Межзвёздный скиталец

           ButtoreturntomyexperienceinOppenheimer’scell.Hisbodywasthatofamanlongdeadandshrivelledbydesertheat.Theskinthatcovereditwasofthecolourofdrymud.Hissharp,yellow-grayeyesseemedtheonlypartofhimthatwasalive.Theywereneveratrest.Helayonhisback,andtheeyesdartedhitherandthither,followingtheflightoftheseveralfliesthatdisportedinthegloomyairabovehim.Inoted,too,ascar,justabovehisrightelbow,andanotherscaronhisrightankle.

           Afteratimeheyawned,rolledoveronhisside,andinspectedanangry-lookingsorejustabovehiship.Thisheproceededtocleanseanddressbythecrudemethodsmeninsolitarymustemploy.Irecognizedthesoreasoneofthesortcausedbythestrait-jacket.Onmybody,atthismomentofwriting,arehundredsofscarsofthejacket.

           Next,Oppenheimerrolledonhisback,gingerlytookoneofhisfrontuppertooth—aneyeteeth—betweenthumbandforefinger,andconsiderativelymoveditbackandforth.Againheyawned,stretchedhisarms,rolledover,andknockedthecalltoEdMorrell.

           Ireadthecodeasamatterofcourse.

           “Thoughtyoumightbeawake,”Oppenheimertapped.