Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 4
Andalwaysitwasdynamite,dynamite,“Whereisthedynamite?”andtherewasnodynamite.Why,towardthelastIwouldhavegivenalargeportionofmyimmortalsoulforafewpoundsofdynamitetowhichIcouldconfess.
Idonotknowhowmanychairswerebrokenbymybody.Ifaintedtimeswithoutnumber,andtowardthelastthewholethingbecamenightmarish.Iwashalf-carried,half-shovedanddraggedbacktothedark.There,whenIbecameconscious,Ifoundastoolinmydungeon.Hewasapallid-faced,littledope-fiendofashort-timerwhowoulddoanythingtoobtainthedrug.AssoonasIrecognizedhimIcrawledtothegratingandshoutedoutalongthecorridor:
“Thereisastoolinwithme,fellows!He’sIgnatiusIrvine!Watchoutwhatyousay!”
TheoutburstofimprecationsthatwentupwouldhaveshakenthefortitudeofabravermanthanIgnatiusIrvine.Hewaspitifulinhisterror,whileallabouthim,roaringlikebeasts,thepain-rackedliferstoldhimwhatawfulthingstheywoulddotohimintheyearsthatweretocome.
Hadtherebeensecrets,thepresenceofastoolinthedungeonswouldhavekeptthemenquiet,Asitwas,havingallsworntotellthetruth,theytalkedopenlybeforeIgnatiusIrvine.Theonegreatpuzzlewasthedynamite,ofwhichtheywereasmuchinthedarkaswasI.Theyappealedtome.
