第15章

Hecriedabovetheclatterofthewheels。

Iwon’thaveherbastardofanephewruinmyson。Acounter-jumper’sson。Sellingtapesinmycousin，PeterPaulM’Swiney’s。Notlikely。

Heceased。MrBloomglancedfromhisangrymoustachetoMrPower’smildfaceandMartinCunningham’seyesandbeard，gravelyshaking。Noisyselfwilledman。Fullofhisson。Heisright。Somethingtohandon。IflittleRudyhadlived。Seehimgrowup。Hearhisvoiceinthehouse。WalkingbesideMollyinanEtonsuit。Myson。Meinhiseyes。Strangefeelingitwouldbe。Fromme。Justachance。MusthavebeenthatmorninginRaymondterraceshewasatthewindow，watchingthetwodogsatitbythewalloftheceasetodoevil。Andthesergeantgrinningup。Shehadthatcreamgownonwiththeripsheneverstitched。Giveusatouch，Poldy。God，I’mdyingforit。Howlifebegins。

Gotbigthen。HadtorefusetheGreystonesconcert。Mysoninsideher。

Icouldhavehelpedhimoninlife。Icould。Makehimindependent。LearnGermantoo。

Arewelate？MrPowerasked。

Tenminutes，MartinCunninghamsaid，lookingathiswatchMolly。Milly。Samethingwatereddown。Hertomboyoaths。OjumpingJupiter！

Yegodsandlittlefishes！Still，she’sadeargirl。Soonbeawoman。Mullingar。

DearestPapli。Youngstudent。Yes，yes：awomantoo。Life。Life。

Thecarriageheeledoverandback，theirfourtrunksswaying。

Cornymighthavegivenusamorecommodiousyoke，MrPowersaid。

Hemight，MrDedalussaid，ifhehadn’tthatsquinttroublinghim。

Doyoufollowme？

Heclosedhislefteye。MartinCunninghambegantobrushawaycrustcrumbsfromunderhisthighs。

Whatisthis，hesaid，inthenameofGod？Crumbs？

Someoneseemstohavebeenmakingapicnicpartyherelately，MrPowersaid。

Allraisedtheirthighs，eyedwithdisfavourthemildewedbuttonlessleatheroftheseats。MrDedalus，twistinghisnose，frowneddownwardandsaid：

UnlessI’mgreatlymistaken。Whatdoyouthink，Martin？

Itstruckmetoo，MartinCunninghamsaid。

MrBloomsethisthighdown。GladItookthatbath。Feelmyfeetquiteclean。ButIwishMrsFleminghaddarnedthesesocksbetter。

MrDedalussighedresignedly。

Afterall，hesaid，it’sthemostnaturalthingintheworld。

DidTomKernanturnup？MartinCunninghamasked，twirlingthepeakofhisbeardgently。

Yes，MrBloomanswered。He’sbehindwithNedLambertandHynes。

AndCornyKelleherhimself？MrPowerasked。

Atthecemetery，MartinCunninghamsaid。

ImetM’Coythismorning，MrBloomsaid。Hesaidhe’dtrytocome。

Thecarriagehaltedshort。

What’swrong？

We’restopped。

Wherearewe？

MrBloomputhisheadoutofthewindow。

Thegrandcanal，hesaid。

Gasworks。Whoopingcoughtheysayitcures。GoodjobMillynevergotit。Poorchildren！Doublesthemupblackandblueinconvulsions。Shamereally。Gotofflightlywithillnesscompared。Onlymeasles。Flaxseedtea。

Scarlatina，influenzaepidemics。Canvassingfordeath。Don’tmissthischance。Dogs’homeoverthere。PooroldAthos！BegoodtoAthos，Leopold，ismylastwish。Thywillbedone。Weobeytheminthegrave。Adyingscrawl。

Hetookittoheart，pinedaway。Quietbrute。Oldmen’sdogsusuallyare。

Araindropspatonhishat。Hedrewbackandsawaninstantofshowerspraydotsoverthegreyflags。Apart。Curious。Likethroughacolander。

Ithoughtitwould。MybootswerecreakingIremembernow。

Theweatherischanging，hesaidquietly。

Apityitdidnotkeepupfine，MartinCunninghamsaid。

Wantedforthecountry，MrPowersaid。There’sthesunagaincomingout。

MrDedalus，peeringthroughhisglassestowardstheveiledsun，hurledamutecurseatthesky。

It’sasuncertainasachild’sbottom，hesaid。

We’reoffagain。

Thecarriageturnedagainitsstiffwheelsandtheirtrunksswayedgently。

MartinCunninghamtwirledmorequicklythepeakofhisbeard。

TomKernanwasimmenselastnight，hesaid。AndPaddyLeonardtakinghimofftohisface。

Odrawhimout，Martin，MrPowersaideagerly。Waittillyouhearhim，Simon，onBenDollard’ssingingofTheCroppyBoy。

Immense，MartinCunninghamsaidpompously。Hissingingofthatsimpleballad，Martin，isthemosttrenchantrenderingIeverheardinthewholecourseofmyexperience。

Trenchant，MrPowersaidlaughing。He’sdeadnutsonthat。Andtheretrospectivearrangement。

DidyoureadDanDawson’sspeech？MartinCunninghamasked。

Ididnotthen，MrDedalussaid。Whereisit？

Inthepaperthismorning。

MrBloomtookthepaperfromhisinsidepocket。ThatbookImustchangeforher。

No，no，MrDedalussaidquickly。Lateron，please。

MrBloom’sglancetravelleddowntheedgeofthepaper，scanningthedeaths。Callan，Coleman，Dignam，Fawcett，Lowry，Naumann，Peake，whatPeakeisthat？isitthechapwasinCrosbieandAlleyne’s？no，Sexton，Urbright。

Inkedcharactersfastfadingonthefrayedbreakingpaper。ThankstotheLittleFlower。Sadlymissed。Totheinexpressiblegriefofhis。Aged88

afteralongandtediousillness。Month’smind。Quinlan。OnwhosesoulSweetJesushavemercy。ItisnowamonthsincedearHenryfledTohishomeupaboveintheskyWhilehisfamilyweepsandmournshislossHopingsomedaytomeethimonhigh。Itoreuptheenvelope？Yes。WheredidIputherletterafterIreaditinthebath？Hepattedhiswaistcoatpocket。Thereallright。DearHenryfled。Beforemypatienceareexhausted。

Nationalschool。Meade’syard。Thehazard。Onlytwotherenow。Nodding。

Fullasatick。Toomuchboneintheirskulls。Theothertrottingroundwithafare。AnhouragoIwaspassingthere。Thejarviesraisedtheirhats。

Apointsman’sbackstraighteneditselfuprightsuddenlyagainstatramwaystandardbyMrBloom’swindow。Couldn’ttheyinventsomethingautomaticsothatthewheelitselfmuchhandler？Wellbutthatfellowwouldlosehisjobthen？Wellbutthenanotherfellowwouldgetajobmakingthenewinvention？

Antientconcertrooms。Nothingonthere。Amaninabuffsuitwithacrapearmlet。Notmuchgriefthere。Quartermourning。Peopleinlaw，perhaps。

TheywentpastthebleakpulpitofSaintMark’s，undertherailwaybridge，pasttheQueen’stheatre：insilence。Hoardings。EugeneStratton。MrsBandmanPalmer。CouldIgotoseeLeahtonight，Iwonder。IsaidI。OrtheLilyofKillarney？ElsterGrimesOperacompany。Bigpowerfulchange。

Wetbrightbillsfornextweek。FunontheBristol。MartinCunninghamcouldworkapassfortheGaiety。Havetostandadrinkortwo。Asbroadasit’slong。

He’scomingintheafternoon。Hersongs。

Plasto’s。SirPhilipCrampton’smemorialfountainbust。Whowashe？

Howdoyoudo？MartinCunninghamsaid，raisinghispalmtohisbrowinsalute。

Hedoesn’tseeus，MrPowersaid。Yes，hedoes。Howdoyoudo？

Who？MrDedalusasked。

BlazesBoylan，MrPowersaid。Thereheisairinghisquiff。

JustthatmomentIwasthinking。

MrDedalusbentacrosstosalute。FromthedooroftheRedBankthewhitediscofastrawhatflashedreply：passed。

MrBloomreviewedthenailsofhislefthand，thenthoseofhisrighthand。Thenails，yes。Isthereanythingmoreinhimthattheyshesees？

Fascination。WorstmaninDublin。Thatkeepshimalive。TheysometimesfeelwhatapersonIs。Instinct。Butatypelikethat。Mynails。Iamjustlookingatthem：wellpared。Andafter：thinkingalone。Bodygettingabitsofty。Iwouldnoticethatfromremembering。WhatcausesthatIsupposetheskincan’tcontractquicklyenoughwhenthefleshfallsoff。Buttheshapeisthere。Theshapeistherestill。Shoulders。Hips。Plump。Nightofthedancedressing。Shiftstuckbetweenthecheeksbehind。

Heclaspedhishandsbetweenhiskneesand，satisfied，senthisvacantglanceovertheirfaces。

MrPowerasked：

Howistheconcerttourgettingon，Bloom？

Overywell，MrBloomsaid。Iheargreataccountsofit。It’sagoodidea，yousee。

Areyougoingyourself？

Wellno，MrBloomsaid。InpointoffactIhavetogodowntothecountyClareonsomeprivatebusiness。Youseetheideaistotourthechieftowns。Whatyouloseononeyoucanmakeupontheother。

Quiteso，MartinCunninghamsaid。MaryAndersonisuptherenow。

Haveyougoodartists？

LouisWerneristouringher，MrBloomsaid。Oyes，we’llhavealltopnobbers。J。C。DoyleandJohnMacCormackIhopeand。Thebest，infact。

AndMadame，MrPowersaid，smiling。Lastbutnotleast。

MrBloomunclaspedhishandsinagestureofsoftpolitenessandclaspedthem。SmithO’Brien。Someonehaslaidabunchofflowersthere。Woman。

Mustbehisdeathday。Formanyhappyreturns。ThecarriagewheelingbyFarrell’sstatueunitednoiselesslytheirunresistingknees。

Oot：adullgarbedoldmanfromthecurbstonetenderedhiswares，hismouthopening：oot。

Fourbootlacesforapenny。

Wonderwhyhewasstruckofftherolls。HadhisofficeinHumestreet。

SamehouseasMolly’snamesake。Tweedy，crownsolicitorforWaterford。

Hasthatsilkhateversince。Relicsofolddecency。Mourningtoo。Terriblecomedown，poorwretch！kickedaboutlikesnuffatawake。O’Callaghanonhislastlegs。

AndMadame。Twentypasteleven。Up。MrsFlemingisintoclean。

Doingherhair，humming：voglioenonvorrei。No：vorreienon。

Lookingatthetipsofherhairstoseeiftheyaresplit。Mitremaunpocoil。Beautifulonthattrehervoiceis：weepingtone。

Athrust。Athrostle。Thereisawordthrostlethatexpressedthat。

HiseyespassedlightlyoverMrPower’sgoodlookingface。Greyishovertheears。Madame：smiling。Ismiledback。Asmiledoesalongway。

Onlypolitenessperhaps。Nicefellow。Whoknowsisthattrueaboutthewomanhekeeps？Notpleasantforthewife。Yettheysay，whowasittoldme，thereisnocarnal。Youwouldimaginethatwouldgetplayedoutprettyquick。Yes，itwasCroftonmethimoneeveningbringingherapoundofrumpsteak。Whatisthisshewas？BarmaidinJury’s。OrtheMoira，wasit？

TheypassedunderthehugecloakedLiberator’sform。

MartinCunninghamnudgedMrPower。

OfthetribeofReuben，hesaid。

Atallblackbeardedfigure，bentonastick，stumpingroundthecornerofElvery’selephanthouseshowedthemacurvedhandopenonhisspine。

Inallhispristinebeauty，MrPowersaid。

MrDedaluslookedafterthestumpingfigureandsaidmildly：

Thedevilbreakthehaspofyourback！

MrPower，collapsinginlaughter，shadedhisfacefromthewindowasthecarriagepassedGray’sstatue。

Wehaveallbeenthere，MartinCunninghamsaidbroadly。

HiseyesmetMrBloom’seyes。Hecaressedhisbeard，adding：

Well，nearlyallofus。

MrBloombegantospeakwithsuddeneagernesstohiscompanions’faces。

That’sanawfullygoodonethat’sgoingtheroundsaboutReubenJ。andtheson。

Abouttheboatman？MrPowerasked。

Yes。Isn’titawfullygood？

Whatisthat？MrDedalusasked。Ididn’thearit。

Therewasagirlinthecase，MrBloombegan，andhedeterminedtosendhimtotheisleofManoutofharm’swaybutwhentheywereboth……

What？MrDedalusasked。Thatconfirmedbloodyhobbledehoyisit？

Yes，MrBloomsaid。Theywerebothonthewaytotheboatandhetriedtodrown