Голод
Part I
Suddenlyitenteredmyheadtobeutterlyaudacious;Islappedmyemptybreast-pocket,andsaid:
"MayIofferyouacigarette?"
"Thankyou!"Themandidnotsmoke;hehadtogiveituptosparehiseyes;hewasnearlyblind.Thankyouverymuchallthesame.Wasitlongsincehiseyesgotbad?Inthatcase,perhaps,hecouldnotreadeither,notevenapaper?
No,noteventhenewspaper,more’sthepity.Themanlookedatme;hisweakeyeswereeachcoveredwithafilmwhichgavethemaglassyappearance;hisgazegrewbleary,andmadeadisgustingimpressiononme.
"Youareastrangerhere?"hesaid.
"Yes."Couldhenotevenreadthenameofthepaperheheldinhishand?
"Barely."Forthatmatter,hecouldheardirectlythatIwasastranger.Therewassomethinginmyaccentwhichtoldhim.Itdidnotneedmuch;hecouldhearsowell.Atnight,wheneveryoneslept,hecouldhearpeopleinthenextroombreathing....
"WhatIwasgoingtosaywas,’wheredoyoulive?’"
Onthespurofthemomentaliestood,ready-made,inmyhead.Iliedinvoluntarily,withoutanyobject,withoutanyarrièrepensée,andIanswered—
"St.Olav’sPlace,No.2."
"Really?"HekneweverystoneinSt.Olav’sPlace.Therewasafountain,somelamp-posts,afewtrees;herememberedallofit."Whatnumberdoyoulivein?"
Desiroustoputanendtothis,Igotup.
