Улісс

           Idon’tknowwhoheis.Isthathisname?

           Hemovedaway,lookingabouthim.

           —No,MrBloombegan,turningandstopping.Isay,Hynes!

           Didn’thear.What?Wherehashedisappearedto?Notasign.Wellofallthe.Hasanybodyhereseen?Kayeedoubleell.Becomeinvisible.GoodLord,whatbecameofhim?

           AseventhgravediggercamebesideMrBloomtotakeupanidlespade.

           —O,excuseme!

           Hesteppedasidenimbly.

           Clay,brown,damp,begantobeseeninthehole.Itrose.Nearlyover.Amoundofdampclodsrosemore,rose,andthegravediggersrestedtheirspades.Alluncoveredagainforafewinstants.Theboyproppedhiswreathagainstacorner:thebrother-in-lawhisonalump.Thegravediggersputontheircapsandcarriedtheirearthyspadestowardsthebarrow.Thenknockedthebladeslightlyontheturf:clean.Onebenttopluckfromthehaftalongtuftofgrass.One,leavinghismates,walkedslowlyonwithshoulderedweapon,itsbladeblueglancing.Silentlyatthegraveheadanothercoiledthecoffinband.Hisnavelcord.Thebrother-in-law,turningaway,placedsomethinginhisfreehand.Thanksinsilence.Sorry,sir:trouble.Headshake.Iknowthat.Foryourselvesjust.

           Themournersmovedawayslowlywithoutaim,bydeviouspaths,stayingatwhilestoreadanameonatomb.

           —Letusgoroundbythechief’sgrave,Hynessaid.Wehavetime.

           —Letus,MrPowersaid.

           Theyturnedtotheright,followingtheirslowthoughts.WithaweMrPower’sblankvoicespoke:

           —Somesayheisnotinthatgraveatall.Thatthecoffinwasfilledwithstones.Thatonedayhewillcomeagain.

           Hynesshookhishead.