Onsubsequentinspectionthe
citizenwasrequiredtoshowtheproperlyentered
stampsofthelastinspection.TheExaminer,whenhe
stoppedalargegroup,wouldonlyexamineandstamp
thecardsofafew.Theotherswerethensubjectto
arrestbecausetheircardswerenotproperlystamped.
Arrestmeant"provisionaldetention";that is,the pris-
onerwouldbereleasedifandwhenhisAffidavitof
Explanation,properlysignedandstamped,wasap-
provedbytheAssistantArbiterofExplanations.Since
thisofficialhardlyevercametohiso%office,andthe
A%fidavitofExplanationhadtobepresentedinperson,
theexplainersspentweeksandmonthswaitingaround
in unheated offices with no chairs and no toilet facilities.
Documentsissuedinvanishinginkfadedintoold
pawntickets.Newdocumentswereconstantlyrequired.
Thecitizensrushedfromonebureautoanotherina
frenzied attempt to meet impossible deadlines.
Allbenches wereremoved fromthe city,all fountains
turnedoff, allflowers andtrees destroyed.Huge electric
buzzersonthetopofeveryapartmenthouse(every-
onelivedinapartments)rangthequarterhour.Often
thevibrationswouldthrowpeopleoutofbed.Search-
lightsplayedoverthetownallnight(noonewas
permitted to use shades, curtains, shutters or blinds).
Nooneeverlookedatanyoneelsebecauseofthe
strictlawagainstimportuning,withorwithoutverbal
approach,anyonefor anypurpose, sexualor otherwise.
Allcafesandbarswere closed.Liquor couldonly be
obtainedwitha specialpermit, andthe liquorso ob-
tained could not besold orgiven orin anyway trans-
ferred toanyone else,and thepresence ofanyone else
intheroomwasconsideredprimafacieevidenceof
conspiracy to transfer liquor.
No one was permitted tobolt hisdoor, andthe police
hadpasskeystoevery roomin thecity. Accompanied
byamentalisttheyrushinto someone'squarters and
start "looking for it."
Thementalistguidesthemtowhatevertheman
wishesto hide:a tubeof vaseline,an enema,a hand-
kerchief with comeon it,a weapon,unlicensed alcohol.
Accompanied
byamentalisttheyrushinto someone'squarters and
start "looking for it."
Thementalistguidesthemtowhatevertheman
wishesto hide:a tubeof vaseline,an enema,a hand-
kerchief with comeon it,a weapon,unlicensed alcohol.
Andtheyalwayssubmittedthesuspecttothemost
humiliatingsearchofhisnakedperson onwhich they
makesneeringandderogatorycomments.Manya latent
homosexualwascarriedoutinastraitjacketwhen
they planted vaseline in hisass. Orthey pounceon any
object. A pen wiper or a shoe tree.
"And what is this supposed to be for?"
"It's a pen wiper."
"A pen wiper, he says."
"I've heard everything now."
"I guess this is all we need. Come on, you."
Afterafewmonthsof thisthe citizenscowered in
corners like neurotic cats.
OfcoursetheAnnexiapoliceprocessedsuspected
agents, saboteursand politicaldeviants onan assembly
line basis. As regards the interrogation of suspects, Ben-
way has this to say:
"Whilein generalI avoidthe useof torture-torture
locatestheopponentandmobilizesresistance-the
threat of torture is useful to inducein thesubject the
appropriate feeling of helplessnessand gratitudeto the
interrogator for withholdingit. Andtorture canbe em-
ployedtoadvantageasa penaltywhen thesubject is
farenoughalongwith thetreatment toaccept punish-
mentasdeserved. Tothis endI devisedseveral forms
ofdisciplinaryprocedure.OnewasknownasThe
Switchboard.Electricdrillsthat canbe turnedon at
anytimeareclamped againstthe subject'steeth; and
he is instructed to operatean arbitraryswitchboard, to
put certain connections in certain sockets inresponse to
bellsandlights.Everytimehemakes amistake the
drills are turned on for twentyseconds. Thesignals are
graduallyspeeded upbeyond hisreaction time.Half an
hourontheswitchboardandthesubjectbreaks down
like an overloaded thinking machine.
"Thestudyofthinkingmachinesteachesusmore
aboutthebrainthanwecanlearnbyintrospective
methods.Westernmanisexternalizinghimselfin the
form of gadgets. Ever popcoke inthe mainline?It hits
youright inthe brain,activating connectionsof pure
pleasure.Thepleasureof morphineis inthe viscera.
Youlistendowninto yourselfafter ashot. ButC is
electricity through thebrain, andthe Cyen isof the
brainalone,aneed withoutbody andwithout feeling.