GERMINAL
go down; but he could forgive those who did. Then, as the rumour ran that the carpenters had not had time to repair the tubbing, he asked for information. Was it true? Had the weight of the soil against the timber which formed the internal skirt of scaffolding to the shaft so pushed it in that the winding-cages rubbed as they went down for a length of over fifty mètres?
Sourvarine, who once more became uncommunicative, replied briefly. He had been working the day before, and the cage did, in fact, jar; the engine-men had even had to double the speed to pass that spot. But all the bosses received any observations with the same irritating remark: it was coal they wanted; that could be repaired later on.
"You see that's smashing up!" Étienne murmured. "It will be a fine time!"
With eyes vaguely fixed on the pit in the shadow, Souvarine quietly concluded:
"If that does smash up, the mates will know it, since you advise them to go down again."
Nine o'clock struck at the Montsou steeple; and his companion having said that he was going to bed, he added, without putting out his hand:
"Well, good-bye. I'm going away."
"What! you're going away?"
"Yes, I've asked for my certificate back. I'm going elsewhere."
Étienne, stupefied and affected, looked at him. After walking for two hours he said that to him! And in so calm a voice, while the mere announcement of this sudden separation made his own heart ache. They had got to know each other, they had toiled together; that always makes one sad, the idea of not seeing a person again.
"You're going away! And where do you go?"
"Over there—I don't know at all."
"But I shall see you again?"
"No, I think not."
They were silent and remained for a moment facing each other without finding anything to say.
"Then good-bye."
"Good-bye."
[406]
