Риф, або Там, де розбивається щастя

VIII

           Therewassomethingsardonic,almostsinister,initsappearanceofhavingdeliberately“madeup”foritsanonymouspart,allinnoncommittaldrabsandbrowns,withacarpetandpaperthatnobodywouldremember,andchairsandtablesasimpersonalasrailwayporters.

           Darrowpickedupthetime-tableandtosseditontothetable.Thenherosetohisfeet,litacigarandwenttothewindow.Throughtherainhecouldjustdiscoverthefaceofaclockinatallbuildingbeyondtherailwayroofs.Hepulledouthiswatch,comparedthetwotime-pieces,andstartedthehandsofhiswithsucharushthattheyflewpastthehourandhehadtomakethemrepeatthecircuitmoredeliberately.Hefeltaquitedisproportionateirritationatthetriflingblunder.Whenhehadcorrectedithewentbacktohischairandthrewhimselfdown,leaningbackhisheadagainsthishands.Presentlyhiscigarwentout,andhegotup,huntedforthematches,lititagainandreturnedtohisseat.

           Theroomwasgettingonhisnerves.Duringthefirstfewdays,whiletheskieswereclear,hehadnotnoticedit,orhadfeltforitonlythecontemptuousindifferenceofthetravellertowardaprovisionalshelter.Butnowthathewasleavingit,waslookingatitforthelasttime,itseemedtohavetakencompletepossessionofhismind,tobesoakingitselfintohimlikeanuglyindelibleblot.Everydetailpresseditselfonhisnoticewiththefamiliarityofanaccidentalconfidant:whicheverwayheturned,hefeltthenudgeofatransientintimacy...

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Roboto Lora
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