He suddenly pictured the civilization around him as a vast web held in tension by a vulnerable thread of co-operation, now slowly disintegrating as the thread crumbled. And he took no joy in the thought.
He began to let images float in his mind. Imagined scenes, taking place beyond the walls.
A man went in to pay off a loan, his pockets stuffed with money.
"I'm not taking it."
"Whatsa matter? It's legal tender. You gotta take it."
Bills on the counter.
"You didn't earn that!"
"It don't matter."
"It isn't any good. Everybody's got it."
"That don't matter."