第9章

Aseachangethis，browneyessaltblue。Seadeath，mildestofalldeathsknowntoman。OldFatherOcean。PrixdeParis：bewareofimitations。

Justyougiveitafairtrial。Weenjoyedourselvesimmensely。

Come。Ithirst。Cloudingover。Noblackcloudsanywhere，arethere？

Thunderstorm。Allbrighthefalls，proudlightningoftheintellect，Lucifer，dico，quinescitoccasum。No。Mycocklehatandstaffandhismysandalshoon。Where？Toeveninglands。Eveningwillfinditself。

Hetookthehiltofhisashplant，lungingwithitsoftly，dallyingstill。

Yes，eveningwillfinditselfinme，withoutme。Alldaysmaketheirend。

Bythewaynextwhenisit？Tuesdaywillbethelongestday。Ofallthegladnewyear，mother，therumtumtiddledytum。LawnTennyson，gentlemanpoet。Già；。Fortheoldhagwiththeyellowteeth。AndMonsieurDrumont，gentlemanjournalist。Già；。Myteethareverybad。

Why，Iwonder？Feel。Thatoneisgoingtoo。Shells。OughtIgotoadentist，Iwonder，withthatmoney？Thatone。ToothlessKinch，thesuperman。Whyisthat，Iwonder，ordoesitmeansomethingperhaps？

Myhandkerchief。Hethrewit。Iremember。DidInottakeitup？

Hishandgropedvainlyinhispockets。No，Ididn’t。Betterbuyone。

Helaidthedrysnotpickedfromhisnostrilonaledgeofrock，carefully。

Fortherestletlookwhowill。

Behind。Perhapsthereissomeone。

Heturnedhisfaceoverashoulder，rereregardant。Movingthroughtheairhighsparsofathreemaster，hersailsbraileduponthecrosstrees，homing，upstream，silentlymoving，asilentship。

JOYCE：Ulysses，CalypsoCalypsoMRLEOPOLDBLOOMATEWITHRELISHTHEINNERORGANSOFBEASTSandfowls。

Helikedthickgibletsoup，nuttygizzards，astuffedroastheart，liverslicesfriedwithcrustcrumbs，friedhencod’sroes。Mostofallhelikedgrilledmuttonkidneyswhichgavetohispalateafinetangoffaintlyscentedurine。

Kidneyswereinhismindashemovedaboutthekitchensoftly，rightingherbreakfastthingsonthehumpytray。Gelidlightandairwereinthekitchenbutoutofdoorsgentlesummermorningeverywhere。Madehimfeelabitpeckish。

Thecoalswerereddening。

Anothersliceofbreadandbutter：three，four：right。Shedidn’tlikeherplatefull。Right。Heturnedfromthetray，liftedthekettleoffthehobandsetitsidewaysonthefire。Itsatthere，dullandsquat，itsspoutstuckout。Cupofteasoon。Good。Mouthdry。Thecatwalkedstifflyroundalegofthetablewithtailonhigh。

Mkgnao！

O，thereyouare，MrBloomsaid，turningfromthefire。

Thecatmewedinanswerandstalkedagainstifflyroundalegofthetable，mewing。Justhowshestalksovermywriting-table。Prr。Scratchmyhead。Prr。

MrBloomwatchedcuriously，kindly，thelitheblackform。Cleantosee：

theglossofhersleekhide，thewhitebuttonunderthebuttofhertail，thegreenflashingeyes。Hebentdowntoher，hishandsonhisknees。

Milkforthepussens，hesaid。

Mrkgnao！thecatcried。

Theycallthemstupid。Theyunderstandwhatwesaybetterthanweunderstandthem。Sheunderstandsallshewantsto。Vindictivetoo。WonderwhatIlookliketoher。Heightofatower？No，shecanjumpme。

Afraidofthechickenssheis，hesaidmockingly。Afraidofthechookchooks。

Ineversawsuchastupidpussensasthepussens。

Cruel。Hernature。Curiousmiceneversqueal。Seemtolikeit。

Mrkrgnao！thecatsaidloudly。

Sheblinkedupoutofheravidshameclosingeyes，mewingplaintivelyandlong，showinghimhermilkwhiteteeth。Hewatchedthedarkeyeslitsnarrowingwithgreedtillhereyesweregreenstones。Thenhewenttothedresser，tookthejugHanlon’smilkmanhadjustfilledforhim，pouredwarmbubbledmilkonasaucerandsetitslowlyonthefloor。

Gurrhr！shecried，runningtolap。

Hewatchedthebristlesshiningwirilyintheweaklightasshetippedthreetimesandlickedlightly。Wonderisittrueifyouclipthemtheycan’tmouseafter。Why？Theyshineinthedark，perhaps，thetips。Orkindoffeelersinthedark，perhaps。

Helistenedtoherlickinglap。Hamandeggs，no。Nogoodeggswiththisdrouth。Wantpurefreshwater。Thursday：notagooddayeitherforamuttonkidneyatBuckley’s。Friedwithbutter，ashakeofpepper。BetteraporkkidneyatDlugacz’s。Whilethekettleisboiling。Shelappedslower，thenlickingthesaucerclean。Whyaretheirtonguessorough？Tolapbetter，allporousholes。Nothingshecaneat？Heglancedroundhim。No。

Onquietlycreakybootshewentupthestaircasetothehall，pausedbythebedroomdoor。Shemightlikesomethingtasty。Thinbreadandbuttershelikesinthemorning。Stillperhaps：onceinaway。

Hesaidsoftlyinthebarehall：

Iamgoingroundthecorner。Bebackinaminute。

Andwhenhehadheardhisvoicesayitheadded：

Youdon’twantanythingforbreakfast？

Asleepysoftgruntanswered：

Mn。

No。Shedidnotwantanything。Heheardthenawarmheavysigh，softer，assheturnedoverandtheloosebrassquoitsofthebedsteadjingled。

Mustgetthosesettledreally。Pity。AllthewayfromGibraltar。ForgottenanylittleSpanishsheknew。Wonderwhatherfathergaveforit。Oldstyle。

Ahyes，ofcourse。Boughtitatthegovernor’sauction。Gotashortknock。

Hardasnailsatabargain，oldTweedy。Yes，sir。AtPlevnathatwas。I

rosefromtheranks，sir，andI’mproudofit。Stillhehadbrainsenoughtomakethatcornerinstamps。Nowthatwasfarseeing。

Hishandtookhishatfromthepegoverhisinitialledheavyovercoat，andhislostpropertyofficesecondhandwaterproof。Stamps：stickybackpictures。Daresaylotsofofficersareintheswimtoo。Coursetheydo。

Thesweatedlegendinthecrownofhishattoldhimmutely：Plasto’shighgradeha。Hepeepedquicklyinsidetheleatherheadband。Whiteslipofpaper。Quitesafe。

Onthedoorstephefeltinhishippocketforthelatchkey。Notthere。

InthetrousersIleftoff。Mustgetit。PotatoIhave。Creakywardrobe。

Nousedisturbingher。Sheturnedoversleepilythattime。Hepulledthehalldoortoafterhimveryquietly，more，tillthefootleafdroppedgentlyoverthethreshold，alimplid。Lookedshut。AllrighttillIcomebackanyhow。

Hecrossedtothebrightside，avoidingtheloosecellarflapofnumberseventyfive。ThesunwasnearingthesteepleofGeorge’schurch。BeawarmdayIfancy。Speciallyintheseblackclothesfeelitmore。Blackconducts，reflects(refractsisit？)，theheat。ButIcouldn’tgointhatlightsuit。

Makeapicnicofit。Hiseyelidssankquietlyoftenashewalkedinhappywarmth。Boland’sbreadvandeliveringwithtraysourdailybutsheprefersyesterday’sloavesturnoverscrispcrownshot。Makesyoufeelyoung。Somewhereintheeast：earlymorning：setoffatdawn，travelroundinfrontofthesun，stealaday’smarchonhim。Keepitupforevernevergrowadayoldertechnically。Walkalongastrand，strangeland，cometoacitygate，sentrythere，oldrankertoo，oldTweedy’sbigmoustachesleaningonalongkindofaspear。Wanderthroughawnedstreets。Turbanedfacesgoingby。Darkcavesofcarpetshops，bigman，Turkotheterrible，seatedcrossleggedsmokingacoiledpipe。Criesofsellersinthestreets。Drinkwaterscentedwithfennel，sherbet。Wanderalongallday。Mightmeetarobberortwo。

Well，meethim。Gettingontosundown。Theshadowsofthemosquesalongthepillars：priestwithascrollrolledup。Ashiverofthetrees，signal，theeveningwind。Ipasson。Fadinggoldsky。Amotherwatchesfromherdoorway。Shecallsherchildrenhomeintheirdarklanguage。Highwall：

beyondstringstwanged。Nightskymoon，violet，colourofMolly’snewgarters。

Strings。Listen。Agirlplayingoneoftheseinstrumentswhatdoyoucallthem：dulcimers。Ipass。

Probablynotabitlikeitreally。Kindofstuffyouread：inthetrackofthesun。Sunburstonthetitlepage。Hesmiled，pleasinghimself。WhatArthurGriffithsaidabouttheheadpieceovertheFreemanleader：

ahomerulesunrisingupinthenorthwestfromthelanewaybehindthebankofIreland。Heprolongedhispleasedsmile。Ikeytouchthat：homerulesunrisingupinthenorthwest。

HeapproachedLarryO’Rourke’s。Fromthecellargratingfloateduptheflabbygushofporter。Throughtheopendoorwaythebarsquirtedoutwhiffsofginger，teadust，biscuitmush。Goodhouse，however：justtheendofthecitytraffic。ForinstanceM’Auley’sdownthere：n。g。asposition。OfcourseiftheyranatramlinealongtheNorthCircularfromthecattlemarkettothequaysvaluewouldgouplikeashot。

Baldheadovertheblind。Cuteoldcodger。Nousecanvassinghimforanad。Stillheknowshisownbusinessbest。ThereheIs，sureenough，myboldLarry，leaningagainstthesugarbininhisshirtsleeveswatchingtheapronedcurateswabupwithmopandbucket。SimonDedalustakeshimofftoateewithhiseyesscrewedup。DoyouknowwhatI’mgoingtotellyou？What’sthat，MrO’Rourke？Doyouknowwhat？TheRussians，they’donlybeaneighto’clockbreakfastfortheJapanese。

Stopandsayaword：aboutthefuneralperhaps。SadthingaboutpoorDignam，MrO’Rourke。

TurningintoDorsetstreethesaidfreshlyingreetingthroughthedoorway：

Goodday，MrO’Rourke。

Gooddaytoyou。

Lovelyweather，sir。

’Tisallthat。

Wheredotheygetthemoney？ComingupredheadedcuratesfromthecountyLeitrim，rinsingemptiesandoldmaninthecellar。Then，loandbehold，theyblossomoutasAdamFindlatersorDanTallons。Thenthinkofthecompetition。

Generalthirst。GoodpuzzlewouldbecrossDublinwithoutpassingapub。

Saveittheycan’t。Offthedrunksperhaps。Putdownthreeandcarryfive。

Whatisthat？Abobhereandthere，dribsanddrabs。Onthewholesaleordersperhaps。Doingadoubleshufflewiththetowntravellers。Squareitwiththebossandwe’llsplitthejob，see？

Howmuchwouldthattottoofftheporterinthemonth？Saytenbarrelsofstuff。Sayhegottenpercentoff。Omore。Ten。Fifteen。HepassedSaintJoseph’s，Nationalschool。Brats’clamour。Windowsopen。Freshairhelpsmemory。Oralilt。Ahbeeseedefeegeekelomenopeecuerustyouveedoubleyou。Boysarethey？Yes。Inishturk。Inishark。Inishboffin。Attheirjoggerfry。

Mine。SlieveBloom。

HehaltedbeforeDlugacz’swindow，staringatthehanksofsausages，polonies，blackandwhite。Fiftymultipliedby。Thefigureswhitenedinhismindunsolved：displeased，heletthemfade。Theshinylinkspackedwithforcemeatfedhisgazeandhebreathedintranquillythelukewarmbreathofcookedspicypig’sblood。

Akidneyoozedbloodgoutsonthewillowpatterneddish：thelast。Hestoodbythenextdoorgirlatthecounter。Wouldshebuyittoo，callingtheitemsfromaslipinherhand。Chapped：washingsoda。AndapoundandahalfofDenny’ssausages。Hiseyesrestedonhervigorouships。Woodshisnameis。Wonderwhathedoes。Wifeisoldfish。Newblood。Nofollowersallowed。Strongpairofarms。Whackingacarpetontheclothesline。Shedoeswhackit，byGeorge。Thewayhercrookedskirtswingsateachwhack。

Theferreteyedporkbutcherfoldedthesausageshehadsnippedoffwithblotchyfingers，sausagepink。Soundmeattherelikeastallfedheifer。

Hetookupapagefromthepileofcutsheets。ThemodelfarmatKinnerethonthelakeshoreofTiberias。Canbecomeidealwintersanatorium。MosesMontefiore。Ithoughthewas。Farmhouse，wallroundit，blurredcattlecropping。Heheldthepagefromhim：interesting：readitnearer，theblurredcroppingcattle，thepagerustling。Ayoungwhiteheifer。Thosemorningsinthecattlemarketthebeastslowingintheirpens，brandedsheep，flopandfallofdung，thebreedersinhobnailedbootstrudgingthroughthelitter，slappingapalmonaripemeatedhindquarter，there’saprimeone，unpeeledswitchesintheirhands。Heheldthepageaslantpatiently，bendinghissensesandhiswill，hissoftsubjectgazeatrest。Thecrookedskirtswingingwhackbywhackbywhack。

Theporkbutchersnappedtwosheetsfromthepile，wrappedupherprimesausagesandmadearedgrimace。

Now，mymiss，hesaid。

Shetenderedacoin，smilingboldly，holdingherthickwristout。

Thankyou，mymiss。Andoneshillingthreepencechange。Foryou，please？

MrBloompointedquickly。Tocatchupandwalkbehindherifshewentslowly，behindhermovinghams。Pleasanttoseefirstthinginthemorning。

Hurryup，damnit。Makehaywhilethesunshines。Shestoodoutsidetheshopinsunlightandsaunteredlazilytotheright。Hesigheddownhisnose：theyneverunderstand。Sodachappedhands。Crustedtoenailstoo。Brownscapularsintatters，defendingherbothways。Thestingofdisregardglowedtoweakpleasurewithinhisbreast。ForanotheraconstableoffdutycuddledherinEcclesLane。Theylikethemsizeable。Primesausage。Oplease，MrPoliceman，I’mlostinthewood。