or's situation has changed somewhat. A visual image distracted him. Far above his bound body, on the ceiling of the chamber, was the figure of Time holding what first appeared to be his traditional scythe. Upon closer contemplation, the prisoner perceived that the painting is no mere symbol - it was an animated instrument of torture, a razor sharp pendulum. At first, he doesn't comprehend his peril, thinking that the motion was meant only to mesmerize or distract him. As were so many of the other depictions around the prison. He looked around seeking other objects to focus his attention on.He was given salty meat which attracted a horde of rats and also made him thirsty. However he was given no more water. This her to though was a sign of diversion, or maybe just a sheer reminder of death. This diversion allowed him the partial success of scaring them away with his one mobile arm. After hours of dissuading the rats in such a manner, he cast his eyes upward and recognized that the pendulum descended, almost imperceptibly, but enough to convince him that it would be lowered incrementally towards his immovable body. Fear and stress caused him to pass out. Upon wakening, he became aware that the pendulum had not shifted position while he was asleep but resumed its careening motion only as he became conscious of it. Undoubtedly, the pendulum was in strict control of those who controlled him.When he awakes, the pendulum starts descending slowly again. It is swinging in a trajectory directly over his heart. Even though he knows that this is a dire situation, the narrator remains hopeful. When the pendulum gets very close to him, he gets an idea. He rubs the food from his plate all over the strap that is holding him to the wooden board. The rats climb on top of him and chew through the strap. As the pendulum lowers, then, the narrator just escapes from its swing. When he gets up, the pendulum retracts to the ceiling. The narrator realizes that...
