_Crack-smash that damn wall and not touch a thing inside. Car right
outside where it ought to be. Johnny inside. Good. But no damn curved
glass wall. Seven damn darts and a couple of jugs, or a few maybe, and
the ole car, and there you are: no damn glass wall!_
He was tired. He lay down to sleep.
_Red Dome--Friday, October 14, 4:30_ A.M. (_S.S.T._)
They sat in a group around the woman, Maria. Nobody talked.
They sat for a long time in silence. Perhaps an hour, perhaps more.
Then Maria began to murmur. Nobody moved. The tape recorder ran, as it
had run, since they started. Only two of them in the group knew English
well, but all of them _listened_ with the same deep attention.
From time to time, someone came in and took over a seat from one of the
circled sitters. Maria stayed where she was, quite content.
_Rockland--Saturday, October 15_
Someone was screaming. It wasn’t Doug, because Doug wasn’t Doug now,
just a million little Dougs and his leg itched where the Dougs kept
biting, _damn! damn Lisa, Lisa wouldn’t scream, ice cream, whipped
cream, Lisa whip cream, lovely Lee, Lee, Lee...._
“_Leeeee!_”
He opened his eyes for one moment, saw the ceiling of the living
room, felt floor rug underneath, and heard his own voice screaming,
“_Leeeeee!_”
He closed his eyes, shut his mouth tight, moved convulsively, rolled
over, and lay on the floor a long time, sobbing without sound, dry
angry sobs that shook his frame and jarred his guts--but brought no
release, so after whatever time, long time, it was, he stood up, got
his balance, and walked steadily through the house into the kitchen.
Turned, went back through the living room and bedroom to the shower.
Shower first. He had a sour smell that sickened him.
He came out of the shower and blower and stood in the bedroom and
thought it would be nice to sleep. _One drink and go to sleep...?_
He put his shorts on, and a shirt, socks, shoes. Cup of coffee, maybe
... _might wake up_. He didn’t _want_ to sleep again. _Okay--coffee._
He started back through the living room to the kitchen. The house was a
wreck, and the floor was full of broken glass, but that....
He saw the car outside, and remembered....