Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 2
Iwasspread-eagled,andthumbed-up,andprivilybeatenbythestupidguardswhosetotalityofintelligencewasonlyjustsufficienttoshowthemthatIwasdifferentfromthemandnotsostupid.
TwoyearsofthiswitlesspersecutionIendured.Itisterribleforamantobetieddownandgnawedbyrats.Thestupidbrutesofguardswererats,andtheygnawedtheintelligenceofme,gnawedallthefinenervesofthequickofmeandoftheconsciousnessofme.AndI,whoinmypasthavebeenamostvaliantfighter,inthispresentlifewasnofighteratall.Iwasafarmer,anagriculturist,adesk-tiedprofessor,alaboratoryslave,interestedonlyinthesoilandtheincreaseoftheproductivenessofthesoil.
IfoughtinthePhilippinesbecauseitwasthetraditionoftheStandingstofight.Ihadnoaptitudeforfighting.Itwasalltooridiculous,theintroducingofdisruptiveforeignsubstancesintothebodiesoflittleblackmen-folk.ItwaslaughabletobeholdScienceprostitutingallthemightofitsachievementandthewitofitsinventorstotheviolentintroducingofforeignsubstancesintothebodiesofblackfolk.
AsIsay,inobediencetothetraditionoftheStandingsIwenttowarandfoundthatIhadnoaptitudeforwar.Sodidmyofficersfindmeout,becausetheymademeaquartermaster’sclerk,andasaclerk,atadesk,IfoughtthroughtheSpanish-AmericanWar.
