Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 2
SoitwasnotbecauseIwasafighter,butbecauseIwasathinker,thatIwasenragedbythemotion-wastageoftheloom-roomsandwaspersecutedbytheguardsintobecomingan“incorrigible.”One’sbrainworkedandIwaspunishedforitsworking.AsItoldWardenAtherton,whenmyincorrigibilityhadbecomesonotoriousthathehadmeinonthecarpetinhisprivateofficetopleadwithme;asItoldhimthen:
“Itissoabsurd,mydearWarden,tothinkthatyourrat-throttlersofguardscanshakeoutofmybrainthethingsthatareclearanddefiniteinmybrain.Thewholeorganizationofthisprisonisstupid.Youareapolitician.YoucanweavethepoliticalpullofSanFranciscosaloon-menandwardheelersintoapositionofgraftsuchasthisoneyouoccupy;butyoucan’tweavejute.Yourloom-roomsarefiftyyearsbehindthetimes....”
Butwhycontinuethetirade?—fortiradeitwas.Ishowedhimwhatafoolhewas,andasaresulthedecidedthatIwasahopelessincorrigible.
Giveadogabadname—youknowthesaw.Verywell.WardenAthertongavethefinalsanctiontothebadnessofmyname.Iwasfairgame.Morethanoneconvict’sderelictionwasshuntedoffonme,andwaspaidforbymeinthedungeononbreadandwater,orinbeingtricedupbythethumbsonmytip-toesforlonghours,eachhourofwhichwaslongerthananylifeIhaveeverlived.
