Well fuck you, she said.

Oh well damn well yes. Im sorry. But I am taking action, am I not? I could as well have sat at home, worn the cap-and-bells and bought lottery tickets hoping for the twist-of-fate that would change my life.

I do not.

Cobwebs in my throat, said Emma.

Julie and Thomas watching.

Thomas began counting on his fingers.

Anguish of Thomas.

Come crawl behind a bush with me.

I dont like it.

What is it today? asked the Dead Father.

Aquavit with a beer chaser, she said.

He was a goat, Thomas said, thats well known.

Wow, said Emma, tasting her glass. Wow wow wow wow.

Well, God damn it, I guess wed better have a drink, then, said Thomas.

Temporary!

Goatish still. Cops a feel whenever he can.

You and I, she said, the two of us.

What? said the Dead Father. ;

Usually damp.

Prefers the bum, she said, a great grab hes got there.

Temporarily, said Thomas.

Oh boy, she said. Yep. Sure do.

Could an Emma do as well?

Julie broke out the whiskey.

And Emma, she said. Ive seen you looking at her.

Thomas spoke a long paragraph to the www.99lib.neteffect that this was true.

Well fuck you, Thomas said, there are some times when I forget and tell the truth.

I do not revel in it.

I could just put some bags on them I suppose, heavy canvas bags with locks like the Mail Department uses.

Oh yes, Thomas said, he has something. I would not dream of denying it.

And she at you, Julie said, Ive seen some gazes.

Ive observed.

I look at everything, Thomas said. Everything that is in front of me. Emma is in front of me. Therefore I look at Emma.

Ive noticed.

You forget the decay of time, Thomas said, I never forget it.

A student of decay, is all.

Shes not bad-looking, Thomas said.

Why are you always telling everybody what to do?

Washcloth, he said. Thats the little blue square one.

A temporary fact, said Thomas.

Who likes it?

It is one of the best pleasures, the Dead Father said. No doubt about it. It is bang-up, but mostly we dont let people know. Mostly we downplay the pleasure. Mostly we stress the anguish. We keep the pleasure to ourselves, in our hearts. Occasionally w九*九*藏*书*网e may show a bit of it to someone -- lift a corner of the veil, as it were. But we only do that in order to certify the pleasure to ourselves. Full disclosure is almost unheard of. Thomas is being criminally frank, in my opinion.

Okay Fat Daddy, she said, show me how to dance.

I remember.

The hell I am, Thomas said. It happened.

My God, Im simply telling the truth, said Thomas.

Oh misery me.

Emma begins to demonstrate. Parts of Emma huckle-buckling in various directions.

I like this drink, Emma said, this is good stuff, can I have two more?

And in terms of verbal rather than physical attentions, he has proposed variously a shake of the sheets, a dive in the dark, a leap up the ladder, and a goose-and-duck.

You and I, she said, reaching into her knapsack for a bit of bhang. Have a chew?

I dont know, said Thomas. Ill have to think about it.

Times when I am not too what?

There are some times when you are not too bright, said Thomas.

With all my heart, said Thomas, but I cannot abandon what I know. One doesnt find an absolute eve

http://www.99lib.net

ry day.

Emma threw down a guzzle of beer, then a guzzle of aquavit.

The two of us, she said, damn it, cant you get this simple idea into your head? The two of us against the is.

The backs of the knees are on the other hand positively lustrous.

Right.

Julie cramming more hemp into her mouth.

Quite good, said Thomas, the beer helps.

I know no better soul, he said, and the body is also attractive.

One more, said Thomas, we have many a league to cover yet this day.

Bright, said Thomas, there are some times when you are not too bright.

Yes now that you mention it, she said.

Wash feet, he said.

Rough-textured.

Measuring, are you? A measuring man.

Emma wearing blue velvet pants burnished to silver where she sits.

Yes, thats a way, said Thomas. Fifteen minutes or in the best case, thirty-five.

You are an apprentice fool, she said, not even a full fool, nevertheless I will give you a little taste, because I like you. You are a lucky dog.

He signaled the men to halt. The cable loose in the road.

And you replied?

Thomas and Julie underneath the bush. Thomas holding Julies feet in his hands.

The men look like they need a drink, said the Dead Father, shading his eyes with one hand and peering up the road.

It is obvious that but for a twist of fate I would be his and not yours, Julie said. Had I lived within his domains at a time when he was administering them with full heaviness of hand --

Amazing, said the Dead Father. I remember.

Julie pulling at Thomass sleeve.

Not now, thanks.

Not necessary. I know the drill.

Viper, she said.

Not too bad are they?

I wouldnt mind a drink right now, said the Dead Father. Some little something.

But remember there was a time when he was slicing peoples ears off with a wood chisel. Two-inch blade. And remember there was a time when his voice, his plain unamplified voice, could turn your head inside out.

You dont appear to me to be overly hurt or damaged.

Julie made a circle of thumb and forefinger and popped him smartly on the ball.

It will pass, she said, dearly beloved, it is only temporary.

What does that mean? Thomas asked. Me of all peo

htｔｐ://ｗｗｗ•99lib.nｅt

ple?

But we, you and I, care for each other, Julie said. It is a fact.

Julie began to unbutton her shirt.

Oh you are a viper.

Hunkwash, she said, you are perpetuating myths.

With harrowing sweetness, as usual. Still he has something.

I like telling everybody what to do, Thomas said. It is a great pleasure, being boss. One of the greatest. Wouldnt you agree? he said to the Dead Father.

There is that.

Nine lines and a freckle, all immaculate. Nothing to be desired. The height of.

Expectoration of bhang juice (emphatic).

You are being stuffy. I find that quite extraordinary. You of all people.

I could stand a drink, said Julie.

Do you know the Hucklebuck?

Sloppy, sloppy, she said. Self-pity monstrously unattractive.

Yes, he said.

Remember the last time you had a drink, Thomas said to her.

Yes, Julie said. Its giggles in the sphinxeries.

Me, she said. Me, me.

I will wash them for you if you wish.

I put out of mind that which is injurious to mind. You revel in it.

Ive seen it.

Authority. Fragile, yet present. He is like a bubble you do not wish to burst.