Межзвёздный скиталец

           Eventhenmybodywasnumbingandpricklingthroughthelossofcirculation.Idirectedmywilltothelittletoeofmyrightfoot,andIwilledthattoetoceasetobealiveinmyconsciousness.Iwilledthattoetodie—todiesofarasI,itslord,andadifferentthingentirelyfromit,wasconcerned.Therewasthehardstruggle.Morrellhadwarnedmethatitwouldbeso.Buttherewasnoflickerofdoubttodisturbmyfaith.Iknewthatthattoewoulddie,andIknewwhenitwasdead.Jointbyjointithaddiedunderthecompulsionofmywill.

           Therestwaseasy,butslow,Iwilladmit.Jointbyjoint,toebytoe,allthetoesofbothmyfeetceasedtobe.Andjointbyjoint,theprocesswenton.Camethetimewhenmyfleshbelowtheankleshadceased.Camethetimewhenallbelowmykneeshadceased.

           Suchwasthepitchofmyperfectexaltation,thatIknewnottheslightestprodofrejoicingatmysuccess.IknewnothingsavethatIwasmakingmybodydie.AllthatwasIwasdevotedtothatsoletask.Iperformedtheworkasthoroughlyasanymasonlayingbricks,andIregardedtheworkasjustaboutascommonplaceaswouldabrick-masonregardhiswork.

           Attheendofanhourmybodywasdeadtothehips,andfromthehipsup,jointbyjoint,Icontinuedtowilltheascendingdeath.

           ItwaswhenIreachedthelevelofmyheartthatthefirstblurringanddizzyingofmyconsciousness’occurred.