Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 16
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BeforeIreturntomyadventuresIamcompelledtotelloneremarkableincidentthatoccurredinsolitary.Itisremarkableintwoways.Itshowstheastoundingmentalpowerofthatchildofthegutters,JakeOppenheimer;anditisinitselfconvincingproofoftheverityofmyexperienceswheninthejacketcoma.
“Say,professor,”Oppenheimertappedtomeoneday.“WhenyouwasspielingthatAdamStrangyarn,Irememberyoumentionedplayingchesswiththatroyalsouseofanemperor’sbrother.Nowisthatchesslikeourkindofchess?”
OfcourseIhadtoreplythatIdidnotknow,thatIdidnotrememberthedetailsafterIreturnedtomynormalstate.Andofcoursehelaughedgood-naturedlyatwhathecalledmyfoolery.YetIcoulddistinctlyrememberthatinmyAdamStrangadventureIhadfrequentlyplayedchess.ThetroublewasthatwheneverIcamebacktoconsciousnessinsolitary,unessentialandintricatedetailsfadedfrommymemory.
ItmustberememberedthatforconvenienceIhaveassembledmyintermittentandrepetitionaljacketexperiencesintocoherentandconsecutivenarratives.Ineverknewinadvancewheremyjourneysintimewouldtakeme.Forinstance,IhaveascoreofdifferenttimesreturnedtoJesseFancherinthewagon-circleatMountainMeadows.
