Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 6
Aloft,atgiddymastheadsoscillatingabovethedecksofships,Ihavegazedonsun-flashedwaterwherecoral-growthsiridescedfromprofoundsofturquoisedeeps,andconnedtheshipsintothesafetyofmirroredlagoonswheretheanchorsrumbleddownclosetopalm-frondedbeachesofsea-poundedcoralrock;andIhavestrivenonforgottenbattlefieldsoftheelderdays,whenthesunwentdownonslaughterthatdidnotceaseandthatcontinuedthroughthenight-hourswiththestarsshiningdownandwithacoolnightwindblowingfromdistantpeaksofsnowthatfailedtochillthesweatofbattle;andagain,IhavebeenlittleDarrellStanding,bare-footedinthedew-lushgrassofspringontheMinnesotafarm,chilblainedwhenoffrostymorningsIfedthecattleintheirbreath-steamingstalls,soberedtofearandaweofthesplendourandterrorofGodwhenIsatonSundaysundertherantandpreachmentoftheNewJerusalemandtheagoniesofhell-fire.
Now,theforegoingweretheglimpsesandglimmeringsthatcametome,when,inCellOneofSolitaryinSanQuentin,Istaredmyselfunconsciousbymeansofaparticleofbright,light-radiatingstraw.Howdidthesethingscometome?SurelyIcouldnothavemanufacturedthemoutofnothinginsidemypentwallsanymorethancouldIhavemanufacturedoutofnothingthethirty-fivepoundsofdynamitesoruthlesslydemandedofmebyCaptainJamie,WardenAtherton,andthePrisonBoardofDirectors.
