Real terror is a crippling experience. You sweat so much that your skin goes all wrinkly like when you've been in the bath all afternoon. And then the scent of your sweat changes. It smells like cat pee, no doubt from the adrenalin. However hard you wash, it won't come off. It smothers you, as your muscles become frozen with acid and your mind paralysed by despair.
The quote from Tahir Shah's "In Arabian Nights: A Caravan of Moroccan Dreams" vividly describes the overwhelming experience of real terror. The author draws attention to the physical sensations that accompany fear, including sweating to the point of wrinkling the skin and a peculiar change in body odor. This visceral reaction highlights the profound impact that extreme fear can have on the body, suggesting a sense of hopelessness that is both mental and physical.
Furthermore, Shah captures the debilitating nature of terror, explaining how it can cause muscle tension and mental paralysis. The description of despair as a paralyzing force conveys the inescapability of fear, reinforcing the idea that no matter how much one tries to cleanse themselves of the experience, the lasting effects of psychological trauma remain. This powerful imagery reflects the depths of human vulnerability in the face of fear.
