Міжзірковий мандрівник
Chapter 10
“Kickashardasyouplease,andI’llstillhaveenoughfaceleftwithwhichtosmile.Inthemeantime,whileyouarehesitating,supposeyouacceptmyoriginalproposition.”
Amanmustbeterriblyweakandprofoundlydesperatetobeable,undersuchcircumstances,tobeardtheWardeninsolitary.Orhemaybeboth,and,inaddition,hemayhavefaith.IknownowthatIhadthefaithandsoactedonit.IbelievedwhatMorrellhadtoldme.Ibelievedinthelordshipofthemindoverthebody.Ibelievedthatnotevenahundreddaysinthejacketcouldkillme.
CaptainJamiemusthavesensedthisfaiththatinformedme,forhesaid:
“IrememberaSwedethatwentcrazytwentyyearsago.Thatwasbeforeyourtime,Warden.He’dkilledamaninaquarrelovertwenty-fivecentsandgotlifeforit.Hewasacook.Hegotreligion.Hesaidthatagoldenchariotwascomingtotakehimtoheaven,andhesatdownontopthered-hotrangeandsanghymnsandhosannahswhilehecooked.Theydraggedhimoff,buthecroakedtwodaysafterwardinhospital.Hewascookedtothebone.Andtotheendhesworehe’dneverfelttheheat.Couldn’tgetasquealoutofhim.”
“We’llmakeStandingsqueal,”saidtheWarden.
“Sinceyouaresosureofit,whydon’tyouacceptmyproposition?”Ichallenged.
