MS-WU-MSS008-3-48

[0103] town wasn't far. [0104] It was two men, unmistakably, one short and one
tall. [0105] They had left the town, first one, then the other, and the
first, weary or remembering a duty, had retraced his steps. [0106] The
air was sharp, for they wore overcoats. [0107] They looked alike, but
no more than others do. [0108] At first a wide space lay between them.

[0109] They couldn't have seen each other, even had they raised their
heads and looked about, because of this wide space, and then
because of the undulating land, which caused the road to be in
waves, not deep, but deep enough, deep enough. [0110] But the moment
came when together they descended into the same trough and in
this trough finally met.

[0111] To say they were acquainted, no, nothing
warrants it. [0112] But perhaps at the sound of their steps, or warned
by some obscure instinct, they raised their heads and observed
each other, for a good fifteen paces, before they stopped, breast
to breast.

[0113] Yes, they did not pass each other by, but halted, face
to face, as in the country, of an evening, on a deserted road, two
wayfaring strangers often do, without there being anything
extraordinary about it. [0114] But they knew each other perhaps. [0115] Now
in any case they do, now I think they will know each other, greet
each other, even in the depths of the town.

[0116] They turned towards
the sea which, far in the east, beyond the fields, climbed high
in the waning sky, and exchanged a few words. [0117] Then each went on
his way. [0118] Each went on his way, A towards the town, B by ways he
seemed hardly to know, or not at all, for he went with uncertain
step and often stopped to look about him, like someone trying to
fix landmarks in his mind, for one day, perhaps, he may have to