Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 22
Capitalpunishmentissosilly,sostupid,sohorriblyunscientific.“Tobehangedbytheneckuntildead”issociety’squaintphraseology...
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Morningiscome—mylastmorning.Isleptlikeababethroughoutthenight.Isleptsopeacefullythatoncethedeath-watchgotafright.HethoughtIhadsuffocatedmyselfinmyblankets.Thepoorman’salarmwaspitiful.Hisbreadandbutterwasatstake.Hadittrulybeenso,itwouldhavemeantablackmarkagainsthim,perhapsdischargeandtheoutlookforanunemployedmanisbitterjustatpresent.TheytellmethatEuropebeganliquidatingtwoyearsago,andthatnowtheUnitedStateshasbegun.Thatmeanseitherabusinesscrisisoraquietpanicandthatthearmiesoftheunemployedwillbelargenextwinter,thebread-lineslong....
Ihavehadmybreakfast.Itseemedasillythingtodo,butIateitheartily.TheWardencamewithaquartofwhiskey.IpresentedittoMurderersRowwithmycompliments.TheWarden,poorman,isafraid,ifIbenotdrunk,thatIshallmakeamessofthefunctionandcastreflectiononhismanagement...
Theyhaveputonmetheshirtwithoutacollar...
ItseemsIamaveryimportantmanthisday.Quitealotofpeoplearesuddenlyinterestedinme....
Thedoctorhasjustgone.Hehastakenmypulse.
