Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 2
“Iplantedit,”helied—forhewascompelledtoliebecause,beingmerelytobaccoinsmallpackages,itwaslongsincedistributedamongtheconvictsalongthecustomarychannels.
“Verywell,”saidCaptainJamie,gettinghimselfinhand.“Leadmetoitatonce.”
Buttherewasnoplantofhighexplosivestoleadhimto.Thethingdidnotexist,hadneverexistedsaveintheimaginationofthewretchedWinwood.
InalargeprisonlikeSanQuentintherearealwayshiding-placesforthings.AndasCecilWinwoodledCaptainJamiehemusthavedonesomerapidthinking.
AsCaptainJamietestifiedbeforetheBoardofDirectors,andasWinwoodalsosotestified,onthewaytothehiding-placeWinwoodsaidthatheandIhadplantedthepowdertogether.
AndI,justreleasedfromfivedaysinthedungeonsandeightyhoursinthejacket;I,whomeventhestupidguardscouldseewastooweaktoworkintheloom-room;I,whohadbeengiventhedayofftorecuperate—fromtooterriblepunishment—Iwasnamedastheonewhohadhelpedhidethenon-existentthirty-fivepoundsofhighexplosive!
WinwoodledCaptainJamietotheallegedhiding-place.Ofcoursetheyfoundnodynamiteinit.
“MyGod!”Winwoodlied.
