MS-BRML-NWWR-2-38

[0555] riding^, for me. [0556] When I try and think riding I lose my balance
and fall. [0557] I speak in the presetⁿt tense, it is so easy to speak
in the present tense, when speaking of the past. [0558] It is the
mythological present, don't pay any heed to it. [0559] I was already
settling in my rag^[|=|]limp stasis when I remembered that it wasn't
done.

[0560] I went on my way, that way of which I knew nothing, qua ^[?]
way, which was nothing more than a sur^face, bright or dark, smooth
or rough, and always dear to me, in spite of all, and the dear sound
of that which goes and is gone, with a brief dust, when the weather
is dry. [0561] There I am then, before I knew I had left the town,
on the canal-^[#]bank.

[0562] The canal goes through the town, I know I know,
there are even two. [0563] But then these hedges, these fields? [0564] Don't
torment yourself Molloy. [0565] Suddenly I see, it was my right leg,
the stiff one, then. [0566] Toiling toward me along the two-path
I saw a team of little gre^ay donkeys, on the other bank, and I
heard angry cries and dull blows.

[0566|001] I got down. [0567] I put my foot
to the ground the better to see the approaching barge, so
gently approaching that the water was unruffled. [0568] It was a
cargo of nails and timber, on its way to some carpenter I
suppose. [0569] My eyes caught a donkey's eyes, they fell to his
little feet, their brave^, fastidious tread.

[0570] The boatman rested
his elbow on his knee, his head on his hand. [0571] Every three or
four puffs, without taking his pipe from his mouth, he spat
into the water. [0572] The ^horizon was burning with sulphur and
phosphorous, it was there I was bound. [0573] At last I got down,
hobbled down to the ditch and lay down, beside my bicycle.

[0574] I lay at full stretch, with outspread arms. [0575] The white hawthorn
stooped towards^[₰] me, unfortunately I don't like the smell of
hawthorn. [0576] In the ditch the grass was thick and high, I took