V + 

But this is what happened then. High upon a rock there stood a gaunt old woman, her parched cheeks fallen in, her long locks uncombed like the grey mane of a starving old wolf. Her clothing was in rags, and exposed her yellow, bony shoulders, and her emaciated breasts, which had supported the life of many and been exhausted with maternity. She stretched forth her hands to the wall, and all eyes followed them. She began to speak, and in her voice was so much suffering, that the despairing moans of the starving man were silenced for very shame. + 

“Give me back my child!” cried the woman. + 

And we all kept silence, with a smile of fury upon our lips, and waited for the answer of the wall. The brains of him the woman called “her child” stood out upon the wall in grey patches, streaked with red, and we awaited impatiently and austerely the answer of the dastardly murderess. So still was it that we could hear the rustling of the thunderclouds passing over our heads, and dark night locked up her groans within her breast, only spitting out with a slight sibilant sound the fine burning sand, which ate into our wounds. Then once more resounded the stern, bitter demand: + 

“Cruel one! give me back my child.” Ever more stern and furious grew our smile, but the dastardly wall was silent. + 

And then from the speechless crowd there came forth an old man handsome and austere, and took his stand by the woman. + 

“Give me back my son,” said he. + 

How terrible it was, and withal how joyous! A cold shivering went down my spine, and my muscles contracted with the influx of an unknown threatening strength; but my companion nudged me in the side with chattering teeth, and a fœtid breath in a broad spurning wave issued from his decomposing mouth. + 

Then there came out from the crowd another person, who said “Give me back my brother!” And yet another who cried “Give me back my daughter!” + 

And then men and women, old and young, began to come forth, and stretching out their hands, shouted their implacable, bitter demand: + 

“Give me back my child!” + 

And then I too, the leper, feeling within me strength and hardihood, stepped forward in my turn, and cried loud and threateningly: + 

“Murderess! Give me back my Self!” + 

But she⁠—was silent. So false and dastardly was she, that she made as though she heard not, and my seamed cheeks contracted with malignant laughter, and a mad rage filled our sickened hearts. But she, stupidly unconcerned, remained silent! + 

Then the woman angrily stretched out her lean yellow hands, and yelled implacably: + 

“Then, be thou damned! Thou slayer of my child.” + 

And the austere handsome old man repeated: + 

“Be thou damned!” + 

And the whole earth repeated with resonant thousand-throated groan: + 

“Be thou damned! damned! damned!” + 