Голод
Part I
ItstruckmethatIowedhimanexplanation,thatIoughttoelucidatemattersalittle.Ibegantohuminordertoattracthisattention.Then,takingthepencilinmyhand,Ihelditupandsaid:
"Itwouldneverhaveenteredmyheadtocomesuchalongwayforanyandeverybitofpencil,butwiththisoneitwasquiteadifferentmatter;therewasanotherreason,aspecialreason.Insignificantasitlooked,thisstumpofpencilhadsimplymademewhatIwasintheworld,sotosay,placedmeinlife."Isaidnomore.Themanhadcomerightovertothecounter.
"Indeed!"saidhe,andhelookedinquiringlyatme.
"Itwaswiththispencil,"Icontinued,incoldblood,"thatIwrotemydissertationon’PhilosophicalCognition,’inthreevolumes."Hadheneverheardmentionofit?
Well,hedidseemtorememberhavingheardthename,ratherthetitle.
"Yes,"saidI,"thatwasbyme,soitwas."SohemustreallynotbeastonishedthatIshouldbedesirousofhavingthelittlebitofpencilbackagain.Ivalueditfartoohighlytoloseit;why,itwasalmostasmuchtomeasalittlehumancreature.FortherestIwashonestlygratefultohimforhiscivility,andIwouldbearhiminmindforit.Yes,truly,Ireallywould.Apromisewasapromise;thatwasthesortofmanIwas,andhereallydeservedit."Good-bye!"Iwalkedtothedoorwiththebearingofonewhohaditinhispowertoplaceamaninahighposition,sayinthefire-office.
