32
The Machine
The slow and ponderous movements the torturer had used earlier vanished. Between one heartbeat and the next, he went from standing next to the torture apparatus to looming over Julian where he stood chained to the wall. The beastly man's chest swelled outward as he breathed in, and his knuckles cracked so loudly that for a moment Julian thought there must also be a drummer in the room.
Then he leaned forward.
"Hey now," Julian managed to say, "let's talk about this. I - "
A huge hammer struck the side of his face and he reeled, seeing stars. Pain followed, the entire left side of his face crying out in injury as a flood of blood filled his mouth.
Julian spat the salty liquid out and shook his head, trying in vain to get his bearings.
Then his feet were free, and he
