Межзвёздный скиталец

           “Lord,Lord,Warden,itisbitterweather,”Isneered.“Thefrostissharp.WhereforeIamindeedgratefulforyourgivingmetwojackets.Ishallbealmostcomfortable.”

           “Tighter!”heurgedtoAlHutchins,whowasdrawingthelacing.“Throwyourfeetintotheskunk.Breakhisribs.”

           ImustadmitthatHutchinsdidhisbest.

           “Youwilllieaboutme,”theWardenraved,theflushofwineandwrathfloodingruddierintohisface.“Nowseewhatyougetforit.Yournumberistakenatlast,Standing.Thisisyourfinish.Doyouhear?Thisisyourfinish.”

           “Afavour,Warden,”Iwhisperedfaintly.FaintIwas.PerforceIwasnearlyunconsciousfromthefearfulconstriction.“Makeitatriplejacketing,”Imanagedtocontinue,whilethecellwallsswayedandreeledaboutmeandwhileIfoughtwithallmywilltoholdtomyconsciousnessthatwasbeingsqueezedoutofmebythejackets.“Anotherjacket...Warden...It...will...be...so...much...er...warmer.”

           AndmywhisperfadedawayasIebbeddownintothelittledeath.

           Iwasneverthesamemanafterthatdouble-jacketing.Neveragain,tothisday,nomatterwhatmyfood,wasIproperlynurtured.IsufferedinternalinjuriestoanextentInevercaredtoinvestigate.