Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 16
Iwasunconsciousinthejacketatthetime.
“Warden,”Oppenheimerhadsaid,“you’vebittenoffmorethanyoucanchew.Itain’tacaseofkillingStanding.It’sacaseofkillingthreemen,forassureasyoukillhim,soonerorlaterMorrellandIwillgetthewordoutandwhatyouhavedonewillbeknownfromoneendofCaliforniatotheother.You’vegotyourchoice.You’veeithergottoletuponStandingorkillallthreeofus.Standing’sgotyourgoat.SohaveI.SohasMorrell.Youareastinkingcoward,andyouhaven’tgotthebackboneandgutstocarryoutthedirtybutcher’sworkyou’dliketodo.”
Oppenheimergotahundredhoursinthejacketforit,and,whenhewasunlaced,spatintheWarden’sfaceandreceivedasecondhundredhoursonend.Whenhewasunlacedthistime,theWardenwascarefulnottobeinsolitary.ThathewasshakenbyOppenheimer’swordsthereisnodoubt.
ButitwasDoctorJacksonwhowasthearch-fiend.TohimIwasanovelty,andhewasevereagertoseehowmuchmoreIcouldstandbeforeIbroke.
“Hecanstandtwentydaysoffthebat,”hebraggedtotheWardeninmypresence.
“Youareconservative,”Ibrokein.“Icanstandfortydays.Pshaw!Icanstandahundredwhensuchasyouadministerit.
