Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 7
Ifherefuses,heisman-handled.Afterthathelayshimselfdownwithawill,whichisthewillofthehang-dogs,whichisyourwill,dearcitizen,whofeedsandfeesthehang-dogsfordoingthisthingforyou.
Themanliesface-downward.Theedgesofthejacketarebroughtasnearlytogetheraspossiblealongthecentreoftheman’sback.Thenarope,ontheprincipleofashoe-lace,isrunthroughtheeyelets,andontheprincipleofashoe-lacingthemanislacedinthecanvas.Onlyheislacedmoreseverelythananypersoneverlaceshisshoe.Theycallit“cinching”inprisonlingo.Onoccasion,whentheguardsarecruelandvindictive,orwhenthecommandhascomedownfromabove,inordertoinsuretheseverityofthelacingtheguardspresswiththeirfeetintotheman’sbackastheydrawthelacingtight.
Haveyoueverlacedyourshoetootightly,and,afterhalfanhour,experiencedthatexcruciatingpainacrosstheinstepoftheobstructedcirculation?Anddoyourememberthatafterafewminutesofsuchpainyousimplycouldnotwalkanotherstepandhadtountietheshoe-laceandeasethepressure?Verywell.Thentrytoimagineyourwholebodysolaced,onlymuchmoretightly,andthatthesqueeze,insteadofbeingmerelyontheinstepofonefoot,isonyourentiretrunk,compressingtotheseemingofdeathyourheart,yourlungs,andalltherestofyourvitalandessentialorgans.
