Волны

           Listen,Rhoda(forweareconspirators,withourhandsonthecoldurn),tothecasual,quick,excitingvoiceofaction,ofhoundsrunningonthescent.Theyspeaknowwithouttroublingtofinishtheirsentences.Theytalkalittlelanguagesuchasloversuse.Animperiousbrutepossessesthem.Thenervesthrillintheirthighs.Theirheartspoundandchurnintheirsides.Susanscrewsherpocket-handkerchief.Jinny’seyesdancewithfire.’

           ’Theyareimmune,’saidRhoda,’frompickingfingersandsearchingeyes.Howeasilytheyturnandglance;whatposestheytakeofenergyandpride!WhatlifeshinesinJinny’seyes;howfell,howentireSusan’sglanceis,searchingforinsectsattheroots!Theirhairshineslustrous.Theireyesburnliketheeyesofanimalsbrushingthroughleavesonthescentoftheprey.Thecircleisdestroyed.Wearethrownasunder.’

           ’Butsoon,toosoon,’saidBernard,’thisegotisticexultationfails.Toosoonthemomentofravenousidentityisover,andtheappetiteforhappiness,andhappiness,andstillmorehappinessisglutted.Thestoneissunk;themomentisover.Roundmetherespreadsawidemarginofindifference.Nowopeninmyeyesathousandeyesofcuriosity.AnyonenowisatlibertytomurderBernard,whoisengagedtobemarried,solongastheyleaveuntouchedthismarginofunknownterritory,thisforestoftheunknownworld.