Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 22
Iaskedhimto.Itisnormal....
Iwritetheserandomthoughts,and,asheetatatime,theystartontheirsecretwayoutbeyondthewalls....
Iamthecalmestmanintheprison.Iamlikeachildabouttostartonajourney.Iameagertobegone,curiousforthenewplacesIshallsee.Thisfearofthelesserdeathisridiculoustoonewhohasgoneintothedarksooftenandlivedagain....
TheWardenwithaquartofchampagne.IhavedispatcheditdownMurderersRow.Queer,isn’tit,thatIamsoconsideredthislastday.Itmustbethatthesemenwhoaretokillmearethemselvesafraidofdeath.ToquoteJakeOppenheimer:I,whoamabouttodie,mustseemtothemsomethingGod-awful....
EdMorrellhasjustsentwordintome.Theytellmehehaspacedupanddownallnightoutsidetheprisonwall.Beinganex-convict,theyhavered-tapedhimoutofseeingmetosaygood-bye.Savages?Idon’tknow.Possiblyjustchildren.I’llwagermostofthemwillbeafraidtobealoneinthedarkto-nightafterstretchingmyneck.
ButEdMorrell’smessage:“Myhandisinyours,oldpal.Iknowyou’llswingoffgame.”...
*****
Thereportershavejustleft
