Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 20
So,atwill,andwithouttheoldtorment,Iwasfreetoroamthroughtime.
EdMorrellbelievedallmyadventures,butJakeOppenheimerremainedscepticaltothelast.ItwasduringmythirdyearinsolitarythatIpaidOppenheimeravisit.Iwasneverabletodoitbutthatonce,andthatonetimewaswhollyunplannedandunexpected.
ItwasmerelyafterunconsciousnesshadcometomethatIfoundmyselfinhiscell.Mybody,Iknew,layinthejacketbackinmyowncell.AlthoughneverbeforehadIseenhim,IknewthatthismanwasJakeOppenheimer.Itwassummerweather,andhelaywithoutclothesontophisblanket.Iwasshockedbyhiscadaverousfaceandskeleton-likebody.Hewasnoteventheshellofaman.Hewasmerelythestructureofaman,thebonesofaman,stillcohering,strippedpracticallyofallfleshandcoveredwithaparchment-likeskin.
NotuntilbackinmyowncellandconsciousnesswasIabletomullthethingoverandrealizethatjustaswasJakeOppenheimer,sowasEdMorrell,sowasI.AndIcouldnotbutthrillasIglimpsedthevastitudeofspiritthatinhabitedthesefrail,perishingcarcassesofus—thethreeincorrigiblesofsolitary.Fleshisacheap,vainthing.Grassisflesh,andfleshbecomesgrass;butthespiritisthethingthatabidesandsurvives.Ihavenopatiencewiththeseflesh-worshippers.AtasteofsolitaryinSanQuentinwouldswiftlyconvertthemtoadueappreciationandworshipofthespirit.
