Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 5
Isquaredandcubedlongseriesofnumbers,andbyconcentrationandwillcarriedonmostastonishinggeometricprogressions.Ievendalliedwiththesquaringofthecircle...untilIfoundmyselfbeginningtobelievethatthatpossibilitycouldbeaccomplished.Whereupon,realizingthatthere,too,laymadness,Iforwentthesquaringofthecircle,althoughIassureyouitrequiredaconsiderablesacrificeonmypart,forthementalexerciseinvolvedwasasplendidtime-killer.
BysheervisualizationundermyeyelidsIconstructedchess-boardsandplayedbothsidesoflonggamesthroughtocheckmate.ButwhenIhadbecomeexpertatthisvisualizedgameofmemorytheexercisepalledonme.Exerciseitwas,fortherecouldbenorealcontestwhenthesameplayerplayedbothsides.Itried,andtriedvainly,tosplitmypersonalityintotwopersonalitiesandtopitoneagainsttheother.ButeverIremainedtheoneplayer,withnoplannedruseorstrategyononesidethattheothersidedidnotimmediatelyapprehend.
Andtimewasveryheavyandverylong.Iplayedgameswithflies,withordinaryhouse-fliesthatoozedintosolitaryasdidthedimgraylight;andlearnedthattheypossessedasenseofplay.Forinstance,lyingonthecellfloor,Iestablishedanarbitraryandimaginarylinealongthewallsomethreefeetabovethefloor.Whentheyrestedonthewallabovethislinetheywereleftinpeace.TheinstanttheylightedonthewallbelowthelineItriedtocatchthem.
