e。 Had he been mocked； had anyone spoken； orlaughed； or called？ He could not remember。 He had been walking in a storm。
Now the storm was over。 And the avenue； like any landscape that has endured a storm； laychanged under Heaven； exhausted and clean； and new。 Not again； for ever； could it return to theavenue it once had been。 Fire； or lightening； or the latter rain； ing down from these skies whichmoved with such pale secrecy above him now； had laid yesterday’s avenue waste； had changed itin a moment； in the twinkling of an eye； as all would be changed on the last day； when the skieswould open up once more to gather up the saints。
Yet the houses were there； as they had been； the windows； like a thousand； blinded eyes；stared outward at the morning—at the morning that was the same for them as the mornings ofJohn’s innocence； and the mornings before his birth。 The water run in the gutters with a small；discontented sound； on the water traveled paper； burnt matches； sodden cigarette…ends； gobs ofspittle； green…yellow； brown； and pearly； the leaving of a dog； the vomit of a drunken man； thedead sperm； trapped in rubber； of one abandoned to his lust。 All moved slowly to the black gratingwhere down it rushed； to be carried to the river； which would hurl it into the sea。
Where houses were； where windows stared； where gutters ran； were people—sleeping now；invisible； private； in the heavy darkness of these houses； while the Lord’s day broke outside。 WhenJohn shoul