MS-HRC-SB-3-5

[1998] nothing! [1999] (Pause.) [2000] Not even a real
dog! [2001] (Calmer.) [2002] The end is the
beginning and yet one goes on. [2003] (Pause.)
[2004] Perhaps I could go on with my story,
end it and begin another. [2005] (Pause.)
[2006] Perhaps I could throw myself down ^{[place = supralinear] out}
on the floor.

[2007] (He lifts himself
painfully a little, falls back in his
seat.) [2008] Dig my nails into the cracks
and drag myself forward with my
fingers. [2009] (Pause.) [2010] It will ^{[place = supralinear] 'll} be the
end I'll there I'll be, wondering
what can have brought it about,
and wondering what can have...
(he hesitates)... why it was so
long coming.

[2011] (Pause.) [2012] There I'll be,
in the old refuge, alone against
the silence and... (he hesitates)...
inertia. [2013] If I can hold my peace, and
sit still, it will be the end of
sound, and of motion, finished and
done with. [2014] (Pause)

[2015] I shall have
called my father and I shall have
called my... (he hesitates)... my
son. [2016] And even twice, or three times,
in case they should not have heard
me, the first time, or the second.
[2017] (Pause.) [2018] I'll say, He'll come back.
[2019] (Pause) [2020] And then? [2021] (Pause.) [2022] And then?

[2023] (Pause) [2024] He couldn't, he has gone too far.
[2025] (Pause) [2026] And then? [2027] (Pause. [2028] Very agitated.)
[2029] All kinds of fantasies! [2030] That I'm being
watched! [2031] A rat! [2032] Steps! [2033] Eyes!
[2034] Breath held and then... (he exhales).

[2035] Then babble, babble, words, like
the lonely child who turns himself
into children, two, three, so as
to be together, and talk together,
in the night. [2036] (Pause.) [2037] Moment
upon moment, pattering down, like
the millet grains of... (he hesitates)...