Улисс

           AbsurdIam.Wasteofmoney.Oneandeightpencetoomuch.(Theretrieverdrivesacoldsnivellingmuzzleagainsthishand,wagginghistail.)Strangehowtheytaketome.Eventhatbrutetoday.Betterspeaktohimfirst.Likewomentheylikerencontres.Stinkslikeapolecat.Chacunsongoût.Hemightbemad.Dogdays.Uncertaininhismovements.Goodfellow!Fido!Goodfellow!Garryowen!(Thewolfdogsprawlsonhisback,wrigglingobscenelywithbeggingpaws,hislongblacktonguelollingout.)Influenceofhissurroundings.Giveandhavedonewithit.Providednobody.(Callingencouragingwordsheshamblesbackwithafurtivepoacher’stread,doggedbythesetterintoadarkstalestunkcorner.Heunrollsoneparcelandgoestodumpthecrubeensoftlybutholdsbackandfeelsthetrotter.)Sizeableforthreepence.ButthenIhaveitinmylefthand.Callsformoreeffort.Why?Smallerfromwantofuse.O,letitslide.Twoandsix.

           (Withregretheletstheunrolledcrubeenandtrotterslide.Themastiffmaulsthebundleclumsilyandglutshimselfwithgrowlinggreed,crunchingthebones.Tworaincapedwatchapproach,silent,vigilant.Theymurmurtogether.)

           THEWATCH:Bloom.OfBloom.ForBloom.Bloom.

           (EachlayshandonBloom’sshoulder.)

           FIRSTWATCH:Caughtintheact.Commitnonuisance.

           BLOOM:(Stammers.)Iamdoinggoodtoothers.

           (Acoveyofgulls,stormpetrels,riseshungrilyfromLiffeyslimewithBanburycakesintheirbeaks.)

           THEGULLS:Kawkavekankurykake.

           BLOOM:Thefriendofman.Trainedbykindness.

           (Hepoints.BobDoran,topplingfromahighbarstool,swaysoverthemunchingspaniel.