Голод
Part II
Iquickenedmypace,wentcloseuptohim,andsaid,withouttheslightestprovocation,"Itisteno’clock."
"No,it’stwo,"heanswered,amazed.
"No,it’sten,"Ipersisted;"itisteno’clock!"and,groaningwithanger,Isteppedyetapaceortwonearer,clenchedmyfist,andsaid,"Listen,doyouknowwhat,it’steno’clock!"
Hestoodandconsideredawhile,summedupmyappearance,staredaghastatme,andatlastsaid,quitegently,"Inanycase,it’sabouttimeyeweregettinghome.Wouldyelikemetogowithyeabit?"
Iwascompletelydisarmedbythisman’sunexpectedfriendliness.Ifeltthattearssprangtomyeyes,andIhastenedtoreply:
"No,thankyou!Ihaveonlybeenoutalittletoolateinacafé.Thankyouverymuchallthesame!"
HesalutedwithhishandtohishelmetasIturnedaway.Hisfriendlinesshadoverwhelmedme,andIcriedweakly,becauseIhadnotevenalittlecointogivehim.
Ihalted,andlookedafterhimashewentslowlyonhisway.Istruckmyforehead,and,inmeasure,ashedisappearedfrommysight,Icriedmoreviolently.
Irailedatmyselfformypoverty,calledmyselfabusivenames,inventedfuriousdesignations—rich,roughnuggets—inaveinofabusewithwhichIoverwhelmedmyself.IkeptonatthisuntilIwasnearlyhome.OncomingtothedoorIdiscoveredIhaddroppedmykeys.
