第110章

PRIVATECARR(Tuggingathisbelt。)I’llwringtheneckofanybuggersaysawordagainstmyfuckingking。

BLOOM(Terrified。)Hesaidnothing。Notaword。Apuremisunderstanding。

THECITIZENEringobragh！

(MajorTweedyandtheCitizenexhibittoeachothermedals，decorations，trophiesofwarwounds。Bothsalutewithfiercehostility。)

PRIVATECOMPTONGoit，Harry。Dohimoneintheeye。He’saproboer。

STEPHENDidI？When？

BLOOM(Totheredcoats。)WefoughtforyouinSouthAfrica，Irishmissiletroops。Isn’tthathistory？RoyalDublinFusiliers。Honouredbyourmonarch。

THENAVVY(Staggeringpast。)O，yes。O，God，yes！O，makethekwawrakrowawr！O！Bo！

(Casquedhalberdiersinarmourthrustforwardapenticeofguttedspearpoints。MajorTweedy，moustachedlikeTurkotheterrible，inbearskincapwithhackleplumeandaccoutrements，withepaulette，giltchevronsandsabretache，hisbreastbrightwithmedals，toestheline。Hegivesthepilgrimwarrior’ssignoftheknightstemplars。)

MAJORTWEEDY(Growlsgruffly。)Rorke’sDrift！Up，guards，andatthem！Mahalshalalhashbaz。

PRIVATECARRI’lldohimin。

PRIVATECOMPTON(Wavesthecrowdback。)Fairplay，here。Makeableedingbutcher’sshopofthebugger。

(MassedbandsblareGarryowenandGodsavetheking。)

CISSYCAFFREYThey’regoingtofight。Forme！

CUNTYKATEThebraveandthefair。

BIDDYTHECLAPMethinksyonsableknightwilljoustitwiththebest。

CUNTYKATE(Blushingdeeply。)Nay，Madam。ThegulesdoubletandmerrySaintGeorgeforme！

STEPHENTheharlot’scryfromstreettostreetShallweaveoldIreland’swindingsheet。

PRIVATECARR(Looseninghisbelt，shouts。)I’llwringtheneckofanyfuckingbastardsaysawordagainstmybleedingfuckingking。

BLOOM(ShakesCissyCaffrey’sshoulders。)Speak，you！Areyoustruckdumb？Youarethelinkbetweennationsandgenerations。Speak，woman，sacredlifegiver。

CISSYCAFFREY(AlarmedseizesPrivateCarr’ssleeve。)Amn’tIwithyou？Amn’tIyourgirl？Cissy’syourgirl。(Shecries。)Police！

STEPHEN(Ecstatically，toCissyCaffrey。)Whitethyfambles，redthyganAndthyquarronsdaintyis。VOICESPolice！

DISTANTVOICESDublin’sburning！Dublin’sburning！Onfire，onfire！

(Brimstonefiresspringup。Densecloudsrollpast。HeavyGatlinggunsboom。Pandemonium。Troopsdeploy。Gallopofhoofs。Artillery。Hoarsecommands。Bellsclang。Backersshout。Drunkardsbawl。Whoresscreech。Foghornshoot。Criesofvalour。Shrieksofdying。Pikesclashoncuirasses。Thievesrobtheslain。Birdsofprey，wingingfromthesea，risingfrommarshlands，swoopingfromeyries，hoverscreaming，gannets，connorants，vultures，goshawks，climbingwoodcocks，peregrines，merlin，blackgrouse，seaeagles，gulls，albatrosses，barnaclegeese。Themidnightsunisdarkened。Theearthtrembles。

ThedeadofDublinfromProspectandMountJeromeinwhitesheepskinovercoatsandblackgoat-fellcloaksariseandappeartomany。Achasmopenswithanoiselessyawn。TomRochford，winnerinathletessingletandbreeches，arrivesattheheadofthenationalhurdlehandicapandleapsintothevoid。Heisfollowedbyaraceofrunnersandleapers。Inwildattitudestheyspringfromthebrink。Theirbodiesplunge。FactorylasseswithfancyclothestossredhotYorkshirebaraabombs。Societyladieslifttheirskirtsabovetheirheadstoprotectthemselves。laughingwitchesinredcuttysarksridethroughtheaironbroomsticks。Quakerlysterplastersblisters。

Itrainsdragon’steeth。Armedheroesspringupfromfurrows。Theyexchangeinamitythepassofknightsoftheredcrossandfightduelswithcavalrysabres：WolfeToneagainstHenryGrattan，SmithO’BrienagainstDanielO’Connell，MichaelDavittagainstIsaacButt，JustinM’Carthyaga