Голод
Part III
Myfeethadswelledupinmyshoesduringthenight,buttheycausedmenopain,onlyIcouldnotmovemytoesmuch,theyweretoostiff.
Astheafternoonclosedin,andithadalreadybeguntogrowalittledusk,Igotupoutofbedandcommencedtomoveabouttheroomalittle.Ifeltmywaywithshort,carefulsteps,takingcaretokeepmybalanceandsparemyfeetasmuchaspossible.Ididnotsuffermuch,andIdidnotcry;neitherwasI,takingallintoconsideration,sad.Onthecontrary,Iwasblissfullycontent.Itdidnotstrikemejustthenthatanythingcouldbeotherwisethanitwas.
ThenIwentout.
Theonlythingthattroubledmealittle,inspiteofthenauseathatthethoughtoffoodinspiredinme,washunger.Icommencedtobesensibleofashamelessappetiteagain;aravenouslustoffood,whichgrewsteadilyworseandworse.Itgnawedunmercifullyinmybreast;carryingonasilent,mysteriousworkinthere.Itwasasifascoreofdiminutivegnome-likeinsectssettheirheadsononesideandgnawedforalittle,thenlaidtheirheadsontheothersideandgnawedalittlemore,thenlayquitestillforamoment’sspace,andthenbeganafresh,boringnoiselesslyin,andwithoutanyhaste,andleftemptyspaceseverywhereafterthemastheywenton....
Iwasnotill,butfaint;Ibrokeintoasweat.Ithoughtofgoingtothemarket-placetorestawhile,butthewaywaslongandwearisome;atlastIhadalmostreachedit.
