Chapter 16

           WardenAtherton,whenhethinksofme,mustfeelanythingbutpride.Ihavetaughthimwhatspiritis,humbledhimwithmyownspiritthatroseinvulnerable,triumphant,aboveallhistortures.IsithereinFolsom,inMurderers’Row,awaitingmyexecution;WardenAthertonstillholdshispoliticaljobandiskingoverSanQuentinandallthedamnedwithinitswalls;andyet,inhisheartofhearts,heknowsthatIamgreaterthanhe.

           InvainWardenAthertontriedtobreakmyspirit.Andthereweretimes,beyondanyshadowofdoubt,whenhewouldhavebeengladhadIdiedinthejacket.Sothelonginquisitionwenton.Ashehadtoldme,andashetoldmerepeatedly,itwasdynamiteorcurtains.

           CaptainJamiewasaveteranindungeonhorrors,yetthetimecamewhenhebrokedownunderthestrainIputonhimandontherestofmytorturers.SodesperatedidhebecomethathedaredwordswiththeWardenandwashedhishandsoftheaffair.Fromthatdayuntiltheendofmytorturingheneversetfootinsolitary.

           Yes,andthetimecamewhenWardenAthertongrewafraid,althoughhestillpersistedintryingtowringfrommethehiding-placeofthenon-existentdynamite.TowardthelasthewasbadlyshakenbyJakeOppenheimer.Oppenheimerwasfearlessandoutspoken.Hehadpassedunbrokenthroughalltheirprisonhells,andoutofsuperiorwillcouldbeardthemtotheirteeth.Morrellrappedmeafullaccountoftheincident.