The Dwarfs Read Online Free PDF

Gate?
    - Notting Hill Gate? That was for your benefit. I never go anywhere near Notting Hill Gate.
    - I’ve just told you I was at Earls Court.
    - Ah! said Len. Don’t mention that place!
    Mark scratched himself in the groin and stretched his legs.
    - What were you doing, he asked, when I knocked on your door?
    - Doing? Thinking.
    - What about?
    - Nothing. It was about nothing. This room. Nothing. A waste of time the thought and the thinking.
    - What’s the matter with this room?
    - What’s the matter with it? It doesn’t exist! What you don’t understand, you see, is that they’re holding me up for ransom. If someone doesn’t pay up quick I’m a dead duck.
    - Are they asking much?
    - They don’t want currency. They don’t want currency, they won’t touch it. They ‘re asking for something nobody’s prepared to give. And I can’t give it myself, because I haven’t got it. Ah, that doesn’t matter. What does it matter? There’s a time and place for everything. These things should be faced.
    - You never said a truer word.
    - What? What do you mean by that?
    - There’s a time and place for everything. These things should be faced.
    - You never said a truer word.
    Mark coughed shortly and spat into the grate.
    - I see that butter’s going up, Mark said, wiping his mouth.
    - I’m prepared to believe it, said Len, but it doesn’t answer my question.
    - What was that?
    - What are you doing here? What do you want here?
    - I thought you might give me a piece of bread and honey.
    Len moved to the window and straightened a curtain.
    - I know that you’re frightened, you see.
    - Oh yes? Mark said. What of?
    - You’re frightened that at any moment I’m liable to put a redhot burning coal in your mouth. Yes. But when the time comes, you see, what I should do is place the coal in my own mouth.
    - Why’s that?
    - Why? That should be obvious. Pete would be able to tell you. He wouldn’t be far out.
    - Do you think so?
    - He wouldn’t be far out, Len said, sitting on the table. But I’ll tell you something about him. As you’re here. I know, you see, how things stand in the nothing. I know the nothing. The waste and dead air. But for Pete, even the nothing is something positive. Pete’s nothing eats away, it’s voracious, it’s a malignant growth. But, can’t you see, he fights back, he grapples to the death with it. He’s a fighter. My nothing doesn’t bother to act in such a way. It licks its paws while I shrink. It’s a true nothing, a paralysis. There’s no conflict, no battle. I am it. I am my own nothing. It’s the only thing I have to rejoice in.
    - Monkeynuts, Mark said.
    - Why do you say that?
    - Catpiss.
    - All right, all right. If you believe that, I’ll ask you another question.
    - Ask.
    - What have you got against Jesus Christ?
    - That’s a fast yorker.
    - Can you play it?
    - Which firm does he work for?
    - He’s a freelance.
    - Oh yes, Mark said, he runs a book down at the dogs, doesn’t he?
    - He runs a book all right.
    - That’s the bloke, Mark said. Why? Has he put you on to any good things lately?
    - He’s given me a few hot tips, I can tell you that, Len said, and shrugged. Well, I suppose everyone’s got a blind spot.
    He began to stride the room, gripping and relaxing his fingers.
    - As a matter of fact, Mark said, I did hear a rumour that your fares were going up.
    Len stopped in his tracks and turned.
    - Going up? Who told you that?
    - I hope you’re not going to strain the budget.
    Len sat down, facing Mark at the fireplace, and smiled.
    - I was waiting for this, he said.
    - You might give me an idea of the fare stages. I could walk to save the extra penny.
    - Listen here. I admit my prices are tending to go up, but if you feel you’re unable to pay my costs I can always arrange to put you next to the driver or in the luggageboot. But, quite frankly, I’d much rather you give the correct fare. What do you want? But how did you know they were going up?
    - Pete told me.
    -