MS-OSU-RARE-29-6

[1035] them again there'll be no wall any more. [1036] (Pause.)
[1037] Infinitive emptiness will be all around you, all the
resurrected dead of all the ages wouldn't fill it, and
there you'll b^e like a little bit of grit in the middle
of the steppe. [1038] (Pause.) [1039] Yes, one day you'll know what ^{it is,}
, you'll be like me, except that ^you won't have
anyone with you, because you won't have had pity on anyone
and because there won't be anyone left to have pity on.

[1041] It's not certain. [1042] (Pause.) [1043] And there's something you forget.

[1044] Ah?

[1045] I can't sit down.

[1046] (impatiently). [1047] Well you'll lie down ^then, what the hell!
[1048] Or you'll come to a standstill, simply stop and stand still,
^the way you are now. [1049] One day you'll say, I'm tired, I'll
stop. [1050] What does the attitude matter?

[1052] So you all want me to leave you.

[1053] Naturally.

[1054] Then I'll leave you.

[1055] You can't leave us.

[1056] Then I won't leave you.

[1058] Why don't you finish us? [1059] (Pause.) [1060] I'll give you the com-
bination of the larder if you promise to finish me.

[1061] I couldn't finish you.

[1062] Then you won't finish me.

[1064] I'll leave you, I have things to do.

[1065] Do you remember ^{when you came} here?

[1066] ^No. [1067] Too small, you told me.

[1068] Do you remember your father?

[1069] ( ^wearily). [1070] Same answer. [1071] (Pause.) [1072] You've asked me
these questions millions of times.

[1073] I love the old questions. [1074] (With fervour.) [1075] Ah the old
questions, the old answers, ^there's nothing like them!
[1076] (Pause.) [1077] It was I was a father to you.

[1078] Yes. [1079] (He looks at Hamm fixedly.) [1080] You were that to me.