第12章

Petalstootiredto。Sleepingsicknessintheair。Walkonroseleaves。

Imaginetryingtoeattripeandcowheel。WherewasthechapIsawinthatpicturesomewhere？Ah，inthedeadsea，floatingonhisback，readingabookwithaparasolopen。Couldn’tsinkifyoutried：sothickwithsalt。

Becausetheweightofthewater，no，theweightofthebodyinthewaterisequaltotheweightofthe。Orisitthevolumeisequaloftheweight？

It’salawsomethinglikethat。VanceinHighschoolcrackinghisfingerjoints，teaching。Thecollegecurriculum。Crackingcurriculum。Whatisweightreallywhenyousaytheweight？Thirtytwofeetpersecond，persecond。Lawoffallingbodies：persecond，persecond。Theyallfalltotheground。Theearth。It’stheforceofgravityoftheearthistheweight。

Heturnedawayandsaunteredacrosstheroad。Howdidshewalkwithhersausages？Likethatsomething。AshewalkedhetookthefoldedFreemanfromhissidepocket，unfoldedit，rolleditlengthwiseinabatonandtappeditateachsaunteringstepagainsthistrouserleg。Carelessair：justdropintosee。Persecond，persecond。Persecondforeveryseconditmeans。

Fromthecurbstonehedartedakeenglancethroughthedoorofthepostoffice。

Toolatebox。Posthere。No-one。In。

Hehandedthecardthroughthebrassgrill。

Arethereanylettersforme？heasked。

Whilethepostmistresssearchedapigeonholehegazedattherecruitingposterwithsoldiersofallarmsonparade：andheldthetipofhisbatonagainsthisnostrils，smellingfreshprintedragpaper。Noanswerprobably。

Wenttoofarlasttime。

Thepostmistresshandedhimbackthroughthegrillhiscardwithaletter。

Hethankedandglancedrapidlyatthetypedenvelope。HenryFlower，Esq。

c/oP。O。WestlandRow，City。Answeredanyhow。Heslippedcardandletterintohissidepocket，reviewingagainthesoldiersonparade。Where’soldTweedy’sregiment？Castoffsoldier。

There：bearskincapandhackleplume。No，he’sagrenadier。Pointedcuffs。

Thereheis：royalDublinfusiliers。Redcoats。Tooshowy。Thatmustbewhythewomengoafterthem。Uniform。Easiertoenlistanddrill。MaudGonne’sletterabouttakingthemoffO’Connellstreetatnight：disgracetoourIrishcapital。Griffith’spaperisonthesametacknow：anarmyrottenwithvenerealdisease：overseasorhalfseasoverempire。Halfbakedtheylook：hypnotisedlike。Eyesfront。Marktime。Table：able。Bed：ed。

TheKing’sown。Neverseehimdressedupasafiremanorabobby。Amason，yes。

Hestrolledoutofthepostofficeandturnedtotheright。Talk：asifthatwouldmendmatters。Hishandwentintohispocketandaforefingerfeltitswayundertheflapoftheenvelope，rippingitopeninjerks。

Womenwillpayalotofheed，Idon’tthink。Hisfingersdrewforththeletterandcrumpledtheenvelopeinhispocket。Somethingpinnedon：photoperhaps。Hair？No。

M’Coy。Getridofhimquickly。Takemeoutofmyway。Hatecompanywhenyou。

Hello，Bloom。Whereareyouoffto？

Hello，M’Coy。Nowhereinparticular。

How’sthebody？

Fine。Howareyou？

Justkeepingalive，M’Coysaid。

Hiseyesontheblacktieandclothesheaskedwithlowrespect：

Isthereany……notroubleIhope？Iseeyou’re……

Ono，MrBloomsaid。PoorDignam，youknow。Thefuneralistoday。

Tobesure，poorfellow。Soitis。Whattime？

Aphotoitisn’t。Abadgemaybe。

E……eleven，MrBloomanswered。

Imusttrytogetoutthere，M’Coysaid。Eleven，isit？Ionlyhearditlastnight。Whowastellingme？Holohan。YouknowHoppy？

Iknow。

MrBloomgazedacrosstheroadattheoutsiderdrawnupbeforethedooroftheGrosvenor。Theporterhoistedthevaliseuponthewell。Shestoodstill，waiting，whiletheman，husband，brother，likeher，searchedhispocketsforchange。Stylishkindofcoatwiththatrollcollar，warmforadaylikethis，lookslikeblanketcloth。Carelessstandofherwithherhandsinthosepatchpockets。Likethathaughtycreatureatthepolomatch。

Womenallforcastetillyoutouchthespot。Handsomeisandhandsomedoes。

Reservedabouttoyield。ThehonourableMrsandBrutusisanhonourableman。Possessheroncetakethestarchoutofher。

IwaswithBobDoran，he’sononeofhisperiodicalbends，andwhatdoyoucallhimBantamLyons。JustdownthereinConway’swewere。

Doran，LyonsinConway’s。Sheraisedaglovedhandtoherhair。IncameHoppy。Havingawet。Drawingbackhisheadandgazingfarfrombeneathhisveiledeyelidshesawthebrightfawnskinshineintheglare，thebraideddrums。ClearlyIcanseetoday。Moistureaboutgiveslongsightperhaps。Talkingofonethingoranother。Lady’shand。Whichsidewillshegetup？

Andhesaid：SadthingaboutourpoorfriendPaddy！WhatPaddy？Isaid。PoorlittlePaddyDignam，hesaid。

Offtothecountry：Broadstoneprobably。Highbrownbootswithlacesdangling。Wellturnedfoot。Whatishefosteringoverthatchangefor？

Seesmelooking。Eyeoutforotherfellowalways。Goodfallback。Twostringstoherbow。

Why？Isaid。What’swrongwithhim？Isaid。

Proud：rich：silkstockings。

Yes，MrBloomsaid。

HemovedalittletothesideofM’Coy’stalkinghead。Gettingupinaminute。

What’swrongwithhim？hesaid。He’sdead，hesaid。And，faith，hefilledup。IsitPaddyDignam？Isaid。Icouldn’tbelieveitwhenIheardit。IwaswithhimnolaterthanFridaylastorThursdaywasitintheArch。Yes，hesaid。He’sgone。HediedonMonday，poorfellow。

Watch！Watch！Silkflashrichstockingswhite。Watch！

Aheavytramcarhonkingitsgongslewedbetween。

Lostit。Curseyournoisypugnose。Feelslockedoutofit。Paradiseandtheperi。Alwayshappeninglikethat。Theverymoment。GirlinEustacestreethallway。Mondaywasitsettlinghergarter。Herfriendcoveringthedisplayof。Espritdecorps。Well，whatareyougapingat？

Yes，yes，MrBloomsaidafteradullsigh。Anothergone。

Oneofthebest，M’Coysaid。

Thetrampassed。TheydroveofftowardstheLoopLinebridge，herrichglovedhandonthesteelgrip。Flicker，flicker：thelaceflareofherhatinthesun：flicker，flick。

Wifewell，Isuppose？M’Coy’schangedvoicesaid。

Oyes，MrBloomsaid。Tiptop，thanks。

Heunrolledthenewspaperbatonidlyandreadidly：WhatishomewithoutPlumtree’sPottedMeat？

Incomplete。

Withitanabodeofbliss。Mymissushasjustgotanengagement。Atleastit’snotsettledyet。

Valisetackagain。Bythewaynoharm。I’moffthat，thanks。

MrBloomturnedhislargeliddedeyeswithunhastyfriendliness。

Mywifetoo，hesaid。She’sgoingtosingataswaggeraffairintheUlsterhall，Belfast，onthetwentyfifth。

Thatso？M’Coysaid。Gladtohearthat，oldman。Who’sgettingitup？

MrsMarionBloom。Notupyet。Queenwasinherbedroomeatingbreadand。Nobook。Blackenedcourtcardslaidalongherthighbysevens。Darkladyandfairman。Catfurryblackball。Tornstripofenvelope。Love’sOldSweetSongComeslo-ve’sold……It’sakindofatour，don’tyousee？MrBloomsaidthoughtfully。Sweetsong。There’sacommitteeformed。Partsharesandpartprofits。

M’Coynodded，pickingathismoustachestubble。

Owell，hesaid。That’sgoodnews。

Hemovedtogo。

Well，gladtoseeyoulookingfit，hesaid。Meetyouknockingaround。

Yes，MrBloomsaid。

Tellyouwhat，M’Coysaid。Youmightputdownmynameatthefuneral，willyou？I’dliketogobutImightn’tbeable，yousee。There’sadrowningcaseatSandycovemayturnupandthenthecoronerandmyselfwouldhavetogodownifthebodyisfound。YoujustshoveinmynameifI’mnotthere，willyou？

I’lldothat，MrBloomsaid，movingtogetoff。That’llbeallright。

Right，M’Coysaidbrightly。Thanks，oldman。I’dgoifIpossiblycould。Well，tolloll。JustC。P。M’Coywilldo。

Thatwillbedone，MrBloomansweredfirmly。

Didn’tcatchmenappingthatwheeze。Thequicktouch。Softmark。I’dlikemyjob。ValiseIhaveaparticularfancyfor。Leather。Cappedcorners，rivetededges，doubleactionleverlock。BobCowleylenthimhisfortheWicklowregattaconcertlastyearandneverheardtidingsofitfromthatgooddaytothis。

MrBloom，strollingtowardsBrunswickstreet，smiled。Mymissushasjustgotan。Reedyfreckledsoprano。Cheeseparingnose。Niceenoughinitsway：foralittleballad。Nogutsinit。Youandme，don’tyouknow？

Inthesameboat。Softsoaping。Giveyoutheneedlethatwould。Can’thehearthedifference？Thinkhe’sthatwayinclinedabit。Againstmygrainsomehow。ThoughtthatBelfastwouldfetchhim。Ihopethatsmallpoxuptheredoesn’tgetworse。Supposeshewouldn’tletherselfbevaccinatedagain。Yourwifeandmywife。

Wonderishepimpingafterme？

MrBloomstoodatthecorner，hiseyeswanderingoverthemulticolouredhoardings。CantrellandCochrane’sGingerAle(Aromatic)。Clery’ssummersale。No，he’sgoingonstraight。Hello。Leahtonight：MrsBandmanPalmer。

Liketoseeherinthatagain。Hamletsheplayedlastnight。Maleimpersonator。Perhapshewasawoman。WhyOpheliacommittedsuicide？Poorpapa！HowheusedtotalkaboutKateBatemaninthat！OutsidetheAdelphiinLondonwaitedalltheafternoontogetin。YearbeforeIwasbornthatwas：sixtyfive。AndRistoriinVienna。Whatisthistherightnameis？

ByMosenthalitis。Rachel，isit？No。ThescenehewasalwaystalkingaboutwheretheoldblindAbrahamrecognisesthevoiceandputshisfingersonhisface。

Nathan’svoice！Hisson’svoice！IhearthevoiceofNathanwholefthisfathertodieofgriefandmiseryinmyarms，wholeftthehouseofhisfatherandlefttheGodofhisfather。

Everywordissodeep，Leopold。

Poorpapa！Poorman！I’mgladIdidn’tgointotheroomtolookathisface。Thatday！Odear！Odear！Ffoo！Well，perhapsitwasthebestforhim。

MrBloomwentroundthecornerandpassedthedroopingnagsofthehazard。

Nousethinkingofitanymore。Nosebagtime。WishIhadn’tmetthatM’Coyfellow。

Hecamenearerandheardacrunchingofgildedoats，thegentlychampingteeth。Theirfullbuckeyesregardedhimashewentby，amidthesweetoatenreekofhorsepiss。TheirEldorado。Poorjugginses！Damnalltheyknoworcareaboutanythingwiththeirlongnosesstuckinnosebags。Toofullforwords。Stilltheygettheirfeedallrightandtheirdoss。Geldedtoo：astumpofblackguttaperchawagginglimpbetweentheirhaunches。

Mightbehappyallthesamethatway。Goodpoorbrutestheylook。Stilltheirneighcanbeveryirritating。

Hedrewtheletterfromhispocketandfoldeditintothenewspaperhecarried。Mightjustwalkintoherhere。Thelaneissafer。

Hepassedthecabman’sshelter。Curiousthelifeofdriftingcabbies，allweathers，allplaces，timeorsetdown，nowilloftheirown。Voglioenon。Liketogivethemanoddcigarette。Sociable。Shoutafewflyingsyllablesastheypass。Hehummed：LacidaremlamanoLalalalalala。HeturnedintoCumberlandstreetand，goingonsomepaces，haltedintheleeofthestationwall。No-one。Meade’stimberyard。Piledbalks。Ruinsandtenements。Withcarefultreadhepassedoverahopscotchcourtwithitsforgottenpickeystone。Notasinner。Nearthetimberyardasquattedchildatmarbles，alone，shootingthetawwithacunnythumb。Awisetabby，ablinkingsphinx，watchedfromherwarmsill。Pitytodisturbthem。Mohammedcutapieceoutofhismantelnottowakeher。Openit。AndonceIplayedmarbleswhenIwenttothatolddame’sschool。Shelikedmignonette。MrsEllis’s。AndMr？Heopenedtheletterwithinthenewspaper。