In ‘Checkmate’ when Number 6 is out and
about in the Village, he’s stopped by Number 2 who is sitting in a taxi. He
asks Number 6 if he enjoyed his chess yesterday. Well he might have done had he
been one of the players rather than just a pawn on the chessboard, what’s more
he was only moved the once! So what’s to enjoy? All Number 2 wants is for
Number 6 to be happy, but all Number 6 wants is a one-way ticket home! Number 2
asks 6 if he won’t ever give up, so what does Number 2 think? Number 2 has
ways, if Number 6 drives them to use them, but such experiemts are conducted under
the strictest medical supervision. Conducted by that doctor-Number 22 no doubt,
a woman who like her predecessor Number 40, enjoys her work!
The conversation turns to the Rook, but he’ll
come to no harm according to Number 2, it’s just a rehabilitation course. Number
2 makes it sound very attractive. Perhaps Number 6 should envy the Rook! But
Number 2 can’t have Number 6 worrying, and so invites Number 6 to go with him to
see the Rook at the hospital. And yet this isn’t the first time Number 6 had
been invited to the hospital by Number 2 to check up on a patient. The first
time was during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ when Number 2 asked Number 6 to join
him at the hospital regarding Number 8, seeing as Number 6 had probably got to
know her better than anyone since her arrival in The Village. Had Number 6 noticed
any suicidal tendencies in Number 8? If not he was about to witness a staged
suicide attempt from the observation room, as Number 8 is put through interrogation
about her swim! In the case of the Rook, Pavlov’s experiments with dogs had
been adapted to humans. In the case of Number 8, it might be interesting to
know who came up with the technique of an electrified floor and a bowl of
water!
Be seeing you
No comments:
Post a Comment