Racking of steel from a distance drew me out of the shadows of darkness into bright white light.

I coughed for a start, feeling my throat itching and closing up. What was the matter? What was the dream all about?

My eyes still closed, I tried to ruminate on the meaning of the dream that had seemed to have gone on for hours.

But nothing came up. I didn’t understand one bit of it. I didn’t know who those crying ugly women were, or what the valley was all about. I never even heard of it before, until the dream. Not that I was sure that the spot existed in...