Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 22
Heavens,ifhisnosedidbleed,theprobabilityisthatsomeofhisownkindwereguiltyofcausingitintheconfusionofthescuffle.Ishouldn’tcareifIwereresponsibleforitmyself,savethatitissopitifulathingforwhichtohangaman....
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Ihavejusthadatalkwiththemanonshiftofmydeath-watch.Alittlelessthanayearago,JakeOppenheimeroccupiedthissamedeath-cellontheroadtothegallowswhichIwilltreadto-morrow.Thismanwasoneofthedeath-watchonJake.Heisanoldsoldier.Hechewstobaccoconstantly,anduntidily,forhisgraybeardandmoustachearestainedyellow.Heisawidower,withfourteenlivingchildren,allmarried,andisthegrandfatherofthirty-onelivinggrandchildren,andthegreat-grandfatheroffouryounglings,allgirls.Itwaslikepullingteethtoextractsuchinformation.Heisaqueeroldcodger,ofaloworderofintelligence.Thatiswhy,Ifancy,hehaslivedsolongandfatheredsonumerousaprogeny.Hismindmusthavecrystallizedthirtyyearsago.Hisideasarenoneofthemlaterthanthatvintage.Herarelysaysmorethanyesandnotome.Itisnotbecauseheissurly.Hehasnoideastoutter.Idon’tknow,whenIliveagain,butwhatoneincarnationsuchashiswouldbeanicevegetativeexistenceinwhichtorestupereIgostar-rovingagain....
Buttogoback.
