Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 5
Onoccasion,whenthetappingwentontoopersistently,extraguardsweresummoned,andIknewbythesoundsthatmenwerebeingstrait-jacketed.
Thematterwaseasyofexplanation.Ihadknown,aseveryprisonerinSanQuentinknew,thatthetwomeninsolitarywereEdMorrellandJakeOppenheimer.AndIknewthatthesewerethetwomenwhotappedknuckle-talktoeachotherandwerepunishedforsodoing.
ThatthecodetheyusedwassimpleIhadnottheslightestdoubt,yetIdevotedmanyhourstoavainefforttoworkitout.Heavenknows—ithadtobesimple,yetIcouldnotmakeheadnortailofit.Andsimpleitprovedtobe,whenIlearnedit;andsimplestofallprovedthetricktheyemployedwhichhadsobaffledme.Notonlyeachdaydidtheychangethepointinthealphabetwherethecodeinitialled,buttheychangediteveryconversation,and,often,inthemidstofaconversation.
Thus,therecameadaywhenIcaughtthecodeattherightinitial,listenedtotwoclearsentencesofconversation,and,thenexttimetheytalked,failedtounderstandaword.Butthatfirsttime!
“Say—Ed—what—would—you—give—right—now—for—brown—papers—and—a—sack—of—Bull—Durham!”askedtheonewhotappedfromfartheraway.
Inearlycriedoutinmyjoy.
