Кінець рабства

           SurelyGodwouldnotrobhischildofhispowertohelp,andcasthimnakedintoanightwithoutend.Hehadcaughtateveryhope;andwhentheevidenceofhismisfortunewasstrongerthanhope,hetriednottobelievethemanifestthing.

           Invain.Inthesteadilydarkeninguniverseasinisterclearnessfelluponhisideas.Intheilluminatingmomentsofsufferinghesawlife,men,allthings,thewholeearthwithallherburdenofcreatednature,ashehadneverseenthembefore.

           Sometimeshewasseizedwithasuddenvertigoandanoverwhelmingterror;andthentheimageofhisdaughterappeared.Her,too,hehadneverseensoclearlybefore.Wasitpossiblethatheshouldeverbeunabletodoanythingwhateverforher?Nothing.Andnotseeheranymore?Never.

           Why?Thepunishmentwastoogreatforalittlepresumption,foralittlepride.Andatlasthecametoclingtohisdeceptionwithafiercedeterminationtocarryitouttotheend,tosavehermoneyintact,andbeholdheroncemorewithhisowneyes.Afterwards—what?Theideaofsuicidewasrevoltingtothevigorofhismanhood.Hehadprayedfordeathtilltheprayershadstuckinhisthroat.Allthedaysofhislifehehadprayedfordailybread,andnottobeledintotemptation,inachildlikehumilityofspirit.Didwordsmeananything?Whencedidthegiftofspeechcome?Theviolentbeatingofhisheartreverberatedinhishead—seemedtoshakehisbraintopieces.

           Hesatdownheavilyinthedeck-chairtokeepthepretenseofhiswatch.Thenightwasdark.Allthenightsweredarknow.

           “Serang,”hesaid,halfaloud.

           “Ada,Tuan.Iamhere.