Межзвёздный скиталец

           MuchofthistimeIwasphysicallynumbandmentallydelirious.Also,byaneffortofwill,Imanagedtosleepawaylonghours.

           Next,WardenAthertontriedavariation.Iwasgivenirregularintervalsofjacketandrecuperation.IneverknewwhenIwastogointothejacket.ThusIwouldhavetenhours’recuperation,anddotwentyinthejacket;orIwouldreceiveonlyfourhours’rest.Atthemostunexpectedhoursofthenightmydoorwouldclangopenandthechangingguardswouldlaceme.Sometimesrhythmswereinstituted.Thus,forthreedaysandnightsIalternatedeighthoursinthejacketandeighthoursout.Andthen,justasIwasgrowingaccustomedtothisrhythm,itwassuddenlyalteredandIwasgiventwodaysandnightsstraight.

           Andevertheeternalquestionwaspropoundedtome:Wherewasthedynamite?SometimesWardenAthertonwasfuriouswithme.Onoccasion,whenIhadenduredanextraseverejacketing,healmostpleadedwithmetoconfess.Onceheevenpromisedmethreemonthsinthehospitalofabsoluterestandgoodfood,andthenthetrustyjobinthelibrary.

           Dr.Jackson,aweakstickofacreaturewithasmatteringofmedicine,grewsceptical.Heinsistedthatjacketing,nomatterhowprolonged,couldneverkillme;andhisinsistencewasachallengetotheWardentocontinuetheattempt.

           “Theseleancollegeguys’dfoolthedevil,”hegrumbled.