1984

           ‘Remainstandingwhereyouare,’saidthevoice. ‘Facethedoor. Makenomovement.’ 

           Thechinlessmanobeyed. Hislargepouchycheekswerequiveringuncontrollably. Thedoorclangedopen. Astheyoungofficerenteredandsteppedaside,thereemergedfrombehindhimashortstumpyguardwithenormousarmsandshoulders. Hetookhisstandoppositethechinlessman,andthen,atasignalfromtheofficer,letfreeafrightfulblow,withalltheweightofhisbodybehindit,fullinthechinlessman’smouth. Theforceofitseemedalmosttoknockhimclearofthefloor. Hisbodywasflungacrossthecellandfetchedupagainstthebaseofthelavatoryseat. Foramomenthelayasthoughstunned,withdarkbloodoozingfromhismouthandnose. Averyfaintwhimperingorsqueaking,whichseemedunconscious,cameoutofhim. Thenherolledoverandraisedhimselfunsteadilyonhandsandknees. Amidastreamofbloodandsaliva,thetwohalvesofadentalplatefelloutofhismouth. 

           Theprisonerssatverystill,theirhandscrossedontheirknees. Thechinlessmanclimbedbackintohisplace. Downonesideofhisfacethefleshwasdarkening. Hismouthhadswollenintoashapelesscherry-colouredmasswithablackholeinthemiddleofit. 

           Fromtimetotimealittleblooddrippedontothebreastofhisoveralls. Hisgreyeyesstillflittedfromfacetoface,moreguiltilythanever,asthoughheweretryingtodiscoverhowmuchtheothersdespisedhimforhishumiliation. 

           Thedooropened. Withasmallgesturetheofficerindicatedtheskull-facedman.