第89章

(HewheelsKittyintoLynch’sarm’s，snatchesuphisashplantfromthetableandtakesthefloor。Allwheel，whirl，waltz，twirl。Bloombella，Kittylynch，Florryzoe，jujubywomen。Stephenwithhatashplantfrogsplitsinmiddlehighkickswithskykickingmouthshuthandclasppartunderthigh，withclangtinkleboomhammertallyhohornblowerbluegreenyellowflashes。

Toft’scumbersometurnswithhobbyhorseridersfromgildedsnakesdangled，bowelsfandangoleapingspurnsoilfootandfallagain。)

THEPIANOLAThoughshe’safactorylassAndwearsnofancyclothes。(Closeclutchedswiftswifterwithglareblareflarescuddingtheyscotlootshootlumberingby。Baraabum！)

TUTTIEncore！Bis！Bravo！Encore！

SIMONThinkofyourmother’speople！

STEPHENDanceofdeath。

(Bangfreshbarangbangoflacquey’sbell，horse，nag，steerpiglings，ConmeeonChristasslamecrutchandlegsailorincockboatarmfoldedropepullinghitchingstamphornpipe’throughandthrough，Baraabum！Onnags，hogs，bellhorses，Gadareneswine，Cornyincoffin。SteelsharkstoneonehandledNelson，twotrickiesFrauenzimmerplumstainedfrompramfallingbawling。

Gum，he’sachampion。Fusebluepeerfrombarrelrev。evensongloveonhackneyjauntBlazesblindcoddoubledbicyclersDillywithsnowcakenofancyclothes。

Theninlastwiswitchbacklumberingupanddownbumpmashtubsortofviceroyandreinerelishfortublumberbumpshirerose。Baraabum！)

(Thecouplesfallaside。Stephenwhirlsgiddily。Roomwhirlsback。

Eyesclosed，hetotters。Redrailsflyspacewards。Starsallaroundsunsturnroundabout。Brightmidgesdanceonwall。Hestopsdead。)

STEPHENHo！

(Stephen’smother，emaciated，risesstarkthroughthefloorinlepergreywithawreathoffadedorangeblossomsandatornbridalveil，herfacewornandnoseless，greenwithgravemould。Herhairisscantandlank。

ShefixesherbluecircledholloweyesocketsonStephenandopenshertoothlessmouthutteringasilentword。Achoirofvirginsandconfessorssingvoicelessly。)

THECHOIRLiliatarutilantiumteconfessorum……

Iubilantiumtevirginum……(FromthetopofatowerBuckMulligan，inparticolouredjester’sdressofpuceandyellowandclown’scapwithcurlingbell，standsgapingather，asmokingbutteredsplitsconeinhishand。)

BUCKMULLIGANShe’sbeastlydead。Thepityofit！Mulliganmeetstheafflictedmother。(Heupturnshiseyes。)MercurialMalachi。

THEMOTHER(Withthesubtlesmileofdeath’smadness。)IwasoncethebeautifulMayGoulding。Iamdead。

STEPHEN(Horrorstruck。)Lemur，whoareyou？Whatbogeyman’strickisthis？

BUCKMULLIGAN(Shakeshiscurlingcapbell。)Themockeryofit！

Kinchkilledherdogsbodybitchbody。Shekickedthebucket。(Tearsofmoltenbutterfallfromhiseyesintothescone。)Ourgreatsweetmother！Epioinopaponton。

THEMOTHER(Comesnearer，breathinguponhimsoftlyherbreathofwettedashes。)Allmustgothroughit，Stephen。Morewomenthanmenintheworld。Youtoo。Timewillcome。

STEPHEN(Chokingwithfright，remorseandhorror。)TheysaidIkilledyou，mother。Heoffendedyourmemory。Cancerdidit，notI。Destiny。

THEMOTHER(Agreenrillofbiletricklingfromasideofhermouth。)

Yousangthatsongtome。Love’sbittermystery。

STEPHEN(Eagerly。)Tellmetheword，mother，ifyouknownow。

Thewordknowntoallmen。

THEMOTHERWhosavedyouthenightyoujumpedintothetrainatDalkeywithPaddyLee？Whohadpityforyouwhenyouweresadamongthestrangers？

Prayerisallpowerful。PrayerforthesufferingsoulsintheUrsulinemanual，andfortydays’indulgence。Repent，Stephen。

STEPHENTheghoul！Hyena！

THEMOTHERIprayforyouinmyotherworld。GetDillytomakeyouthatboiledriceeverynightafteryourbrainwork。YearsandyearsIlovedyou，Omyson，myfirstborn，whenyoulayinmywomb。

ZOE(Fanningherselfwiththegratefan。)I’mmelting！

FLORRY(PointstoStep