Голод
Part IV
WhenIhadfinishedhalf-ascoreofpages,perhapstwelve,oftenwithmucheffort,attimeswithlongintervals,inwhichIwroteinvainandhadtotearthepageintwo,Ihadbecometired,quitestiffwithcoldandfatigue,andIaroseandwentoutintothestreet.Forthelasthalf-hour,too,Ihadbeendisturbedbythecryingofthechildreninsidethefamilyroom,sothatIcouldnot,inanycase,havewrittenanymorejustthen.SoItookalongtimeupoverDrammensveien,andstayedawaytilltheevening,ponderingincessantly,asIwalkedalong,astohowIwouldcontinuemydrama.BeforeIcamehomeintheeveningofthisday,thefollowinghappened:
Istoodoutsideashoemaker’sshopfardowninCarlJohannStreet,almostattherailwaysquare.GodknowswhyIstoodjustoutsidethisshoemaker’sshop.IlookedintothewindowasIstoodthere,butdidnot,bytheway,rememberthatIneededshoesthen;mythoughtswerefarawayinotherpartsoftheworld.Aswarmofpeopletalkingtogetherpassedbehindmyback,andIheardnothingofwhatwassaid.Thenavoicegreetedmeloudly:
"Good-evening."
Itwas"Missy"whobademegood-evening!Iansweredatrandom,Ilookedathim,too,forawhile,beforeIrecognizedhim.
"Well,howareyougettingalong?"heinquired.
"Oh,alwayswell...asusual.
