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watch£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡fountain¡¡pen¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡folded¡¡his¡¡clothes¡¡neatly¡¡
over¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡his¡¡chair¡£¡¡His¡¡gray¡flannel¡¡pajamas¡¡were¡¡
warm¡¡and¡¡soft¡£¡¡Almost¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡he¡¡pulled¡¡the¡¡blankets¡¡to¡¡his¡¡
chin¡¡he¡¡was¡¡asleep¡£¡¡
Out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡blackness¡¡of¡¡sleep¡¡a¡¡dream¡¡formed¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡dull¡¡
yellow¡¡lanterns¡¡lighting¡¡up¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡flight¡¡of¡¡stone¡¡steps¡£¡¡
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and¡¡he¡¡fumbled¡¡with¡¡something¡¡that¡¡he¡¡held¡¡above¡¡his¡¡head¡¡
and¡¡gazed¡¡at¡¡it¡¡as¡¡though¡¡in¡¡prayer¡£¡¡He¡¡himself¡¡knelt¡¡halfway¡¡
down¡¡the¡¡steps¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡naked¡¡and¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡take¡¡
his¡¡eyes¡¡from¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡and¡¡the¡¡thing¡¡he¡¡held¡¡above¡¡him¡£¡¡
Behind¡¡him¡¡on¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡one¡¡with¡¡the¡¡mustache¡¡
and¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡and¡¡the¡¡black¡¡man¡¡and¡¡the¡¡last¡¡one¡£¡¡They¡¡knelt¡¡
naked¡¡and¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡their¡¡eyes¡¡on¡¡him¡£¡¡And¡¡behind¡¡them¡¡there¡¡
were¡¡uncounted¡¡crowds¡¡of¡¡kneeling¡¡people¡¡in¡¡the¡¡darkness¡£¡¡
His¡¡own¡¡hands¡¡were¡¡huge¡¡windmills¡¡and¡¡he¡¡stared¡¡fascinated¡¡
at¡¡the¡¡unknown¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡held¡£¡¡The¡¡yellow¡¡
lanterns¡¡swayed¡¡to¡¡and¡¡fro¡¡in¡¡the¡¡darkness¡¡and¡¡all¡¡else¡¡was¡¡
motionless¡£¡¡Then¡¡suddenly¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡ferment¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡
upheaval¡¡the¡¡steps¡¡collapsed¡¡and¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡himself¡¡falling¡¡
downward¡£¡¡He¡¡awoke¡¡with¡¡a¡¡jerk¡£¡¡The¡¡early¡¡light¡¡whitened¡¡the¡¡
window¡£¡¡He¡¡felt¡¡afraid¡£¡¡
Such¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡that¡¡something¡¡might¡¡have¡¡
happened¡¡to¡¡his¡¡friend¡£¡¡Because¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡did¡¡not¡¡write¡¡to¡¡
him¡¡he¡¡would¡¡not¡¡know¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡and¡¡hurt¡¡
himself¡£¡¡He¡¡felt¡¡such¡¡an¡¡urge¡¡to¡¡be¡¡with¡¡him¡¡once¡¡more¡¡that¡¡he¡¡
would¡¡arrange¡¡it¡¡at¡¡any¡¡cost¡ªand¡¡immediately¡£¡¡
In¡¡the¡¡post¡office¡¡that¡¡morning¡¡he¡¡found¡¡a¡¡notice¡¡in¡¡his¡¡box¡¡
that¡¡a¡¡package¡¡had¡¡come¡¡for¡¡him¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡he¡¡had¡¡
ordered¡¡for¡¡Christmas¡¡that¡¡did¡¡not¡¡arrive¡¡in¡¡time¡£¡¡The¡¡gift¡¡was¡¡
a¡¡very¡¡fine¡¡one¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡bought¡¡it¡¡on¡¡the¡¡install¡186¡¡
187¡¡
ment¡¡plan¡¡to¡¡be¡¡paid¡¡for¡¡over¡¡a¡¡period¡¡of¡¡two¡¡years¡£¡¡The¡¡gift¡¡
was¡¡a¡¡moving¡picture¡¡machine¡¡for¡¡private¡¡use£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡half¡
dozen¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Mickey¡¡Mouse¡¡and¡¡Popeye¡¡comedies¡¡that¡¡
Antonapoulos¡¡enjoyed¡£¡¡
Singer¡¡was¡¡the¡¡last¡¡to¡¡reach¡¡the¡¡store¡¡that¡¡morning¡£¡¡He¡¡handed¡¡
the¡¡jeweler¡¡for¡¡whom¡¡he¡¡worked¡¡a¡¡formal¡¡written¡¡request¡¡for¡¡
leave¡¡on¡¡Friday¡¡and¡¡Saturday¡£¡¡And¡¡although¡¡there¡¡were¡¡four¡¡
weddings¡¡on¡¡hand¡¡that¡¡week£»¡¡the¡¡jeweler¡¡nodded¡¡that¡¡he¡¡could¡¡
go¡£¡¡
He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡let¡¡anyone¡¡know¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trip¡¡beforehand£»¡¡but¡¡on¡¡
leaving¡¡he¡¡tacked¡¡a¡¡note¡¡to¡¡his¡¡door¡¡saying¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡be¡¡
absent¡¡for¡¡several¡¡days¡¡because¡¡of¡¡business¡£¡¡He¡¡traveled¡¡at¡¡
night£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡train¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡place¡¡of¡¡his¡¡destination¡¡just¡¡as¡¡
the¡¡red¡¡winter¡¡dawn¡¡was¡¡breaking¡£¡¡
In¡¡the¡¡afternoon£»¡¡a¡¡little¡¡before¡¡time¡¡for¡¡the¡¡visiting¡¡hour£»¡¡he¡¡
went¡¡out¡¡to¡¡the¡¡asylum¡£¡¡His¡¡arms¡¡were¡¡loaded¡¡with¡¡the¡¡parts¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡moving¡picture¡¡machine¡¡and¡¡the¡¡basket¡¡of¡¡fruit¡¡he¡¡carried¡¡
his¡¡friend¡£¡¡He¡¡went¡¡immediately¡¡to¡¡the¡¡ward¡¡where¡¡he¡¡had¡¡
visited¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡before¡£¡¡
The¡¡corridor£»¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡the¡¡rows¡¡of¡¡beds¡¡were¡¡just¡¡as¡¡he¡¡
remembered¡¡them¡£¡¡He¡¡stood¡¡at¡¡the¡¡threshold¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡
eagerly¡¡for¡¡his¡¡friend¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡at¡¡once¡¡that¡¡though¡¡all¡¡the¡¡
chairs¡¡were¡¡occupied£»¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡was¡¡not¡¡there¡£¡¡
Singer¡¡put¡¡down¡¡his¡¡packages¡¡and¡¡wrote¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡one¡¡
of¡¡his¡¡cards£»¡¡'Where¡¡is¡¡Spiros¡¡Antonapoulos£¿'¡¡A¡¡nurse¡¡came¡¡
into¡¡the¡¡room¡¡and¡¡he¡¡handed¡¡her¡¡the¡¡card¡£¡¡She¡¡did¡¡not¡¡
understand¡£¡¡She¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡¡and¡¡raised¡¡her¡¡shoulders¡£¡¡He¡¡
went¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡corridor¡¡and¡¡handed¡¡the¡¡card¡¡to¡¡everyone¡¡he¡¡
met¡£¡¡Nobody¡¡knew¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡such¡¡a¡¡panic¡¡in¡¡him¡¡that¡¡he¡¡
began¡¡motioning¡¡with¡¡his¡¡hands¡£¡¡At¡¡last¡¡he¡¡met¡¡an¡¡interne¡¡in¡¡a¡¡
white¡¡coat¡£¡¡He¡¡plucked¡¡at¡¡the¡¡interne's¡¡elbow¡¡and¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡the¡¡
card¡£¡¡The¡¡interne¡¡read¡¡it¡¡carefully¡¡and¡¡then¡¡guided¡¡him¡¡
through¡¡several¡¡halls¡£¡¡They¡¡came¡¡to¡¡a¡¡small¡¡room¡¡where¡¡a¡¡
young¡¡woman¡¡sat¡¡at¡¡a¡¡desk¡¡before¡¡some¡¡papers¡£¡¡She¡¡read¡¡the¡¡
card¡¡and¡¡then¡¡looked¡¡through¡¡some¡¡files¡¡in¡¡a¡¡drawer¡£¡¡
Tears¡¡of¡¡nervousness¡¡and¡¡fear¡¡swam¡¡in¡¡Singer's¡¡eyes¡£¡¡The¡¡
young¡¡woman¡¡began¡¡deliberately¡¡to¡¡write¡¡on¡¡a¡¡pad¡¡of¡¡paper£»¡¡
and¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡¡restrain¡¡himself¡¡from¡¡twisting¡¡around¡¡to¡¡see¡¡
immediately¡¡what¡¡was¡¡being¡¡written¡¡about¡¡his¡¡friend¡£¡¡
Mr¡£¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡has¡¡been¡¡transferred¡¡to¡¡the¡¡infirmary¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡
ill¡¡with¡¡nephritis¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡have¡¡someone¡¡show¡¡you¡¡the¡¡way¡£¡¡
On¡¡the¡¡way¡¡through¡¡the¡¡corridors¡¡he¡¡stopped¡¡to¡¡pick¡¡up¡¡the¡¡
packages¡¡he¡¡had¡¡left¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ward¡£¡¡The¡¡basket¡¡of¡¡
fruit¡¡had¡¡been¡¡stolen£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡other¡¡boxes¡¡were¡¡intact¡£¡¡He¡¡
followed¡¡the¡¡interne¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡building¡¡and¡¡across¡¡a¡¡plot¡¡of¡¡
grass¡¡to¡¡the¡¡infirmary¡£¡¡
Antonapoulos£¡¡¡When¡¡they¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡proper¡¡ward¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡
him¡¡at¡¡the¡¡first¡¡glance¡£¡¡His¡¡bed¡¡was¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
room¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡sitting¡¡propped¡¡with¡¡pillows¡£¡¡He¡¡wore¡¡a¡¡
scarlet¡¡dressing¡gown¡¡and¡¡green¡¡silk¡¡pajamas¡¡and¡¡a¡¡turquoise¡¡
ring¡£¡¡His¡¡skin¡¡was¡¡a¡¡pale¡¡yellow¡¡color£»¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡very¡¡dreamy¡¡
and¡¡dark¡£¡¡His¡¡black¡¡hair¡¡was¡¡touched¡¡at¡¡the¡¡temples¡¡with¡¡
silver¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡knitting¡£¡¡His¡¡fat¡¡fingers¡¡worked¡¡with¡¡the¡¡long¡¡
ivory¡¡needles¡¡very¡¡slowly¡£¡¡At¡¡first¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡see¡¡his¡¡friend¡£¡¡
Then¡¡when¡¡Singer¡¡stood¡¡before¡¡him¡¡he¡¡smiled¡¡serenely£»¡¡
without¡¡surprise£»¡¡and¡¡held¡¡out¡¡his¡¡jeweled¡¡hand¡£¡¡
A¡¡feeling¡¡of¡¡shyness¡¡and¡¡restraint¡¡such¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡never¡¡known¡¡
before¡¡came¡¡over¡¡Singer¡£¡¡He¡¡sat¡¡down¡¡by¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡and¡¡folded¡¡
his¡¡hands¡¡on¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡counterpane¡£¡¡His¡¡eyes¡¡did¡¡not¡¡
leave¡¡the¡¡face¡¡of¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡and¡¡he¡¡was¡¡deathly¡¡pale¡£¡¡The¡¡
splendor¡¡of¡¡his¡¡friend's¡¡raiment¡¡startled¡¡him¡£¡¡On¡¡various¡¡
occasions¡¡he¡¡had¡¡sent¡¡him¡¡each¡¡article¡¡of¡¡the¡¡outfit£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡
not¡¡imagined¡¡how¡¡they¡¡would¡¡look¡¡when¡¡all¡¡combined¡£¡¡
Antonapoulos¡¡was¡¡more¡¡enormous¡¡than¡¡he¡¡had¡¡remembered¡£¡¡
The¡¡great¡¡pulpy¡¡folds¡¡of¡¡his¡¡abdomen¡¡showed¡¡beneath¡¡his¡¡silk¡¡
pajamas¡£¡¡His¡¡head¡¡was¡¡immense¡¡against¡¡the¡¡white¡¡pillow¡£¡¡The¡¡
placid¡¡composure¡¡of¡¡his¡¡face¡¡was¡¡so¡¡profound¡¡that¡¡he¡¡seemed¡¡
hardly¡¡to¡¡be¡¡aware¡¡mat¡¡Singer¡¡was¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¡
Singer¡¡raised¡¡Ms¡¡hands¡¡timidly¡¡and¡¡began¡¡to¡¡speak¡£¡¡His¡¡
strong£»¡¡skilled¡¡fingers¡¡shaped¡¡the¡¡signs¡¡with¡¡loving¡¡precision¡£¡¡
He¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡of¡¡the¡¡long¡¡months¡¡alone¡£¡¡He¡¡
mentioned¡¡old¡¡memories£»¡¡the¡¡cat¡¡that¡¡had¡¡died£»¡¡the¡¡store£»¡¡the¡¡
place¡¡where¡¡he¡¡lived¡£¡¡At¡¡each¡¡pause¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡nodded¡¡
graciously¡£¡¡He¡¡spoke¡¡of¡¡the¡¡four¡¡people¡¡and¡¡the¡¡long¡¡visits¡¡to¡¡
his¡¡room¡£¡¡The¡¡eyes¡¡of¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡were¡¡moist¡¡and¡¡dark£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡
them¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡little¡¡rectangled¡¡pictures¡¡of¡¡himself¡¡that¡¡he¡¡
had¡¡watched¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡times¡£¡¡The188¡¡
warm¡¡blood¡¡flowed¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡face¡¡and¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡quickened¡£¡¡
He¡¡spoke¡¡at¡¡length¡¡of¡¡the¡¡black¡¡man¡¡and¡¡the¡¡one¡¡with¡¡the¡¡
jerking¡¡mustache¡¡and¡¡the¡¡girl¡£¡¡The¡¡designs¡¡of¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡shaped¡¡
faster¡¡and¡¡faster¡£¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡nodded¡¡with¡¡slow¡¡gravity¡£¡¡
Eagerly¡¡Singer¡¡leaned¡¡closer¡¡and¡¡he¡¡breathed¡¡with¡¡long£»¡¡deep¡¡
breaths¡¡and¡¡in¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡there¡¡were¡¡bright¡¡tears¡£¡¡
Then¡¡suddenly¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡made¡¡a¡¡slow¡¡circle¡¡in¡¡the¡¡air¡¡
with¡¡his¡¡plump¡¡forefinger¡£¡¡His¡¡finger¡¡circled¡¡toward¡¡Singer¡¡
and¡¡at¡¡last¡¡he¡¡poked¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡in¡¡the¡¡stomach¡£¡¡The¡¡big¡¡Greek's¡¡
smile¡¡grew¡¡very¡¡broad¡¡and¡¡he¡¡stuck¡¡out¡¡his¡¡fat£»¡¡pink¡¡tongue¡£¡¡
Singer¡¡laughed¡¡and¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡shaped¡¡the¡¡words¡¡with¡¡wild¡¡
speed¡£¡¡His¡¡shoulders¡¡shook¡¡with¡¡laughter¡¡and¡¡his¡¡head¡¡hung¡¡
backward¡£¡¡Why¡¡he¡¡laughed¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡know¡£¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡
rolled¡¡his¡¡eyes¡£¡¡Singer¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡laugh¡¡riotously¡¡until¡¡his¡¡
breath¡¡was¡¡gone¡¡and¡¡his¡¡fingers¡¡trembled¡£¡¡He¡¡grasped¡¡the¡¡arm¡¡
of¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡and¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡steady¡¡himself¡£¡¡His¡¡laughs¡¡came¡¡slow¡¡
and¡¡painfully¡¡like¡¡hiccoughs¡£¡¡
Antonapoulos¡¡was¡¡the¡¡first¡¡to¡¡compose¡¡himself¡£¡¡His¡¡fat¡¡little¡¡
feet¡¡had¡¡untucked¡¡the¡¡cover¡¡at¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bed¡£¡¡His¡¡smile¡¡
faded¡¡and¡¡he¡¡kicked¡¡contemptuously¡¡at¡¡the¡¡blanket¡£¡¡Singer¡¡
hastened¡¡to¡¡put¡¡things¡¡right£»¡¡but¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡frowned¡¡and¡¡
held¡¡up¡¡his¡¡finger¡¡regally¡¡to¡¡a¡¡nurse¡¡who¡¡was¡¡passing¡¡through¡¡
the¡¡ward¡£¡¡When¡¡she¡¡had¡¡straightened¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡to¡¡his¡¡liking¡¡the¡¡
big¡¡Greek¡¡inclined¡¡his¡¡head¡¡so¡¡deliberately¡¡that¡¡the¡¡gesture¡¡
seemed¡¡one¡¡of¡¡benediction¡¡rather¡¡than¡¡a¡¡simple¡¡nod¡¡of¡¡thanks¡£¡¡
Then¡¡he¡¡turned¡¡gravely¡¡to¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡again¡£¡¡
As¡¡Singer¡¡talked¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡realize¡¡how¡¡the¡¡time¡¡had¡¡passed¡£¡¡
Only¡¡when¡¡a¡¡nurse¡¡brought¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡his¡¡supper¡¡on¡¡a¡¡tray¡¡
did¡¡he¡¡realize¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡late¡£¡¡The¡¡lights¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ward¡¡were¡¡
turned¡¡on¡¡and¡¡outside¡¡the¡¡windows¡¡it¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡dark¡£¡¡The¡¡
other¡¡patients¡¡had¡¡trays¡¡of¡¡supper¡¡before¡¡them¡¡also¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡
put¡¡down¡¡their¡¡work¡¡£¨some¡¡of¡¡them¡¡wove¡¡baskets£»¡¡others¡¡did¡¡
leatherwork¡¡or¡¡knitted£©¡¡and¡¡they¡¡were¡¡eating¡¡listlessly¡£¡¡
Besides¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡they¡¡all¡¡seemed¡¡very¡¡sick¡¡and¡¡colorless¡£¡¡
Most¡¡of¡¡them¡¡needed¡¡a¡¡haircut¡¡and¡¡they¡¡wore¡¡seedy¡¡gray¡¡
nightshirts¡¡slit¡¡down¡¡the¡¡back¡£¡¡They¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡the¡¡two¡¡mutes¡¡
with¡¡wonder¡£¡¡
Antonapoulos¡¡lifted¡¡the¡¡cover¡¡from¡¡his¡¡dish¡¡and¡¡inspected¡¡the¡¡
food¡¡carefully¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡fish¡¡and¡¡some¡¡vege
189¡¡
tables¡£¡¡He¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡the¡¡fish¡¡and¡¡held¡¡it¡¡to¡¡the¡¡light¡¡in¡¡the¡¡
palm¡¡of¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡for¡¡a¡¡thorough¡¡examination¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡ate¡¡with¡¡
relish¡£¡¡During¡¡supper¡¡he¡¡began¡¡to¡¡point¡¡out¡¡the¡¡various¡¡people¡¡
in¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡He¡¡pointed¡¡to¡¡one¡¡man¡¡in¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡and¡¡made¡¡
faces¡¡of¡¡disgust¡£¡¡The¡¡man¡¡snarled¡¡at¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡pointed¡¡to¡¡a¡¡
young¡¡boy¡¡and¡¡smiled¡¡and¡¡nodded¡¡and¡¡waved¡¡his¡¡plump¡¡hand¡£¡¡
Singer¡¡was¡¡too¡¡happy¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡embarrassment¡£¡¡He¡¡picked¡¡up¡¡the¡¡
packages¡¡from¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡and¡¡laid¡¡them¡¡on¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡to¡¡distract¡¡
his¡¡friend¡£¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡took¡¡off¡¡the¡¡wrappings£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡
machine¡¡did¡¡not¡¡interest¡¡him¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡He¡¡turned¡¡back¡¡to¡¡his¡¡
supper¡£¡¡
Singer¡¡handed¡¡the¡¡nurse¡¡a¡¡note¡¡explai