
[4001] The fringed extremities of a dark muffler, seven feet long at least, wound
several times round his neck, hung down his back.
[4002] He had a narrow-brimmed
dark blue felt hat on his head, with a fish-hook and an artificial fly
stuck in the band, which produced a highly sporting effect.
[4003] Do you hear
me? he said.
[4004] But all this was nothing compared to the face which I regret
to say vaguely resembled my own, less the refinement of course, same little
abortive moustache, same little ferrety eyes, same paraphimosis of the
nose, and a thin red mouth that looked as if it was raw from trying to
shit its tongue.
[4005] Here [place = supralinear] Hey you! He said.
[4006] I turned back to my fire.
[4007] It was
doing nicely.
[4008] I threw more wood on it. [4009] Do you hear me talking to you?
he said.
[4010] I went towards the shelter, he barred my way,
[4011] encouraged [place = supralinear] [⁁]emboldened by my
limp.
[4012] Have you a tongue in your head? he said.
[4013] I don't know you, I said.
[4014] I laughed.
[4015] I had not intended to be witty.
[4016] Would you care to see my care [place = overwritten] d?
he said.
[4017] It would mean nothing to me, I said.
[4018] He came closer to me.
[4019] Get
out of my way, I said.
[4020] It was his turn to laugh. [4021] You refuse to answer?
he said.
[4022] I made a great effort.
[4023] What do you want to know? I said.
[4024] He
must have thought I was weakening.
[4025] That's more like it, he said.
[4026] I called
to my aid the image of my son who might arrive at any moment.
[4027] I've already
told you, he said.
[4028] I was trembling all over.
[4029] Have the goodness to tell
me again, I said.
[4030] To cut a long story short
[4031] he wanted to know if I had
seen an old man with a stick pass by.
[4032] He described him.
[4033] Badly.
[4034] The voice
seemed to come to me from afar.
[4035] No, I said.
[4036] What do you mean no? he said.
[4037] I have seen no one, I said.
[4038] And yet he passed this way, he said.
[4039] I said
nothing.
[4040] How long have you been here? he said. [4041] His body too grew dim, as
if coming asunder.
[4042] What is your business here? he said.
[4043] Are you on night
patrol? I said.
[4044] He thrust a [place = supralinear] his hand at me.
[4045] I have an idea I told him once
again to get out of my way.
[4046] I can still see the hand coming towards me,
pallid, opening and closing.
[4047] As if self-propelled.
[4048] I do not know what
- Segments
Molloy © 2016 Samuel Beckett Digital Manuscript Project.
Editors: Magessa O'Reilly, Dirk Van Hulle, Pim Verhulst and Vincent Neyt