Caldwellheardthefamiliarsoundofhisscreamsfromdeepwithinhisnightmare.Longbeforeitjoltedhimawake,hesawinterlacedbetweenthehorrificimages,fragmentsofthedecisionhehadmade.Thefragmentscoalesced,fusingintosomethingcold,darkandchillinglyabsolute.Heopenedhiseyes,allowinghistadirisesthemillisedstheyoadjusttothesemi-darkness.Hegruntedandturnedoveronthememoryfoamfuton.Itwasquietinhisenclosedcapsule,quiet,exceptforthediscordantsoundsofmeninvariousstatesofsleep.

    Caldwellhadlonglearoblockouttheobligatoryrumblingsheotherocts,theraspingsoundsofheavybreathingunderscoredbythedistantrafficoutside.Inhismind,thesonicsummaryofrecurringnightmaresstillechoedbadeepwithintheplasticwallsofhiscapsule.

    ScreamswerenothiheAngelCapsuleHotel.Theycame,inalltheirharrowingvariety,inthemiddleofthenightorinbroaddaylight.Theoctshadlearoreadmeaninginthediscordantsoundsandtoblockthemout.Overthecourseofhisuionallyproloay,Caldwellhadheardthemall.Thecriesofdesperation,howlsofpai-rendingsoundsofgrownmengintheirsleepandthedepravedshriekingedmenbroughttotheendoftheirtether.Sometimestheonslaughtwasrelehedecibelsseepingthroughtheporesoftheplasticwalls.Hehadlainawakelisteningtothenonsensicalmutteringsofmentalkingintheirsleep,thegruntsandexhalationsofalcoholicsrelievingthemselveswithiiflingcosoftheirosules.Hefoundithardtodecipherthemeaningofhisownscreamsamidstallthewailingandgnashingofteeth.

    Today,Caldwellfeltastrangehypersensitivity.Hewasacutelyawareofthesweat-soakedsheetsgingtohisnakedperspiringtors