I had a nightmare the other night. I very rarely remember my dreams, but this one made an impression.
Malcolm McDowell was at my door in a long black coat, for reasons unknown. A shot rang out from the street, and missed both of us, but hit the brick wall closeby. I grabbed Malcolm and yanked him inside, and caught a glimpse of the shooter: a younger man, early thirties at the latest, almost white-haired blond, with a strange angular haircut and a long white coat.
I locked the door, and he sat on my couch, my wife in a different chair obviously shocked at this development and my dogs oddly quiet. "Was that guy shooting at you?" I asked; his reply, cool and smarmy, grinning: "Well, yes, he's been after me for some time." I called the cops, and as I was on the phone waiting for an answer, a shadow passed over the frosted window in my door, and I heard the distinctive ripping sound of packing tape. I don't have bars on my windows or any way to prevent someone who really wants to get in from doing just that - so I ran to the back door and just as the other end of the line picked up, I awoke in a complete panic.
And then I patted tentatively around to make sure that it was just sweat I felt.