Stars that intone a song....
"I am damned if it is, though," I exclaimed;
and I laughed aloud to collect my wits. "They're
night-owls hooting in Canaan!"
I rose again, pulled on my shoes, and wandered
about in the gloom, only to lay down once more.
I fought and wrestled with anger and fear until
nearly dawn, then fell asleep at last.
* * * * *
It was broad daylight when I opened my eyes, and I had a feeling that it
was going on towards noon.
I pulled on my shoes, packed up the blanket again, and set out for town.
There was no sun to be seen today either; I shivered like a dog, my feet
were benumbed, and water commenced to run from my eyes, as if they could
not bear the daylight.
It was three o'clock. Hunger began to assail me downright in earnest. I
was faint, and now and again I had to retch furtively. I swung round by
the Dampkoekken, [Footnote: Steam cooking-kitchen and famous cheap
eating-house] read the bill of fare, and shrugged my shoulders in a way to
attract attention, as if corned beef or salt port was not meet food for
me. After that I went towards the railway station.
A singular sense of confusion suddenly darted through my head. I stumbled
on, determined not to heed it; but I grew worse and worse, and was forced
at last to sit down on a step. My whole being underwent a change, as if
something had slid aside in my inner self, or as if a curtain or tissue of
my brain was rent in two.
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