Chapter 7

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           ThefirstthingInoticeisthesmell:leather,wood,polishwithafaintcitrusscent.It’sverypleasant,andthelightingissoft,subtle.Infact,Ican’tseethesource,butit’saroundthecorniceintheroom,emittinganambientglow.Thewallsandceilingareadeep,darkburgundy,givingawomb-likeeffecttothespaciousroom,andthefloorisold,oldvarnishedwood.ThereisalargewoodencrosslikeanXfastenedtothewallfacingthedoor.It’smadeofhigh-polishedmahogany,andtherearerestrainingcuffsoneachcorner.Aboveitisanexpansiveirongridsuspendedfromtheceiling,eight-footsquareatleast,andfromithangallmannerofropes,chains,andglintingshackles.Bythedoor,twolong,polished,ornatelycarvedpoles,likespindlesfromabanisterbutlonger,hanglikecurtainrodsacrossthewall.Fromthemswingastartlingassortmentofpaddles,whips,ridingcrops,andfunny-lookingfeatheryimplements.

           Besidethedoorstandsasubstantialmahoganychestofdrawers,eachdrawerslimasifdesignedtocontainspecimensinacrustyoldmuseum.Iwonderbrieflywhatthedrawersactuallydohold.DoIwanttoknow?Inthefarcornerisanoxbloodleatherpaddedbench,andfixedtothewallbesideitisawooden,polishedrackthatlookslikeapoolorbilliardcueholder,butoncloserinspection,itholdscanesofvaryinglengthsandwidths.There’sastoutsix-foot-longtableintheoppositecorner—polishedwoodwithintricatelycarvedlegs—andtwomatchingstoolsunderneath.

           Butwhatdominatestheroomisabed.