The door he was pressing his shoulder against exploded, and Handy let out a roar of pain that he could not hear through the ringing in his ears. He clasped his right shoulder and upper arm which was now peppered with wood splinters that his clothes failed to block. He rolled back onto his side and pushed himself away from the door, hearing the chittering laughter of the changelings in the apartments outside. The dust cleared and he saw several of the changelings gathered beyond the ruined doorway.