OCR Text |
Show 87 looking prisoners stood to confront Lathrop. "Chummage!" gurgled Spinner, not bothering to clear the mucous from his throat. Lathrop looked to the prisoner still seated on the floor for understanding. "Pay 'em some money or strip off your clothes," was the explanation offered by the man on the floor. "Chummage!" came the demand again, this time louder. The two began feeling the quality of Lathrop's clothes, fingering and sniffing the wool as though inhaling a memory of the outside world. "And what will they do with the money?" Lathrop asked. "They'll bribe the jail-keeper for a pittance more of food or water." "Pay for water?" Lathrop hadn't realized the extent of deprivation. "You're at the mercy of the jail-keeper for everything. You only get the amount of water he decides to give you." Lathrop reached in his pocket and pulled out some money. He handed some to each of the prisoners including the man crouched on the floor. The two s standing pressed in closer holding their hands out for more . |