Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 20
ButtoreturntomyexperienceinOppenheimer’scell.Hisbodywasthatofamanlongdeadandshrivelledbydesertheat.Theskinthatcovereditwasofthecolourofdrymud.Hissharp,yellow-grayeyesseemedtheonlypartofhimthatwasalive.Theywereneveratrest.Helayonhisback,andtheeyesdartedhitherandthither,followingtheflightoftheseveralfliesthatdisportedinthegloomyairabovehim.Inoted,too,ascar,justabovehisrightelbow,andanotherscaronhisrightankle.
Afteratimeheyawned,rolledoveronhisside,andinspectedanangry-lookingsorejustabovehiship.Thisheproceededtocleanseanddressbythecrudemethodsmeninsolitarymustemploy.Irecognizedthesoreasoneofthesortcausedbythestrait-jacket.Onmybody,atthismomentofwriting,arehundredsofscarsofthejacket.
Next,Oppenheimerrolledonhisback,gingerlytookoneofhisfrontuppertooth—aneyeteeth—betweenthumbandforefinger,andconsiderativelymoveditbackandforth.Againheyawned,stretchedhisarms,rolledover,andknockedthecalltoEdMorrell.
Ireadthecodeasamatterofcourse.
“Thoughtyoumightbeawake,”Oppenheimertapped.
