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ill¡¡with¡¡nephritis¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡have¡¡someone¡¡show¡¡you¡¡the¡¡way¡£¡¡
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packages¡¡he¡¡had¡¡left¡¡at¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ward¡£¡¡The¡¡basket¡¡of¡¡
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followed¡¡the¡¡interne¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡building¡¡and¡¡across¡¡a¡¡plot¡¡of¡¡
grass¡¡to¡¡the¡¡infirmary¡£¡¡
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him¡¡at¡¡the¡¡first¡¡glance¡£¡¡His¡¡bed¡¡was¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡middle¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
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and¡¡dark¡£¡¡His¡¡black¡¡hair¡¡was¡¡touched¡¡at¡¡the¡¡temples¡¡with¡¡
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ivory¡¡needles¡¡very¡¡slowly¡£¡¡At¡¡first¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡see¡¡his¡¡friend¡£¡¡
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without¡¡surprise£»¡¡and¡¡held¡¡out¡¡his¡¡jeweled¡¡hand¡£¡¡
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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¡£¡¡
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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¡£¡¡
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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¡£¡¡
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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¡£¡¡
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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¡£¡¡
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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¡¡explaining¡¡about¡¡the¡¡movie¡£¡¡
She¡¡called¡¡an¡¡interne¡¡and¡¡then¡¡they¡¡brought¡¡in¡¡a¡¡doctor¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡
three¡¡of¡¡them¡¡consulted¡¡they¡¡looked¡¡curiously¡¡at¡¡Singer¡£¡¡The¡¡
news¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡patients¡¡and¡¡they¡¡propped¡¡up¡¡on¡¡their¡¡elbows¡¡
excitedly¡£¡¡Only¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡was¡¡not¡¡disturbed¡£¡¡
Singer¡¡had¡¡practiced¡¡with¡¡the¡¡movie¡¡beforehand¡£¡¡He¡¡set¡¡Dp¡¡
the¡¡screen¡¡so¡¡that¡¡it¡¡could¡¡be¡¡watched¡¡by¡¡all¡¡the¡¡patients¡£¡¡Then¡¡
he¡¡worked¡¡with¡¡the¡¡projector¡¡and¡¡the¡¡film¡£¡¡The¡¡nurse¡¡took¡¡out¡¡
the¡¡supper¡¡trays¡¡and¡¡the¡¡lights¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ward¡¡were¡¡turned¡¡off¡£¡¡A¡¡
Mickey¡¡Mouse¡¡comedy¡¡flashed¡¡on¡¡the¡¡screen¡£¡¡
Singer¡¡watched¡¡his¡¡friend¡£¡¡At¡¡first¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡was¡¡startled¡£¡¡
He¡¡heaved¡¡himself¡¡up¡¡for¡¡a¡¡better¡¡view¡¡and¡¡would¡¡have¡¡risen¡¡
from¡¡the¡¡bed¡¡if¡¡the¡¡nurse¡¡had¡¡not¡¡restrained¡¡him¡£¡¡Then¡¡he¡¡
watched¡¡with¡¡a¡¡beaming¡¡smile¡£¡¡Singer¡¡could¡¡see¡¡the¡¡other¡¡
patients¡¡calling¡¡out¡¡to¡¡each¡¡other¡¡and¡¡laughing¡£¡¡Nurses¡¡and¡¡
orderlies¡¡came¡¡in¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hall¡¡and¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡ward¡¡was¡¡in¡¡
commotion¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡Mickey¡¡Mouse¡¡was¡¡finished¡¡Singer¡¡put¡¡
on¡¡a¡¡Popeye¡¡film¡£¡¡Then¡¡at¡¡the¡¡conclusion¡¡of¡¡this¡¡film¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡
that¡¡the¡¡entertainment¡¡had¡¡lasted¡¡long¡¡enough¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first¡¡
time¡£¡¡He¡¡switched¡¡on¡¡the¡¡light¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ward¡¡settled¡¡down¡¡
again¡£¡¡As¡¡the¡¡interne¡¡put¡¡the¡¡machine¡¡under¡¡his¡¡friend's¡¡bed¡¡he¡¡
saw¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡slyly¡¡cut¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡across¡¡the¡¡ward¡¡to¡¡be¡¡
certain¡¡that¡¡each¡¡person¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡the¡¡machine¡¡was¡¡his¡£¡¡
Singer¡¡began¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡with¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡again¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡he¡¡
would¡¡soon¡¡be¡¡asked¡¡to¡¡leave£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡thoughts¡¡he¡¡had¡¡stored¡¡
in¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡were¡¡too¡¡big¡¡to¡¡be¡¡said¡¡in¡¡a¡¡short¡¡time¡£¡¡He¡¡talked¡¡
with¡¡frantic¡¡haste¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡ward¡¡there¡¡was¡¡an¡¡old¡¡man¡¡whose¡¡
head¡¡shook¡¡with¡¡palsy¡¡and¡¡who¡¡picked¡¡feebly190¡¡
t¡¡
at¡¡his¡¡eyebrows¡£¡¡He¡¡envied¡¡the¡¡old¡¡man¡¡because¡¡he¡¡lived¡¡with¡¡
Antonapoulos¡¡day¡¡after¡¡day¡£¡¡Singer¡¡would¡¡have¡¡exchanged¡¡
places¡¡with¡¡him¡¡joyfully¡£¡¡
His¡¡friend¡¡fumbled¡¡for¡¡something¡¡in¡¡his¡¡bosom¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡
little¡¡brass¡¡cross¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡always¡¡worn¡£¡¡The¡¡dirty¡¡string¡¡had¡¡
been¡¡replaced¡¡by¡¡a¡¡red¡¡ribbon¡£¡¡Singer¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dream¡¡
and¡¡he¡¡told¡¡that£»¡¡also£»¡¡to¡¡his¡¡friend¡£¡¡In¡¡his¡¡haste¡¡the¡¡signs¡¡
sometimes¡¡became¡¡blurred¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡shake¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡
begin¡¡all¡¡over¡£¡¡Antonapoulos¡¡watched¡¡him¡¡with¡¡his¡¡dark£»¡¡
drowsy¡¡eyes¡£¡¡Sitting¡¡motionless¡¡in¡¡his¡¡bright£»¡¡rich¡¡garments¡¡he¡¡
seemed¡¡like¡¡some¡¡wise¡¡king¡¡from¡¡a¡¡legend¡£¡¡
The¡¡interne¡¡in¡¡charge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ward¡¡allowed¡¡Singer¡¡to¡¡stay¡¡for¡¡an¡¡
hour¡¡past¡¡the¡¡visiting¡¡time¡£¡¡Then¡¡at¡¡last¡¡he¡¡held¡¡out¡¡his¡¡thin£»¡¡
hairy¡¡wrist¡¡and¡¡showed¡¡him¡¡his¡¡watch¡£¡¡The¡¡patients¡¡were¡¡
settled¡¡for¡¡sleep¡£¡¡Singer's¡¡hand¡¡faltered¡£¡¡He¡¡grasped¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡
by¡¡the¡¡arm¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡intently¡¡into¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡as¡¡he¡¡used¡¡to¡¡do¡¡
each¡¡morning¡¡when¡¡they¡¡parted¡¡for¡¡work¡£¡¡Finally¡¡Singer¡¡
backed¡¡himself¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡room¡£¡¡At¡¡the¡¡doorway¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡
signed¡¡a¡¡broken¡¡farewell¡¡and¡¡then¡¡clenched¡¡into¡¡fists¡£¡¡
During¡¡the¡¡moonlit¡¡January¡¡nights¡¡Singer¡¡continued¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡
about¡¡the¡¡streets¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡¡each¡¡evening¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡
engaged¡£¡¡The¡¡rumors¡¡about¡¡him¡¡grew¡¡bolder¡£¡¡An¡¡old¡¡Negro¡¡
woman¡¡told¡¡hundreds¡¡of¡¡people¡¡that¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡ways¡¡of¡¡
spirits¡¡come¡¡back¡¡from¡¡the¡¡dead¡£¡¡A¡¡certain¡¡piece¡worker¡¡
claimed¡¡t