... watched the birds.On the veranda, that woman, his daughter, stood gazing, her eyes shaded with a hand thatstill held her sewing. It seemed to the old man that the whole afternoon had stilled ... birds, one on each side enclosing him, petting him, saying wordlessly that nothing would be changed, nothing could change, and that they would be with him always. The bird was proof of it, they ... shouts, laughter, a scream, silence."But it's not like that at all', he muttered miserably. 'It's not like that. Why can't you see? ...