Digital Manuscript ProjectL'Innommable / The Unnamable
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[0184] I remember the first sound heard in this place, I
have aoften heard it since.[0185] For I am onbliged to assume a beginning
to my sojourn residence here, if only for convenience of the exposition. sake of clarity.
[0186] Hell itself, al[⁁]though eternal, dates from the revolt of Lucifer.
[0187] It is therefore permissible, in the light of this distant remote analogy,
to think of myself as being here for ever, but not as having been here
for ever.[0188] This will greatly help me in my relation.
[0189] Memory notably,
which I did not think myself entitled to call up[⁁]on though I could not draw upon did not think myself entitled to draw upon, will have its
word to say, if necessary.[0190] This represents at least a thousand words
I was not counting on had not reckoned with.[Stet] [0191] I may
well need well be glad of them.[0192] So after a long period
of immaculate silence a feeble cry was heard, by me.[0193] I do not know
if Malone heard it too.[0194] I was surprised, the word is not too strong.
[0195] After so long a silence a little cry, stifled forthwith outright.
[0196] As to de-
terminingwWhat kind of xcreature uttered it and, continues, if it is
the same, to do so, every now and then, impossible.[⁁] still does, from time to time? There is no knowing. impossible to say.[⁁][0197] Not a human one
creature in any case, there are no ghuman creatures here, or if there
are they havinge finished done with crying.[0198] Is Malone the guilty one culprit.?[0199] Am I?
[0200] Is it not perhaps a simple little fart, they can be rending?[0201] De-
plorable mania, when something happens, of wanting to know to want inquire what.
[0202] If only I were not obliged to manifest.[0203] And why speak of a cry?
[0204] It is perhaps something breaking, some two things colliding.[0205] There are
sounds here, from time to time, let that suffice.[0206] This one to be
cry to begin with, since it was the first.[0207] And others, rather dif-
ferent.[0208] I am getting to know them.[0209] I do not know them all.[0210] A man may
die at the age of seventy without ever having had the possibility
of seeing Halley's comet.
[0211] It would help me, since to me too I must attribute a beginning,
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L'Innommable / The Unnamable © 2013 Samuel Beckett Digital Manuscript Project.
Editors: Dirk Van Hulle, Shane Weller and Vincent Neyt