Голод
Part I
Iwasfaint,andnowandagainIhadtoretchfurtively.IswungroundbytheDampkökken,2readthebilloffare,andshruggedmyshouldersinawaytoattractattention,asifcornedbeeforsaltportwasnotmeetfoodforme.AfterthatIwenttowardstherailwaystation.
Asingularsenseofconfusionsuddenlydartedthroughmyhead.Istumbledon,determinednottoheedit;butIgrewworseandworse,andwasforcedatlasttositdownonastep.Mywholebeingunderwentachange,asifsomethinghadslidasideinmyinnerself,orasifacurtainortissueofmybrainwasrentintwo.
Iwasnotunconscious;Ifeltthatmyearwasgatheringalittle,and,asanacquaintancepassedby,Irecognizedhimatonceandgotupandbowed.
Whatsoreoffresh,painfulperceptionwasthisthatwasbeingaddedtotherest?Wasitaconsequenceofsleepinginthesoddenfields,ordiditarisefrommynothavinghadanybreakfastyet?Lookingthewholethingsquarelyintheface,therewasnomeaninginlivingoninthismanner,byChrist’sholypains,therewasn’t.IfailedtoseeeitherhowIhadmademyselfdeservingofthisspecialpersecution;anditsuddenlyenteredmyheadthatImightjustaswellturnrogueatonceandgotomy"Uncle’s"withtheblanket.Icouldpawnitforashilling,andgetthreefullmeals,andsokeepmyselfgoinguntilIthoughtofsomethingelse.’TistrueIwouldhavetoswindleHansPauli.
