Chapter 11

           Thedoorclanged,shuttingoutallbutalittlelight,andIwasleftaloneonmyback.BythetricksIhadlongsincelearnedinthejacket,Imanagedtowrithemyselfacrosstheflooraninchatatimeuntiltheedgeofthesoleofmyrightshoetouchedthedoor.Therewasanimmensecheerinthis.Iwasnotutterlyalone.Iftheneedarose,IcouldatleastrapknuckletalktoMorrell.

           ButWardenAthertonmusthaveleftstrictinjunctionsontheguards,for,thoughImanagedtocallMorrellandtellhimIintendedtryingtheexperiment,hewaspreventedbytheguardsfromreplying.Metheycouldonlycurse,for,insofarasIwasinthejacketforatendays’bout,Iwasbeyondallthreatofpunishment.

           Irememberremarkingatthetimemyserenityofmind.Thecustomarypainofthejacketwasinmybody,butmymindwassopassivethatIwasnomoreawareofthepainthanwasIawareofthefloorbeneathmeorthewallsaroundme.Neverwasamaninbettermentalandspiritualconditionforsuchanexperiment.Ofcourse,thiswaslargelyduetomyextremeweakness.Buttherewasmoretoit.Ihadlongschooledmyselftobeoblivioustopain.Ihadneitherdoubtsnorfears.Allthecontentofmymindseemedtobeanabsolutefaithintheover-lordshipofthemind.Thispassivitywasalmostdream-like,andyet,initsway,itwaspositivealmosttoapitchofexaltation.

           Ibeganmyconcentrationofwill.