THE LIGHTHOUSE

man who had gone past her silently, holding a
brown paper parcel under his arm? The boat
was in the middle of the bay.

They don't feel a thing there. Cam thought,
looking at the shore, which, rising and falling,
became steadily more distant and more peaceful.
Her hand cut a trail in the sea, as her mind
made the green swirls and streaks into patterns
and, numbed and shrouded, wandered in imagina-
tion in that underworld of waters where the pearls
stuck in clusters to white sprays, where in the
green light a change came over one's entire mind
and one's body shone half transparent enveloped
in a green cloak.

Then the eddy slackened round her hand.
The rush of the water ceased; the world became
full of little creaking and squeaking sounds. One
heard the waves breaking and flapping against
the side of the boat as if they were anchored in
harbour. Everything became very close to one.
For the sail, upon which James had his eyes fixed
until it had become to him like a person whom
he knew, sagged entirely; there they came to a
stop, flapping about waiting for a breeze, in the
hot sun, miles from shore, miles from the Light-

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