Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 7
TherewasSlant-EyedWilson,withanunguessedweakheartoffear,whodiedinthejacketwithinthefirsthourwhiletheunconvincedinefficientofaprisondoctorlookedonandsmiled.AndIhaveseenamanconfess,afterhalfanhourinthejacket,truthsandfictionsthatcosthimyearsofcredits.
Ihadhadmyownexperiences.Atthepresentmomenthalfathousandscarsmarkmybody.Theygotothescaffoldwithme.DidIliveahundredyearstocomethosesamescarsintheendwouldgotothegravewithme.
Perhaps,dearcitizenwhopermitsandpayshishang-dogstolacethejacketforyou—perhapsyouareunacquaintedwiththejacket.Letmedescribe,it,sothatyouwillunderstandthemethodbywhichIachieveddeathinlife,becameatemporarymasteroftimeandspace,andvaultedtheprisonwallstoroveamongthestars.
Haveyoueverseencanvastarpaulinsorrubberblanketswithbrasseyeletssetinalongtheedges?Thenimagineapieceofstoutcanvas,somefourandone-halffeetinlength,withlargeandheavybrasseyeletsrunningdownbothedges.Thewidthofthiscanvasisneverthefullgirthofthehumanbodyitistosurround.Thewidthisalsoirregular—broadestattheshoulders,nextbroadestatthehips,andnarrowestatthewaist.
Thejacketisspreadonthefloor.Themanwhoistobepunished,orwhoistobetorturedforconfession,istoldtolieface-downwardontheflatcanvas.
