it's 1:40 am and you get this great effect with the wall of the hotel across from ours. the whole vertical plate of waffles. the goliath checkerboard. certain squares emanate a flickering light--this indicates a tv on in an otherwise lightless room. some bob in unison, on the same channel. swathes of bobbing synchrony. tomorrow, they will dine together in pjs and drab mess halls. they will never know they shared this flickering dance.