Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 4
Alreadyonelongovalbankofsandlaywarmanddryamidthewavelets.Hereandtherewarmislesofsandgleamedabovetheshallowtideandabouttheislesandaroundthelongbankandamidtheshallowcurrentsofthebeachwerelightcladfigures,wadinganddelving.
Incafewmomentshewasbarefoot,hisstockingsfoldedinhispocketsandhiscanvasshoesdanglingbytheirknottedlacesoverhisshouldersand,pickingapointedsalt-eatenstickoutofthejetsamamongtherocks,heclambereddowntheslopeofthebreakwater.
Therewasalongrivuletinthestrandand,ashewadedslowlyupitscourse,hewonderedattheendlessdriftofseaweed.Emeraldandblackandrussetandolive,itmovedbeneaththecurrent,swayingandturning.Thewateroftherivuletwasdarkwithendlessdriftandmirroredthehigh-driftingclouds.Thecloudsweredriftingabovehimsilentlyandsilentlytheseatanglewasdriftingbelowhimandthegreywarmairwasstillandanewwildlifewassinginginhisveins.
Wherewashisboyhoodnow?Wherewasthesoulthathadhungbackfromherdestiny,tobroodaloneupontheshameofherwoundsandinherhouseofsqualorandsubterfugetoqueenitinfadedcerementsandinwreathsthatwitheredatthetouch?Orwherewashe?
Hewasalone.Hewasunheeded,happyandneartothewildheartoflife.
