Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 5
Herewascommunication!Herewascompanionship!Ilistenedeagerly,andthenearertapping,whichIguessedmustbeEdMorrell’s,replied:
“I—would—do—twenty—hours—strait—in—the—jacket—for—a—five—cent—sack—”
Thencamethesnarlinginterruptionoftheguard:“Cutthatout,Morrell!”
Itmaybethoughtbythelaymanthattheworsthasbeendonetomensentencedtosolitaryforlife,andthereforethatamereguardhasnowayofcompellingobediencetohisordertoceasetapping.
Butthejacketremains.Starvationremains.Thirstremains.Man-handlingremains.Truly,amanpentinanarrowcellisveryhelpless.
Sothetappingceased,andthatnight,whenitwasnextresumed,Iwasallatseaagain.Bypre-arrangementtheyhadchangedtheinitialletterofthecode.ButIhadcaughttheclue,and,inthematterofseveraldays,occurredagainthesameinitialmentIhadunderstood.Ididnotwaitoncourtesy.
“Hello,”Itapped
“Hello,stranger,”Morrelltappedback;and,fromOppenheimer,“Welcometoourcity.”
TheywerecurioustoknowwhoIwas,howlongIwascondemnedtosolitary,andwhyIhadbeensocondemned.
