3

Some of the figures are moving, and some are still. Reflective of the ambiguity of the noise he hears, it is unclear whether the figures are machines or living beings. The number of moving figures changes. When he first sees what he is seeing, all but a few of them are moving. As he continues to watch, more and more of them become still until all but a few are motionless. So far as he can see, there is never a time when all of them are moving or when all of them are still. And there is a pattern, perhaps: almost none of the figures is moving, then a short period of time passes before the number begins to increase, and then the number of moving figures increases until nearly all of the figures are once again moving. Then, after a short period of time, the number begins to decrease, and the pattern continues in reverse: almost all moving to almost none moving. Whether the rate of change in the ratio of the number of moving figures to still figures is constant or whether it fluxuates, he cannot as yet perceive. He is, however, unable to examine the matter further, hypnotic though the motion is, because something has captured him, binding him such that he cannot move, cannot escape.