Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 1
Andfarmmanagement!Iknowthewasteofsuperfluousmotionwithoutstudyingamovingpicturerecordofit,whetheritbefarmorfarm-hand,thelayoutofbuildingsorthelayoutofthefarm-hands’labour.Thereismyhandbookandtablesonthesubject.Beyondtheshadowofanydoubt,atthispresentmoment,ahundredthousandfarmersareknottingtheirbrowsoveritsspreadpageseretheytapouttheirfinalpipeandgotobed.Andyet,sofarwasIbeyondmytables,thatallIneededwasamerelookatamantoknowhispredispositions,hisco-ordinations,andtheindexfractionofhismotion-wastage.
AndhereImustclosethisfirstchapterofmynarrative.Itisnineo’clock,andinMurderers’Rowthatmeanslightsout.Evennow,Ihearthesofttreadofthegum-shoedguardashecomestocensuremeformycoal-oillampstillburning.Asifthemerelivingcouldcensurethedoomedtodie!
