Голод
Part II
"Iaddednewwordstothese,gavethemadditionalpoint,changedthewholesentence,andmadeitcatchingandpiquant.Hecoughedonce—Kheuheu!
Iexhaustedmyselfinweavingvariationsonthesewords,andtheeveningwasfaradvancedbeforemymirthceased.Thenadrowsyquietovercameme;apleasantlanguorwhichIdidnotattempttoresist.Thedarknesshadintensified,andaslightbreezefurrowedthepearl-bluesea.Theships,themastsofwhichIcouldseeoutlinedagainstthesky,lookedwiththeirblackhullslikevoicelessmonstersthatbristledandlayinwaitforme.Ihadnopain—myhungerhadtakentheedgeoffit.InitssteadIfeltpleasantlyempty,untouchedbyeverythingaroundme,andgladnottobenoticedbyanyone.Iputmyfeetupontheseatandleantback.ThusIcouldbestappreciatethewell-beingofperfectisolation.Therewasnotacloudonmymind,notafeelingofdiscomfort,andsofarasmythoughtreached,Ihadnotawhim,notadesireunsatisfied.Ilaywithopeneyes,inastateofutterabsenceofmind.Ifeltmyselfcharmedaway.Moreover,notasounddisturbedme.Softdarknesshadhiddenthewholeworldfrommysight,andburiedmeinidealrest.Onlythelonely,crooningvoiceofsilencestrikesinmonotonesonmyear,andthedarkmonstersouttherewilldrawmetothemwhennightcomes,andtheywillbearmefaracrossthesea,throughstrangelandswherenomandwells,andtheywillbearmetoPrincessYlajali’spalace,whereanundreamt-ofgrandeurawaitsme,greaterthanthatofanyotherman.
