Pretender by Piers Anthony;Frances Hall

Author:Piers Anthony;Frances Hall
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, General, Fantasy, Fiction
ISBN: 9780893702304
Publisher: Borgo Pr
Published: 1979-01-01T08:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11.

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Amalek was in charge of the tour of the torture chamber. He stopped at the door before they entered and turned to face Enkidu, while Dishon and the idiot lamp-bearer stood back.

Amalek’s hood was down now, revealing a face somewhat younger than Enkidu had supposed—darker than the average, but not worth looking twice at in a crowd. He spoke matter-of-factly.

“Torture is generally employed for the riddance of malefactors in a manner discouraging similar behavior by others. The spectators are benefited as much as the felon. Perhaps more so, because there are more of them. A man who sees the flayed skin of a thief stretched upon a frame in the street will think again—and yet again—before reaching for what is not lawfully his. The head of a murderer mounted on a stake outside the city serves as an object lesson to potential murderers.”

The eyes fell darkly on Enkidu. “It is the custom, therefore, that the torture be exhibited to many witnesses, and that it compel their attention. The effect is enhanced if the culprit screams often and loudly and if there is an impressive flow of blood. The beholder must respond, he must feel that he is the one being corrected, for the evil he harbors in his spleen. This is what makes public flogging so successful. Not to mention impalement.”

Enkidu wished Amalek hadn’t mentioned impalement. His posterior winced.

“But our purpose is different,” Amalek continued, still eyeing Enkidu disturbingly. “We seek only to prevent the worship of a certain god. The moment that is effected, we are content.

We gain no personal satisfaction from such persuasion. Only as a last resort do we employ physical duress, and only to the precise extent necessary. We try to avoid mutilation or permanent injury.”

Enkidu let out his breath. That implied that they would stop short of burning out his eyes or splitting his tongue. This might not be so bad.

“Nevertheless we have found that pain will achieve our purpose. It does not have to be impressive or loud; it merely has to be severe and sustained. The very fact that the instruments you are about to see do not destroy the body means that similar pain can be repeated and intensified and extended. There is no practical limit to such duress.”

He flung open the door and led them inside. The lamp-bearer held his light high, while Dishon’s glove prodded Enkidu forward.

It was not impressive. In the center was a large flat slab of stone propped waist high. In one corner was an open place for a fire, with a flue leading through the ceiling. Within it sat an enormous metal pot. Against the far wall rested an assortment of smaller crocks, along with thin rods, chains and unidentifiable shapes. That was all.

Amalek tapped the center slab. “The pretender is chained securely to this platform,” he explained. “He is gagged so that he cannot scream. The milder measures are begun.” He gestured toward the fire corner. “Oil is heated in that cauldron and poured carefully over his body.

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