Міжзірковий мандрівник

           Weweretheburiedalive,thelivingdead.Solitarywasourtomb,inwhich,onoccasion,wetalkedwithourknuckleslikespiritsrappingataséance.

           News?Suchlittlethingswerenewstous.Achangeofbakers—wecouldtellitbyourbread.WhatmadePie-faceJoneslayoffaweek?Wasitvacationorsickness?WhywasWilson,onthenightshiftforonlytendays,transferredelsewhere?WheredidSmithgetthatblackeye?Wewouldspeculateforaweekoversotrivialathingasthelast.

           Someconvictgivenamonthinsolitarywasanevent.AndyetwecouldlearnnothingfromsuchtransientandofttimesstupidDanteswhowouldremaininourinfernotooshortatimetolearnknuckle-talkeretheywentforthagainintothebrightwideworldoftheliving.

           Still,again,allwasnotsotrivialinourabodeofshadows.Asexample,ItaughtOppenheimertoplaychess.Considerhowtremendoussuchanachievementis—toteachaman,thirteencellsaway,bymeansofknuckle-raps;toteachhimtovisualizeachessboard,tovisualizeallthepieces,pawnsandpositions,toknowthevariousmannersofmoving;andtoteachhimitallsothoroughlythatheandI,bypurevisualization,wereintheendabletoplayentiregamesofchessinourminds.Intheend,didIsay?AnothertributetothemagnificenceofOppenheimer’smind:intheendhebecamemymasteratthegame—hewhohadneverseenachessmaninhislife