Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 5
Wetoldoneanothermuchofthehistoryofourlives,andforlonghoursMorrellandIhavelainsilently,whilesteadily,withfaint,fartaps,Oppenheimerslowlyspelledouthislife-story,fromtheearlyyearsinaSanFranciscoslum,throughhisgang-training,throughhisinitiationintoallthatwasvicious,whenasaladoffourteenheservedasnightmessengerintheredlightdistrict,throughhisfirstdetectedinfractionofthelaws,andonandonthroughtheftsandrobberiestothetreacheryofacomradeandtoredslayingsinsideprisonwalls.
TheycalledJakeOppenheimerthe“HumanTiger.”Somecubreportercoinedthephrasethatwilllongoutlivethemantowhomitwasapplied.AndyetIeverfoundinJakeOppenheimerallthecardinaltraitsofrighthumanness.Hewasfaithfulandloyal.Iknowofthetimeshehastakenpunishmentinpreferencetoinformingonacomrade.Hewasbrave.Hewaspatient.Hewascapableofself-sacrifice—Icouldtellastoryofthis,butshallnottakethetime.Andjustice,withhim,wasapassion.Theprison-killingsdonebyhimweredueentirelytothisextremesenseofjustice.Andhehadasplendidmind.Alifetimeinprison,tenyearsofitinsolitary,hadnotdimmedhisbrain.
Morrell,everatruecomrade,toohadasplendidbrain.Infact,andIwhoamabouttodiehavetherighttosayitwithoutincurringthechargeofimmodesty,thethreebestmindsinSanQuentinfromtheWardendownwerethethreethatrottedtheretogetherinsolitary
