MS-HRC-SB-5-9-2

[1858] shelter, reinforcing those of the ground.[1859] That must
be something, while waiting for oblivion, to
feel a prop and a buckler, not only for one of
one's six surfaces, but for two, for the first time,
to feel exposed on four sides only, while waiting
for oblivion.

[1860] But Worm will never know this joy
but darkly, being less than a beast, until
before he is restored to the state in which he was,
or more or less, before the beginning of his prehistory.
[1861] Then they will grab hold of him and take back among
them ^{[place = facing leaf] [ADDITION]Addition on page 29vgather him into their midst} .

[1862] For if they could make a little hole for their
the eye, and then bigger ones for the arms, they
can make one bigger still for the transit of Worm,
who cannot be very voluminous, from darkness to
light.

[1863] But what is the good of talking about what
they will do as soon as Worm sets himself in motion,
so as to gather him without fail into their midst,
since he cannot set himself in motion, though he
often desires to, if when speaking of him one may
speak of desire, and one may not, one should not,

[1863] but there it is, that is the way to speak of him,
that is the way to speak to him, as if he were
alive, as if he could understand, even though
it serves no xxx purpose, and it serves none.

[1864] And it is a blessing for him that he cannot move ^{[place = supralinear] stir},
even though he suffers because of it, for he would
sign his condemnation to life, if he were to stir
from where he is, in search of a little calm and
something of the silence of old.

[1865] But perhaps one day
he will stir, the day when the little effort of the
early days, infinitely weak, will have become,
by dint of repetition, a great effort, and strong
enough to tear him from where he is.

[1866] Or they
will let him perhaps one day they will let him be,
letting go their hands, filling up the cavit holes and
departing, towards more fruitful occupations, in
Indian file.[1867] For a decision must be reached,
and the scales must tilt, to one side or the other.

[1868] No, one can spend one's life thus, unable to live, unable
to bring to life, and die in vain, having been nothing,
done nothing.[1869] It is strange that they xx do not
go and fetch him in his den, to which since they
seem to have access to it.[1870] They dare not.

[1871] The
air in the midst of which he lies is not for them,
but they want him to breathe theirs.[1872] They could
set a dog on him perhaps, with instructions to
drag him out.

[1873] But no dog would survive there either,
not for a second.[1874] With a long pole perhaps, with
a hook at the end.[1875] But the place where he lies is
vast, that's interesting, he is far from them their