MS-UoR-2935-3-9

[0001] One night as he sat at his table head on hands he saw himself rise and go.
[0002] One night or day.[0003] For when his own light went out he was not left in the dark.
[0004] Light of a kind came then from the one window set high in the wall.[0005] Under it
still the stool on which until he could or would no more he used to mount to
see the sky.[0006] Why he did not crane out to see what lay beneath was perhaps because
the window was not made to open or because he could or would not open it.

[0007] Perhaps
he knew only too well what lay beneath and did not want ^wish to see it again.[0008] So he
would simply stand there high above the earth and see through the clouded pane
the cloudless sky.[0009] Its faint unchanging light unlike any light he could remember
from the days and nights when day followed hard on night and night on day.[0010] This
outer light then when his own went out became his only light until^l it in its turn
went out and left him in the dark.[0011] Until^l it in its turn went out.

[0012] One night or day then as he sat at his table head on hands he saw himself
rise and go.[0013] First rise and stand clinging to the table.[0014] Then sit again.[0015] Then
rise again and stand clinging to the table again.[0016] Then ^go.[0017] s^Start to go.[0018] On unseen
feet ^start to go.[0019] So slow that only change of place to show he went.[0020] As when he disappeared
only to reappear later at another place.[0021] Then disappeared again only to reappear
again later at another place again.[0022] So agin ^again and again disappeared again only to
reappear again later at another place again.

[0023] Another place in the place where he
sat at his table head on hands.[0024] The same place and table as when Darly for example
died and left him.[0025] As when others too in their turn before and since.[0026] As when others
would too in their turn and leave him until^l he too in his turn.[0027] Head on hands half
hoping when he disappeared ^again that he would not reappr^ear again an half fearing that
he would not.[0028] Or merely wondering.[0029] Or merem^ly waiting.[0030] Waiting to see if he would
or would not.[0031] Leave him or not alone again waiting for nothing again.

[0032] Seen always from behind whithersoever he went.[0033] Same hat and coat as of old when
he walked the roads.[0034] The back roads.[0035] And now as one in a strange place seeking the
way out.[0036] In the dark.[0037] In a strange place blindly in the dark of night or day
seeking the way out?^.[0038] A way out.[0039] To the roads.[0040] The back roads.

[0041] A clock afar struck the hours and half-hours.[0042] The same as when among others
Darly once died and left him.[0043] Strokes now clear as if acc carried by the wind
now faint on the still air.[0044] Cries afar now faint no^w w^clear.[0045] Head on hands half hoping
when the hour struck that the half-hour would not and half fearing that it would
not.[0046] Similarly when the ^half-hour struck.[0047] Similarly when the cries a moment ceased.[0048] Or
merely wondering.[0049] Or merely waiting.[0050] Waiting to hear.

[0051] There had been ^was a time when from time to time he would ^sometimes raise his head enought to
see his hands.[0052] What of them was to be seen.[0053] One laid on the table and the other on
the one.[0054] At rest after all they did.[0056] Then lay it back on them to rest it too.[0057] After
all it did.

[0058] The same place as when left day after day for the roads.[0059] The back roads? roads.
[0060] Returned to night after night.[0061] Paced from w^all to wall in the dark.[0062] The then fleeting
dark of night.[0063] Now as if strange to him seen to rise and go.[0064] Disappear and reappear
at another place.[0065] Disappear again and reappear again at another place again.[0066] Or at
the same.[0067] Nothing to show not the same.

[0068] No wall toward which or from.[0069] No table back
toward which or further from.[0070] In the same place as when paced from wall to wall all
places as the same.[0071] Or in another.[0072] Nothing to show not another.[0073] Where rec^ never.
[0074] Rise and gi^o in the same place as ever.[0075] Disappear and reappear in another where
never.[0076] Nothing to show not another where never.[0077] Nothing but the clock ^strokes.[0078] The cries.
[0079] The same as ever.