IN THE town there were two mutes, and they were always
together. Early every morning they would come out from
the house where they lived and walk arm in arm down the
street to work. The two friends were very different. The
one who always steered the way was an obese and
dreamy Greek. In the summer he would come out
wearing a yellow or green polo shirt stuffed sloppily into
his trousers in front and hanging loose behind. When it
was colder he wore over this a shapeless gray sweater.
His face was round and oily, with half-closed eyelids and
lips that curved in a gentle, stupid smile. The other mute
was tall. His eyes had a quick, in````