MS-WU-MSS008-3-50-2

[4466] it was really Gaber. [4467] Is he angry? I said. [4468] You wouldn't have a sup of
beer by any chance, he said. [4469] I'm asking you if he is angry, I cried.
[4470] Angry, said Gaber, don't make me laugh, he keeps rubbing his hands from
morning to night, I can hear them in the outer room. [4471] That means nothing,
I said. [4472] And chuckling to himself, said Gaber. [4473] He must be angry with me,
I said.

[4474] Do you know what he told me the other day? said Gaber. [4475] Has he
changed? I cried. [4478] Changed, said Gaber, no he hasn't changed, why would
he have changed, he's getting old, that's all, like the world. [4479] You have
a queer voice this evening, I said. [4480] I do not think he heard me. [4481] Well,
he said, drawing his hands once more over his chest, downwards, I'll be
going, if that's all you have to offer me.

[4482] He went, without saying
goodbye. [4483] But I overtook him, in spite of my loathing for him, in spite
of my weakness and my sick leg, and held him back by the sleeve. [4484] What
did he tell you? I said. [4485] He stopped. [4486] Moran, he said, you are beginning
to give me a serious pain in the arse. [4487] For pity's sake, I said, tell me
what he told you.

[4488] He gave me a shove. [4489] I fell. [4490] He had not intended to
make me fall, he did not realize the state I was in, he had only wanted
to push me away. [4491] I did not try to get up. [4492] I let a roar. [4493] He came and
bent over me. [4494] He had a walrus moustache, chestnut in colour. [4495] I saw it
lift, the lips open, and almost at the same time I heard words of
sollicitude , at a great distance. [4496] He was not brutal, Gaber, I knew him
well.

[4497] Gaber, I said, it's not much I'm asking you. [4498] I remember this
scene well. [4499] He wanted to help me up. [4500] I pushed him away. [4501] I was all right
where I was. [4502] What did he tell you? I said. [4503] I don't understand, said
Gaber. [4504] You were saying a minute ago that he had told you something,
I said, then I cut you short. [4505] Short? said Gaber. [4506] Do you know what he
told me the other day, I said, those were your very words. [4507] His face lit
up. [4508] The clod was just about as quick as my son. [4509] He said to me, said