"Ah right. Now go bye-bye--mama'll call you when she's ready to take you
walking" then explosively "I got to catch a train! Oh Holy Mike!"
Oliver left the window and went back toward his bunk, considerably
chastened. As he did so a bundle of second-hand clothes on the floor
rolled over and disclosed a red and unshaven face.
"Wup!" said Oliver--he had almost stepped on it.
"Wha'?" said the bundle, opening sick eyes.
"Oh nothing. I only said good morning."
"Wha'?"
"Good morning."
"Wha'?"
"Good morning."
After incredible difficulties, the bundle attained a sitting position.
"You kid'n me?" it demanded thickly, looking at Oliver with as much
surprise as if he had just grown up out of the floor like a plant.
"Oh no. No."
"You're _nah_ kid'n me?"
"No."
"Ah ri'. 'S countersign. Pass. Fren'."
It attempted a military gesture but succeeded merely in hitting its mouth
with its hand. It then looked at the hand as if the latter had done it on
purpose and became sunk in profound cogitation.
"Not feeling very well today?" Oliver ventured.
It looked at him.
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