第97章

PADDYDIGNAM(Earnestly。)OnceIwasintheemployofMrJ。H。

Menton，solicitor，commissionerforoathsandaffidavits，of27Bachelor’sWalk。NowIamdefunct，thewallofthehearthypertrophied。Hardlines。

Thepoorwifewasawfullycutup。Dowisshebearingit？Keepheroffthatbottleofsherry。(Helooksroundhim。)Alamp。Imustsatisfyananimalneed。Thatbuttermilkdidn’tagreewithme。

(TheportlyfigureofJohnO’Connell，caretakerstandsforth，holdingabunchofkeystiedwithcrape。BesidehimstandsFatherCoffey，chaplain，toadbellied，wrynecked，inasurpliceandbandannanightcap，holdingsleepilyastaffoftwistedpoppies。)

FATHERCOFFEY(Yawns，thenchantswithahoarsecroak。)Namine。

JacobsVobiscuits。Amen。

(Foghornsstormilythroughhismegaphone。)Dignam，PatrickT。，deceased。

PADDYDIGNAM(Withprickedupears，winces。)Overtones。

(Hewrigglesforward，placesaneartotheground。)Mymasters’

voice！

JOHNO’CONNELLBurialdocketletternumberU。P。Eightyfivethousand。

Fieldseventeen。HouseofKeys。Plot，onehundredandone。

(PaddyDignamlistenswithvisibleeffort，thinking，histailstiffpointed，hisearscocked。)

PADDYDIGNAMPrayforthereposeofhissoul。

(Hewormsdownthroughacoalhole，hisbrownhabittrailingitstetheroverrattlingpebbles。Afterhimtoddlesanobesegrandfatherratonfungusturtlepawsunderagreycarapace。Dignam’svoice，muffled，isheardbayingunderground：Dignam’sdeadandgonebelow。TomRochford，robinredbreasted，incapandbreeches，jumpsfromhistwo-columnedmachine。)

TOMROCHFORD(Ahandtohisbreastbone，bows。)ReubenJ。AflorinIfindhim。(Hefixesthemanholewitharesolutestare。)Myturnnowon。FollowmeuptoCarlow。

(Heexecutesadaredevilsalmonleapintheairandisengulfedinthecoalhole。Twodiscsonthecolumnswobbleeyesofnought。Allrecedes。

Bloomplodgesforwardagain。Hestandsbeforealightedhouse，listening。

Thekisses，wingingfromtheirbowers，flyabouthim，twittering，warbling，cooing。)

THEKISSES(Warbling。)Leo！(Twittering。)IckylickymickystickyforLeo！(Cooing。)Coocoocoo！YummyummWomworn！(Warbling。)

Bigcomebig！Pirouette！Leopopold！(Twittering。)Leeolee！(Warbling。)

OLeo！

(Theyrustle，flutteruponhisgarments，alight，brightgiddyflecks，silverysequins。)

BLOOMAman’stouch。Sadmusic。Churchmusic。Perhapshere。

(ZoeHiggins，ayoungwhoreinasapphireslip，closedwiththreebronzebuckles，aslimblackvelvetfilletroundherthroat，nods，tripsdownthestepsandaccostshim。)

ZOEAreyoulookingforsomeone？He’sinsidewithhisfriend。

BLOOMIsthisMrsMack’s？

ZOENo，eightyone。MrsCohen’s。Youmightgofartherandfareworse。

MotherSlipperslapper。(Familiarly。)She’sonthejobherselftonightwiththevet，hertipster，thatgivesherallthewinnersandpaysforhersoninOxford。Workingovertimebutherluck’sturnedtoday。(Suspiciously。)

You’renothisfather，areyou？

BLOOMNotI！

ZOEYoubothinblack。Haslittlemouseyanyticklestonight？

(Hisskin，alert，feelsherfingertipsapproach。Ahandslidesoverhisleftthigh。)

ZOEHow’sthenuts？

BLOOMOffside。Curiouslytheyareontheright。HeavierIsuppose。

Oneinamillionmytailor，Mesias，says。

ZOE(Insuddenalarm。)You’veahardchancre。

BLOOMNotlikely。

ZOEIfeelit。

(Herhandslidesintohislefttrouserpocketandbringsoutahardblackshrivelledpotato。SheregardsitandBloomwithdumbmoistlips。)

BLOOMAtalisman。Heirloom。

ZOEForZoe？Forkeeps？Forbeingsonice，eh？

(Sheputsthepotatogreedilyintoapocket，thenlinkshisarm，cuddlinghimwithsupplewarmth。Hesmilesuneasily。Slowly，notebynote，orientalmusicisplayed。Hegazesinthetawnycrystalofhereyes，ringedwithkohol。Hissmilesoftens。)

ZOEYou’llknowmethenexttime。

BLOOM(Forlornly。)Ineverlove