205.Chapter Eighteen（6）

hehadalmostfinishedwhittlingthestaveintoshape，whenherealizedwithastartthathewassinging-singing！itwasasthough，stumblinguponhimselffromtheoutside，hehadsuddenlycaughthimselfout，takenhimselfflagrantlyatfault。***guiltilyheblushed。afterall，itwasnottosingandenjoyhimselfthathehadcomehere。itwastoescapefurthercontaminationbythefilthofcivilizedlife；itwastobepurifiedandmadegood；itwasactivelytomakeamends。herealizedtohisdismaythat，absorbedinthewhittlingofhisbow，hehadforgottenwhathehadsworntohimselfhewouldconstantlyremember–poorlinda，andhisownmurderousunkindnesstoher，andthoseloathsometwins，swarminglikeliceacrossthemysteryofherdeath，insulting，withtheirpresence，notmerelyhisowngriefandrepentance，buttheverygodsthemselves。hehadsworntoremember，hehadswornunceasinglytomakeamends。andtherewashe，sittinghappilyoverhisbow-stave，singing，actuallysinging。…

hewentindoors，openedtheboxofmustard，andputsomewatertoboilonthefire。

halfanhourlater，threedelta-minuslandworkersfromoneoftheputtenhambokanovskygroupshappenedtobedrivingtoelsteadand，atthetopofthehill，wereastonishedtoseeayoungmanstandingoutsidetheabandonedlighthousestrippedtothewaistandhittinghimselfwithawhipofknottedcords。hisbackwashorizontallystreakedwithcrimson，andfromwealtowealranthintricklesofblood。thedriverofthelorrypulledupatthesideoftheroadand，withhistwocompanions，staredopen-mouthedattheextraordinaryspectacle。one，twothree–theycountedthestrokes。aftertheeighth，theyoungmaninterruptedhisself-punishmenttoruntothewood’sedgeandtherebeviolentlysick。whenhehadfinished，hepickedupthewhipandbeganhittinghimselfagain。nine，ten，eleven，twelve…