MS-WU-MSS008-3-50-2

[4265] wheels began to turn. [4266] I followed, half dragged, half hopping. [4267] I trembled
for my testicles which swing a little low. [4268] Faster! I cried. [4269] He bore down
on the pedals. [4270] I bounded up to my place. [4271] The bicycle swayed, righted
itself, gained speed. [4272] Bravo! I cried, beside myself with joy. [4273] Hurrah!
cried my son. [4274] How I loathe that exclamation! [4275] I can hardly set it down.

[4276] He was as pleased as I, I do believe. [4277] His heart was beating under my hand,
and yet my hand was far from his heart. [4278] Happily it was downhill. [4279] Happily
I had mended my hat, or the wind would have blown it away. [4280] Happily the
weather was fine, and I no longer alone. [4281] Happily, happily.

[4282] In this way we came to Ballyba. [4283] I shall not tell of the obstacles we
had to surmount, the fiends we had to circumvent, the misdemeanours of the
son, the disintegrations of the father. [4284] It was my intention, almost my
desire, to tell of all these things, I rejoiced at the thought that the
moment would come when I might do so. [4285] Now the intention is dead, the
moment is come and the desire is gone. [4286] My leg was no better.

[4287] It was no
worse either. [4288] The skin had healed. [4289] I would never have got there alone.
[4290] It was thanks to my son. [4291] What? [4292] That I got there. [4293] He often complained
of his health, his stomach, his teeth. [4294] I gave him some morphine. [4295] He
looked worse and worse. [4296] When I asked him what was wrong he could not
answer ^[⁁]tell me.

[4297] We had trouble with the bicycle. [4298] But I patched it up. [4299] I
would not have got there without my son. [4300] We were a long time getting
there. [4301] Weeks. [4302] We kept losing our way, taking our time. [4303] I still did not
know what I was to do with Molloy, when I found him. [4304] I thought no more
about it.

[4305] I thought about myself, a lot, as we went along, sitting behind
my son, looking over his head, and in the evening, when we camped, while
he made himself useful, and when he went away, leaving me alone. [4306] For he
often went away, to spy out the lie of the land and to buy provisions.
[4307] I did practically nothing any more. [4308] He took good care of me, I must say.