The Bench Screen

A neurophysiology laboratory near Washington late in the evening, a single desk lamp and the green glow of a small screen, on a black laboratory bench two stacked grey sheet-metal boxes on a pale base plate, the upper one with a small square screen in a metal frame showing a soft green curve, black knobs at its left and right, the lower one a control panel with rows of small rectangular indicator lamps, rows of toggle switches and two black levers, every surface plain and unmarked, cables running to an amplifier and a metal electrode stand, a hand in a white laboratory coat sleeve flipping a toggle switch, half-closed blinds.