Damien Echols Death Row Letter, Year 9

亨利，很抱歉长时间没有给你写信
Henry, sorry for not writing in so long
但是最近事情已经越来越糟
But Things have been less than great here lately
我想我非常沮丧，甚至有点震惊
I think I’ve been depressed, maybe a little in shock
我不知道你是否听说过
I don’t know if you’ve heard
但是他们已经把我转移到了另一个监狱
But they’ve moved me to another prison
这个监狱是超级容量的大型安全部门
This one is a super maximum security unit
首先，州警察会在凌晨两点冲进来

并且配备有M16突击步枪和警犬
First, the state police came rushing in on us at 2 o’clock in the morning
他们命令每一个人离开床
With m16 assault rifles and attack dogs
用铁链把我们所有人锁住，然后带我们到了这里

这里就是杰森与杰西两人所在的监狱
They got everyone out of bed
但是我们被关在不同的地方
Chained us all up and brought us here
在这里，我被24小时完全地，彻彻底底地隔离

我关在一个混凝土房间里，仅留有一个方形钢制门
This is the same prison where Jason and Jesse are
地面上有一条排水道
But we’re in different parts
墙上还有一个喷头喷水
Here, I’m in complete and total isolation 24 hours a day
以此可以洗漱或者洗澡
I’m in a concrete room with a solid steel door
在这里，你甚至从来不被准许走在阳光下
There’s a drain in the floor
更不必说，他们还大大削减了预算
And a water spout in the wall
因此食物首先减少
That’s how you wash or take a shower
我甚至不允许拥有墨水笔
You never even get to go out into the sun here
我利用钢笔内部的装填管（译者猜测即墨囊）来书写
Not to mention, they had a huge budget cut
这就我的手写模糊难以辨认的原因
So the first thing they sliced was the food
我还不曾真正意义上感到失望

不过我日以继夜地躺在床上睡觉
I’m not even allowed to have an ink pen
如今我还在调整适应
I’m writing with a filler tube from inside a pen
只要给予足够的时间，你几乎可以适应这里所有的一切
Which is why my handwriting’s atrocious
两天前，我的上诉被驳回
I haven’t really felt depressed in the truest sense of the word
被阿肯色州最高法院否决
But all I’ve done is lie in bed sleeping day and night
每个人都劝告我，要对上诉心怀期望
Now, I’m adjusting
以及如果有任何帮助到来，那么这帮助一定是来自联邦法院
You can adapt to almost anything given enough time
但是当我在新闻上看到这个判决时

我仍然有一种坠落的腹痛感
Two days ago my appeal was denied
我害怕想要退缩了，亨利
Shot down by the Arkanas Supreme Court
我不能把这告诉其他人
Everyone has always told me to expect it
因为这里的每个人都希望我无所畏惧，毫无顾虑
And if any help comes, it will be from the Federal Court
不过也不全是坏消息
But when I saw this decision in the news
我马上就可以见到我的儿子赛斯
I still had the feeling in my stomach that I was falling
他将会在一月一日前来看望我一周

他刚过十岁
I’m getting scared Henry
我至今也很难相信
I can’t tell anyone else that
特别是当我听到他叫我爸爸的时候
Cos everyone here wants me to be fearless and to have no doubts
我至今还是很难适应
Not all bad news though
然而我还是很期待这次相见

我现在就该结束了，但是不久就可以联系到我
I’ll be seeing my son Seth soon
洛丽(Lorrie译者推测可能是歌词错误，少打了e)和杰伊在讨论要使用什么战略
He’ll be coming for a week-long visit at the 1st of January
我将会与你保持联络
He just turned ten years old
达米安

And is still hard to believe
Especially when I hear him call me Dad

I haven’t got used to that
I’m really looking forward to it though

I’ll close for now but will be in touch soon

Lorri and Jay are discussing what strategy to use from here

I’ll keep you posted
Damien