Chapter 9

           OnethingofgreatvalueIlearnedinthelong,pain-wearyhoursofwaking—namely,themasteryofthebodybythemind.Ilearnedtosufferpassively,as,undoubtedly,allmenhavelearnedwhohavepassedthroughthepost-graduatecoursesofstrait-jacketing.Oh,itisnoeasytricktokeepthebraininsuchserenereposethatitisquiteoblivioustothethrobbing,exquisitecomplaintofsometorturednerve.

           AnditwasthisverymasteryofthefleshbythespiritwhichIsoacquiredthatenabledmeeasilytopractisethesecretEdMorrelltoldtome.

           “Thinkitiscurtains?”EdMorrellrappedtomeonenight.

           Ihadjustbeenreleasedfromonehundredhours,andIwasweakerthanIhadeverbeenbefore.SoweakwasIthatthoughmywholebodywasonemassofbruiseandmisery,neverthelessIscarcelywasawarethatIhadabody.

           “Itlookslikecurtains,”Irappedback.“Theywillgetmeiftheykeepitupmuchlonger.”

           “Don’tletthem,”headvised.“Thereisaway.Ilearneditmyself,downinthedungeons,whenMassieandIgotoursgoodandplenty.Ipulledthrough.ButMassiecroaked.IfIhadn’tlearnedthetrick,I’dhavecroakedalongwithhim.You’vegottobeprettyweakfirst,beforeyoutryit.Ifyoutryitwhenyouarestrong,youmakeafailureofit,andthenthatqueersyouforeverafter.