und gave him a friendly smile.

    quot;Yes, Im back. elcome, Narcissus, o you.quot;

    Narcissus looked into oo sa only tion, tiful ing of trangely pleasing signs of acceptance, of detac even, of surrender and old mans good  t Goldmund  altoget eity and anding at tes t lead to the beyond.

    quot;Are you ill?quot; iously.

    quot;Yes. I am also ill. I fell ill at tart of my journey, during t days. But youll understand t I didnt  to come  araveling boots. No, I didnt feel like it. I  on to roam about a bit; I felt as . I oo muc asand t, youre an intelligent man. Forgive me,  s like a curse; I keep forgetting alking about. But t t   a lot, but …quot;

    his murmuring ended in a smile.

    quot;ell make you ake care of you. If only you urned rig o feel as of us. You s back.quot;

    Goldmund laughed.

    quot;Yes, no dare come back. It would  now I ;

    quot; pain?quot;

    quot;Pain? Yes, I  you see, pains are not so bad; t me to reason. No of you. to see me in prison, to save my life, I o clenceet as of you. But t is completely over no;

    Narcissus put ely Goldmund stopped speaking and closed urbed, t ran to fetcon, to look after till sitting fast asleep at able. t o bed and tayed to examine him.

    o one of t a constant ch.

    tory of  journey ails; oten lessly. Sometimes imes  for eacime. t conversations remely important to him.

    Narcissus set dos of Goldmunds reports and confessions. Otold by Erich.

    quot;art? At