MS-WU-MSS008-3-50-1

[1418] I do forget them and I watch the couple as they watch each other, a
great way off. [1419] But my feet are not like my hands, I do not bring them
back to me, when they become my feet again, for I cannot, but they stay
there, far from me, but not so far as before. [1420] End of the recall. [1421] But
you'd think that once well clear of the town, and having turned round to
look at it, what there was to see of it, you'd think that then I should
have realized whether it was really my town or not.

[1422] Nothing of the kind, ^{[place = supralinear] But no,}
I looked at it in vain, and perhaps unquestioningly, and simply to give
the gods a chance, by turning round. [1423] Perhaps I only made a show of
looking at it. [1424] I didn't feel I missed my bicycle, no, not really. [1425] I
didn't much mind going on ^{[place = supralinear] xx my way} the way I said, swinging low in the dark over
the earth, along the little empty country roads.

[1426] And I said there was
little likelihood of my being bothered ^{[place = supralinear] [⁁]disturbed [place = supralinear] interfered with} and that it was more likely I
should bother ^{[place = supralinear] [⁁]disturb [place = supralinear] interfere with} them, if they saw me. [1427] It's in the morning you must ^{[place = supralinear] [⁁]Morning is the time to} hide.
[1428] They wake up, gay as larks ^{[place = supralinear] [⁁]hale and hearty}, their tongues hanging out for order, beauty
and justice, baying for their due. [1429] Yes, from eight or nine till midday ^{[place = overwritten] [⁁] [place = supralinear] noon}
is the dangerous time.

[1430] But towards midday ^{[place = overwritten] [⁁] [place = supralinear] noon} things get quieter ^{[place = supralinear] [⁁]quiet down}, the most
implacable are st ^{[place = overwritten] a}ted, they go home, it might have been better but they've
done a good job, there have been a few survivors but they'o ^{[place = overwritten] l}l give no more
trouble, each man counts his rats. [1431] It may begin again in the early
afternoon, after the banquet, the celebrations, the congratulations,
the orations, but it's nothing compared to the morning, mere sport ^{[place = overwritten] [⁁] [place = supralinear] fun}.

[1432] Coming up to four or five of course there is the night-shift, the
vigilantes ^{[place = supralinear] [⁁]watchmen}, beginning to bestir themselves. [1433] But already the day is over,
the shadows lengthen, the walls multiply, you hug the walls, bowed down
like a good boy, bursting ^{[place = supralinear] [⁁]oozing} with obsequiousness, having nothing to hide,
hiding merely from ^{[place = supralinear] mere} terror, looking neither right nor left, hiding but
not provocatively, ready to come out, to smile, to listen, to crawl,
nauseating but not pestilent, less rat than toad. [1434] Then the true night,