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did not pause in his step, fearing that, if he did, the younger guard would take
hold of him once more then he felt a Rand hold him indeed, but it touched him only lightly, he guessed that it must belong to the older guard, mr, sober feeling the instruction that the touch conveyed, he, halted metal jingled nearby, then scraped he heard the screech of another pair of door hinges without waiting to be pushed, he walked into the destiny that awaited him. the room was small he was not sure how he knew this, for his eyes were still shut. perhaps it had to do with the way his footsteps, sounded upon the floor the room was warm as well, warmer than the dungeons entry hall had been, and light danced against his eyelids. he tried not to think what the purpose of the fire might be. next to him, mr. sobel said, "you may open your eyes, mr. taylor. he had no desire to do so, it would be easier to face what came next if he did not have to see it. but he guessed that the words were not an invitation but an instruction, so he let his eyelids rise.. the instruments of torture he had expected were not there, all that he could see was an ordinary or honed a better one than he had left. whereas his had two dozen prisoners, whom he had feared more than the guards, this cell was, designed for a single man the floor of his old cell had been made of dirt and straw that attracted vermin, this one was of flagstones in his old cell, he had slept on the floor; here a low, body-length shelf graced the left wall, and it even had blankets, a pillow, and a thin mattress. his old cell had chains, he remembered that most of all, and so, no doubt, did all of the inhabitants of parkside prison, for he had kept the prisoners awake until midnight, his first night, screaming his throat raw, his guards, who had been frustrated from taking action against him by the knowledge that his transfer to the eternal dungeon had already been arranged, had finally released him, from his bonds. thereafter, the keeper of parkside prison had commented dryly when he came to speak to elsdon of his transfer, elsdon had acted as a model prisoner he doubted he would be able to remain quiet here for long he looked more closely at the cell, seeking some small sign of what would happen in the hours to come. & flash of metal caught his attention, But he quickly saw that the metal was no more than a collection of implements for his foiletry a covered chamber-pot, a pitcher and bowl, and a set of cloths, it was far more than he had known at parkside prison as for the fire that was the oddest part of all there was no fire in this place, not even a lamp. instead, at the far end of the long, rectangular cell, the wall seemed translucent, like thick içe upon a pond, and beyond it was the dancing light he had seen behind his eyelids when he entered the cell he stared at it, trying to ascertain the çause of the fire. behind him, mr. sobel said, "now, then..." his hand fell upon elsdons shoulder elsdon spun, with the desperate haste of a man who has felt a dagger touch his back, and thrust away with his hands,, propelling the guard into the left-hand corner against the wall that held the open cell door. mr. şobels head met the wall with a crack, and his eyes turned up in his head. elsdon saw no more than this, for he was backing away, as hastily as he could, seeking refuge from what he had done, none was to be found, the cell was too small for a hiding plage, he ended up in the right-hand corner next to the door, and it was there that the younger guards whip reached him. his breath gasped in at the bite of the lash, but his mind was scarcely of the burning line across his forearm. he had turned his head, half expecting led his mouth see another corpse lying motionless upon the ground. the whiplash came a second time, harder, he closed his eyes against the pain and waited for the remainder, he could not tell Whether the young out apologies. guard wanted him on his knees or crying for mercy or he could never tell. That was the trouble. "mr. urman!" mr. sopels voice was reassuringly sharp, elsdon opened his eyes, and looked pyer to the corner opposite of him, where mr. sobel had pushed himself away from the wall and was rubbing the back of his head. the older guard said to his
