... for hundreds of years, gave them a life of their own. The waters of the lake, too, and the dead trees, shared this life, he said. 'The proof,' he added,' - the proof off feeling ... disappeared. I saw the black clothes of the officials, and the black curtains of the hall. The white lips of the judges moved — they were of course ordering the details of my death — and I trembled ... but in spite of my suffering, I wanted food. With painful effort I reached for the few pieces of meat beside me. As I put some of it to my lips, a half-formed thought of joy — of hope — rushed...