Страна слепых

           ThecankerofcivilisationhadgottohimeveninBogota,andhecouldnotfinditinhimselftogodownandassassinateablindman. Ofcourse,ifhedidthat,hemightthendictatetermsonthethreatofassassinatingthemall. But—soonerorlaterhemustsleep!... 

           Hetriedalsotofindfoodamongthepinetrees,tobecomfortableunderpineboughswhilethefrostfellatnight,and—withlessconfidence—tocatchallamabyartificeinordertotrytokillit—perhapsbyhammeringitwithastone—andsofinally,perhaps,toeatsomeofit. Butthellamashadadoubtofhimandregardedhimwithdistrustfulbrowneyes,andspatwhenhedrewnear. Fearcameonhimtheseconddayandfitsofshivering. FinallyhecrawleddowntothewalloftheCountryoftheBlindandtriedtomaketerms. Hecrawledalongbythestream,shouting,untiltwoblindmencameouttothegateandtalkedtohim. 

           "Iwasmad,"hesaid."ButIwasonlynewlymade." 

           Theysaidthatwasbetter. 

           Hetoldthemhewaswisernow,andrepentedofallhehaddone. 

           Thenheweptwithoutintention,forhewasveryweakandillnow,andtheytookthatasafavourablesign. 

           Theyaskedhimifhestillthoughthecould"see" 

           "No,"hesaid. "Thatwasfolly. Thewordmeansnothing—lessthannothing!" 

           Theyaskedhimwhatwasoverhead. 

           "Abouttentimestentheheightofamanthereisaroofabovetheworld—ofrock—andvery,verysmooth." ...Heburstagainintohystericaltears. "Beforeyouaskmeanymore,givemesomefoodorIshalldie."