Улісс

           Justlollthere:quietdusk:leteverythingrip.Forget.Tellaboutplacesyouhavebeen,strangecustoms.Theotherone,jaronherhead,wasgettingthesupper:fruit,olives,lovelycoolwateroutofawell,stonecoldliketheholeinthewallatAshtown.MustcarryapapergobletnexttimeIgotothetrottingmatches.Shelistenswithbigdarksofteyes.Tellher:moreandmore:all.Thenasigh:silence.Longlonglongrest.

           Goingundertherailwayarchhetookouttheenvelope,toreitswiftlyinshredsandscatteredthemtowardstheroad.Theshredsflutteredaway,sankinthedankair:awhiteflutter,thenallsank.

           HenryFlower.Youcouldtearupachequeforahundredpoundsinthesameway.Simplebitofpaper.LordIveaghoncecashedasevenfigurechequeforamillioninthebankofIreland.Showsyouthemoneytobemadeoutofporter.StilltheotherbrotherlordArdilaunhastochangehisshirtfourtimesaday,theysay.Skinbreedsliceorvermin.Amillionpounds,waitamoment.Twopenceapint,fourpenceaquart,eightpenceagallonofporter,no,oneandfourpenceagallonofporter.Oneandfourintotwenty:fifteenabout.Yes,exactly.Fifteenmillionsofbarrelsofporter.

           WhatamIsayingbarrels?Gallons.Aboutamillionbarrelsallthesame.

           Anincomingtrainclankedheavilyabovehishead,coachaftercoach.Barrelsbumpedinhishead:dullportersloppedandchurnedinside.Thebungholessprangopenandahugedullfloodleakedout,flowingtogether,windingthroughmudflatsalloverthelevelland,alazypoolingswirlofliquorbearingalongwideleavedflowersofitsfroth.