Межзвёздный скиталец

           “Kickashardasyouplease,andI’llstillhaveenoughfaceleftwithwhichtosmile.Inthemeantime,whileyouarehesitating,supposeyouacceptmyoriginalproposition.”

           Amanmustbeterriblyweakandprofoundlydesperatetobeable,undersuchcircumstances,tobeardtheWardeninsolitary.Orhemaybeboth,and,inaddition,hemayhavefaith.IknownowthatIhadthefaithandsoactedonit.IbelievedwhatMorrellhadtoldme.Ibelievedinthelordshipofthemindoverthebody.Ibelievedthatnotevenahundreddaysinthejacketcouldkillme.

           CaptainJamiemusthavesensedthisfaiththatinformedme,forhesaid:

           “IrememberaSwedethatwentcrazytwentyyearsago.Thatwasbeforeyourtime,Warden.He’dkilledamaninaquarrelovertwenty-fivecentsandgotlifeforit.Hewasacook.Hegotreligion.Hesaidthatagoldenchariotwascomingtotakehimtoheaven,andhesatdownontopthered-hotrangeandsanghymnsandhosannahswhilehecooked.Theydraggedhimoff,buthecroakedtwodaysafterwardinhospital.Hewascookedtothebone.Andtotheendhesworehe’dneverfelttheheat.Couldn’tgetasquealoutofhim.”

           “We’llmakeStandingsqueal,”saidtheWarden.

           “Sinceyouaresosureofit,whydon’tyouacceptmyproposition?”Ichallenged.