Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 8
Infact,thatwaswhatIbecame—asortofstring-likeorganismthatpersistedinliving.
MorrellandOppenheimerweresorryforme,andrappedmesympathyandadvice.Oppenheimertoldmehehadgonethroughit,andworse,andstilllived.
“Don’tletthembeatyouout,”hespelledwithhisknuckles.“Don’tletthemkillyou,forthatwouldsuitthem.Anddon’tsquealontheplant.”
“Butthereisn’tanyplant,”Irappedbackwiththeedgeofthesoleofmyshoeagainstthegrating—Iwasinthejacketatthetimeandsocouldtalkonlywithmyfeet.“Idon’tknowanythingaboutthedamneddynamite.”
“That’sright,”Oppenheimerpraised.“He’sthestuff,ain’the,Ed?”
WhichgoestoshowwhatchanceIhadofconvincingWardenAthertonofmyignoranceofthedynamite.HisverypersistenceinthequestconvincedamanlikeJakeOppenheimer,whocouldonlyadmiremeforthefortitudewithwhichIkeptaclosemouth.
Duringthisfirstperiodofthejacket-inquisitionImanagedtosleepagreatdeal.Mydreamswereremarkable.Ofcoursetheywerevividandreal,asmostdreamsare.Whatmadethemremarkablewastheircoherenceandcontinuity.
