Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 20
“Lord,Lord,Warden,itisbitterweather,”Isneered.“Thefrostissharp.WhereforeIamindeedgratefulforyourgivingmetwojackets.Ishallbealmostcomfortable.”
“Tighter!”heurgedtoAlHutchins,whowasdrawingthelacing.“Throwyourfeetintotheskunk.Breakhisribs.”
ImustadmitthatHutchinsdidhisbest.
“Youwilllieaboutme,”theWardenraved,theflushofwineandwrathfloodingruddierintohisface.“Nowseewhatyougetforit.Yournumberistakenatlast,Standing.Thisisyourfinish.Doyouhear?Thisisyourfinish.”
“Afavour,Warden,”Iwhisperedfaintly.FaintIwas.PerforceIwasnearlyunconsciousfromthefearfulconstriction.“Makeitatriplejacketing,”Imanagedtocontinue,whilethecellwallsswayedandreeledaboutmeandwhileIfoughtwithallmywilltoholdtomyconsciousnessthatwasbeingsqueezedoutofmebythejackets.“Anotherjacket...Warden...It...will...be...so...much...er...warmer.”
AndmywhisperfadedawayasIebbeddownintothelittledeath.
Iwasneverthesamemanafterthatdouble-jacketing.Neveragain,tothisday,nomatterwhatmyfood,wasIproperlynurtured.IsufferedinternalinjuriestoanextentInevercaredtoinvestigate.
