Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 14
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Ishallnotdwellupontheagonyofreturningcirculation.Itwastobecomeanoldstorywithme,anditboreitsshareincuttingthelinesinmyfacethatIshallcarrytothescaffold.
WhentheyfinallyleftmeIlayfortherestofthedaystupidandhalf-comatose.Thereissuchathingasanæsthesiaofpain,engenderedbypaintooexquisitetobeborne.AndIhaveknownthatanæsthesia.
ByeveningIwasabletocrawlaboutmycell,butnotyetcouldIstandup.Idrankmuchwater,andcleansedmyselfaswellasIcould;butnotuntilnextdaycouldIbringmyselftoeat,andthenonlybydeliberateforceofmywill.
Theprogramme,asgivenmebyWardenAtherton,wasthatIwastorestupandrecuperateforafewdays,andthen,ifinthemeantimeIhadnotconfessedtothehiding-placeofthedynamite,Ishouldbegivenanothertendaysinthejacket.
“Sorrytocauseyousomuchtrouble,Warden,”Ihadsaidinreply.“It’sapityIdon’tdieinthejacketandsoputyououtofyourmisery.”
AtthistimeIdoubtthatIweighedanounceoverninetypounds.Yet,twoyearsbefore,whenthedoorsofSanQuentinfirstclosedonme,Ihadweighedonehundredandsixty-fivepounds.ItseemsincrediblethattherewasanotherounceIcouldpartwithandstilllive.
