Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 8
MuchofthistimeIwasphysicallynumbandmentallydelirious.Also,byaneffortofwill,Imanagedtosleepawaylonghours.
Next,WardenAthertontriedavariation.Iwasgivenirregularintervalsofjacketandrecuperation.IneverknewwhenIwastogointothejacket.ThusIwouldhavetenhours’recuperation,anddotwentyinthejacket;orIwouldreceiveonlyfourhours’rest.Atthemostunexpectedhoursofthenightmydoorwouldclangopenandthechangingguardswouldlaceme.Sometimesrhythmswereinstituted.Thus,forthreedaysandnightsIalternatedeighthoursinthejacketandeighthoursout.Andthen,justasIwasgrowingaccustomedtothisrhythm,itwassuddenlyalteredandIwasgiventwodaysandnightsstraight.
Andevertheeternalquestionwaspropoundedtome:Wherewasthedynamite?SometimesWardenAthertonwasfuriouswithme.Onoccasion,whenIhadenduredanextraseverejacketing,healmostpleadedwithmetoconfess.Onceheevenpromisedmethreemonthsinthehospitalofabsoluterestandgoodfood,andthenthetrustyjobinthelibrary.
Dr.Jackson,aweakstickofacreaturewithasmatteringofmedicine,grewsceptical.Heinsistedthatjacketing,nomatterhowprolonged,couldneverkillme;andhisinsistencewasachallengetotheWardentocontinuetheattempt.
“Theseleancollegeguys’dfoolthedevil,”hegrumbled.
