The steel door grates and squeaks on its hinges as I am led into the cell; I then hear the keys rattling as it is locked behind me. In the dim light, I promptly bump into the steel bunk bed. Some minutes pass before I become aware of my surroundings. A washbasin and toilet stand less than two feet away. There is no window, only a steel sheet with holes in it. Glancing around, I can now see that my cell measures about ten feet by six. I sit on the bunk and continue to survey my new abode. Solitary confinement - perhaps just as well. I do not feel like seeing anyone. I am still carrying under my arm the possessions they have left me with. I have no belt, tie, or shoelaces. They have also kept my money and documents. It seems I no longer need a great many things. I lie down on the steel slats of the bunk bed, feeling the chill of the metal against my body.
- From Ten Years That Shook the World: The Gorbachev Era as Witnessed by His Chief of Staff by Valery Boldin
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