FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   >>  
to come here, Mr. Wooder. WOODER salutes and goes away down the corridor. The GOVERNOR goes to the door of FALDER'S cell. He raises his uninjured hand to uncover the peep-hole; but, without uncovering it, shakes his head and drops his hand; then, after scrutinising the record board, he opens the cell door. FALDER, who is standing against it, lurches forward. THE GOVERNOR. [Beckoning him out] Now tell me: can't you settle down, Falder? FALDER. [In a breathless voice] Yes, sir. THE GOVERNOR. You know what I mean? It's no good running your head against a stone wall, is it? FALDER. No, sir. THE GOVERNOR. Well, come. FALDER. I try, sir. THE GOVERNOR. Can't you sleep? FALDER. Very little. Between two o'clock and getting up's the worst time. THE GOVERNOR. How's that? FALDER. [His lips twitch with a sort of smile] I don't know, sir. I was always nervous. [Suddenly voluble] Everything seems to get such a size then. I feel I'll never get out as long as I live. THE GOVERNOR. That's morbid, my lad. Pull yourself together. FALDER. [With an equally sudden dogged resentment] Yes--I've got to. THE GOVERNOR. Think of all these other fellows? FALDER. They're used to it. THE GOVERNOR. They all had to go through it once for the first time, just as you're doing now. FALDER. Yes, sir, I shall get to be like them in time, I suppose. THE GOVERNOR. [Rather taken aback] H'm! Well! That rests with you. Now come. Set your mind to it, like a good fellow. You're still quite young. A man can make himself what he likes. FALDER. [Wistfully] Yes, sir. THE GOVERNOR. Take a good hold of yourself. Do you read? FALDER. I don't take the words in. [Hanging his head] I know it's no good; but I can't help thinking of what's going on outside. In my cell I can't see out at all. It's thick glass, sir. THE GOVERNOR. You've had a visitor. Bad news? FALDER. Yes. THE GOVERNOR. You mustn't think about it. FALDER. [Looking back at his cell] How can I help it, sir? He suddenly becomes motionless as WOODER and the DOCTOR approach. The GOVERNOR motions to him to go back into his cell. FALDER. [Quick and low] I'm quite right in my head, sir. [He goes back into his cell.] THE GOVERNOR. [To the DOCTOR] Just go in and see him, Clements. The DOCTOR goes into the cell. The GOVERNOR pushes the door to, near
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   91   92   93   94   95   96   97   98   99   100   101   102   103   104   105   106   107   108   109   110   111   112   113   114   >>  



Top keywords:

GOVERNOR

 
FALDER
 

DOCTOR

 

WOODER

 

Clements

 

suppose

 

Rather

 

fellows

 

Wistfully


pushes

 

suddenly

 

motionless

 

thinking

 

Looking

 

visitor

 

approach

 

fellow

 

Hanging


motions

 

nervous

 

Beckoning

 

settle

 

forward

 

lurches

 

standing

 

Falder

 

breathless


running

 

record

 

corridor

 

raises

 

salutes

 
Wooder
 
uninjured
 

uncover

 

scrutinising


shakes

 

uncovering

 

morbid

 

sudden

 

dogged

 

resentment

 

equally

 

Everything

 

voluble


Between

 

Suddenly

 

twitch