Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 22
Iremembernoting,eveninmyextremity,thewarmthofthetearsonmycheeksandthesalttastewhentheyreachedmylips.ThenIhadachill,andforatimeshookaswithanague.Abandoningtheopennessoftheyardastooimpossibleafeatforoneinmycondition,stillshakingwiththechill,crouchingclosetotheprotectingwall,myhandstouchingit,Istartedtoskirttheyard.
Thenitwas,somewherealong,thattheguardThurstonespiedme.Isawhim,distortedbymyblearedeyes,ahuge,well-fedmonster,rushinguponmewithincrediblespeedoutoftheremotedistance.Possibly,atthatmoment,hewastwentyfeetaway.Heweighedonehundredandseventypounds.Thestrugglebetweenuscanbeeasilyimagined,butsomewhereinthatbriefstruggleitwasclaimedthatIstruckhimonthenosewithmyfisttosuchpurposeastomakethatorganbleed.
Atanyrate,beingalifer,andthepenaltyinCaliforniaforbatterybyaliferbeingdeath,IwassofoundguiltybyajurywhichcouldnotignoretheasseverationsoftheguardThurstonandtherestoftheprisonhang-dogsthattestified,andIwassosentencedbyajudgewhocouldnotignorethelawasspreadplainlyonthestatutebook.
IwaswellpummelledbyThurston,andallthewaybackupthatprodigiousstairwayIwasroundlykicked,punched,andcuffedbythehordeoftrustiesandguardswhogotinoneanother’swayintheirzealtoassisthim.
