第7章

Morrow，nephew。

HelaysasidethelapboardwhereonhedraftshisbillsofcostsfortheeyesofMasterGoffandMasterShaplandTandy，filingconsentsandcommonsearchesandawritofDucesTecum。Abogoakframeoverhisbaldhead：Wilde’sRequiescat。ThedroneofhismisleadingwhistlebringsWalterback。

Yes，sir？

MaltforRichieandStephen，tellmother。Whereisshe？

BathingCrissie，sir。

Papa’slittlebedpal。Lumpoflove。

No，uncleRichie……

CallmeRichie。Damnyourlithiawater。Itlowers。Whusky！

UncleRichie，really……

SitdownorbythelawHarryI’llknockyoudown。

Waltersquintsvainlyforachair。

Hehasnothingtositdownon，sir。

Hehasnowheretoputit，youmug。BringinourChippendalechair。

Wouldyoulikeabiteofsomething？Noneofyourdamnedlawdeedawairhere；

therichofarasherfriedwithaherring？Sure？Somuchthebetter。Wehavenothinginthehousebutbackachepills。

All’erta！

HedronesbarsofFerrando’sariadesortita。Thegrandestnumber，Stephen，inthewholeopera。Listen。

Histunefulwhistlesoundsagain，finelyshaded，withrushesoftheair，hisfistsbigdrummingonhispaddedknees。

Thiswindissweeter。

Housesofdecay，mine，hisandall。YoutoldtheClongowesgentryyouhadanuncleajudgeandanuncleageneralinthearmy。Comeoutofthem，Stephen。Beautyisnotthere。NorinthestagnantbayofMarsh’slibrarywhereyoureadthefadingpropheciesofJoachimAbbas。Forwhom？Thehundredheadedrabbleofthecathedralclose。Ahaterofhiskindranfromthemtothewoodofmadness，hismanefoaminginthemoon，hiseyeballsstars。Houyhnhnm，horsenostrilled。Theovalequinefaces。Temple，BuckMulligan，FoxyCampbell。

Lanternjaws。Abbasfather，furiousdean，whatoffencelaidfiretotheirbrains？Paff！Descende，calve，utnenimiumdecalveris。Agarlandofgreyhaironhiscomminatedheadseehimmeclamberingdowntothefootpace(descende)，clutchingamonstrance，basiliskeyed。Getdown，baldpoll！Achoirgivesbackmenaceandecho，assistingaboutthealtar’shorns，thesnortedLatinofjackpriestsmovingburlyintheiralbs，tonsuredandoiledandgelded，fatwiththefatofkidneysofwheat。

Andatthesameinstantperhapsapriestroundthecorneriselevatingit。Dringdring！Andtwostreetsoffanotherlockingitintoapyx。Dringadring！

Andinaladychapelanothertakinghouselalltohisowncheek。DringdringlDown，up，forward，back。DanOccamthoughtofthat，invincibledoctor。

AmistyEnglishmorningtheimphypostasistickledhisbrain。Bringinghishostdownandkneelingheheardtwinewithhissecondbellthefirstbellinthetransept(heisliftinghis)and，rising，heard(nowIamlifting)

theirtwobells(heiskneeling)twangindiphthong。

CousinStephen，youwillneverbeasaint。Isleofsaints。Youwereawfullyholy，weren’tyou？YouprayedtotheBlessedVirginthatyoumightnothavearednose。YouprayedtothedevilinSerpentineavenuethatthefubsywidowinfrontmightliftherclothesstillmorefromthewetstreet。Osi，certo！Sellyoursoulforthat，do，dyedragspinnedroundasquaw。Moretellme，morestill！OnthetopoftheHowthtramalonecryingtotherain：nakedwomen！Whataboutthat，eh？

Whataboutwhat？Whatelseweretheyinventedfor？

Readingtwopagesapieceofsevenbookseverynight，eh？Iwasyoung。

Youbowedtoyourselfinthemirror，steppingforwardtoapplauseearnestly，strikingface。HurrayfortheGoddamnedidiot！Hray！No-onesaw：tellno-one。

Booksyouweregoingtowritewithlettersfortitles。HaveyoureadhisF？Oyes，butIpreferQ。Yes，butWiswonderful。Oyes，W。Rememberyourepiphaniesongreenovalleaves，deeplydeep，copiestobesentifyoudiedtoallthegreatlibrariesoftheworld，includingAlexandria？Someonewastoreadthemthereafterafewthousandyear，amahamanvantara。PicodellaMirandolalike。Ay，verylikeawhale。Whenonereadsthesestrangepagesofonelonggoneonefeelsthatoneisatonewithonewhoonce……

Thegrainysandhadgonefromunderhisfeet。Hisbootstrodagainadampcracklingmast，razorshells，squeakingpebbles，thatontheunnumberedpebblesbeats，woodsievedbytheshipworm，lostArmada。Unwholesomesandflatswaitedtosuckhistreadingsoles，breathingupwardsewagebreath。Hecoastedthem，walkingwarily。Aporter-bottlestoodup，stoggedtoitswaist，inthecakeysanddough。Asentinel：isleofdreadfulthirst。Brokenhoopsontheshore；atthelandamazeofdarkcunningnets；fartherawaychalkscrawledbackdoorsandonthehigherbeachadryinglinewithtwocrucifiedshirts。

Ringsend：wigwamsofbrownsteersmenandmastermariners。Humanshells。

Hehalted。IhavepassedthewaytoauntSara’s。AmInotgoingthere？

Seemsnot。No-oneabout。HeturnednortheastandcrossedthefirmersandtowardsthePigeonhouse。

Quivousamisdanscettefichueposition？

C’estlepigeon，Joseph。

Patrice，homeonfurlough，lappedwarmmilkwithmeinthebarMacMahon。

Sonofthewildgoose，KevinEganofParis。Myfather’sabird，helappedthesweetlaitchaudwithpinkyoungtongue，plumpbunny’sface。

Lap，lapin。Hehopestowininthegroslots。AboutthenatureofwomenhereadinMichelet。ButhemustsendmeLaViedeJé；susbyM。LeoTaxil。Lentittohisfriend。

C’esttordant，vowssavez。Moijesuissocialiste。Jenecroispasenl’existencedeDieu。Fautpasledireà；monpè；re。

Ilcroit？

Monpè；re，oui。

Schluss。Helaps。

MyLatinquarterhat。God，wesimplymustdressthecharacter。Iwantpucegloves。Youwereastudent，weren’tyou？Ofwhatintheotherdevil’sname？Paysayenn。P。C。N。，youknow：physiques，chimiquesetnaturelles。

Aha。Eatingyourgroatsworthofmouencivet，fleshpotsofEgypt，elbowedbybelchingcabmen。Justsayinthemostnaturaltone：whenIwasinParis，boul’Mich’，Iusedto。Yes，usedtocarrypunchedticketstoproveanalibiiftheyarrestedyouformurdersomewhere。Justice。OnthenightoftheseventeenthofFebruary1904theprisonerwasseenbytwowitnesses。Otherfellowdidit：otherme。Hat，tie，overcoat，nose。Lui，c’estmoi。Youseemtohaveenjoyedyourself。

Proudlywalking。Whomwereyoutryingtowalklike？Forget：adispossessed。

Withmother’smoneyorder，eightshillings，thebangingdoorofthepostofficeslammedinyourfacebytheusher。Hungertoothache。Encoredeuxminutes。Lookclock。Mustget。Fermé；。Hireddog！Shoothimtobloodybitswithabangshotgun，bitsmanspatteredwallsallbrassbuttons。Bitsallkhrrrrklakinplaceclackback。Nothurt？O，that’sallright。Shakehands。SeewhatImeant，see？O，that’sallright。Shakeashake。O，that’sallonlyallright。

Youweregoingtodowonders，what？MissionarytoEuropeafterfieryColumbanus。FiacreandScotusontheircreepystoolsinheavenspiltfromtheirpintpots，loudlatinlaughing：Euge！Euge！PretendingtospeakbrokenEnglishasyoudraggedyourvalise，porterthreepence，acrosstheslimypieratNewhaven。Comment？Richbootyyoubroughtback；LeTutu，fivetatterednumbersofPantalonBlancetCulotteRouge，ablueFrenchtelegram，curiositytoshow：

Motherdyingcomehomefather。

Theauntthinksyoukilledyourmother。That’swhyshewon’t。Thenhere’sahealthtoMulligan’sauntAndI’lltellyouthereasonwhy。

ShealwayskeptthingsdecentinTheHanniganfamileye。Hisfeetmarchedinsuddenproudrhythmoverthesandfurrows，alongbythebouldersofthesouthwall。Hestaredatthemproudly，piledstonemammothskulls。Goldlightonsea，onsand，onboulders。Thesunisthere，theslendertrees，thelemonhouses。

Parisrawlywaking，crudesunlightonherlemonstreets。Moistpithoffarlsofbread，thefroggreenwormwood，hermatinincense，courttheair。Belluomorisesfromthebedofhiswife’slover’swife，thekerchiefedhousewifeisastir，asaucerofaceticacidinherhands。InRodot’sYvonneandMadeleinenewmaketheirtumbledbeauties，shatteringwithgoldteethchaussonsofpastry，theirmouthsyellowedwiththepusofflanbreton。FacesofParismengoby，theirwellpleasedpleasers，curledconquistadores。

Noonslumbers。KevinEganrollsgunpowdercigarettesthroughfingerssmearedwithprinter’sink，sippinghisgreenfairyasPatricehiswhite。

Aboutusgobblersforkspicedbeansdowntheirgullets。Undemisetier！Ajetofcoffeesteamfromtheburnishedcaldron。Sheservesmeathisbeck。Ilestirlandais。Hollandais？Nonfromage。Deuxirlandais，nous，Irlande，voussavez？Ahoui！Shethoughtyouwantedacheesehollandais。

Yourpostprandial，doyouknowthatword？Postprandial。TherewasafellowIknewonceinBarcelona，queerfellow，usedtocallithispostprandial。

Well：slainte！Aroundtheslabbedtablesthetangleofwinedbreathsandgrumblinggorges。Hisbreathhangsoveroursaucestainedplates，thegreenfairy’sfangthrustingbetweenhislips。OfIreland，theDalcassians，ofhopes，conspiracies，ofArthurGriffithnow。Toyokemeashisyokefellow，ourcrimesourcommoncause。You’reyourfather’sson。Iknowthevoice。

Hisfustianshirt，sanguineflowered，tremblesitsSpanishtasselsathissecrets。M。Drumont，famousjournalist，Drumont，knowwhathecalledqueenVictoria？Oldhagwiththeyellowteeth。Vieilleogressewiththedentsjaunes。MaudGonne，beautifulwoman，LaPatrie，M。

Millevoye，Fé；lixFaure，knowhowhedied？Licentiousmen。Thefroeken，bonneà；toutfaire，whorubsmalenakednessinthebathatUpsala。Moifaire，shesaid。Touslesmessieurs。NotthisMonsieur，Isaid。Mostlicentiouscustom。Bathamostprivatething。

Iwouldn’tletmybrother，notevenmyownbrother，mostlasciviousthing。

Greeneyes，Iseeyou。Fang，Ifeel。Lasciviouspeople。

Thebluefuseburnsdeadlybetweenhandsandburnsclear。Loosetobaccoshredscatchfire：aflameandacridsmokelightourcorner。Rawfacebonesunderhispeepofdayboy’shat。Howtheheadcentregotaway，authenticversion。Gotupasayoungbride，man，veilorangeblossoms，droveouttheroadtoMalahide。Did，faith。Oflostleaders，thebetrayed，wildescapes。

Disguises，clutchedat，gone，nothere。

Spurnedlover。Iwasastrappingyounggossoonatthattime，Itellyou，I’llshowyoumylikenessoneday。Iwas，faith。Lover，forherloveheprowledwithcolonelRichardBurke，tanistofhissept，underthewallsofClerkenwelland，crouching，sawaflameofvengeancehurlthemupwardinthefog。Shatteredglassandtopplingmasonry。IngayPareehehides，EganofParis，unsoughtbyanysavebyme。Makinghisday’sstations，thedingyprintingcase，histhreetaverns，theMontmartrelairhesleepsshortnightin，ruedelaGoutte-d’Or，damascenedwithflyblownfacesofthegone。Loveless，landless，wifeless。Sheisquiteniceycomfywithoutheroutcastman，madame，inrueGî；t-le-Coeur，canaryandtwobucklodgers。

Peachycheeks，azebraskirt，friskyasayoungthing’s。Spurnedandundespairing。

TellPatyousawme，won’tyou？IwantedtogetpoorPatajobonetime。Monfils，soldierofFrance。Itaughthimtosing。TheboysofKilkennyarestoutroaringblades。Knowthatoldlay？ItaughtPatricethat。OldKilkenny：saintCanice，Strongbow’scastleontheNore。Goeslikethis。O，O。Hetakesme，NapperTandy，bythehand。O，OtheboysofKilkenny……Weakwastinghandonmine。TheyhaveforgottenKevinEgan，nothethem。

Rememberingthee，OSion。

Hehadcomenearertheedgeoftheseaandwetsandslappedhisboots。

Thenewairgreetedhim，harpinginwildnerves，windofwildairofseedsofbrightness。Here，IamnotwalkingouttotheKishlightship，amI？

Hestoodsuddenly，hisfeetbeginningtosinkslowlyinthequakingsoil。

Turnback。

Turning，hescannedtheshoresouth，hisfeetsinkingagainslowlyinnewsockets。Thecolddomedroomofthetowerwaits。Throughthebarbicanstheshaftsoflightaremovingever，slowlyeverasmyfeetaresinking，creepingduskwardoverthedialfloor。Bluedusk，nightfall，deepbluenight。Inthedarknessofthedometheywait，theirpushedbackchairs，myobeliskvalise，aroundaboardofabandonedplatters。Whotoclearit？

Hehasthekey。Iwillnotsleeptherewhenthisnightcomes。Ashutdoorofasilenttowerentombingtheirblindbodies，thepanthersahibandhispointer。Call：noanswer。Heliftedhisfeetupfromthesuckandturnedbackbythemoleofboulders。Takeall，keepall。Mysoulwalkswithme，formofforms。Sointhemoon’smidwatchesIpacethepathabovetherocks，insablesilvered，hearingElsinore’stemptingflood。