Samuel Beckett
Digital Manuscript Project
L'Innommable / The Unnamable

MS-HRC-SB-5-9-3

X
Segment 1

[2301.1] to be emptied, the other half
to be filled, numbered, the
even to be emptied, the uneven
to be filled, [2301.2] no, it would be
more complicated, it would be
less symmetrical, no matter,

X
Segment 2

[2301.2] to be emptied, and filled, in a
certain way, in a certain order,
according to certain correspondences,
so that I'd be obliged to think, reservoirs,
communicating, communicating,
by means of pipes under the floor, I can see it

X
Segment 3

[2301.2] from here, always
showing the same level, no, that wouldn't
work, too hopeless, they'd contrive things in
such a way that I could have a little access
of hope from time to time, yes, with pipes
and taps, I can see it from here, so that
I could
have an illusion, from time to time, if I

X
Segment 4

[2301.2] had that to do, instead of this, some little
job with liquid, filling and emptying,
always the same vessel, I'd do it well,
it'd be a better life than this,
[2301.3] no, I mustn't complain, I'd have a body,
I wouldn't have to say anything, I'd hear
my steps, almost without ceasing, and
the noise of the water, and the crying of

X
Segment 5

[2301.3] the air imprisoned in the pipes, I don't
understand, I'd have moments of
fervour, I'd say to myself, The quicker I
do it the quicker it will be done, the
things one has to listen to, that's where
hope would come in, it wouldn't be
dark, impossible to do such work in the
dark, that depends, yes, I must say I see

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Segment 6

[2301.3] no window, from here, whereas here
that is of no importance, that I see
no window, here I need not come
and go, fortunately, I couldn't, nor
be dexterous, for naturally the water
would have great value and the
least drop lost on the way, or in the
act of drawing, or in the act of pouring,

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Segment 7

[2301.3] would cost me dear, and how
could you know, in the dark, if a
a drop, [2301.4] what's this story, it's a story,
now I've told another little story,
about me, about the life that might

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