Улисс

           Thestingofdisregardglowedtoweakpleasurewithinhisbreast.Foranother:aconstableoffdutycuddlingherinEccles’Lane.Theylikethemsizeable.Primesausage.Oplease,MrPoliceman,I’mlostinthewood.

           —Threepence,please.

           Hishandacceptedthemoisttenderglandandsliditintoasidepocket.Thenitfetchedupthreecoinsfromhistrousers’pocketandlaidthemontherubberprickles.Theylay,werereadquicklyandquicklyslid,discbydisc,intothetill.

           —Thankyou,sir.Anothertime.

           Aspeckofeagerfirefromfoxeyesthankedhim.Hewithdrewhisgazeafteraninstant.No:betternot:anothertime.

           —Goodmorning,hesaid,movingaway.

           —Goodmorning,sir.

           Nosign.Gone.Whatmatter?

           HewalkedbackalongDorsetstreet,readinggravely.AgendathNetaim:planters’company.TopurchasewastesandytractsfromTurkishgovernmentandplantwitheucalyptustrees.Excellentforshade,fuelandconstruction.OrangegrovesandimmensemelonfieldsnorthofJaffa.Youpayeightymarksandtheyplantadunamoflandforyouwitholives,oranges,almondsorcitrons.Olivescheaper:orangesneedartificialirrigation.Everyyearyougetasendingofthecrop.Yournameenteredforlifeasownerinthebookoftheunion.Canpaytendownandthebalanceinyearlyinstalments.Bleibtreustrasse34,Berlin,W.15.

           Nothingdoing.Stillanideabehindit.

           Helookedatthecattle,blurredinsilverheat.Silverpowderedolivetrees.Quietlongdays:pruning,ripening.Olivesarepackedinjars,eh?IhaveafewleftfromAndrews.Mollyspittingthemout.Knowsthetasteofthemnow.