Межзвёздный скиталец

           ”

           Ishallnotdwellupontheagonyofreturningcirculation.Itwastobecomeanoldstorywithme,anditboreitsshareincuttingthelinesinmyfacethatIshallcarrytothescaffold.

           WhentheyfinallyleftmeIlayfortherestofthedaystupidandhalf-comatose.Thereissuchathingasanæsthesiaofpain,engenderedbypaintooexquisitetobeborne.AndIhaveknownthatanæsthesia.

           ByeveningIwasabletocrawlaboutmycell,butnotyetcouldIstandup.Idrankmuchwater,andcleansedmyselfaswellasIcould;butnotuntilnextdaycouldIbringmyselftoeat,andthenonlybydeliberateforceofmywill.

           Theprogramme,asgivenmebyWardenAtherton,wasthatIwastorestupandrecuperateforafewdays,andthen,ifinthemeantimeIhadnotconfessedtothehiding-placeofthedynamite,Ishouldbegivenanothertendaysinthejacket.

           “Sorrytocauseyousomuchtrouble,Warden,”Ihadsaidinreply.“It’sapityIdon’tdieinthejacketandsoputyououtofyourmisery.”

           AtthistimeIdoubtthatIweighedanounceoverninetypounds.Yet,twoyearsbefore,whenthedoorsofSanQuentinfirstclosedonme,Ihadweighedonehundredandsixty-fivepounds.ItseemsincrediblethattherewasanotherounceIcouldpartwithandstilllive.