Портрет художника в юності
Chapter 1
Thesoutanesleeveswishedagainasthepandybatwasliftedandaloudcrashingsoundandafiercemaddeningtinglingburningpainmadehishandshrinktogetherwiththepalmsandfingersinalividquiveringmass.Thescaldingwaterburstforthfromhiseyesand,burningwithshameandagonyandfear,hedrewbackhisshakingarminterrorandburstoutintoawhineofpain.Hisbodyshookwithapalsyoffrightandinshameandragehefeltthescaldingcrycomefromhisthroatandthescaldingtearsfallingoutofhiseyesanddownhisflamingcheeks.
—Kneeldown,criedtheprefectofstudies.
Stephenkneltdownquicklypressinghisbeatenhandstohissides.Tothinkofthembeatenandswollenwithpainallinamomentmadehimfeelsosorryforthemasiftheywerenothisownbutsomeoneelse’sthathefeltsorryfor.Andasheknelt,calmingthelastsobsinhisthroatandfeelingtheburningtinglingpainpressedintohissides,hethoughtofthehandswhichhehadheldoutintheairwiththepalmsupandofthefirmtouchoftheprefectofstudieswhenhehadsteadiedtheshakingfingersandofthebeatenswollenreddenedmassofpalmandfingersthatshookhelplesslyintheair.
—Getatyourwork,allofyou,criedtheprefectofstudiesfromthedoor.FatherDolanwillbeineverydaytoseeifanyboy,anylazyidlelittleloaferwantsflogging.Everyday.Everyday.
Thedoorclosedbehindhim.
Thehushedclasscontinuedtocopyoutthethemes.
