Улисс

           Thenthetwelvebrothers,Jacob’ssons.Andthenthelambandthecatandthedogandthestickandthewaterandthebutcher.Andthentheangelofdeathkillsthebutcherandhekillstheoxandthedogkillsthecat.Soundsabitsillytillyoucometolookintoitwell.Justiceitmeansbutit’severybodyeatingeveryoneelse.That’swhatlifeisafterall.Howquicklyhedoesthatjob.Practicemakesperfect.Seemstoseewithhisfingers.

           MrBloompassedonoutoftheclankingnoisesthroughthegalleryontothelanding.NowamIgoingtotramitoutallthewayandthencatchhimoutperhaps.Betterphonehimupfirst.Number?Yes.SameasCitron’shouse.Twentyeight.Twentyeightdoublefour.

           ONLYONCEMORETHATSOAP

           Hewentdownthehousestaircase.Whothedeucescrawledalloverthosewallswithmatches?Looksasiftheydiditforabet.Heavygreasysmelltherealwaysisinthoseworks.LukewarmglueinThom’snextdoorwhenIwasthere.

           Hetookouthishandkerchieftodabhisnose.Citronlemon?Ah,thesoapIputthere.Loseitoutofthatpocket.Puttingbackhishandkerchiefhetookoutthesoapandstoweditaway,buttoned,intothehippocketofhistrousers.

           Whatperfumedoesyourwifeuse?Icouldgohomestill:tram:somethingIforgot.Justtosee:before:dressing.No.Here.No.

           AsuddenscreechoflaughtercamefromtheEveningTelegraphoffice.Knowwhothatis.What’sup?Popinaminutetophone.NedLambertitis.

           Heenteredsoftly.

           ERIN,GREENGEMOFTHESILVERSEA

           —Theghostwalks,professorMacHughmurmuredsoftly,biscuitfullytothedustywindowpane.