after taking longer than usual washing and brushing , gene cautiously climbed into bed , opened his own book , a recent product of the patterson factory ; however , instead of reading , gene slit his lids , gazed at the far wall , painted a deep and , for him , disturbing cranberry hue , and pretended he was in the foothills of the ozarks , just west of where 540 and 40 cross , listening to the drone of the air conditioner at the bestdam view motel .