Улисс

           Diddleiddleaddleaddleooddleooddle.Hissss.Now.Maybenow.Before.

           Onerappedonadoor,onetappedwithaknock,didheknockPauldeKockwithaloudproudknockerwithacockcarracarracarracock.Cockcock.

           Tap.

           —Quisdegno,Ben,saidFatherCowley.

           —No,Ben,TomKernaninterfered.TheCroppyBoy.OurnativeDoric.

           —Aydo,Ben,MrDedalussaid.Goodmenandtrue.

           —Do,do,theybeggedinone.

           I’llgo.Here,Pat,return.Come.Hecame,hecame,hedidnotstay.Tome.Howmuch?

           —Whatkey?Sixsharps?

           —Fsharpmajor,BenDollardsaid.

           BobCowley’soutstretchedtalonsgripedtheblackdeepsoundingchords.

           MustgoprinceBloomtoldRichieprince.No,Richiesaid.Yes,must.Gotmoneysomewhere.He’sonforarazzlebackachespree.Much?Heseehearslipspeech.Oneandnine.Pennyforyourself.Here.Givehimtwopencetip.Deaf,bothered.Butperhapshehaswifeandfamilywaiting,waitingPattycomehome.Heeheeheehee.Deafwaitwhiletheywait.

           Butwait.Buthear.Chordsdark.Lugugugubrious.Low.Inacaveofthedarkmiddleearth.Embeddedore.Lumpmusic.

           Thevoiceofdarkage,ofunlove,earth’sfatiguemadegraveapproachandpainful,comefromafar,fromhoarymountains,calledongoodmenandtrue.Thepriesthesought.Withhimwouldhespeakaword.

           Tap.

           BenDollard’svoice.Basebarreltone.Doinghislevelbesttosayit.Croakofvastmanlessmoonlesswomoonlessmarsh.Othercomedown.Bigships’chandler’sbusinesshedidonce.Remember:rosinyropes,ships’lanterns.Failedtothetuneoftenthousandpounds.NowintheIveaghhome.Cubiclenumbersoandso.