Улисс
Chapter 1
—YouknowSimonDedalus?heaskedatlength.
—I’veheardofhim,Stephensaid.
MrBloomwasallatseaforamoment,seeingtheothersevidentlyeavesdroppingtoo.
—He’sIrish,theseamanboldaffirmed,staringstillinmuchthesamewayandnodding.AllIrish.
—AlltooIrish,Stephenrejoined.
AsforMrBloomhecouldneithermakeheadortailofthewholebusinessandhewasjustaskinghimselfwhatpossibleconnectionwhenthesailorofhisownaccordturnedtotheotheroccupantsoftheshelterwiththeremark:
—Iseenhimshoottwoeggsofftwobottlesatfiftyyardsoverhisshoulder.Thelefthanddeadshot.
Thoughhewasslightlyhamperedbyanoccasionalstammerandhisgesturesbeingalsoclumsyasitwasstillhedidhisbesttoexplain.
—Bottlesoutthere,say.Fiftyyardsmeasured.Eggsonthebottles.Cockshisgunoverhisshoulder.Aims.
Heturnedhisbodyhalfround,shutuphisrighteyecompletely.Thenhescrewedhisfeaturesupsomewaysidewaysandglaredoutintothenightwithanunprepossessingcastofcountenance.
—Pom!hethenshoutedonce.
Theentireaudiencewaited,anticipatinganadditionaldetonation,therebeingstillafurtheregg.
—Pom!heshoutedtwice.
Eggtwoevidentlydemolished,henoddedandwinked,addingbloodthirstily:
—BuffaloBillshootstokill,
Nevermissednorheneverwill.
AsilenceensuedtillMrBloomforagreeableness’sakejustfeltlikeaskinghimwhetheritwasforamarksmanshipcompetitionliketheBisley.
—Begpardon,thesailorsaid.
—Longago?MrBloompursuedwithoutflinchingahairsbreadth.
