er was still breathing。 About halfway along … under the highway； we would have been； and able to hear the muffled drone of passing cars； had there been any at that hour … John began to smile。 〃Say；〃 he said； 〃this is fun。〃 He wouldn't think so the next time he rode the gurney； that was the thought which crossed my mind。 In fact； the next time he rode the gurney； he wouldn't think or feel anything。 Or would he？ There are pieces of them still in there； he had said； he could hear them screaming。
Walking behind the others and unseen by them； I shivered。
〃I hope you remembered Aladdin； Boss Edgebe；〃 Brutal said as we reached the far end of the tunnel。
〃Don't worry；〃 I said。 Aladdin looked no different from the other keys I carried in those days … and I had a bunch that must have weighed four pounds … but it was the master key of master keys； the one that opened everything。 There was one Aladdin key for each of the five cellblocks in those days； each the property of the block super。 Other guards could borrow it； but only the bull…goose screw didn't have to sign it out。
There was a steel…barred gate at the far end of the tunnel。 It always reminded me of pictures I'd seen of old castles； you know； in days of old when knights were bold and chivalry was in flower。 Only Cold Mountain was a long way from Camelot。 Beyond the gate； a flight of stairs led up to an unobtrusive bulkhead…style door with signs reading No TRESPASSING and STATE PROPERTY and ELECTRIFIED