006:007;00[U ]| 006:007;00[U ]| 006:007;00[U ]| <(Publishers) Ltd, 18 Brewer Street,> 006:007;00[U ]| 006:007;00[U ]| 006:007;00[U ]| 006:007;00[U ]| 006:007;00[U ]| 006:007;00[U ]| 006:007;00[U ]| 006:007;00[U ]| 006:007;00[U ]| 006:007;00[U ]| 006:007;00[U ]| 006:007;00[U ]| 006:007;00[U ]| 006:007;00[U ]| 006:007;01@@@@@| 006:007;01[' ]| From where she lies she 006:007;02[' ]| sees Venus rise. On. From where she lies 006:007;03[' ]| when the skies are clear she sees Venus rise 006:007;04[' ]| followed by the sun. Then she rails at the 006:007;05[' ]| source of all life. On. At evening when the 006:007;06[' ]| skies are clear she savours its star's revenge. 006:007;07[' ]| At the other window. Rigid upright on 006:007;08[' ]| her$2$ old chair she watches for the radiant 006:007;09[' ]| one. Her$2$ old deal spindlebacked kitchen 006:007;10[' ]| chair. It emerges from out the last rays and 006:007;11[' ]| sinking ever brighter is engulfed in its 006:007;12[' ]| turn. On. She sits on erect and rigid in the 006:007;13[' ]| deepening gloom. Such helplessness to$9$ 006:007;14[' ]| move she can not help. Heading on foot for 006:007;15[' ]| a particular point often she freezes on the 006:007;16[' ]| way. Unable till long after to$9$ move on not 006:007;17[' ]| knowing whither or for what purpose. 006:007;18[' ]| Down on her$2$ knees especially she finds it 006:007;19[' ]| hard not to$9$ remain so forever. Hand resting 006:007;20[' ]| on hand on some convenient support. 006:007;21[' ]| Such as the foot of her$2$ bed. And on them 006:007;22[' ]| her$2$ head. There then she sits as though 006:007;23[' ]| turned to$4$ stone face to$4$ the night. Save for 006:007;24[' ]| the white of her$2$ hair and faintly bluish 006:007;25[' ]| white of face and hands all is black For a 006:008;01[' ]| eye having no need of light to$9$ see. All this 006:008;02[' ]| in the present as had she the misfortune to$9$ 006:008;03[' ]| be$1$ still of this world. 006:008;04[' ]| The cabin. Its situation. 006:008;05[' ]| Careful. On. At the inexistent centre of a 006:008;06[' ]| formless place. Rather more circular than 006:008;07[' ]| otherwise finally. Flat to$9$ be$1$ sure. To$9$ cross 006:008;08[' ]| it in a straight line takes her$6$ from five to$4$ 006:008;09[' ]| ten minutes. Depending on her$2$ speed and 006:008;10[' ]| radius taken. Here she who loves to$9$ ~~ here 006:008;11[' ]| she who now can only stray never strays. 006:008;12[' ]| Stones increasingly abound. Ever scanter 006:008;13[' ]| even the rankest weed. Meagre pastures 006:008;14[' ]| hem it round on which it slowly gains. 006:008;15[' ]| With none to$9$ gainsay. To$9$ have$1$ gainsaid. 006:008;16[' ]| As if doomed to$9$ spread. How come a cabin 006:008;17[' ]| in such a place? How came? Careful. Before 006:008;18[' ]| replying that in the far past at the time 006:008;19[' ]| of its building there was clover growing to$4$ 006:008;20[' ]| its very walls. Implying furthermore that it 006:009;01[' ]| the culprit. And from it as from a evil 006:009;02[' ]| core that the what is the wrong word the 006:009;03[' ]| evil spread. And none to$9$ urge ~~ none to$9$ 006:009;04[' ]| have$1$ urged its demolition. As if doomed to$9$ 006:009;05[' ]| endure. Question answered. Chalkstones 006:009;06[' ]| of striking effect in the light of the moon. 006:009;07[' ]| Let it be$1$ in opposition when the skies are 006:009;08[' ]| clear. Quick then still under the spell of 006:009;09[' ]| Venus quick to$4$ the other window to$9$ see 006:009;10[' ]| the other marvel rise. How whiter and 006:009;11[' ]| whiter as it climbs it whitens more and 006:009;12[' ]| more the stones. Rigid with face and hands 006:009;13[' ]| against the pane she stands and marvels 006:009;14[' ]| long. 006:009;15[' ]| The two zones form a 006:009;16[' ]| roughly circular whole. As though outlined 006:009;17[' ]| by a trembling hand. Diameter. Careful 006:009;18[' ]| Say one furlong. On a average. 006:009;19[' ]| Beyond the unknown. Mercifully. The 006:009;20[' ]| feeling at times of being below sea level. 006:010;01[' ]| Especially at night when the skies are clear. 006:010;02[' ]| Invisible nearby sea. Inaudible. The entire 006:010;03[' ]| surface under grass. Once clear of the zone 006:010;04[' ]| of stones. Save where it has receded from 006:010;05[' ]| the chalky soil. Innumerable white scabs 006:010;06[' ]| all shapes and sizes. Of striking effect in 006:010;07[' ]| the light of the moon. In the way of animals 006:010;08[' ]| ovines only. After long hesitation. 006:010;09[' ]| They are white and make do$1$ with little. 006:010;10[' ]| Whence suddenly come no knowing nor 006:010;11[' ]| whither as suddenly gone. Unshepherded 006:010;12[' ]| they stray as they list. Flowers? Careful. 006:010;13[' ]| Alone the odd crocus still at lambing time. 006:010;14[' ]| And man? Shut of at last? Alas no. For will 006:010;15[' ]| she not be$1$ surprised one day to$9$ find him 006:010;16[' ]| gone? Surprised no she is beyond surprise. 006:010;17[' ]| How many? A figure come what may. 006:010;18[' ]| Twelve. Wherewith to$9$ furnish the horizon's 006:010;19[' ]| narrow round. She raises her$2$ eyes and 006:010;20[' ]| sees one. Turns away and sees another. So 006:010;21[' ]| on. Always afar. Still or receding. She 006:010;22[' ]| never once saw one come toward her$6$. Or 006:010;23[' ]| she forgets. She forgets. Are they always 006:010;24[' ]| the same? Do they see her$6$? Enough. 006:011;01[' ]| A moor would have$1$ better 006:011;02[' ]| met the case. Were there a case better 006:011;03[' ]| to$9$ meet. There had to$9$ be$1$ lambs. Rightly or 006:011;04[' ]| wrongly. A moor would have$1$ allowed of 006:011;05[' ]| them. Lambs for their whiteness. And for 006:011;06[' ]| other reasons as yet obscure. Another reason 006:011;07[' ]| And so that there may be$1$ none. At 006:011;08[' ]| lambing time. That from one moment to$4$ 006:011;09[' ]| the next she may raise her$2$ eyes to$9$ find 006:011;10[' ]| them gone. A moor would have$1$ allowed of 006:011;11[' ]| them. In any case too late. And what 006:011;12[' ]| lambs. No trace of frolic. White splotches 006:011;13[' ]| in the grass. Aloof from the unheeding 006:011;14[' ]| ewes. Still. Then a moment straying. Then 006:011;15[' ]| still again. To$9$ think there is still life in 006:011;15[' ]| this 006:011;16[' ]| age. Gently gently. 006:011;17[' ]| She is drawn to$4$ a certain 006:011;18[' ]| spot. At times. There stands a stone. It it is 006:011;19[' ]| draws her$6$. Rounded rectangular block 006:011;20[' ]| three times as high as wide. Four. Her$2$ stature 006:011;21[' ]| now. Her$2$ lowly stature. When it draws 006:012;01[' ]| she must to$4$ it. She can not see it from her$2$ 006:012;02[' ]| door. Blindfold she could find her$2$ way. 006:012;03[' ]| With herself she has no more converse. 006:012;04[' ]| Never had much. Now none. As had she 006:012;05[' ]| the misfortune to$9$ be$1$ still of this world. 006:012;06[' ]| But when the stone draws then to$4$ her$2$ feet 006:012;07[' ]| the prayer, Take her$6$. Especially at night 006:012;08[' ]| when the skies are clear. With moon or 006:012;09[' ]| without. They take her$6$ and halt her$6$ before 006:012;10[' ]| it. There she too as if of stone. But black. 006:012;11[' ]| Sometimes in the light of the moon. 006:012;12[' ]| Mostly of the stars alone. Does she envy 006:012;13[' ]| it? 006:012;14[' ]| To$4$ the imaginary stranger 006:012;15[' ]| the dwelling appears deserted. Under constant 006:012;16[' ]| watch it betrays no sign of life. The 006:012;17[' ]| eye glued to$4$ one or the other window has 006:012;18[' ]| nothing but black drapes for its pains. 006:012;18[' ]| Motionless 006:012;19[' ]| against the door he listens long. 006:012;20[' ]| No sound. Knocks. No answer. Watches 006:013;01[' ]| all night in vain for the least glimmer. Returns 006:013;02[' ]| at last to$4$ his own and avows, No 006:013;03[' ]| one. She shows herself only to$4$ her$2$ own. 006:013;04[' ]| But she has no own. Yes yes she has one. 006:013;05[' ]| And who has her$6$. 006:013;06[' ]| There was a time when 006:013;07[' ]| she did not appear in the zone of stones. A 006:013;08[' ]| long time. Was not therefore to$9$ be$1$ seen 006:013;09[' ]| going out or coming in. When she appeared 006:013;10[' ]| only in the pastures. Was not therefore 006:013;11[' ]| to$9$ be$1$ seen leaving them. Save as 006:013;12[' ]| though by enchantment. But little by little 006:013;13[' ]| she began to$9$ appear. In the zone of stones. 006:013;14[' ]| First darkly. Then more and more plain. 006:013;15[' ]| Till in detail she could be$1$ seen crossing the 006:013;16[' ]| threshold both ways and closing the door 006:013;17[' ]| behind her$6$. Then a time when within her$2$ 006:013;18[' ]| walls she did not appear. A long time. But 006:013;19[' ]| little by little she began to$9$ appear. Within 006:013;20[' ]| her$2$ walls. Darkly. Time truth to$9$ tell still 006:014;01[' ]| current. Though she within them no more. 006:014;02[' ]| This long time. 006:014;03[' ]| Yes within her$2$ walls so 006:014;04[' ]| far at the window only. At one or the other 006:014;05[' ]| window. Rapt before the sky. And only 006:014;06[' ]| half seen so far a pallet and a ghostly chair. 006:014;07[' ]| Ill half seen. And how in her$2$ faint comings 006:014;08[' ]| and goings she suddenly stops dead. And 006:014;09[' ]| how hard set to$9$ rise up from off her$2$ knees. 006:014;10[' ]| But there too little by little she begins 006:014;11[' ]| to$9$ appear more plain. Within her$2$ walls. 006:014;12[' ]| As well as other objects. Such as under 006:014;13[' ]| her$2$ pillow such as deep in some recess 006:014;14[' ]| this still shadowy album. Perhaps in time 006:014;15[' ]| be by her$6$ when she takes it on her$2$ knees. 006:014;16[' ]| See the old fingers fumble through the 006:014;17[' ]| pages. And what scenes they can possibly 006:014;18[' ]| be$1$ that draw the head down lower still and 006:014;19[' ]| hold it in thrall. In the meantime who 006:015;01[' ]| knows no more than withered flowers. No 006:015;02[' ]| more! 006:015;03[' ]| But quick seize her$6$ where 006:015;04[' ]| she is best to$9$ be$1$ seized. In the pastures far 006:015;05[' ]| from shelter. She crosses the zone of stones 006:015;06[' ]| and is there. Clearer and clearer as she goes. 006:015;07[' ]| Quick seeing she goes out less and less. 006:015;08[' ]| And so to$9$ say$1$ only in winter. Winter in 006:015;09[' ]| her$2$ winter haunts she wanders. Far from 006:015;10[' ]| shelter. Head bowed she makes her$2$ slow 006:015;11[' ]| wavering way across the snow. It is evening. 006:015;12[' ]| Yet again. On the snow her$2$ long 006:015;13[' ]| shadow keeps her$6$ company. The others are 006:015;14[' ]| there. All about. The twelve. Afar. Still or 006:015;15[' ]| receding. She raises her$2$ eyes and sees one. 006:015;16[' ]| Turns away and sees another. Again she 006:015;17[' ]| stops dead. Now the moment or never. 006:015;18[' ]| But something forbids. Just time to$9$ begin 006:015;19[' ]| to$9$ glimpse a fringe of black veil. The 006:016;01[' ]| face must wait. Just time before the eye 006:016;02[' ]| cast down. Where nothing to$9$ be$1$ seen in 006:016;03[' ]| the grazing rays but snow. And how all 006:016;04[' ]| about little by little her$2$ footprints are 006:016;05[' ]| effaced. 006:016;06[' ]| What is it defends her$6$? 006:016;07[' ]| Even from her$2$ own. Averts the intent 006:016;08[' ]| gaze. Incriminates the dearly won. Forbids 006:016;09[' ]| divining her$6$. What but life ending. Hers. 006:016;10[' ]| The other's. But so otherwise. She needs 006:016;11[' ]| nothing. Nothing utterable. Whereas the 006:016;12[' ]| other. How need in the end? But how? 006:016;13[' ]| How need in the end? 006:016;14[' ]| Times when she is gone. 006:016;15[' ]| Long lapses of time. At crocus time it 006:016;16[' ]| would be$1$ making for the distant tomb. To$9$ 006:017;01[' ]| have$1$ that on the imagination! On top of 006:017;02[' ]| the rest. Bearing by the stem or round her$2$ 006:017;03[' ]| arm the cross or wreath. But she can be$1$ 006:017;04[' ]| gone at any time. From one moment of the 006:017;05[' ]| year to$4$ the next suddenly no longer there. 006:017;06[' ]| No longer anywhere to$9$ be$1$ seen. Nor by 006:017;07[' ]| the eye of flesh nor by the other. Then as 006:017;08[' ]| suddenly there again. Long after. So on. 006:017;09[' ]| Any other would renounce. Avow, No 006:017;10[' ]| one. No one more. Any other than this 006:017;11[' ]| other. In wait for her$6$ to$9$ reappear. In order 006:017;12[' ]| to$9$ resume. Resume the ~~ what is the word? 006:017;13[' ]| What the wrong word? 006:017;14[' ]| Riveted to$4$ some detail 006:017;15[' ]| of the desert the eye fills with tears. 006:017;15[' ]| Imagination 006:017;16[' ]| at wit's end spreads its sad wings. 006:017;17[' ]| Gone she hears one night the sea as if afar. 006:017;18[' ]| Plucks up her$2$ long skirt to$9$ make better 006:017;19[' ]| haste and discovers her$2$ boots and stockings 006:017;20[' ]| to$4$ the calf. Tears. Last example the 006:018;01[' ]| flagstone before her$2$ door that by dint by 006:018;02[' ]| dint her$2$ little weight has grooved. Tears. 006:018;03[' ]| Before left for the stockings 006:018;04[' ]| the boots have time to$9$ be$1$ ill buttoned. 006:018;05[' ]| Weeping over as weeping will see now the 006:018;06[' ]| buttonhook larger than life. Of tarnished 006:018;07[' ]| silver pisciform it hangs by its hook from a 006:018;08[' ]| nail. It trembles faintly without cease. As 006:018;09[' ]| if here without cease the earth faintly 006:018;10[' ]| quaked. The oval handle is wrought to$4$ a 006:018;11[' ]| semblance of scales. The shank a little bent 006:018;12[' ]| leads up to$4$ the hook the eye so far still dry. 006:018;13[' ]| A lifetime of hooking has lessened its curvature 006:018;14[' ]| To$4$ the point at certain moments of 006:018;15[' ]| its seeming unfit for service. Child's play 006:018;16[' ]| with a pliers to$9$ restore it. Was there once a 006:018;17[' ]| time she did? Careful. Once once in a way: 006:018;18[' ]| Till she could no more. No more bring the 006:018;19[' ]| jaws together. Oh not for weakness. Since 006:018;20[' ]| when it hangs useless from the nail. Trembling 006:019;01[' ]| imperceptibly without cease. Silver 006:019;02[' ]| shimmers some evenings when the skies 006:019;03[' ]| are clear. Close-up then. In which in defiance 006:019;04[' ]| of reason the nail prevails. Long this 006:019;05[' ]| image till suddenly it blurs. 006:019;06[' ]| She is there. Again. Let 006:019;07[' ]| the eye from its vigil be$1$ distracted a moment. 006:019;08[' ]| At break or close of day. Distracted 006:019;09[' ]| by the sky. By something in the sky. So 006:019;10[' ]| that when it resumes the curtain may be$1$ 006:019;11[' ]| no longer closed. Opened by her$6$ to$9$ let 006:019;12[' ]| her$6$ see the sky. But even without that 006:019;13[' ]| she is there. Without the curtain's being 006:019;14[' ]| opened. Suddenly open. A flash. The suddenness 006:019;15[' ]| of all! She still without stopping. 006:019;16[' ]| On her$2$ way without starting. Gone without 006:019;17[' ]| going. Back without returning. Suddenly 006:019;18[' ]| it is evening. Or dawn. The eye 006:019;19[' ]| rivets the bare window. Nothing in the 006:019;20[' ]| sky will distract it from it more. While she 006:020;01[' ]| from within looks her$2$ fill. Pfft occulted. 006:020;02[' ]| Nothing having stirred. 006:020;03[' ]| Already all confusion. 006:020;04[' ]| Things and imaginings. As of always. 006:020;05[' ]| Confusion amounting to$4$ nothing. Despite 006:020;06[' ]| precautions. If only she could be$1$ pure 006:020;07[' ]| figment. Unalloyed. This old so dying 006:020;08[' ]| woman. So dead. In the madhouse of the 006:020;09[' ]| skull and nowhere else. Where no more 006:020;10[' ]| precautions to$9$ be$1$ taken. No precautions 006:020;11[' ]| possible. Cooped up there with the rest. 006:020;12[' ]| Hovel and stones. The lot. And the eye. 006:020;13[' ]| How simple all then. If only all could be$1$ 006:020;14[' ]| pure figment. Neither be nor been nor by 006:020;15[' ]| any shift to$9$ be$1$. Gently gently. On. Careful. 006:020;16[' ]| Here to$4$ the rescue two 006:020;17[' ]| lights. Two small skylights. Set in the 006:021;01[' ]| high-pitched roof on either side. Each 006:021;02[' ]| shedding dim light. No ceiling therefore. 006:021;03[' ]| Necessarily. Otherwise with the curtains 006:021;04[' ]| closed she would be$1$ in the dark. Day and 006:021;05[' ]| night in the dark. And what of it? She is 006:021;06[' ]| done with raising her$2$ eyes. Nearly done. 006:021;07[' ]| But when she lies with them open she can 006:021;08[' ]| just make out the rafters. In the dim light 006:021;09[' ]| the skylights shed. a ever dimmer light. 006:021;10[' ]| As the panes slowly dimmen. All in black 006:021;11[' ]| she comes and goes. The hem of her$2$ long 006:021;12[' ]| black skirt brushes the floor. But most 006:021;13[' ]| often she is still. Standing or sitting. Lying 006:021;14[' ]| or on her$2$ knees. In the dim light the 006:021;15[' ]| sky-lights shed. Otherwise with the curtains 006:021;16[' ]| closed for preference she would be$1$ in the 006:021;17[' ]| dark. In the dark day and night. 006:021;18@@@@@| 006:021;18[' ]| Next to$9$ emerge from 006:021;19[' ]| the shadows a inner wall. Only slowly to$9$ 006:021;20[' ]| dissolve in favour of a single space. East the 006:021;21[' ]| bed. West the chair. A place divided by her$2$ 006:022;01[' ]| use of it alone. How more desirable in 006:022;02[' ]| every way a interior of a piece. The eye 006:022;03[' ]| breathes again but not for long. For slowly 006:022;04[' ]| it emerges again. Rises from the floor and 006:022;05[' ]| slowly up to$9$ lose itself in the gloom. The 006:022;06[' ]| semigloom. It is evening. The button-hook 006:022;07[' ]| glimmers in the last rays. The pallet 006:022;08[' ]| scarce to$9$ be$1$ seen. 006:022;09[' ]| Weary of the inanimate 006:022;10[' ]| the eye in her$2$ absence falls back on the 006:022;11[' ]| twelve. Out of her$2$ sight as she of theirs. 006:022;12[' ]| Alone turn where she may she keeps her$2$ 006:022;13[' ]| eyes fixed on the ground. On the way at 006:022;14[' ]| her$2$ feet where it has come to$4$ a stop. Winter 006:022;15[' ]| evening. Not to$9$ be$1$ precise. All so bygone. 006:022;16[' ]| To$4$ the twelve then for want of 006:022;17[' ]| better the widowed eye. No matter which. 006:022;18[' ]| In the distance stiff he stands facing front 006:022;19[' ]| and the setting sun. Dark greatcoat reaching 006:022;20[' ]| to$4$ the ground. Antiquated block hat. 006:022;21[' ]| Finally the face caught full in the last rays. 006:023;01[' ]| Quick enlarge and devour before night 006:023;02[' ]| falls. 006:023;03[' ]| Having no need of light 006:023;04[' ]| to$9$ see the eye makes haste. Before night 006:023;05[' ]| falls. So it is. So itself belies. Then glutted 006:023;06[' ]| ~~ then torpid under its lid makes way 006:023;07[' ]| for unreason. What if not her$6$ do they ring 006:023;08[' ]| around? Careful. She who looks up no 006:023;09[' ]| more looks up and sees them. Some among 006:023;10[' ]| them. Still or receding. Receding. Those 006:023;11[' ]| too closely seen who move to$9$ preserve 006:023;12[' ]| their distance. While at the same time others 006:023;13[' ]| advance. Those in the wake of her$2$ wandering. 006:023;14[' ]| She never once saw one come 006:023;15[' ]| toward her$6$. Or she forgets. She forgets. 006:023;16[' ]| Now some do. Toward but never nearer. 006:023;17[' ]| Thus they keep her$6$ in the centre. More or 006:023;18[' ]| less. What then if not her$6$ do they ring 006:023;19[' ]| around? In their ring whence she disappears 006:023;20[' ]| unhindered. Whence they let her$6$ disappear. 006:023;21[' ]| Instead of disappearing in her$2$ 006:024;01[' ]| company. So the unreasoning goes. While 006:024;02[' ]| the eye digests its pittance. In its private 006:024;03[' ]| dark. In the general dark. 006:024;04[' ]| As hope expires of her$6$ 006:024;05[' ]| ever reappearing she reappears. At first 006:024;06[' ]| sight little changed. It is evening. It will 006:024;07[' ]| always be$1$ evening. When not night. She 006:024;08[' ]| emerges at the fringe of the pastures and 006:024;09[' ]| sets forward across them. Slowly with fluttering 006:024;10[' ]| step as if wanting mass. Suddenly 006:024;11[' ]| still and as suddenly on her$2$ way again. At 006:024;12[' ]| this rate it will be$1$ black night before she 006:024;13[' ]| reaches home. Home! But time slows all 006:024;14[' ]| this while. Suits its speed to$4$ hers. Whence 006:024;15[' ]| from beginning to$4$ end of her$2$ course no 006:024;16[' ]| loss or but little of twilight. A matter at 006:024;17[' ]| most of a candle or two. Bearing south as 006:024;18[' ]| best she can she casts toward the moon to$9$ 006:024;19[' ]| come her$2$ long black shadow. They come at 006:024;20[' ]| last to$4$ the door holding a great key. At the 006:025;01[' ]| same instant night. When not evening 006:025;02[' ]| night. Head bowed she stands exposed 006:025;03[' ]| facing east. All dead still. All save hanging 006:025;04[' ]| from a finger the old key polished by use. 006:025;05[' ]| Trembling it faintly shimmers in the light 006:025;06[' ]| of the moon. 006:025;07[' ]| Wooed from below the 006:025;08[' ]| face consents at last. In the dim light reflected 006:025;09[' ]| by the flag. Calm slab worn and 006:025;10[' ]| polished by agelong comings and goings. 006:025;11[' ]| Livid pallor. Not a wrinkle. How serene it 006:025;12[' ]| seems this ancient mask. Worthy those 006:025;13[' ]| worn by certain newly dead. True the light 006:025;14[' ]| leaves to$9$ be$1$ desired. The lids occult the 006:025;15[' ]| longed-for eyes. Time will tell them 006:025;16[' ]| washen blue. Where tears perhaps not for 006:025;17[' ]| nothing. Unimaginable tears of old. Lashes 006:025;18[' ]| jet black remains of the brunette she was. 006:025;19[' ]| Perhaps once was. When yet a lass. Yet 006:025;20[' ]| brunette. Skipping the nose at the call of 006:026;01[' ]| the lips these no sooner broached are withdrawn. 006:026;02[' ]| The slab having darkened with the 006:026;03[' ]| darkening sky. Black night henceforward. 006:026;04[' ]| And at dawn a empty place. With no 006:026;05[' ]| means of knowing whether she has gone 006:026;06[' ]| in or under cover of darkness her$2$ ways 006:026;07[' ]| again. 006:026;08[' ]| White stones more plentiful 006:026;09[' ]| every year. As well say every instant. 006:026;10[' ]| In a fair way if they persist to$9$ bury all. First 006:026;11[' ]| zone rather more extensive than at first 006:026;12[' ]| sight ill seen and every year rather more. 006:026;13[' ]| Of striking effect in the light of the moon 006:026;14[' ]| these millions of little sepulchres. But in 006:026;15[' ]| her$2$ absence but cold comfort. From it then 006:026;16[' ]| in the end to$4$ the second miscalled pastures. 006:026;17[' ]| Leprous with white scars where the 006:026;18[' ]| grass has receded from the chalky soil. 006:026;19[' ]| In contemplation of this erosion the eye 006:026;20[' ]| finds solace. Everywhere stone is gaining. 006:026;21[' ]| Whiteness. More and more every year. As 006:027;01[' ]| well say every instant. Everywhere every 006:027;02[' ]| instant whiteness is gaining. 006:027;03[' ]| The eye will return to$4$ the 006:027;04[' ]| scene of its betrayals. On centennial leave 006:027;05[' ]| from where tears freeze. Free again a instant 006:027;06[' ]| to$9$ shed them scalding. On the blest 006:027;07[' ]| tears once shed. While exulting at the 006:027;08[' ]| white heap of stone. Ever heaping for want 006:027;09[' ]| of better on itself. Which if it persist will 006:027;10[' ]| gain the skies. The moon. Venus. 006:027;11[' ]| From the stones she steps 006:027;12[' ]| down into the pastures. As from one tier of 006:027;13[' ]| a circus to$4$ the next. A gap time will fill. 006:027;14[' ]| For faster than the stones invade it the 006:027;15[' ]| other ground upheaves its own. So far in 006:027;16[' ]| silence. A silence time will break. This 006:027;17[' ]| great silence evening and night. Then all 006:028;01[' ]| along the verge the muffled thud of stone 006:028;02[' ]| on stone. Of those spilling their excess on 006:028;03[' ]| those emergent. Only now and then at 006:028;04[' ]| first. Then at ever briefer intervals. Till one 006:028;05[' ]| continuous din. With none to$9$ hear. Decreasing 006:028;06[' ]| as the levels draw together to$4$ silence 006:028;07[' ]| once again. Evening and night. In 006:028;08[' ]| the meantime she is suddenly sitting with 006:028;09[' ]| her$2$ feet in the pastures. Were it not for the 006:028;10[' ]| empty hands on the way who knows to$4$ the 006:028;11[' ]| tomb. Back from it then more likely. On 006:028;12[' ]| the way back from the tomb. Frozen true 006:028;13[' ]| to$4$ her$2$ wont she seems turned to$4$ stone. 006:028;14[' ]| Face to$4$ the further confines the eye closes 006:028;15[' ]| in vain to$9$ see. At last they appear a instant. 006:028;16[' ]| North where she passes them always. 006:028;17[' ]| Shroud of radiant haze. Where to$9$ melt 006:028;18[' ]| into paradise. 006:028;19[' ]| The long white hair stares 006:028;20[' ]| in a fan. Above and about the impassive 006:028;21[' ]| face. Stares as if shocked still by some ancient 006:029;01[' ]| horror. Or by its continuance. Or 006:029;02[' ]| by another. That leaves the face stone-cold. 006:029;03[' ]| Silence at the eye of the scream. 006:029;04[' ]| Which say? Ill say. Both. All three. Question 006:029;05[' ]| answered. 006:029;06[' ]| Seated on the stones she 006:029;07[' ]| is seen from behind. From the waist up. 006:029;08[' ]| Trunk black rectangle. Nape under frill of 006:029;09[' ]| black lace. White half halo of hair. Face to$4$ 006:029;10[' ]| the north. The tomb. Eyes on the horizon 006:029;11[' ]| perhaps. Or closed to$9$ see the headstone. 006:029;12[' ]| The withered crocuses. Endless evening. 006:029;13[' ]| She lit aslant by the last rays. They make 006:029;14[' ]| no difference. None to$4$ the black of the 006:029;15[' ]| cloth. None to$4$ the white hair. It too dead 006:029;16[' ]| still. In the still air. Voidlike calm as 006:029;16[' ]| always. 006:029;17[' ]| Evening and night. Suffice to$9$ watch 006:029;18[' ]| the grass. How motionless it droops. Till 006:029;19[' ]| under the relentless eye it shivers. With 006:029;20[' ]| faintest shiver from its innermost. Equally 006:029;21[' ]| the hair. Rigidly horrent it shivers at last 006:030;01[' ]| for the eye about to$9$ abandon. And the old 006:030;02[' ]| body itself. When it seems of stone. Is it 006:030;03[' ]| not in fact ashiver from head to$4$ foot? Let 006:030;04[' ]| her$6$ but go and stand still by the other 006:030;05[' ]| stone. It white from afar in the pastures. 006:030;06[' ]| And the eye go from one to$4$ the other. 006:030;07[' ]| Back and forth. What calm then. And 006:030;08[' ]| what storm. Beneath the weeds' mock 006:030;09[' ]| calm. 006:030;10[' ]| Not possible any longer 006:030;11[' ]| except as figment. Not endurable. Nothing 006:030;12[' ]| for it but to$9$ close the eye for good and 006:030;13[' ]| see her$6$. Her$6$ and the rest. Close it for good 006:030;14[' ]| and all and see her$6$ to$4$ death. Unremittent. 006:030;15[' ]| In the shack. Over the stones. In the pastures. 006:030;16[' ]| The haze. At the tomb. And back. 006:030;17[' ]| And the rest. For good and all. To$4$ death. 006:030;18[' ]| Be shut of it all. On to$4$ the next. Next 006:030;19[' ]| figment. Close it for good this filthy eye of 006:030;20[' ]| flesh. What forbids? Careful. 006:031;01[' ]| Such ~~ such fiasco that 006:031;02[' ]| folly takes a hand. Such bits and scraps. 006:031;03[' ]| Seen no matter how and said as seen. 006:031;04[' ]| Dread of black. Of white. Of void. Let her$6$ 006:031;05[' ]| vanish. And the rest. For good. And the 006:031;06[' ]| sun. Last rays. And the moon. And Venus. 006:031;07[' ]| Nothing left but black sky. White earth. 006:031;08[' ]| Or inversely. No more sky or earth. 006:031;09[' ]| Finished high and low. Nothing but black 006:031;10[' ]| and white. Everywhere no matter where. 006:031;11[' ]| But black. Void. Nothing else. Contemplate 006:031;12[' ]| that. Not another word. Home at 006:031;13[' ]| last. Gently gently. 006:031;14[' ]| Panic past pass on. The 006:031;15[' ]| hands. Seen from above. They rest on the 006:031;16[' ]| pubis intertwined. Strident white. Their 006:031;17[' ]| faintly leaden tinge killed by the black 006:031;18[' ]| ground. Suspicion of lace at the wrists. To$9$ 006:031;19[' ]| go with the frill. They tighten then loosen 006:031;20[' ]| their clasp. Slow systole diastole. And the 006:032;01[' ]| body that scandal. While its sole hands in 006:032;02[' ]| view. On its sole pubis. Dead still to$9$ be$1$ 006:032;03[' ]| sure. On the chair. After the spectacle. 006:032;04[' ]| Slowly its spell unbinding. On and on they 006:032;05[' ]| keep. Tightening and loosening their 006:032;06[' ]| clasp. Rhythm of a labouring heart. Till 006:032;07[' ]| when almost despaired of gently part. Suddenly 006:032;08[' ]| gently. Spreading rise and in midair 006:032;09[' ]| palms uppermost come to$4$ rest. Behold our 006:032;10[' ]| hollows. Then after a moment as if to$9$ hide 006:032;11[' ]| the lines fall back pronating as they go and 006:032;12[' ]| light flat on head of thighs. Within a ace 006:032;13[' ]| of the crotch. It is now the left hand lacks 006:032;14[' ]| its third finger. A swelling no doubt ~~ a 006:032;15[' ]| swelling no doubt of the knuckle between 006:032;16[' ]| first and second phalanges preventing one 006:032;17[' ]| panic day withdrawal of the ring. The kind 006:032;18[' ]| called keeper. Still as stones they defy as 006:032;19[' ]| stones do the eye. Do they as much as feel 006:032;20[' ]| the clad flesh? Does the clad flesh feel 006:032;21[' ]| them? Will they then never quiver? This 006:032;22[' ]| night assuredly not. For before they have ~~ 006:032;23[' ]| before the eye has time they mist. Who is 006:032;24[' ]| to$9$ blame? Or what? They? The eye? The 006:032;25[' ]| missing finger? The keeper? The cry? 006:033;01[' ]| What cry? All five. All six. And the rest. 006:033;02[' ]| All. All to$9$ blame. All. 006:033;03[' ]| Winter evening in the 006:033;04[' ]| pastures. The snow has ceased. Her$2$ steps so 006:033;05[' ]| light they barely leave a trace. Have barely 006:033;06[' ]| left having ceased. Just enough to$9$ be$1$ still 006:033;07[' ]| visible. Adrift the snow. Whither in her$2$ 006:033;08[' ]| head while her$2$ feet stray thus? Hither and 006:033;09[' ]| thither too? Or unswerving to$4$ the mirage? 006:033;10[' ]| And where when she halts? The eye discerns 006:033;11[' ]| afar a kind of stain. Finally the steep 006:033;12[' ]| roof whence part of the fresh fall has slid. 006:033;13[' ]| Under the low lowering sky the north is 006:033;14[' ]| lost. Obliterated by the snow the twelve 006:033;15[' ]| are there. Invisible were she to$9$ raise her$2$ 006:033;16[' ]| eyes. She on the contrary immaculately 006:033;17[' ]| black. Not having received a single flake. 006:033;18[' ]| Nothing needed now but for them to$9$ start 006:033;19[' ]| falling again which therefore they do. First 006:033;20[' ]| one by one here and there. Then thicker 006:034;01[' ]| and thicker plumb through the still air. 006:034;02[' ]| Slowly she disappears. Together with the 006:034;03[' ]| trace of her$2$ steps and that of the distant 006:034;04[' ]| roof. How find her$2$ way home? Home ~~ 006:034;05[' ]| Even as the homing bird. Safe as the saying 006:034;06[' ]| is and sound. 006:034;07[' ]| All dark in the cabin 006:034;08[' ]| while she whitens afar. Silence but for the 006:034;09[' ]| imaginary murmur of flakes beating on the 006:034;10[' ]| roof. And every now and then a real creak. 006:034;11[' ]| Her$2$ company. Here without having to$9$ 006:034;12[' ]| close the eye sees her$6$ afar. Motionless in 006:034;13[' ]| the snow under the snow. The button-hook 006:034;14[' ]| trembles from its nail as if a night 006:034;15[' ]| like any other. Facing the black curtain the 006:034;16[' ]| chair exudes its solitude. For want of a 006:034;17[' ]| fellow-table. Far from it in a corner see 006:034;17[' ]| suddenly 006:034;18[' ]| a antique coffer. In its therefore no 006:034;19[' ]| lesser solitude. It perhaps that creaks. And 006:034;20[' ]| in its depths who knows the key. The key 006:035;01[' ]| to$9$ close. But this night the chair. Its 006:035;02[' ]| immovable air. Less than the ~~ more than the 006:035;03[' ]| empty seat the barred back is piteous. Here 006:035;04[' ]| if she eats here she sits to$9$ eat. The eye 006:035;05[' ]| closes in the dark and sees her$6$ in the end. 006:035;06[' ]| With her$2$ right hand as large as life she 006:035;07[' ]| holds the edge of the bowl resting on her$2$ 006:035;08[' ]| knees. With her$2$ left the spoon dipped in 006:035;09[' ]| the slop. She waits. For it to$9$ cool perhaps. 006:035;10[' ]| But no. Merely frozen again just as about 006:035;11[' ]| to$9$ begin. At last in a twin movement full 006:035;12[' ]| of grace she slowly raises the bowl toward 006:035;13[' ]| her$2$ lips while at the same time with equal 006:035;14[' ]| slowness bowing her$2$ head to$9$ join it. Having 006:035;15[' ]| set out at the same instant they meet 006:035;16[' ]| halfway and there come to$4$ rest. Fresh rigor 006:035;17[' ]| before the first spoonful slobbered largely 006:035;18[' ]| back into the slop. Others no happier till 006:035;19[' ]| time to$9$ part lips and bowl and slowly back 006:035;20[' ]| with never a slip to$4$ their starting points. 006:035;21[' ]| As smooth and even fro as to$8$. Now again 006:035;22[' ]| the rigid Memnon pose. With her$2$ right 006:035;23[' ]| hand she holds the edge of the bowl. With 006:035;24[' ]| her$2$ left the spoon dipped in the slop. So far 006:036;01[' ]| so good. But before she can proceed she 006:036;02[' ]| fades and disappears. Nothing now for the 006:036;03[' ]| staring eye but the chair in its solitude. 006:036;04@@@@@| 006:036;04[' ]| One evening she was followed 006:036;05[' ]| by a lamb. Reared for slaughter like 006:036;06[' ]| the others it left them to$9$ follow her$6$. In 006:036;07[' ]| the present to$9$ conclude. All so bygone. 006:036;08[' ]| Slaughter apart it is not like the others. 006:036;09[' ]| Hanging to$4$ the ground in matted coils its 006:036;10[' ]| fleece hides the little shanks. Rather than 006:036;11[' ]| walk it seems to$9$ glide like a toy in tow. It 006:036;12[' ]| halts at the same instant as she. At the 006:036;13[' ]| same instant as she strays on. Stockstill as 006:036;14[' ]| she it waits with head like hers extravagantly 006:036;15[' ]| bowed. Clash of black and white 006:036;16[' ]| that far from muting the last rays amplify. 006:036;17[' ]| It is now her$2$ puniness leaps to$4$ the eye. 006:036;18[' ]| Thanks it would seem to$4$ the lowly creature 006:036;19[' ]| next her$6$. Brief paradox. For suddenly 006:036;20[' ]| together they move on. Hither and thither 006:036;21[' ]| toward the stones. There she turns and sits. 006:037;01[' ]| Does she see the white body at her$2$ feet? 006:037;02[' ]| Head haught now she gazes into emptiness. 006:037;03[' ]| That profusion. Or with closed eyes 006:037;04[' ]| sees the tomb. The lamb goes no further. 006:037;05[' ]| Alone night fallen she makes for home. 006:037;06[' ]| Home! As straight as were it to$9$ be$1$ seen. 006:037;07[' ]| Was it ever over and 006:037;08[' ]| done with questions? Dead the whole 006:037;09[' ]| brood no sooner hatched. Long before. In 006:037;10[' ]| the egg. Long before. Over and done with 006:037;11[' ]| answering. With not being able. With not 006:037;12[' ]| being able not to$9$ want to$9$ know. With not 006:037;13[' ]| being able. No. Never. A dream. Question 006:037;14[' ]| answered. 006:037;15[' ]| What remains for the 006:037;16[' ]| eye exposed to$4$ such conditions? To$4$ such 006:037;17[' ]| vicissitude of hardly there and wholly 006:038;01[' ]| gone. Why none but to$9$ open no more. Till 006:038;02[' ]| all done. She done. Or left undone. Tenement 006:038;03[' ]| and unreason. No more unless to$4$ 006:038;04[' ]| rest. In the outward and so-called visible. 006:038;05[' ]| That daub. Quick again to$4$ the brim the 006:038;06[' ]| old nausea and shut again. On her$6$. Till she 006:038;07[' ]| be whole. Or abort. Question answered. 006:038;08[' ]| The coffer. Empty after 006:038;09[' ]| long nocturnal search. Nothing. Save in 006:038;10[' ]| the end in a cranny of dust a scrap of paper. 006:038;11[' ]| Jagged along one edge as if torn from a 006:038;12[' ]| diary. On its yellowed face in barely legible 006:038;13[' ]| ink two letters followed by a number. Tu 006:038;14[' ]| 17. Or Th. Tu or Th 17. Otherwise blank. 006:038;15[' ]| Otherwise empty. 006:038;16[' ]| She reemerges on her$2$ back. 006:038;17[' ]| Dead still. Evening and night. Dead still 006:039;01[' ]| on her$2$ back evening and night. The bed. 006:039;02[' ]| Careful. A pallet? Hardly if head as ill seen 006:039;03[' ]| when on her$2$ knees. Praying if she prays. 006:039;04[' ]| Pah she has only to$9$ grovel deeper. Or 006:039;05[' ]| grovel elsewhere. Before the chair. Or the 006:039;06[' ]| coffer. Or at the edge of the pastures with 006:039;07[' ]| her$2$ head on the stones. A pallet then flat 006:039;08[' ]| on the floor. No pillow. Hidden from chin 006:039;09[' ]| to$4$ foot under a black covering she offers 006:039;10[' ]| her$2$ face alone. Alone! Face defenceless evening 006:039;11[' ]| and night. Quick the eyes. The moment 006:039;12[' ]| they open. Suddenly they are there. 006:039;13[' ]| Nothing having stirred. One is enough. 006:039;14[' ]| One staring eye. Gaping pupil thinly nimbed 006:039;15[' ]| with washen blue. No trace of humour. 006:039;16[' ]| None any more. Unseeing. As if 006:039;17[' ]| dazed by what seen behind the lids. The 006:039;18[' ]| other plumbs its dark. Then opens in its 006:039;19[' ]| turn. Dazed in its turn. 006:039;20[' ]| Incontinent the void.The 006:039;01[' ]| zenith. Evening again. When not night it 006:040;01[' ]| will be$1$ evening. Death again of deathless 006:040;02[' ]| day. On the one hand embers. On the 006:040;03[' ]| other ashes. Day without end won and 006:040;04[' ]| lost. Unseen. 006:040;05[' ]| On resumption the head 006:040;06[' ]| is covered. No matter. No matter now. 006:040;07[' ]| Such the confusion now between real 006:040;08[' ]| and ~~ how say its contrary? No matter. 006:040;09[' ]| That old tandem. Such now the confusion 006:040;10[' ]| between them once so twain. And such the 006:040;11[' ]| farrago from eye to$4$ mind. For it to$9$ make 006:040;12[' ]| what sad sense of it may. No matter now. 006:040;13[' ]| Such equal liars both. Real and ~~ how ill 006:040;14[' ]| say its contrary? The counter-poison. 006:040;15[' ]| Still fresh the coffer fiasco 006:040;16[' ]| what now of all things but a trapdoor. So 006:040;17[' ]| cunningly contrived that even to$4$ the lidded 006:041;01[' ]| eye it scarcely shows. Careful. Raise it 006:041;02[' ]| at once and risk another rebuff? No question. 006:041;03[' ]| Simply savour in advance with in 006:041;04[' ]| mind the grisly cupboard its conceivable 006:041;05[' ]| contents. For the first time then wooden 006:041;06[' ]| floor. Its boards in line with the trap's 006:041;07[' ]| designed to$9$ conceal it. Promising this 006:041;08[' ]| flagrant concern with camouflage. But beware. 006:041;09[' ]| Question by the way what wood of 006:041;10[' ]| all woods? Ebony why not? Ebony boards. 006:041;11[' ]| Black on black the brushing skirt. Stark 006:041;12[' ]| the skeleton chair death ~~ paler than life. 006:041;13[' ]| While head included she 006:041;14[' ]| lies hidden time for a turn in the pastures. 006:041;15[' ]| No shock were she already dead. As of 006:041;16[' ]| course she is. But in the meantime more 006:041;17[' ]| convenient not. Still living then she lies 006:041;18[' ]| hidden. Having for some reason covered 006:041;19[' ]| her$2$ head. Or for no reason. Night. When 006:041;20[' ]| not evening night. Winter night. No 006:041;21[' ]| snow. For the sake of variety. To$9$ vary the 006:042;01[' ]| monotony. The limp grass strangely rigid 006:042;02[' ]| under the weight of the rime. Clawed by 006:042;03[' ]| the long black skirt how if but heard it 006:042;04[' ]| must murmur. Moonless star-studded sky 006:042;05[' ]| reflected in the erosions filmed with ice. 006:042;06[' ]| The silence merges into music infinitely far 006:042;07[' ]| and as unbroken as silence. Ceaseless celestial 006:042;08[' ]| winds in unison. For all all matters 006:042;09[' ]| now. The stones gleam faintly afar and the 006:042;10[' ]| cabin walls seen white at last. Said white. 006:042;11[' ]| The guardians ~~ the twelve are there but 006:042;12[' ]| not at full muster. Well! Above all not 006:042;13[' ]| understand. Simply note how those still 006:042;14[' ]| faithful have moved apart. Such ill seen 006:042;15[' ]| that night in the pastures. While head included 006:042;16[' ]| she lies hidden. Under on closer inspection 006:042;17[' ]| a long greatcoat. A man's by the 006:042;18[' ]| buttons. The buttonholes. Eyes closed 006:042;19[' ]| does she see him? 006:042;20[' ]| White walls. High time. 006:042;21[' ]| White as new. No wind. Not a breath. 006:043;01[' ]| Unbeaten on by all that comes beating 006:043;02[' ]| down And mystery the sun has spared 006:043;03[' ]| them. The sun that once beat down. So 006:043;04[' ]| east and west sides the required clash. 006:043;05[' ]| South gable no problem. But the other. 006:043;06[' ]| That door. Careful. Black too? Black too. 006:043;07[' ]| And the roof. Slates. More. Small slates 006:043;08[' ]| black too brought from a ruined mansion. 006:043;09[' ]| What tales had they tongues to$9$ tell. Their 006:043;10[' ]| long tale told. Such the dwelling ill seen ill 006:043;11[' ]| said. Outwardly. High time. 006:043;12[' ]| Changed the stone that 006:043;13[' ]| draws her$6$ when revisited alone. Or she 006:043;14[' ]| who changes it when side by side. Now 006:043;15[' ]| alone it leans. Backward or forward as the 006:043;16[' ]| case may be$1$. Is it to$4$ nature alone it owes its 006:043;17[' ]| rough-hewn air? Or to$4$ some too human 006:043;18[' ]| hand forced to$9$ desist? As Michelangelo's 006:043;19[' ]| from the regicide's bust. If there may not 006:043;20[' ]| be$1$ no more questions let there at least be$1$ 006:043;21[' ]| no more answers. Granite of no common 006:044;01[' ]| variety assuredly. Black as jade the jasper 006:044;02[' ]| that flecks its whiteness. On its what is the 006:044;03[' ]| wrong word its uptilted face obscure 006:044;04[' ]| graffiti. Scrawled by the ages for the eye to$9$ 006:044;05[' ]| solicit in vain. Winter evenings on her$2$ 006:044;06[' ]| doorstep she imagines she can see it glitter 006:044;07[' ]| afar. When from their source in the 006:044;08[' ]| west-south-west the last rays rake its averse 006:044;08[' ]| face. 006:044;09[' ]| Such ill seen the stone alone where it 006:044;10[' ]| stands at the far fringe of the pastures. On 006:044;11[' ]| her$2$ way out with the flowers as unerring as 006:044;12[' ]| best she can she lingers by it. As on her$2$ 006:044;13[' ]| way back with empty hands. Lingers by it a 006:044;14[' ]| while on her$2$ way on. Toward the one or 006:044;15[' ]| other abode. As unerring as best she can. 006:044;16[' ]| See them again side by 006:044;17[' ]| side. Not quite touching. Lit aslant by the 006:044;18[' ]| latest last rays they cast to$4$ the 006:044;18[' ]| east-north-east 006:044;19[' ]| their long parallel shadows. Evening 006:044;20[' ]| therefore. Winter evening. It will always 006:045;01[' ]| be$1$ evening. Always winter. When not 006:045;02[' ]| night. Winter night. No more lambs. No 006:045;03[' ]| more flowers. Empty-handed she shall go 006:045;04[' ]| to$4$ the tomb. Until she go no more. Or no 006:045;05[' ]| more return. So much for that. Undistinguishable 006:045;06[' ]| the twin shadows. Till one at 006:045;07[' ]| length more dense as if of a body better 006:045;08[' ]| opaque. At length more still. As faintly at 006:045;09[' ]| length the other trembles under the staring 006:045;10[' ]| gaze. Throughout this confrontation 006:045;11[' ]| the sun stands still. That is to$9$ say$1$ the earth. 006:045;12[' ]| Not to$9$ recoil on until the parting. Then 006:045;13[' ]| on its face over the pastures and then the 006:045;14[' ]| stones the still living shadow slowly glides. 006:045;15[' ]| Lengthening and fading more and more. 006:045;16[' ]| But never quite away. Under the hovering 006:045;17[' ]| eve. 006:045;18[' ]| Close-up of a dial. Nothing 006:045;19[' ]| else. White disc divided in minutes 006:045;20[' ]| Unless it be in seconds. Sixty black dots 006:046;01[' ]| No figure. One hand only. Finest of fine 006:046;02[' ]| black darts. It advances by fits and starts. 006:046;03[' ]| No tick. Leaps from dot to$4$ dot with so 006:046;04[' ]| lightning a leap that but for its new position 006:046;05[' ]| it had not stirred. Whole nights may 006:046;06[' ]| pass as may but a fraction of a second or 006:046;07[' ]| any intermediate lapse of time soever before 006:046;08[' ]| it flings itself from one degree to$4$ the 006:046;09[' ]| next. None at any moment overleaping in 006:046;10[' ]| all fairness be it said. Let it when discovered 006:046;11[' ]| be$1$ pointing east. Having thus covered 006:046;12[' ]| after its fashion assuming the instrument 006:046;13[' ]| plumb the first quarter of its latest hour. 006:046;14[' ]| Unless it be its latest minute. Then doubt 006:046;15[' ]| certain ~~ then despair certain nights of its 006:046;16[' ]| ever attaining the last. Ever regaining 006:046;17[' ]| north 006:046;18[' ]| She reappears at evening 006:046;19[' ]| at her$2$ window. When not night evening 006:046;20[' ]| If she will see Venus again she must open 006:046;21[' ]| it. Well ~~ First draw aside the curtain and 006:047;01[' ]| then open. Head bowed she waits to$9$ be$1$ 006:047;02[' ]| able. Mindful perhaps of evenings when 006:047;03[' ]| she was able too late. Black night fallen. 006:047;04[' ]| But no. In her$2$ head too pure wait. The 006:047;05[' ]| curtain. Seen closer thanks to$4$ this hiatus it 006:047;06[' ]| reveals itself at last for what it is. A black 006:047;07[' ]| greatcoat. Hooked by its tails from the rod 006:047;08[' ]| it hangs sprawling inside out like a carcass 006:047;09[' ]| in a butcher's stall. Or better inside in for 006:047;10[' ]| the pathos of the dangling arms. Same 006:047;11[' ]| infinitesimal quaver as the buttonhook and 006:047;12[' ]| passim. Another novelty the chair drawn 006:047;13[' ]| up to$4$ the window. This to$9$ raise the line of 006:047;14[' ]| sight on the fair prey loftier when first 006:047;15[' ]| sighted than at first sight ill seen. What 006:047;16[' ]| empty space henceforward. For long pacing 006:047;17[' ]| to$8$ and fro in the gloom. Suddenly in a 006:047;18[' ]| single gesture she snatches aside the coat 006:047;19[' ]| and to$5$ again on a sky as black as it. And 006:047;20[' ]| then? Careful. Have her$6$ sit? Lie? Kneel? 006:047;21[' ]| Go? She too vacillates. Till in the end the 006:047;22[' ]| back and forth prevails. Sends her$6$ wavering 006:047;23[' ]| north and south from wall to$4$ wall. In 006:047;24[' ]| the kindly dark. 006:048;01[' ]| She is vanishing. With 006:048;02[' ]| the rest. The already ill seen bedimmed and 006:048;03[' ]| ill seen again annulled. The mind betrays 006:048;04[' ]| the treacherous eyes and the treacherous 006:048;05[' ]| word their treacheries. Haze sole certitude. 006:048;06[' ]| The same that reigns beyond the pastures. 006:048;07[' ]| It gains them already. It will gain the zone 006:048;08[' ]| of stones. Then the dwelling through all 006:048;09[' ]| its chinks. The eye will close in vain. To$9$ 006:048;10[' ]| see but haze. Not even. Be itself but haze. 006:048;11[' ]| How can it ever be$1$ said? Quick how ever 006:048;12[' ]| ill said before it submerges all. Light. 006:048;13[' ]| In one treacherous word. Dazzling haze. 006:048;14[' ]| Light in its might at last. Where no more 006:048;15[' ]| to$9$ be$1$ seen. To$9$ be$1$ said. Gently gently. 006:048;16[' ]| The face yet again in the 006:048;17[' ]| light of the last rays. No loss of pallor. 006:048;18[' ]| None of cold. Suspended on the verge for 006:048;19[' ]| this sight the westering sun. That is the 006:048;20[' ]| eastering earth. The thin lips seem as if 006:049;01[' ]| never again to$9$ part. Peeping from their 006:049;02[' ]| join a suspicion of pulp. Unlikely site of 006:049;03[' ]| olden kisses given and received. Or given 006:049;04[' ]| only. Or received only. Impressive above 006:049;05[' ]| all the corners imperceptibly upcurved. A 006:049;06[' ]| smile? Is it possible? Ghost of a ancient 006:049;07[' ]| smile smiled finally once and for all. Such 006:049;08[' ]| ill half seen the mouth in the light of the 006:049;09[' ]| last rays. Suddenly they leave it. Rather it 006:049;10[' ]| leaves them. Off again to$4$ the dark. There 006:049;11[' ]| to$9$ smile on. If smile is what it is. 006:049;12[' ]| Reexamined rid of light 006:049;13[' ]| the mouth changes. Unexplainably. Lips as 006:049;14[' ]| before. Same closure. Same hint of extruding 006:049;15[' ]| pulp. At the corners same imperceptible 006:049;16[' ]| laxness. In a word the smile still there if 006:049;17[' ]| smile is what it is. Neither more nor less. 006:049;18[' ]| Less! And yet no longer the same. True that 006:049;19[' ]| light distorts. Particularly sunset. That 006:049;20[' ]| mockery. True too that the eyes then agaze 006:050;01[' ]| for the viewless planet are now closed. On 006:050;02[' ]| other viewlessness. Of which more if ever 006:050;03[' ]| anon. There the explanation at last. This 006:050;04[' ]| same smile established with eyes open is 006:050;05[' ]| with them closed no longer the same 006:050;06[' ]| Though between the two inspections the 006:050;07[' ]| mouth unchanged. Utterly. Good. But in 006:050;08[' ]| what way no longer the same? What there 006:050;09[' ]| now that was not there? What there no 006:050;10[' ]| more that was? Enough. Away. 006:050;11[' ]| Back after many winters 006:050;12[' ]| Long after in this endless winter. This endless 006:050;13[' ]| heart of winter. Too soon. She as when 006:050;14[' ]| fled. Where as when fled. Still or again. 006:050;15[' ]| Eyes closed in the dark. To$4$ the dark. In 006:050;16[' ]| their own dark. On the lips same minute 006:050;17[' ]| smile. If smile is what it is. In short alive as 006:050;18[' ]| she alone knows how neither more nor 006:050;19[' ]| less. Less! Compared to$4$ true stone. Within 006:050;20[' ]| as sadly as before all as at first sight ill 006:050;20[' ]| seen. 006:051;01[' ]| With the happy exception of the lights' 006:051;02[' ]| enhanced opacity. Dim the light of day 006:051;03[' ]| from them were day again to$4$ dawn. Without 006:051;04[' ]| on the other hand some progress. 006:051;05[' ]| Toward unbroken night. Universal stone. 006:051;06[' ]| Day no sooner risen fallen. Scrapped all the 006:051;07[' ]| ill seen ill said. The eye has changed. And 006:051;08[' ]| its drivelling scribe. Absence has changed 006:051;09[' ]| them. Not enough. Time to$9$ go again. 006:051;10[' ]| Where still more to$9$ change. Whence back 006:051;11[' ]| too soon. Changed but not enough. 006:051;12[' ]| Strangers but not enough. To$4$ all the ill 006:051;13[' ]| seen ill said. Then back again. Disarmed for 006:051;14[' ]| to$9$ finish with it all at last. With her$6$ and her$2$ 006:051;15[' ]| rags of sky and earth. And if again too soon 006:051;16[' ]| go again. Change still more again. Then 006:051;17[' ]| back again. Barring impediment. Ah. So 006:051;18[' ]| on. Till fit to$9$ finish with it all at last. All 006:051;18[' ]| the 006:051;19[' ]| trash. In unbroken night. Universal stone. 006:051;20[' ]| So first go. But first see her$6$ again. As when 006:051;21[' ]| fled. And the abode. That under the 006:051;22[' ]| changed eye it too may change. Begin. Just 006:051;23[' ]| one parting look. Before all meet again. 006:051;24[' ]| Then go. Barring impediment. Ah. 006:052;01[' ]| But see she suddenly no 006:052;02[' ]| longer there. Where suddenly fled. Quick 006:052;03[' ]| then the chair before she reappears. At 006:052;04[' ]| length. Every angle. With what one word 006:052;05[' ]| convey its change? Careful. Less. Ah the 006:052;06[' ]| sweet one word. Less. It is less. The same 006:052;07[' ]| but less. Whencesoever the glare. True 006:052;08[' ]| that the light. See now how words too. A 006:052;09[' ]| few drops mishaphazard. Then strangury. 006:052;10[' ]| To$9$ say$1$ the least. Less. It will end by being 006:052;11[' ]| no more. By never having been. Divine 006:052;12[' ]| prospect. True that the light. 006:052;13[' ]| Suddenly enough and way 006:052;14[' ]| for remembrance. Closed again to$4$ that end 006:052;15[' ]| the vile jelly or opened again or left as it 006:052;16[' ]| was however that was. Till all recalled. 006:052;17[' ]| First finally by far hanging from their 006:052;18[' ]| skirts two black greatcoats. Followed by 006:052;19[' ]| the first hazy outlines of what possibly a 006:052;20[' ]| hutch when suddenly enough. Remembrance! 006:053;01[' ]| When all worse there than when 006:053;02[' ]| first ill seen. The pallet. The chair. The 006:053;03[' ]| coffer. The trap. Alone the eye has changed. 006:053;04[' ]| Alone can cause to$9$ change. In the meantime 006:053;05[' ]| nothing wanting. Wrong. The button-hook. 006:053;06[' ]| The nail. Wrong. There they are 006:053;07[' ]| again. Still. Worse there than ever. Unchanged 006:053;08[' ]| for the worse. Ope eye and at them 006:053;09[' ]| to$9$ begin. But first the partition. It rid they 006:053;10[' ]| too would be$1$. It less they by as much. 006:053;11[' ]| It of all the properties 006:053;12[' ]| doubtless the least obdurate. See the instant 006:053;13[' ]| see it again when unaided it dissolved. 006:053;14[' ]| So to$9$ say$1$ of itself. With no help 006:053;15[' ]| from the eye. Not till long after to$9$ reappear. 006:053;16[' ]| As if reluctantly. For what reason? 006:053;17[' ]| For one not far to$9$ seek. For others then 006:053;18[' ]| said obscure. One other above all. One 006:053;19[' ]| other still far to$9$ seek. Analogy of the heart? 006:054;01[' ]| The skull? Hear from here the howls of 006:054;02[' ]| laughter of the damned. 006:054;03[' ]| Enough. Quicker. Quick 006:054;04[' ]| see how all in keeping with the chair. Minimally 006:054;05[' ]| less. No more. Well on the way to$4$ 006:054;06[' ]| inexistence. As to$4$ zero the infinite. Quick 006:054;07[' ]| say. And of her$6$? As much. Quick find her$6$ 006:054;08[' ]| again. In that black heart. That mock 006:054;09[' ]| brain 006:054;10[' ]| The sheet. Between tips 006:054;11[' ]| of trembling fingers. In two. Four. Eight 006:054;12[' ]| Old frantic fingers. Not paper any more 006:054;13[' ]| Each eighth apart. In two. Four. Finish 006:054;14[' ]| with the knife. Hack into shreds. Down 006:054;15[' ]| the plughole. On to$4$ the next. White. 006:054;16[' ]| Quick blacken. 006:055;01[' ]| Alone the face remains. 006:055;02[' ]| Of the rest beneath its covering no trace. 006:055;03[' ]| During the inspection a sudden sound. 006:055;04[' ]| Startling without consequence for the gaze 006:055;05[' ]| the mind awake. How explain it? And 006:055;06[' ]| without going so far how say it? Far behind 006:055;07[' ]| the eye the quest begins. What time 006:055;08[' ]| the event recedes. When suddenly to$4$ the 006:055;09[' ]| rescue it comes again. Forthwith the uncommon 006:055;10[' ]| common noun collapsion. Reinforced 006:055;11[' ]| a little later if not enfeebled by the 006:055;12[' ]| infrequent slumberous. A slumberous collapsion. 006:055;13[' ]| Two. Then far from the still agonizing 006:055;14[' ]| eye a gleam of hope. By the grace of 006:055;15[' ]| these modest beginnings. With in second 006:055;16[' ]| sight the shack in ruins. To$9$ scrute together 006:055;17[' ]| with the inscrutable face. All curiosity 006:055;18[' ]| spent. 006:055;19[' ]| Later while the face still 006:055;20[' ]| unyielding another sound of fall but this 006:056;01[' ]| time sharp. Heightening the fond illusion 006:056;02[' ]| of general havoc in train. Here a great leap 006:056;03[' ]| into what brief future remains and summary 006:056;04[' ]| puncture of that puny balloon. Far 006:056;05[' ]| ahead to$4$ the instant when the coats will 006:056;06[' ]| have$1$ gone from their rods and the button-hook 006:056;07[' ]| from its nail. And been hove the sigh 006:056;08[' ]| no more than that. Sigh upon sigh till all 006:056;09[' ]| sighed quite away. All the fond trash. Destined 006:056;10[' ]| before being to$9$ be$1$ no more than 006:056;11[' ]| that. Last sighs. Of relief. 006:056;12[' ]| Quick beforehand again 006:056;13[' ]| two mysteries. Not even. Mild shocks. 006:056;14[' ]| Not even. In such abeyance the mind then. 006:056;15[' ]| And from then on. First the curtains gone 006:056;16[' ]| without loss of dark. Sweet foretaste of the 006:056;17[' ]| joy at journey's end. Second after long 006:056;18[' ]| hesitation no trace of the fallen where they 006:056;19[' ]| fell. No trace of all the ado. Alone on the 006:056;20[' ]| one hand the rods alone. A little bent. And 006:056;21[' ]| alone on the other most alone the nail. 006:056;22[' ]| Unimpaired. All set to$9$ serve again. Like 006:057;01[' ]| unto its glorious ancestors. At the place of 006:057;02[' ]| the skull. One April afternoon. Deposition 006:057;03[' ]| done. 006:057;04[' ]| Full glare now on the face 006:057;05[' ]| present throughout the recent future. As 006:057;06[' ]| seen ill seen throughout the past neither 006:057;07[' ]| more nor less. Less! Collated with its cast it 006:057;08[' ]| lives beyond a doubt. Were it only by virtue 006:057;09[' ]| of its imperfect pallor. And imperceptible 006:057;10[' ]| tremor unworthy of true plaster. 006:057;11[' ]| Heartening on the other hand the eyes 006:057;12[' ]| persistently closed. No doubt a record in this 006:057;13[' ]| position. Unobserved at least till now. Suddenly 006:057;14[' ]| the look. Nothing having stirred. 006:057;15[' ]| Look? Too weak a word. Too wrong. Its 006:057;16[' ]| absence? No better. Unspeakable globe. 006:057;17[' ]| Unbearable. 006:057;18[' ]| Ample time none the 006:057;19[' ]| less a few seconds for the iris to$9$ be$1$ lacking. 006:058;01[' ]| Wholly. As if engulfed by the pupil. And 006:058;02[' ]| for the sclerotic not to$9$ say$1$ the white to$9$ 006:058;03[' ]| appear reduced by half. Already that much 006:058;04[' ]| less at least but at what cost. Soon to$9$ be$1$ 006:058;05[' ]| foreseen save unforeseen two black blanks. 006:058;06[' ]| Fit ventholes of the soul that jakes. Here 006:058;07[' ]| reappearance of the skylights opaque to$4$ no 006:058;08[' ]| purpose henceforward. Seeing the black 006:058;09[' ]| night or better blackness pure and simple 006:058;10[' ]| that limpid they would shed. Blackness in 006:058;11[' ]| its might at last. Where no more to$9$ be$1$ 006:058;12[' ]| seen. Perforce to$9$ be$1$ seen. 006:058;13[' ]| Absence supreme good 006:058;14[' ]| and yet. Illumination then go again and on 006:058;15[' ]| return no more trace. On earth's face. Of 006:058;16[' ]| what was never. And if by mishap some 006:058;17[' ]| left then go again. For good again. So on. 006:058;18[' ]| Till no more trace. On earth's face. Instead 006:058;19[' ]| of always the same place. Slaving away forever 006:058;20[' ]| in the same place. At this and that 006:058;21[' ]| trace. And what if the eye could not? No 006:059;01[' ]| more tear itself away from the remains of 006:059;02[' ]| trace. Of what was never. Quick say it suddenly 006:059;03[' ]| can and farewell say say farewell. If 006:059;04[' ]| only to$4$ the face. Of her$2$ tenacious trace. 006:059;05[' ]| Decision no sooner 006:059;06[' ]| reached or rather long after than what is 006:059;07[' ]| the wrong word? For the last time at last 006:059;08[' ]| for to$9$ end yet again what the wrong word? 006:059;09[' ]| Than revoked. No but slowly dispelled a 006:059;10[' ]| little very little like the last wisps of day 006:059;11[' ]| when the curtain closes. Of itself by slow 006:059;12[' ]| millimetres or drawn by a phantom hand. 006:059;13[' ]| Farewell to$4$ farewell. Then in that perfect 006:059;14[' ]| dark foreknell darling sound pip for end 006:059;15[' ]| begun. First last moment. Grant only 006:059;16[' ]| enough remain to$9$ devour all. Moment by 006:059;17[' ]| glutton moment. Sky earth the whole kit 006:059;18[' ]| and boodle. Not another crumb of carrion 006:059;19[' ]| left. Lick chops and basta. No. One moment 006:059;20[' ]| more. One last. Grace to$9$ breathe that 006:059;21[' ]| void. Know happiness.