Голод
Part I
Inmyirritationitseemedtomethatheslackenedhispacealittleateverycrossstreet,asifwaitingtoseewhichdirectionIintendedtotake,uponwhichhewouldagainswinghisbundleintheairandpegawaywithallhismighttokeepaheadofme.Ifollowandwatchthistiresomecreatureandgetmoreandmoreexasperatedwithhim,Iamconsciousthathehas,littlebylittle,destroyedmyhappymoodanddraggedthepure,beautifulmorningdowntothelevelofhisownugliness.Helookslikeagreatsprawlingreptilestrivingwithmightandmaintowinaplaceintheworldandreservethefootpathforhimself.WhenwereachedthetopofthehillIdeterminedtoputupwithitnolonger.Iturnedtoashopwindowandstoppedinordertogivehimanopportunityofgettingahead,butwhen,afteralapseofsomeminutes,Iagainwalkedontherewasthemanstillinfrontofme—hetoohadstoodstockstill,—withoutstoppingtoreflectImadethreeorfourfuriousonwardstrides,caughthimup,andslappedhimontheshoulder.
Hestoppeddirectly,andwebothstaredatoneanotherfixedly."Ahalfpennyformilk!"hewhined,twistinghisheadaskew.
Sothatwashowthewindblew.Ifeltinmypocketsandsaid:"Formilk,eh?Hum-m—money’sscarcethesetimes,andIdon’treallyknowhowmuchyouareinneedofit."
"Ihaven’teatenamorselsinceyesterdayinDrammen;Ihaven’tgotafarthing,norhaveIgotanyworkyet!"
"Areyouanartisan?"
"Yes;abinder.
