Голод
Part II
Ipeeredintothegloom,andIneverinallthedaysofmylifefeltsuchdarkness.TherewasnodoubtthatIfoundmyselfhere,infaceofapeculiarkindofdarkness;adesperateelementtowhichnoonehadhithertopaidattention.Themostludicrousthoughtsbusiedme,andeverythingmademeafraid.
Alittleholeinthewallattheheadofmybedoccupiesmegreatly—anailhole.Ifindthemarksinthewall—Ifeelit,blowintoit,andtrytoguessitsdepth.Thatwasnoinnocenthole—notatall.Itwasadownrightintricateandmysterioushole,whichImustguardagainst!Possessedbythethoughtofthishole,entirelybesidemyselfwithcuriosityandfear,Igetoutofbedandseizeholdofmypenknifeinordertogaugeitsdepth,andconvincemyselfthatitdoesnotreachrightintothenextwall.
Ilaydownoncemoretotryandfallasleep,butinrealitytowrestleagainwiththedarkness.Therainhadceasedoutside,andIcouldnothearasound.Icontinuedforalongtimetolistenforfootstepsinthestreet,andgotnopeaceuntilIheardapedestriangoby—tojudgefromthesound,aconstable.SuddenlyIsnapmyfingersmanytimesandlaugh:"Thatwastheverydeuce!Ha—ha!"IimaginedIhaddiscoveredanewword.Iriseupinbedandsay,"Itisnotinthelanguage;Ihavediscoveredit.’Kuboa.’Ithaslettersasawordhas.BythebenignGod,man,youhavediscoveredaword!...’Kuboa’...awordofprofoundimport.
