'Why don't you answer me ?' He had come to a standstill facing me, and was looking at me as he always does, with his lifted eyebrows and great spectacled eyes.

When I had spoken he remained a second or two motionless, and then his only reply was to lift his left foot slowly from the floor and describe circles with it in the air.

I rushed to the door and shouted for Christina.

I will not dwell on the dreadful hours that followed.

All three of us talked to him, implored him to speak to us with appeals that might have brought back the dead, but he has done nothing but hop and dance and kick with a solemn silent face.