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

[1430] But towards midday ^[⁁]noon things get quieter ^{[⁁]quiet down}, the most
implacable are st^ated, they go home, it might have been better but they've
done a good job, there have been a few survivors but they'o^ll 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 ^[⁁]fun.

[1432] Coming up to four or five of course there is the night-shift, the
vigilantes ^{[⁁]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 ^[⁁]oozing with obsequiousness, having nothing to hide,
hiding merely from ^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,