Chapter 7

           Firsttimeforalong,longtimeI’minbedwithouttakingthatlittleredcapsule(ifIhidetokeepfromtakingit,thenightnursewiththebirthmarksendstheblackboynamedGeeverouttohuntmedown,holdmecaptivewithhisflashlighttillshecangettheneedleready),soIfakesleepwhentheblackboy’scomingpastwithhislight.

           Whenyoutakeoneofthoseredpillsyoudon’tjustgotosleep;you’reparalyzedwithsleep,andallnightlongyoucan’twake,nomatterwhatgoesonaroundyou.That’swhythestaffgivesmethepills;attheoldplaceItooktowakingupatnightandcatchingthemperformingallkindsofhorriblecrimesonthepatientssleepingaroundme.

           Iliestillandslowmybreathing,waitingtoseeifsomethingisgoingtohappen.ItisdarkmylordandIhearthemslippingaroundoutthereintheirrubbershoes;twicetheypeekinthedormandrunaflashlightovereverybody.Ikeepmyeyesshutandkeepawake.IhearawailingfromuponDisturbed,looloolooo—gotsomeguywiredtopickupcodesignals.

           "Oh,abeer,Ithink,fo’thelongnightahead,"Ihearablackboywhispertotheother.RubbershoessqueakofftowardtheNurses’Station,wheretherefrigeratoris."Youlikeabeer,sweetthingwithabirthmark?Fo’thelongnightahead?"

           Theguyupstairshushes.Thelowwhineofthedevicesinthewallsgetsquieterandquieter,tillithumsdowntonothing.Notasoundacrossthehospital—exceptforadull,paddedrumblingsomewheredeepinthegutsofthebuilding,asoundthatInevernoticedbefore—alotlikethesoundyouhearwhenyou’restandinglateatnightontopofabighydroelectricdam.Low,relentless,brutepower.