Mercier and Camier

by Samuel Beckett

  A hospital, said Mercier. Diseases of the skin.

  The very thing for me, said Camier.

  And mucous membrane, said Mercier. He cocked an ear. Not all that howling this evening.

  It must be too early, said Camier.

  Camier rose and went to the water.

  Careful! said Mercier.

  Camier returned to the bench.

  Do you remember the parrot? said Mercier.

  I remember the goat, said Camier.

  I have the feeling he’s dead, said Mercier.

  We did not meet many animals, said Camier.

  I have the feeling he was already dead the day she told us she had put him out in the country.

  Waste no grief on him, said Camier.

  He went a second time to the water, pored over it a little, then returned to the bench.

  Well, he said, I must go. Farewell, Mercier.

  Sleep sound, said Mercier.

  Alone he watched the sky go out, dark deepen to its full. He kept his eyes on the engulfed horizon, for he knew from experience what last throes it was capable of. And in the dark he could hear better too, he could hear the sounds the long day had kept from him, human murmurs for example, and the rain on the water.

  Summary of two preceding chapters

  VII

  The bog.

  The cross.

  The ruins.

  Mercier and Camier part.

  The return.

  VIII

  The life of afterlife.

  Camier alone.

  Mercier and Watt.

  Mercier, Camier and Watt.

  The last policeman.

  The last bar.

  Mercier and Camier.

  Lock Bridge.

  The arctic flowers.

  Mercier alone.

  Dark at its full.