Lucía Topolansky said (or says, or is saying)
well / to me / concretely / what they did to me was what’s called “submarine5” / which is …
you go under the water / tied to a table / like this / head down …
(her hand’s motion reminds me of how one would wash clothes by hand)
and then / well / the / the / the electric picana / and some hitting / …
then they would make you walk on the edge of a roof / …
and then / well / plantón6 / and / i don’t know …
(she furrows her brow in recollection)
they didn’t do that many things to me / bah / that …
(the interviewer asks ‘what’s the picana’)
the picana is a …
(she pretends to hold a small rod)
electricity / well / it’s a little stick that has electricity and that / and that / and that …
they keep putting on you / well / all over your body / and it gives you an electric discharge …
that they / they measure it / they / they / they regulate it with a / with a …
(she grabs a green marker and mimics a probing motion)
well / with a little key / i don’t know / i don’t know / i never saw it directly …
what you feel is like …
(she puts her hand over her heart)
like if you stuck your hands inside an outlet / a discharge / you feel …
what happens is they limit it / so that it doesn’t kill you / but / you know …
since you’re wet / and water is a good conductor of electricity …
it gives you / it gives you the sensation of being electrocuted all over / eh …
well / let’s say / what is sought is that
5. The Spanish word for waterboarding is submarino, meaning submarine.
6. Torture based on long periods of standing up, usually with forceful separation of the feet, extended arms, sometimes wearing weights. Generally applied with handcuffs and a bag to cover the head and under lack of sleep, hydration, and food.