Улисс
Chapter 1
Orangesintissuepaperpackedincrates.Citronstoo.WonderispoorCitronstillinSaintKevin’sparade.AndMastianskywiththeoldcither.Pleasanteveningswehadthen.MollyinCitron’sbasketchair.Nicetohold,coolwaxenfruit,holdinthehand,liftittothenostrilsandsmelltheperfume.Likethat,heavy,sweet,wildperfume.Alwaysthesame,yearafteryear.Theyfetchedhighpricestoo,Moiseltoldme.Arbutusplace:Pleasantsstreet:pleasantoldtimes.Mustbewithoutaflaw,hesaid.Comingallthatway:Spain,Gibraltar,Mediterranean,theLevant.CrateslineduponthequaysideatJaffa,chaptickingthemoffinabook,navvieshandlingthembarefootinsoileddungarees.There’swhatdoyoucallhimoutof.Howdoyou?Doesn’tsee.Chapyouknowjusttosalutebitofabore.HisbackislikethatNorwegiancaptain’s.WonderifI’llmeethimtoday.Wateringcart.Toprovoketherain.Onearthasitisinheaven.
Acloudbegantocoverthesunslowly,wholly.Grey.Far.
No,notlikethat.Abarrenland,barewaste.Vulcaniclake,thedeadsea:nofish,weedless,sunkdeepintheearth.Nowindcouldliftthosewaves,greymetal,poisonousfoggywaters.Brimstonetheycalleditrainingdown:thecitiesoftheplain:Sodom,Gomorrah,Edom.Alldeadnames.Adeadseainadeadland,greyandold.Oldnow.Itboretheoldest,thefirstrace.AbenthagcrossedfromCassidy’s,clutchinganagginbottlebytheneck.Theoldestpeople.Wanderedfarawayoveralltheearth,captivitytocaptivity,multiplying,dying,beingborneverywhere.Itlaytherenow.Nowitcouldbearnomore.
