Free Mr. Sandman by Robert T. Jeschonek Page A

Part 1 of the mini-series, when two other dreamers described their dreams, which were unwittingly visions of the Dream Lord.
    Â 
    This new dreamer is a Vietnam vet, talking to a psychiatrist in a VA hospital.
    The set of panels running along the right side of the page details the activity in the command center of Project Dream Lord, as technicians and command personnel monitor the progress of the Night Brigade during their mission. These scenes will include dialogue, not straight narrative like the dreamer panels.
    Â 
    The two columns of panels will thus provide parallel accounts of what is happening in the Dream Zone. During the actual sequence within the Dimension, both accounts will continue, and will climax later in the story.
    Â 
    Page 1, Column 1 - Panel 1 - Narrator (Vet): Look, that doesn't matter to me anymore, Mike. I know it's not my fault. She just wanted something else, something different...sort of like getting a new hairdo.
    Â 
    A woman, in her late 30's, is standing in the doorway of a house, pointing at a guy with short black hair (the vet) and shouting angrily at him. She is holding a suitcase and some other packed bags.
    Â 
    Â 
    Â 
    Page 1, Column 1 - Panel 2
    Â 
    Narrator: I couldn't do it for her, y'know? I couldn't come up with the six-figure salary or the Tom Selleck body, and she finally gave up waiting for it. I told her to take it or leave it, and she thought about it for a long time.
    Â 
    The woman races away from the house with a young guy in a red sport scar,
    not even giving it a second thought.
    Â 
    Â 
    Â 
    Page 1, Column 1 - Panel 3
    Â 
    Narrator: Anyway, believe it or not, I've been feeling pretty good these days. My job with Express Mail is picking up, and I think I'm gonna get custody of the kid. Kathy's disappearing act really took a burden off my mind. There's just one little glitch, one hang-up...
    Â 
    The vet is sitting in the psychiatrist's office, in a chair, talking to the doctor behind the desk.
    Â 
    Â 
    Â 
    Page 1, Column 1 - Panel 4
    Â 
    Narrator: I had this dream last week, when I was out backpacking with Barry and Steiger. It really upset me, y'know, and I've been trying to figure out what it means. It's why I came back to the hospital, and you, cause I could always talk to you. See, it's about Nam.
    Â 
    The vet is sleeping in a sleeping bag out in the woods, about to experience his dream.
    Â 
    Â 
    Â 
    Page 1, Column 2 - Panel 1
    Â 
    Closeup of two men and a woman, all in military uniforms with insignia for Project Dream Lord. They are hunched over flickering electronic consoles, punching buttons and checking readouts. They all wear headsets and microphones, and are intensely busy. An older man, in his middle 40's, stands behind them, watching over their shoulders. He also wears the Project uniform, but is clearly in charge. His name is Commander George Farley, and he is the head of Project Dream Lord.
    Â 
    Farley: I'll be damned. They're in there, they actually penetrated.
    Â 
    Man 1: Brigade has crossed threshold, sir. No disruptions in local dimensional envelope, no plasma recoil.
    Â 
    Lady 1: I read six life forms, all consistent with established auric signatures.
    Â 
    Â 
    Â 
    Page 1, Column 2 - Panel 2
    Â 
    Lady 2 (across the wide control room from the first speakers): Sir, I confirm the Brigade's entry into alternate space. Medical monitors are functioning and double-checked. Vital signs are base-line for all six subjects, showing no abnormalities. I detect no mutations or disfigurements.
    Â 
    Farley: Good, that had me worried. We don't need another Twilly or Gabriel, for God's sake.
    Â 
    Â 
    Â 
    Page 1, Column 2 - Panel 3
    Â 
    Farley (to a group of technicians at another control panel): Navigation?
    Â 
    Man 3: Mapping procedures initiated, Commander Farley. We've set the Brigade's point of entry as zero and extended axes in three directions.
    Â 
    We can direct the group to any point with coordinates