一扇门(The Door)

一扇门(thedoor)

everything(hekeptsaying)issomethingitisnt.andeverybodyisalwayssomewhereelse.maybeitwasthecity,beinginthecity,thatmadehimfeelhowqueereverythingwasandthatitwassomethingelse.maybe(hekeptthinking)itwasthenamesofthethings.thenamesweretexandfrequentlykoid.ortheywereflexandoidortheywereduroid(sand)orflexsan(duro),buteverythingwasglass(butnotquiteglass)andthethingthatyoutouched(thesurface,washable,crease-resistant)wasrubber,onlyitwasntquiterubberandyoudidntquitetouchitbutalmost.thewall,whichwasglassbutturnedoutonbeingapproachednottobeawall,itwassomethingelse,itwasanopeningordoorway--andthedoorway(throughwhichhesawhimselfapproaching)turnedouttobesomethingelse,itwasawall.andwhathehadeatennothavingagreedwithhim.www•

hewasinawashablehouse,buthewasntsure.nowaboutthoserats,hekeptsayingtohimself.hemeanttheratsthattheprofessorhaddrivencrazybyforcingthemtodealwithproblemswhichwerebeyondthescopeofrats,theinsolubleproblems.hemeanttheratsthathadbeentrainedtojumpatthesquarecardwiththecircleinthemiddle,andthecard(becauseitwassomethingitwasnt)wouldgivewayandlettheratintoaplacewherethefoodwas,butthenonedayitwouldbeatrickplayedontherat,andthecardwouldbechanged,andtheratwouldjumpbutthecardwouldntgiveway,anditwasanimpossiblesituation(forarat)andtheratwouldgoinsaneandintoitseyeswouldcometheunspeakablybrightimploringlookofthefrustrated,andaftertheconvulsionswereoverandthefranticracingaround,thenthepassivestagewouldsetinandthewillingnesstoletanythingbedonetoit,evenifitwassomethingelse.

hedidntknowwhichdoor(orwall)oropeninginthehousetojumpat,togetthrough,becauseonewasanopeningthatwasntadoor(itwasavoid,orkid)andtheotherwasawallthatwasntanopening,itwasasanitarycupboardofthesamecolor.hecaughtaglimpseofhiseyesstaringintohiseyes,intheandinthemwastheexpressionhehadseeninthepictureoftherats--wearyafterconvulsionsandthefranticracingaround,whentheywerewillinganddidnotmindhavinganythingdonetothem.moreandmore(hekeptsaying)iamconfrontedbyaproblemwhichisincapableofsolution(forthistimeevenifhechosetherightdoor,therewouldbenofoodbehindit)andthatiswhatmadnessis,andthingsseemingdifferentfromwhattheyare.heheard,inthehousewherehewas,inthecitytowhichhehadgone(astowardadoorwhichmight,ormightnot,giveway),anoise--notaloudnoisebutmoreofalowprefabricatedhumming.itcamefromaplaceinthebaseofthewall(orstat)wherethefluecarryingthefilterableairwas,andnotfarfromtheminipiano,whichwasmadeofthesamematerialnailbrushesaremadeof,andwhichwasunderthestairs.this,too,hasbeentested,shesaid,pointing,butnotatit,andfoundviable.itwasntaloudnoise,hekeptthinking,sorrythathehadseenhiseyes,eventhoughitwasthroughhisowneyesthathehadseenthem.