Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 22
Imusttakealineinwhichtotell,afterIwashustledandbustled,kickedandpunched,upthatterriblestairwaybyThurstonandtherestoftheprison-dogs,oftheinfinitereliefofmynarrowcellwhenIfoundmyselfbackinsolitary.Itwasallsosafe,sosecure.Ifeltlikealostchildreturnedhomeagain.IlovedthoseverywallsthatIhadsohatedforfiveyears.Allthatkeptthevastnessofspace,likeamonster,frompouncinguponmewerethosegoodstoutwallsofmine,closetohandoneveryside.Agoraphobiaisaterribleaffliction.Ihavehadlittleopportunitytoexperienceit,butfromthatlittleIcanonlyconcludethathangingisafareasiermatter....
Ihavejusthadaheartylaugh.Theprisondoctor,alikablechap,hasjustbeenintohaveayarnwithme,incidentallytoproffermehisgoodofficesinthematterofdope.OfcourseIdeclinedhispropositionto“shootme”sofullofmorphinethroughthenightthatto-morrowIwouldnotknow,whenImarchedtothegallows,whetherIwas“comingorgoing.”
Butthelaugh.ItwasjustlikeJakeOppenheimer.Icanseetheleankeennessofthemanashestrungthereporterswithhisdeliberatebullwhichtheythoughtinvoluntary.Itseems,hislastmorning,breakfastfinished,incasedintheshirtwithoutacollar,thatthereporters,assembledforhislastwordinhiscell,askedhimforhisviewsoncapitalpunishment.
