Chapter 12

           NowthatIhadlearnedthetrickthewaywaseasy.AndIknewthewaywasboundtobecomeeasierthemoreItravelledit.Onceestablishalineofleastresistance,everysucceedingjourneyalongitwillfindstilllessresistance.Andso,asyoushallsee,myjourneysfromSanQuentinlifeintootherliveswereachievedalmostautomaticallyastimewentby.

           AfterWardenAthertonandhiscrewhadleftmeitwasamatterofminutestowilltheresuscitatedportionofmybodybackintothelittledeath.Deathinlifeitwas,butitwasonlythelittledeath,similartothetemporarydeathproducedbyananæsthetic.

           Andso,fromallthatwassordidandvile,frombrutalsolitaryandjackethell,fromacquaintedfliesandsweatsofdarknessandtheknuckle-talkofthelivingdead,Iwasawayataboundintotimeandspace.

           Camethedurationofdarkness,andtheslow-growingawarenessofotherthingsandofanotherself.Firstofall,inthisawareness,wasdust.Itwasinmynostrils,dryandacrid.Itwasonmylips.Itcoatedmyface,myhands,andespeciallywasitnoticeableonthefinger-tipswhentouchedbytheballofmythumb.

           NextIwasawareofceaselessmovement.Allthatwasaboutmelurchedandoscillated.Therewasjoltandjar,andIheardwhatIknewasamatterofcoursetobethegrindofwheelsonaxlesandthegrateandclashofirontyresagainstrockandsand.