Волны

           Imagesbreedinstantly.Iamembarrassedbymyownfertility.Icoulddescribeeverychair,table,luncherherecopiously,freely.Mymindhumshitherandthitherwithitsveilofwordsforeverything.Tospeak,aboutwineeventothewaiter,istobringaboutanexplosion.Upgoestherocket.Itsgoldengrainfalls,fertilizing,upontherichsoilofmyimagination.Theentirelyunexpectednatureofthisexplosion--thatisthejoyofintercourse.I,mixedwithanunknownItalianwaiter--whatamI?Thereisnostabilityinthisworld.Whoistosaywhatmeaningthereisinanything?Whoistoforetelltheflightofaword?Itisaballoonthatsailsovertree-tops.Tospeakofknowledgeisfutile.Allisexperimentandadventure.Weareforevermixingourselveswithunknownquantities.Whatistocome?Iknownot.ButasIputdownmyglassIremember:Iamengagedtobemarried.Iamtodinewithmyfriendstonight.IamBernard,myself.’

           ’Itisnowfiveminutestoeight,’saidNeville.’Ihavecomeearly.Ihavetakenmyplaceatthetabletenminutesbeforethetimeinordertotasteeverymomentofanticipation;toseethedooropenandtosay,"IsitPercival?No;itisnotPercival."Thereisamorbidpleasureinsaying:"No,itisnotPercival."Ihaveseenthedooropenandshuttwentytimesalready;eachtimethesuspensesharpens.Thisistheplacetowhichheiscoming.Thisisthetableatwhichhewillsit.Here,incredibleasitseems,willbehisactualbody.Thistable,thesechairs,thismetalvasewithitsthreeredflowersareabouttoundergoanextraordinarytransformation.