-thing-he/) [Ted Koppel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-koppel/) > ['Betrayed' starts off with Shane Gallagher rescuing Elena Reyes and a group of hostages from a madman with a gun. And as the story…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-glick/betrayed-starts-off-with-shane-gallagher-rescuing-elena-reyes-and-a/) [Ruth Glick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-glick/) > [At the beginning, because the lives of the hostages were at stake, then during this silent period we have taken several measures like not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-fujimori/at-the-beginning-because-the-lives-of-the-hostages-were-at-stake-then/) [Alberto Fujimori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-fujimori/) > [I have a wife, I have sons; all these hostages have I given to fortune.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-l-lucas/i-have-a-wife-i-have-sons-all-these-hostages-have-i-given-to-fortune/) [F. L. Lucas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-l-lucas/) > [We should never remain hostages of our past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmerson-mnangagwa/we-should-never-remain-hostages-of-our-past/) [Emmerson Mnangagwa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmerson-mnangagwa/) > [I have a wife, I have sons: all of them hostages given to fate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucan/i-have-a-wife-i-have-sons-all-of-them-hostages-given-to-fate/) [Lucan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucan/) > [I stand on the side of the United States government in making sure we do everything we can to get our hostages home and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-shapiro/i-stand-on-the-side-of-the-united-states-government-in-making-sure-we/) [Josh Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-shapiro/) > [“Ten years ago I saw a documentary on the siege of that Moscow theater. After just forty-eight hours of the terrorists confining the hostages…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-semple/ten-years-ago-i-saw-a-documentary-on-the-siege-of-that-moscow-theater/) [Maria Semple](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-semple/) > [In Syria, for some time, they have been trading hostages for a number of things: for weapons, for money, for political influence, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-voss/in-syria-for-some-time-they-have-been-trading-hostages-for-a-number/) [Christopher Voss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-voss/) ## More by Joy Ellis > [“Sometimes family breakups are catastrophic, they can lead to decades of ill-feeling within the family unit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/sometimes-family-breakups-are-catastrophic-they-can-lead-to-decades/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“Because, in the dark, I’m equally as frightening as any”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/because-in-the-dark-i-m-equally-as-frightening-as-any/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“end. ‘It’s the”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/end-it-s-the/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“Very nice!’ said Nikki. ‘That really enabled you to indulge in your pastime on a grand scale, didn’t it?’ When Kris spoke, his voice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/very-nice-said-nikki-that-really-enabled-you-to-indulge-in-your/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“This might be a beautiful world, but there were some evil souls residing in it. \* \* \*”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/this-might-be-a-beautiful-world-but-there-were-some-evil-souls/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“While Gary half listened to Jackman, something still niggled away in the back of his mind. It had almost come to him, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/while-gary-half-listened-to-jackman-something-still-niggled-away-in/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“Consider it done.’ He looked at her earnestly. ‘Look, I know all this is important, but don’t forget your call to Beech Lacey.’ ‘As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/consider-it-done-he-looked-at-her-earnestly-look-i-know-all-this-is/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“Your whole life had broken down, Carter. It was chaos. It’s quite natural that you now choose to live in a carefully structured environment.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/your-whole-life-had-broken-down-carter-it-was-chaos-it-s-quite/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“Those lightning fast moves were not right. And those later comments about being a squaddie? No squaddie she’d ever met had that kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/those-lightning-fast-moves-were-not-right-and-those-later-comments/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“You can! Concentrate on me! Now, in, and out. Slowly, calmly, you can do it. In, and out.’ After a while, her desperate battle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/you-can-concentrate-on-me-now-in-and-out-slowly-calmly-you-can-do-it/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“she drifted unresisting, into the arms of Morpheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/she-drifted-unresisting-into-the-arms-of-morpheus/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“I had a dream, which was not all a dream. The bright sun was extinguished, and the stars did wander darkling in the eternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/i-had-a-dream-which-was-not-all-a-dream-the-bright-sun-was/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“Do you wish they’d leave Your bedroom door ajar So you’d see a golden crack Shine from afar? Do you wish a fairy’d come…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/do-you-wish-they-d-leave-your-bedroom-door-ajar-so-you-d-see-a-golden/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“They are by Rabindranath Tagore.’ Joseph’s voice was soft. ‘And you are right, Constable, they are very beautiful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/they-are-by-rabindranath-tagore-joseph-s-voice-was-soft-and-you-are/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) > [“really bad case of hyperthyroidism.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-ellis/really-bad-case-of-hyperthyroidism/) [Joy Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) [Explore all 53 Joy Ellis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-ellis/) ## More Brick wall quotes > [“he can see through a brick wall in time (as they say in Bree). But”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-r-r-tolkien/he-can-see-through-a-brick-wall-in-time-as-they-say-in-bree-but/) [J.R.R. Tolkien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-r-r-tolkien/) > [“How did you know it was me?” she asked. “My dear Professor, I’ve never seen a cat sit so stiffly.” “You’d be stiff if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/how-did-you-know-it-was-me-she-asked-my-dear-professor-i-ve-never/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [I am always really buzzed after each performance, and at around one in the morning, Ill hit a brick wall and need to sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hattie-morahan/i-am-always-really-buzzed-after-each-performance-and-at-around-one-in/) [Hattie Morahan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hattie-morahan/) > [I still have the desire to do the job of acting. It's just a matter of whether I'll be allowed to do the job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-coleman/i-still-have-the-desire-to-do-the-job-of-acting-it-s-just-a-matter-of/) [Gary Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-coleman/) > [Vladimir Putin is a smart guy. I don't like him, smart guy. He is going to advance the cause of Russia until he hits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-kinzinger/vladimir-putin-is-a-smart-guy-i-don-t-like-him-smart-guy-he-is-going/) [Adam Kinzinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-kinzinger/) > [I fell down the stairs of the one level mental institute.so they put me in the safe cusion room but they found a bruise…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-mcswain/i-fell-down-the-stairs-of-the-one-level-mental-institute-so-they-put/) Trinity McSwain > [If you don't break a hole through the brick wall, don't just start digging a new hole. Keep going until you break through that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/if-you-don-t-break-a-hole-through-the-brick-wall-don-t-just-start/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [“The brick walls are there for a reason. they're not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/the-brick-walls-are-there-for-a-reason-they-re-not-there-to-keep-us/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) > [“I cursed. (S-word, f-word, s-word, d-word, s-word times three, f-word, and a z-word I made up on the spot.) I kicked a brick wall.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-strand/i-cursed-s-word-f-word-s-word-d-word-s-word-times-three-f-word-and-a/) [Jeff Strand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-strand/) > [People who avoid the brick walls - all power to ya, but we all have to hit them sometimes in order to push through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-aniston/people-who-avoid-the-brick-walls-all-power-to-ya-but-we-all-have-to/) [Jennifer Aniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-aniston/) > [“Shortly after this exchange my roommate suggested we start throwing water balloons at the construction workers. Not really at them because, I know, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/shortly-after-this-exchange-my-roommate-suggested-we-start-throwing/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [“...when you’re property-hunting and you’re running out of patience it’s easy to make bad decisions. New York in particular has a way of making…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-ryder-howe/when-you-re-property-hunting-and-you-re-running-out-of-patience-it-s/) Ben Ryder Howe > [“If ants had a language they would, no doubt, call their anthill an artifact and describe the brick wall in its neighborhood as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis-2/if-ants-had-a-language-they-would-no-doubt-call-their-anthill-an/) [C.S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis-2/) > [“Martha would come over every week and check on Mia and work with her on relaxation and breathing exercises to prepare for the natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-carlino/martha-would-come-over-every-week-and-check-on-mia-and-work-with-her/) [Renee Carlino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-carlino/) > [“Grief is nothing but a painful waiting, a horrible patience. Grief cannot be torn down or scaled or overcome or outsmarted. It can only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glennon-doyle-melton/grief-is-nothing-but-a-painful-waiting-a-horrible-patience-grief/) [Glennon Doyle Melton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glennon-doyle-melton/) [Browse all 253 Brick wall quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/brick-wall/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“now ringing the superintendent at the field command post, and praying that she was in time. * * * Heart beating like a jack hammer, Nikki eased her way along the rough red-brick wall of the old dental block. Ahead of her, and moving fast, but with a light-footed, almost delicate precision, were Joseph, Dave, Vinnie and the two marksmen. Nikki knew that her solo performance was not only hazardous, it was critical to saving Snipe’s hostages. Even so, she’d never felt so well protected. If anyone could defuse the situation safely, she believed that it was Joseph. 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