Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 14
”IpulledupmysleeveandshowedabicepssoattenuatedthatwhenIflexeditithadtheappearanceofastring.“Arealblacksmith’sbiceps,eh,Warden?Castyoureyesonmyswellingchest.Sandowhadbetterlookoutforhislaurels.Andmyabdomen—why,man,Iamgrowingsostoutthatmycasewillbeascandalofprisonoverfeeding.Watchout,Warden,oryou’llhavethetaxpayersafteryou.”
“Areyougoingtostopknuckle-talk?”heroared.
“No,thankingyouforyourkindsolicitude.OnmaturedeliberationIhavedecidedthatIshallkeeponknuckle-talking.”
Hestaredatmespeechlesslyforamoment,andthen,outofsheerimpotency,turnedtogo.
“Onequestion,please.”
“Whatisit?”hedemandedoverhisshoulder.
“Whatareyougoingtodoaboutit?”
Fromthecholericexhibitionhegavethereandthenithasbeenanunceasingwonderwithmetothisdaythathehasnotlongsincediedofapoplexy.
Hourbyhour,afterthewarden’sdiscomfiteddeparture,Irappedonandonthetaleofmyadventures.Notuntilthatnight,whenPie-FaceJonescameondutyandproceededtostealhiscustomarynaps,wereMorrellandOppenheimerabletodoanytalking.
