[2591] window, his head sunk, his mouth open, his legs wide apart, his knees raised, leaning with one hand on the ground while the other came and went under his shirt, he awaited his soup. [2592] When his bowl had been filled he stopped scratching and stretched out his hand towards Lemuel, in the daily disappointed hope of being spared the trouble of getting up. [2593] He still loved the gloom and secrecy of the ferns, but never sought them out. [2594] The youth then, the Saxon, the thin one and the giant. [2595] I don't know if they have changed, I don't remember. [2596] May the others forgive me. [2597] In the fifth Macmann, half asleep.

[2598] A few lines to remind me that I too subsist. [2599] He has not come back. [2600] How long ago is it now? [2601] I don't know. [2602] Long. [2603] And I? [2604] Indubitably going, that's all the^at matters. [2605] Whence this assurance? [2606] Try and think. [2607] I can't. [2608] Grandiose suffering. [2609] I am swelling. [2610] What if I should burst? [2611] The ceiling rises and falls, rises and falls, ~~rhythmic~~ rhythmically, as when I was a foetus. [2612] Also to be mentioned a noise of rushing water, peh^henomenon mutatis mutandis o^perh^[⁁]aa^ps analagous to that of the mirage, in the desert. [2613] The window. [2614] I shall not see it again. Why? Because, to my grief, I cannot turn my head. [2615] Leaden light again, thick, eddying, riddled with ~~tunn~~ little tunnels ~~throu~~ through to brightness, perhaps I should say air, sucking air. [2616] All is ready. [2617] Except me. [2618] I am being given, if I may venture the expression, birth to into death, [2619] such is my impression. [2621] The feet are clear already, of the great cunt of existence. [2622] Favourable ~~presen~~ presentation I trust. [2623] My head will be the last to ~~go.~~ die. [2624] Haul

[p. 152r]

[2624] in your hands. [2625] I can't. [2626] The renter rent. [2627] My story ended I'll be living yet. [2628] Promising lag. [2629] That is the end of me. [2630] I shall say I no more.

[2631] Surrounded by his little flock which after nearly two hours of efforts he had succeeded in assembling, single-handed, Pat having refused to help him, Lemuel sttod on the terrace waiting for Lady Pedal to arrive. [2633] Cords tethered by the ankles the thin one to the youth, the Saxon to the giant, and Lemuel held Macmann by the arm. [2634] Of the five it was Macmann, furious at having been shut up in his cell all morning and at a loss to understand what was wanted of him, whose resistance had been the most lively. [2635] He had notably refused to stir a step without his hat, with such fierce determination that Lemuel had finally consented to his keeping it on, provided it was hidden by the hood. [2636] In spite of this Mav^cmann continued peevish and agitated, trying to free his arm and saying over and over again, Let me go! Let me go! [2638] The youth, tormented by the sun, was grabbing feebly at the thin one's umbrella, saying, Pasol! Pasol! [2639] The thin one retaliated with petulant taps on his hands and arms. [2640] ~~Naught.~~ ^Naughty! he cried. [2641] Help! [2642] The giant had thrown his arms round the Saxon's neck and hung there, hi his legs limp. [2643] The Saxon, tottering, too proud to collapse, demanded to be enlightened in tones without anger. [2644] Who is this shite any how, he said, any of you poor buggers happen to know? [2645] The director, or his delegate, also present, said dreamily from time to time, Now, now, please. [2646] They were alone on the great terrace. [2647] Can ~~it be she fears~~

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[2647] it be she fears a change ~~in the~~ ^of weather? said the director. [2648] x^He added, turning towards Lemuel, I am asking you a question. [2649] The sky was cloudless, the air still. [2650] Where is the beautiful young man with the Messiah beard.^? [2651] But in that case would she not have telephoned? said the director.

[2652] The waggonette. [2653] Up on the box, beside the coachman, Lady Pedal. [2654] On one of the seats, set parallel to the wheels, Lemuel, Macmann, the Sar^xon and the giant. [2657] On the other, facing them, the youth, the thin ~~one,~~ one and two colossi dressed in sailor-suits. [2658] As they passed through the gates the children cheered. [2659] A sudden descent, long and steep, sent them plunging towards the sea. [2660] Under the drag of the brakes the wheels slid more than they rolled and the stumbling horses reared against the thrust. [2661] Lady Pedal clung to the box, her bust flung back. [2662] She was a huge, big, tall, fat woman. [2663] Artificial daisies with brilliant yellow disks gushed from her broad-brimmed straw hat. [2664] At the same time behind the heavily spotted fall-veil her plump red face appeared to pullulate. [2665] The passengers, yielding with unanimous inertia to the tilt of the seats, sprawled pell-mell beneath the box. [2666] Sit back!^! cried Lady ~~Pedal?~~ Pedal. [2667] Nobody stirred. [2668] What good would th that do? said one of the sailors. [2669] None, said the other. [2670] Should they not all get down, said Lady Pedal to the coachman, and walk? [2672] When they were safely at the bottom of the hill at last Lady Pedal turned affably to her guests. [2673] Courage my hearties!^! she said, to show she was not superior. [2674] The waggonette jolted on at with

[p. 154r]

[2674] gathering speed. [2675] The giant lay on the boards, betww^een the seats. [2676] Are ~~youbthe~~ you the one in charge? said Ladt^y Pedal. [2677] One of the sailors leaned towards Lemuel and said, She wants to know if you're the one in charge. [2678] Fuck off, said Lemuel. [2679] The Saxon uttered a roar which Lady Pedal, on the qui vive for the least sign of ~~hight spirits~~^[₰] ^animation, was pleased to interpret as a manifestation of joy. [2680] That's the spirit! she cried. Sing! [2681] Make the most of this glorious day! [2682] Banish your cares, for an hour or so! [2683] And she burst forth:

[2684] Oh the jolly jolly Spring
[2685] Blue and sun and nests and flowers
[2686] Alleluiah Christ is King
[2688] Oh the happy happy hours
[2689] Oh the jolly jolly -

[2690] She broke off, discouraged. [2691] What is the matter with them? she said. [2692] The u^youth, less youthful now, doubled in two, his head swathed in the skirts of his cloak, seemed to be vomiting. [2693] His legs, monstrously bony and knock-kneed, were knocking together at the knees. [2694] The thin one, shivering, though in theory the Saxon is the shiverer, had resumed his dialogue. [2695] Motionless and concentrated between the voices he reinforced these with passionate gestures amplified by the umbrella. [2696] And you?..[2697]Thanks...[2698]And you?..[2699]THANKS!..[2700]True...[2701]Left... [2702] Try...[2703]Back...[2704]Where?..[2705]On...[2706]No!..[2709]Right...[2710]Try... [2711] Do you smell the sea, said L^Lady Pedal, [2712] I do. [2713] Macmann made a bid for freedom. In vain. [2714] Lemuel produced a hatchet from under his cloak and dealt himself a few smart blows on the skull, with the heel, for safety. [2715] Nice jaunt we're having, said one of the sailors. [2716] Swell, said the other. [2717] Sun azure. [2718] Ernest, hand out the buns, said Lady Pedal.

[2719] The boat. [2720] Room, as in the waggonette, for twice as many, three

[p. 155r]

[2720] times, four times, at a pinch. [2721] A land receding, another approaching, big and little islands. [2722] No sound save the oars, the rowlocks, the blue sea against the keel. [2723] In the stern-sheets Lady Pedal, sad. [2724] What beauty! she murmured. [2725] Alone, not understood, good, too good. [2726] Taking off her glove she trailed in the transparent water her sapphire-laden hand. [2727] Four oars, no rudder, the oars steer. [2728] My crear^tures, what of them? [2729] Nothing. [2730] They are there, each as best he can, as best he can be somewhere. [2731] Lemuel watches the ~~steeples rising~~ mountains rising behind the steeples beyond the harbour, no, they are no more

[2732] No, they are no more than hills, [2733] they raise themselves gently, faintly blue, out of the confused plain. [2734] It was there somewhere he was born, in a fine house, of loving parents. [2735] Their slopes are covered with ling and furze, its hot yellow bells, better known as gorse. [2736] The hammers of the stone-cutters ring all day like bells.

[2737] The island. [2738] A last effort. [2739] The islet. The shore facing the open sea is jagged with creeks. [2740] One could live there, perhaps happy, if life was a possible thing, but nov^body lives there. [2741] The deep water comes washing into its heart, between high walls of rock. [2742] One day nothing will remain of it but two islands, separated by a gulf, narrow at first, then wider and wider as the centuries slip by, two islands, two reefs. [2743] It is difficult to speak of man, under such conditions. [2744] Come, Ernest, said Lady Pedal, let us find a place to