[Robert]

Robert thinks he is hearing voices in his head. He again looks up and shakes his head to clear the fog. He thinks he sees a young man drinking a beer, but being very careful to hide the beer from the bartender's threatening glare. The voices begin their relentless chatter again. What are they saying this time? Something about a bank? Trading thoughts for more time? A deal of some kind the voices, no, the one voice is saying. The fog clears. "This young man is offering me all the time I want if I only give up 40% of my thoughts", Robert thinks. Robert thinks this is tempting and realizes that he could make up for his lost thoughts by asking for enough time so that he can think as many, and even more thoughts, than he could before. Just takes more time, but Robert realizes he has all the time he wants.

Robert is about to make the deal but then, with mounting fear and horror Robert realizes that he has no thoughts of his own to give away. Thoughts are an illusion only. We are only automatons and use our thoughts to rationalize our behavior, not to control our behavior. There is no I to give away thoughts. There is no I to make a deal. There is no I. Robert mumbles as he lowers his head into a world of dreams... "I don't think, therefore I'm not".

Robert begins to snore...