Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 22
ThecertainchancetofindWinwoodwouldbeinthedining-roomatdinnerhour.SoIwaiteduntilPie-FaceJones,thesleepyguard,shouldbeonshiftatthenoonhour.AtthattimeIwastheonlyinmateofsolitary,sothatPie-FaceJoneswasquicklysnoring.Iremovedmybars,squeezedout,stolepasthimalongtheward,openedthedoorandwasfree...toaportionoftheinsideoftheprison.
AndherewastheonethingIhadnotcalculatedon—myself.Ihadbeenfiveyearsinsolitary.Iwashideouslyweak.Iweighedeighty-sevenpounds.Iwashalfblind.AndIwasimmediatelystrickenwithagoraphobia.Iwasaffrightedbyspaciousness.Fiveyearsinnarrowwallshadunfittedmefortheenormousdeclivityofthestairway,forthevastitudeoftheprisonyard.
ThedescentofthatstairwayIconsiderthemostheroicexploitIeveraccomplished.Theyardwasdeserted.Theblindingsunblazeddownonit.ThriceIessayedtocrossit.ButmysensesreeledandIshrankbacktothewallforprotection.Again,summoningallmycourage,Iattemptedit.Butmypoorbleareyes,likeabat’s,startledmeatmyshadowontheflagstones.Iattemptedtoavoidmyownshadow,tripped,felloverit,andlikeadrowningmanstrugglingforshorecrawledbackonhandsandkneestothewall.
Ileanedagainstthewallandcried.ItwasthefirsttimeinmanyyearsthatIhadcried.
