Chapter One
The chapter opens with the narrator describing the former gymnasium turned sleeping quarters: varnished wooden floor, basketball hoops, a balcony, and lingering scents of sweat, gum, and perfume. Army cots are arranged in rows with space between them, covered with flannelette sheets and old U.S.‑marked blankets; clothes are folded on stools at the bed ends. Lights are dimmed but not off. Aunt Sara and Aunt Elizabeth, the Aunts, patrol the area wearing leather belts that hold electric cattle prods; they are not armed with guns, which are reserved for the “Angels,” the guard force. The Angels stand outside a chain‑link fenced football field, their backs to the women, evoking both fear and a desperate hope for communication. The women whisper without sound, stretch their arms when the Aunts aren’t looking, and touch each other’s hands across the space. They also learn to lip‑read while lying with heads turned sideways, allowing them to exchange names. The chapter lists several of these names—Alma, Janine, Dolores, Moira, June—establishing a fragile network of solidarity among the captive women.