Голод
Part I
"Iregretit,yourhandwritingisclear,andIlikeyourletter,too,but—"
Iwaitedawhile;thiscouldnotpossiblybetheman’sfinalsay.Hebusiedhimselfagainwiththebags.
"Yes,itwasapity,"Isaid;"reallyanawfulpity,butofcourseitwouldnotoccuragain;and,afterall,surelythislittleerrorcouldnothaverenderedmequiteunfittokeepbooks?"
"No,Ididn’tsaythat,"heanswered,"butinthemeantimeithadsomuchweightwithmethatIdecidedatonceuponanotherman."
"Sotheplaceisfilled?"
"Yes."
"A—h,well,thenthere’snothingmoretobesaidaboutit!"
"No!I’msorry,but—"
"Good-evening!"saidI.
Furywelledupinme,blazingwithbrutalstrength.Ifetchedmyparcelfromtheentry,setmyteethtogether,jostledagainstthepeacefulfolkonthefootpath,andneveronceaskedtheirpardon.
Asonemanstoppedandsetmetorightsrathersharplyformybehaviour,Iturnedroundandscreamedasinglemeaninglesswordinhisear,clenchedmyfistrightunderhisnose,andstumbledon,hardenedbyablindragethatIcouldnotcontrol.
Hecalledapoliceman,andIdesirednothingbetterthantohaveonebetweenmyhandsjustforonemoment.Islackenedmypaceintentionallyinordertogivehimanopportunityofovertakingme;buthedidnotcome.
