Голод
Part III
ImovedmylipsandcommencedtoItalkidioticallytomyself.Madnessragesthroughmybrain,andIletitrage.IamfullyconsciousthatIamsuccumbingtoinfluencesoverwhichIhavenocontrol.Ibegintolaugh,silently,passionately,withoutatraceofcause,stillmerryandintoxicatedfromthecoupleofglassesofaleIhavedrunk.Littlebylittlemyexcitementabates,mycalmreturnsmoreandmoretome.Ifeelthecoldinmysorefinger,andIstickitdowninsidemycollartowarmitalittle.AtlengthwereachTomtegaden.Thedriverpullsup.
Ialight,withoutanyhaste,absently,listlessly,withmyheadheavy.IgothroughagatewayandcomeintoayardacrosswhichIpass.IcometoadoorwhichIopenandpassthrough;Ifindmyselfinalobby,asortofanteroom,withtwowindows.Therearetwoboxesinit,oneontopoftheother,inonecorner,andagainstthewallanold,paintedsofa-bedoverwhicharugisspread.Totheright,inthenextroom,Ihearvoicesandthecryofachild,andaboveme,onthesecondfloor,thesoundofanironplatebeinghammered.AllthisInoticethemomentasIenter.
Istepquietlyacrosstheroomtotheoppositedoorwithoutanyhaste,withoutanythoughtofflight;openit,too,andcomeoutinVognmansgaden.IlookupatthehousethroughwhichIhavepassed."Refreshmentandlodgingsfortravellers."
Itisnotmyintentiontoescape,tostealawayfromthedriverwhoiswaitingforme.
