Page 278 - Orwell, George - Nineteen eighty-four -bilingüe [pdf]

George Orwell 1 9 8 4 277

‘Yes,’ said Winston. — Sí —dijo Winston.

Without any warning except a slight movement of Sin advertencia previa excepto un leve movimiento
O’Brien’s hand, a wave of pain flooded his body. It de la mano de O'Brien — le inundó una oleada
was a frightening pain, because he could not see dolorosa. Era un dolor espantoso porque no sabía
what was happening, and he had the feeling that de dónde venía y tenía la sensación de que le
some mortal injury was being done to him. He did habían causado un daño mortal. No sabía si era un
not know whether the thing was really happening, dolor interno o el efecto de algún recurso eléctrico,
or whether the effect was electrically produced; but pero sentía como si todo el cuerpo se le
his body was being wrenched out of shape, the descoyuntara. Aunque el dolor le hacía sudar por
joints were being slowly torn apart. Although the la frente, lo único que le preocupaba es que se le
pain had brought the sweat out on his forehead, the rompiera la columna vertebral. Apretó los dientes
worst of all was the fear that his backbone was y respiró por la nariz tratando de estarse callado lo
about to snap. He set his teeth and breathed hard más posible.
through his nose, trying to keep silent as long as
possible.

‘You are afraid,’ said O’Brien, watching his face, — Tienes miedo —dijo O'Brien observando su
‘that in another moment something is going to cara — de que de un momento a otro se te rompa
break. Your especial fear is that it will be your algo. Sobre todo, temes que se te parta la espina
backbone. You have a vivid mental picture of the dorsal. Te imaginas ahora mismo las vértebras
vertebrae snapping apart and the spinal fluid saltándose y el líquido raquídeo saliéndose.
dripping out of them. That is what you are thinking, ¿Verdad que lo estás pensando, Winston?
is it not, Winston?’

Winston did not answer. O’Brien drew back the Winston no contestó. O'Brien presionó sobre la
lever on the dial. The wave of pain receded almost palanca. La ola de dolor se retiró con tanta rapidez
as quickly as it had come. como había llegado.

‘That was forty,’ said O’Brien. ‘You can see that — Eso era cuarenta —dijo O'Brien —. Ya ves que
the numbers on this dial run up to a hundred. Will los números llegan hasta el ciento. Recuerda, por
you please remember, throughout our conversation, favor, durante nuestra conversación, que está en mi
that I have it in my power to inflict pain on you at mano infligirle dolor en el momento y en el grado
any moment and to whatever degree I choose? If que yo desee. Si me dices mentiras o si intentas
you tell me any lies, or attempt to prevaricate in engañarme de alguna manera, o te dejas caer por
any way, or even fall below your usual level of debajo de tu nivel normal de inteligencia, te haré
intelligence, you will cry out with pain, instantly. dar un alarido inmediatamente. ¿Entendido?
Do you understand that?’

‘Yes,’ said Winston. — Sí —dijo Winston.

O’Brien’s manner became less severe. He resettled O'Brien adoptó una actitud menos severa. Se
his spectacles thoughtfully, and took a pace or two ajustó pensativo las gafas y anduvo unos pasos por
up and down. When he spoke his voice was gentle la habitación. Cuando volvió a hablar, su voz era
and patient. He had the air of a doctor, a teacher, suave y paciente. Parecía un médico, un maestro,