Улісс

           ThemonsterMaffeidesistedandflunghisvictimfromhimwithanoath.Crueltybehinditall.Dopedanimals.TrapezeatHengler’s.Hadtolooktheotherway.Mobgaping.Breakyourneckandwe’llbreakoursides.Familiesofthem.Bonethemyoungsotheymetamspychosis.Thatweliveafterdeath.Oursouls.Thataman’ssoulafterhedies.Dignam’ssoul...

           —Didyoufinishit?heasked.

           —Yes,shesaid.There’snothingsmuttyinit.Issheinlovewiththefirstfellowallthetime?

           —Neverreadit.Doyouwantanother?

           —Yes.GetanotherofPauldeKock’s.Nicenamehehas.

           Shepouredmoreteaintohercup,watchingitflowsideways.

           MustgetthatCapelstreetlibrarybookrenewedorthey’llwritetoKearney,myguarantor.Reincarnation:that’stheword.

           —Somepeoplebelieve,hesaid,thatwegoonlivinginanotherbodyafterdeath,thatwelivedbefore.Theycallitreincarnation.Thatwealllivedbeforeontheearththousandsofyearsagoorsomeotherplanet.Theysaywehaveforgottenit.Somesaytheyremembertheirpastlives.

           Thesluggishcreamwoundcurdlingspiralsthroughhertea.Betterremindheroftheword:metempsychosis.Anexamplewouldbebetter.Anexample?

           TheBathoftheNymphoverthebed.GivenawaywiththeEasternumberofPhotoBits:Splendidmasterpieceinartcolours.Teabeforeyouputmilkin.Notunlikeherwithherhairdown:slimmer.ThreeandsixIgavefortheframe.Shesaiditwouldlookniceoverthebed.Nakednymphs:Greece:andforinstanceallthepeoplethatlivedthen.

           Heturnedthepagesback.