MS-OSU-RARE-29-6

[1454] Well, what is it?[⁁] ^{you want?[⁁]}
[1455] (Pause.) [1456] It was an extraordinarily cold day, I remember,
zero by the thermometer. [1457] But considering it was Xmas ^Christmas Eve
there was nothing...extraordinary about that. [1458] Seasonable
weather, for once in a way. [1459] (Pause.) [1460] Well, what ill wind
blows you to me? [1461] He raised his face towards l^me, black
with mingled dirt and tears. [1462] (Pause. [1463] Normal tone.)

[1464] That
should do it. [1465] (Narrative tone.) [1466] No; ^No, no, don't look at
me, don't look at me. [1467] He dropped his eyes and muttered ^mumbled
something, apologies I presume. [1468] (Pause.) [1469] I'm a busy man,
you know, the final touches, before the rejoicings, yoy ^you
know what it is. [1470] (Pause. [1471] Forcibly.) [1472] Come ^on now, what is the
object of this invasion? [1473] (Pause.)

[1474] It was a glorious bright
day, I remember, fifty by the heliometer, but already the
sun was sinking ^down into the...di^own among the dead. [1475] (Pause
(Normal tone.) [1476] Nicely put, that. [1477] (Narrative tone.) [1478] Come
on now, come on, present your petition and let me get on
with ^resume my labours. [1478|001] (Pause. [1479] Normal tone.) [1480] There's English
for you. [1481] Ah well. [1482] (Narrative tone.)

[1483] It was then he took
the plunge. [1484] It's my little one, he said. [1485] Tss tss, a little
one, that's bad. [1486] My little boy, he said, as if the sex
mattered. [1487] Where did he come from? [1488] He named the hole. [1489] A
good half day, on horse. [1490] Wht^at are you insinuating? That
the place is still inhabited? [1492] No no, not a soul, except
himself, and the childx, ^- assuming he existed. [1493] Good.

[1494] I en-
quired about the situation at Kov, beyond the bay. [1495] Not
a sinner. [1496] Good. [1497] And you expect me to believe you have left
your child back there, all alone, and alive into the bargain
^bargain? [1498] Come now! [1499] (Pause.) [1500] It was a howling wild day, I
remember, a hundred by the anenometer. [1501] The wind was tearing
up the dead pines and sweeping them...away.

[1501|001] (Pause?^. [1502] Normal
tone.) [1503] A bit feeble, that. [1504] (Narrative tone.) [1505] Come on, man,
speak up, what is it you want from me, I have to dress ^{put up} my
Xmas Tree ^{xx holly}. [1506] '⁽Pause.) [1507] Well to make ^{cut make} it short it finally trans-
pired that what he wanted from me was... bread for his
child ^brat. [1510] Bread? [1511] But I have no bread, it doesn't agree with
me. [1512] Good. [1513] Then perhaps a little corn? [1514] (Pause?^. [1515] Normal tone.)

[1516] That should do it. [1517] (Narrative tone.) [1518] Corn, yes, I have corn,
it's a fact ^true, in my granaries. [1519] But use your head. [1520] I give
you some corn, a pound, a pound and a half, you bring it
back to your child and you give ^make him - if he's still alive -
a good pot of porridge, nice pot of porridge, a nice pot
and a half of porridge. [1521] Good. [1522] The colours come back into
his cheeks - perhaps. [1523] And then? [1524] (Pause.) [1525] I lost patience.
[1526] Use your head, can't you, use your head, you're on