Part 20 (2/2)
”Such was my good fortune,” Peter replied gravely.
”Well, I believe you're a dam' liar, you c.h.i.n.k!” scoffed the other, who was swinging in nervousness or irritation from side to side.
Peter shrugged his shoulders, and permitted his gaze to fondle the monstrous transmission coil.
”I'll show you!” railed the man. ”I'll give you a free chance, I will!
Now, listen to me. Tell me what I say.” He pursed his lips and whistled a series of staccato dots and dashes.
”What you have said,” replied Peter in a deep voice, ”is true, O high one!”
”What did I say?”
”You said: 'China, it is the h.e.l.l-hole of the world!' Do I speak the truth?”
Peter thought that this crazy man--whose name had formerly been Harrison--was preparing to leap at him. But Harrison only sprang to his side and seized his hands in a clammy, excited grip. Tears of an exultant origin glittered in the man's eyes, now luminous.
”You stay with me, do you hear?” he babbled. ”You stay here. I'll make it worth your while! I'll see you have money. I'll see----”
”But I have no need of money, O high one!” interrupted Peter in a somewhat resentful tone, striving to mask his eagerness.
”You stay!” cried Harrison.
”Lotus eater!” Peter said, knowing his ground perfectly.
”What if I am?” demanded Harrison defiantly. ”So are you! So are we all! So is everybody who lives in this rotten country!”
”To the sick, all are sick,” Peter quoted sorrowfully.
”Rot! As long as I must have opium, there's nothing more to be said.
Now, I pry my eyes open with matches to stay awake. With you here----”
His thin voice trailed off. He had confessed what Peter already knew.
It was the blurted confession, and the blurted plea, of a mind that was half consumed by drugs. A diseased mind which spoke the naked truth, which caught at no deception, which was tormented by its own gnawings and cravings to such an extent that it had lost the function of suspecting. Suspicion of a low, distorted sort might come later; but at its present ebb this mind was far too greedy to gain its own small ends to grope beyond.
The lids of Harrison's smoldering eyes drew down, and they were blue, a sickly, pallid blue. With their descent his face became a death-mask.
But Peter knew from many an observation that such signs were deceptive; knew that opium was a powerful and sustaining drug; knew that Harrison, while weak and stupid and raving, was very much alive!
”There is little work to be done,” went on the thin voice. ”Only at night. Say you will stay with me!” he pleaded.
Peter permitted himself to frown, as if he had reached a negative decision. Harrison, torn by desire, flung himself down on his ragged knees, and sobbed on Peter's hand. Peter pushed him away loathfully.
”What is my task?”
Harrison sank back on his heels, oblivious of the wet streak which ran down from his eyes on either side of his thin, sharp nose, and delved nervously into his pocket. He withdrew a lump of black gum, about the size of a black walnut, broke off a fragment with his finger-nails, and masticated it slowly. He smirked sagely.
”He won't care. Why should he care?”
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