Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 7
IwasalwayssoinnatelyurgedtolivethatsometimesIthinkthatiswhyIamstillhere,eatingandsleeping,thinkinganddreaming,writingthisnarrativeofmyvariousme’s,andawaitingtheincontestableropethatwillputanephemeralperiodinmylong-linkedexistence.
Andthencamedeathinlife.Ilearnedthetrick,EdMorrelltaughtitme,asyoushallsee.ItbeganthroughWardenAthertonandCaptainJamie.Theymusthaveexperiencedarecrudescenceofpanicatthoughtofthedynamitetheybelievedhidden.Theycametomeinmydarkcell,andtheytoldmeplainlythattheywouldjacketmetodeathifIdidnotconfesswherethedynamitewashidden.Andtheyassuredmethattheywoulddoitofficiallywithoutanyhurttotheirownofficialskins.Mydeathwouldappearontheprisonregisterasduetonaturalcauses.
Oh,dear,cotton-woolcitizen,pleasebelievemewhenItellyouthatmenarekilledinprisonsto-dayastheyhavealwaysbeenkilledsincethefirstprisonswerebuiltbymen.
Iwellknewtheterror,theagony,andthedangerofthejacket.Oh,themenspirit-brokenbythejacket!Ihaveseenthem.AndIhaveseenmencrippledforlifebythejacket.Ihaveseenmen,strongmen,mensostrongthattheirphysicalstaminaresistedallattacksofprisontuberculosis,afteraprolongedboutwiththejacket,theirresistancebrokendown,fadeaway,anddieoftuberculosiswithinsixmonths.
