Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 20
TheoldpaininmyribsandstomachiswithmenowasIwritetheselines.Butthepoor,maltreatedmachineryhasserveditspurpose.Ithasenabledmetolivethusfar,anditwillenablemetolivethelittlelongertothedaytheytakemeoutintheshirtwithoutacollarandstretchmyneckwiththewell-stretchedrope.
Butthedouble-jacketingwasthelaststraw.ItbrokedownWardenAtherton.HesurrenderedtothedemonstrationthatIwasunkillable.AsItoldhimonce:
“Theonlywayyoucangetme,Warden,istosneakinheresomenightwithahatchet.”
JakeOppenheimerwasresponsibleforagoodoneontheWardenwhichImustrelate:
“Isay,Warden,itmustbestraighthellforyoutohavetowakeupeverymorningwithyourselfonyourpillow.”
AndEdMorrelltotheWarden:
“Yourmothermusthavebeendamnfondofchildrentohaveraisedyou.”
Itwasreallyanoffencetomewhenthejacketingceased.Isadlymissedthatdreamworldofmine.Butnotforlong.IfoundthatIcouldsuspendanimationbytheexerciseofmywill,aidedmechanicallybyconstrictingmychestandabdomenwiththeblanket.ThusIinducedphysiologicalandpsychologicalstatessimilartothosecausedbythejacket.
