Улісс

           Illstarredheresiarch!InaGreekwaterclosethebreathedhislast:euthanasia.Withbeadedmitreandwithcrozier,stalleduponhisthrone,widowerofawidowedsee,withupstiffedomophorion,withclottedhinderparts.

           Airsrompedroundhim,nippingandeagerairs.Theyarecoming,waves.Thewhitemanedseahorses,champing,brightwindbridled,thesteedsofMananaan.

           Imustn’tforgethisletterforthepress.Andafter?TheShip,halftwelve.Bythewaygoeasywiththatmoneylikeagoodyoungimbecile.Yes,Imust.

           Hispaceslackened.Here.AmIgoingtoauntSara’sornot?Myconsubstantialfather’svoice.DidyouseeanythingofyourartistbrotherStephenlately?No?Surehe’snotdowninStrasburgterracewithhisauntSally?Couldn’theflyabithigherthanthat,eh?Andandandandtellus,Stephen,howisuncleSi?O,weepingGod,thethingsImarriedinto!Deboysupindehayloft.Thedrunkenlittlecostdrawerandhisbrother,thecornetplayer.Highlyrespectablegondoliers!AndskeweyedWaltersirringhisfather,noless!Sir.Yes,sir.No,sir.Jesuswept:andnowonder,byChrist!

           Ipullthewheezybelloftheirshutteredcottage:andwait.Theytakemeforadun,peeroutfromacoignofvantage.

           —It’sStephen,sir.

           —Lethimin.LetStephenin.

           AboltdrawnbackandWalterwelcomesme.

           —Wethoughtyouweresomeoneelse.

           InhisbroadbednuncleRichie,pillowedandblanketed,extendsoverthehillockofhiskneesasturdyforearm.Cleanchested.Hehaswashedtheuppermoiety.

           —Morrow,nephew.