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           Heexpecteddirepunishments,buttheseblindpeoplewerecapableoftoleration. Theyregardedhisrebellionasbutonemoreproofofhisgeneralidiocyandinferiority; andaftertheyhadwhippedhimtheyappointedhimtodothesimplestandheaviestworktheyhadforanyonetodo,andhe,seeingnootherwayofliving,didsubmissivelywhathewastold. 

           Hewasillforsomedays,andtheynursedhimkindly. Thatrefinedhissubmission. Buttheyinsistedonhislyinginthedark,andthatwasagreatmisery. Andblindphilosopherscameandtalkedtohimofthewickedlevityofhismind,andreprovedhimsoimpressivelyforhisdoubtsaboutthelidofrockthatcoveredtheircosmiccasserolethathealmostdoubtedwhetherindeedhewasnotthevictimofhallucinationinnotseeingitoverhead. 

           SoNunezbecameacitizenoftheCountryoftheBlind,andthesepeopleceasedtobeageneralisedpeopleandbecameindividualitiesandfamiliartohim,whiletheworldbeyondthemountainsbecamemoreandmoreremoteandunreal. TherewasYacob,hismaster,akindlymanwhennotannoyed;therewasPedro,Yacob’snephew;andtherewasMedina-saroti,whowastheyoungestdaughterofYacob. Shewaslittleesteemedintheworldoftheblind,becauseshehadaclear-cutface,andlackedthatsatisfying,glossysmoothnessthatistheblindman’sidealoffemininebeauty; butNunezthoughtherbeautifulatfirst,andpresentlythemostbeautifulthinginthewholecreation.