Улісс

           DowninthevaultsofsaintWerburgh’slovelyoldorganhundredandfiftytheyhavetoboreaholeinthecoffinssometimestoletoutthebadgasandburnit.Outitrushes:blue.Onewhiffofthatandyou’reagoner.

           Mykneecapishurtingme.Ow.That’sbetter.

           Thepriesttookastickwithaknobattheendofitoutoftheboy’sbucketandshookitoverthecoffin.Thenhewalkedtotheotherendandshookitagain.Thenhecamebackandputitbackinthebucket.Asyouwerebeforeyourested.It’sallwrittendown:hehastodoit.

           —Etnenosinducasintentationem.

           Theserverpipedtheanswersinthetreble.Ioftenthoughtitwouldbebettertohaveboyservants.Uptofifteenorso.Afterthat,ofcourse...

           Holywaterthatwas,Iexpect.Shakingsleepoutofit.Hemustbefedupwiththatjob,shakingthatthingoverallthecorpsestheytrotup.Whatharmifhecouldseewhathewasshakingitover.Everymortaldayafreshbatch:middleagedmen,oldwomen,children,womendeadinchildbirth,menwithbeards,baldheadedbusinessmen,consumptivegirlswithlittlesparrows’breasts.Alltheyearroundheprayedthesamethingoverthemallandshookwaterontopofthem:sleep.OnDignamnow.

           —Inparadisum.

           Saidhewasgoingtoparadiseorisinparadise.Saysthatovereverybody.Tiresomekindofajob.Buthehastosaysomething.

           Thepriestclosedhisbookandwentoff,followedbytheserver.CornyKelleheropenedthesidedoorsandthegravediggerscamein,hoistedthecoffinagain,carrieditoutandshoveditontheircart.