第19部分(第2/8 頁)

forever；　but　at　last　the　stream　dried　up。　By　then　the　pain　had　sunk　deep　into　my　stomach　and　my　testicles；　biting　like　rusty　teeth。　For　a　long　while　…　it　might　have　been　as　long　as　a　minute　…　I　was　physically　incapable　of　getting　up。　At　last　the　pain　began　to　abate；　and　I　struggled　to　my　feet。　I　looked　at　my　urine；　already　soaking　into　the　ground；　and　wondered　if　any　sane　God　could　make　a　world　where　such　a　little　bit　of　dampness　could　e　at　the　cost　of　such　horrendous　pain。

I　would　call　in　sick；　I　thought；　and　go　see　Dr。　Sadler　after　all。　I　didn't　want　the　stink　and　the　queasiness　of　Dr。　Sadler's　sulfa　tablets；　but　anything　would　be　better　than　kneeling　beside　the　woodpile；　trying　not　to　scream　while　my　prick　was　reporting　that　it　had　apparently　been　doused　with　coal…oil　and　set　afire。

Then；　as　I　was　swallowing　aspirin　in　our　kitchen　and　listening　to　Jan　snore　lightly　in　the　other　room；　I　remembered　that　today　was　the　day　William　Wharton　was　scheduled　on　the　block；　and　that　Brutal　wouldn't　be　there　…　the　roster　had　him　over　on　the　other　side　of　the　prison；　helping　to　move　the　rest　of　the　library　and　some　leftover　infirmary　equipment　to　the　new　building。　One　thing　I　didn't　feel　right　about　in　spite　of　my　pain　was　leaving　Wharton　to　Dean　and　Harry。　They　were　good　men；　but　Curtis　Anderson's　report　had　suggested　that　William　Wharton　was　exceptionally　bad　news。　This　man　just　doesn't　care；　he　had　written；　underlining　for　emphasis。

By　then　the　pain　had　abated　so