Two is one too many.
That’s your opinion.
Nevertheless. Nevertheless.
Various circumstances requiring my attention.
I can make it hot for you.
So full and orange.
You don’t know what you’re getting into.
Hoping this will reach you at a favorable moment.
Wake up one dark night with a thumb in your eye.
Women together changing that which can and ought to be changed.
Dangled his twiddle-diddles in my face.
More than I can bear.
No it’s not.
Will it hurt?
I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know.
He’s not bad-looking.
Haven’t made up my mind.
Groups surrounding us needing direction.
Maybe.
What’s he like?
That’s my business.
Have you tried any of the others?
That’s my business.
Want to take a look around. See the sights.
I can make it hot for you.
Is that a threat?
Construed any way you wish.
I asked him about organization.
What did he tell you?
Destroy it in order to let the water flow freely.
That’s referred pain I know about that.
But a maiden drowned.
Did they recover a body?
Three. Two were the bodies of sheep.
Oh yes I read about it. In the Svenska Dagbladet.
And he felt guilty.
I never asked him.
It’s all been carefully considered.
He’s a motherfucker I tell you true.
Nevertheless.
Doing what we must at great personal and emotional cost.
Any of the others any good?
Haven’t tried them.
Thought I heard a dog barking.
It’s possible. The simplest basic units develop into the richest natural patterns.
Are you into spanking?
No I’m not.
Pity. We could have got something going.
I’m not into that.
Where can a body get a hit around here?
Pop one of these if you’d like a little lift.
Thank you. Palm Sunday.
Hope you know what you’re doing. Cordially.
Not too bothered. Thank you.
Time to go, time to go.
Walking by the sea, listening to the waves.
Think I’m getting nosebleed.
Have my handkerchief.
I’ve one of my own thank you.
I could have put it in a brick, he said.
A filthy-mouthed man.
He’s not bad-looking.
Have you tried any of the others?
I am only recently arrived and would like to wash and rest a bit.
Every effort will be made. I can make it hot for you.
Will it hurt?
My discretion. My yea or nay. Thought I heard a dog barking.
A spiritual aridity quite hard to reconcile with his surface gaiety.
Left Barcelona in disgrace.
I was suspicious of him from the first.
Certain provocations the government couldn’t handle.
Too early to tell. That’s a very handsome pin.
My mother’s. Willed to me at her death.
Goodbye goodbye goodbye.
Think I’ll stick around for a while.
That’s interesting.
Take the lay of the land.
That’s interesting.
Have you told him?
To my shame I have not.
And if it is at all possible for you to see me.
Fond urgings and soft petitions.
It’s all been carefully considered.
What?
Thought I heard a dog barking.
Did you know Lord Raglan?
We nodded when our carriages passed.
Out of here, out of here.
Not today, not today.
Pop one of these it will give you a little lift.
Will it hurt?
4
The line of march. Line of the cable. Viewed from above, this picture:
They came then to a man tending bar in an open field.
Yes, Thomas said.
Relaxation of the cable.
Drinks for everyone.
Ah! said Thomas.
Not too bad, said the Dead Father.
Yum, said Emma.
Another, Thomas said.
That was vodka, right? the bartender asked.
On the rocks and could I have three olives?
Three olives, said the bartender.
Having made the drinks he folded his arms and leaned against a tree.
Did you see the horses? asked the Dead Father.
Clump of eight, Julie said. I counted.
Black plumes, Thomas said. Black bridles, black trappings.
Black horses, said the Dead Father.
Standing in a rank, very well trained, not a whicker.
Perhaps they weren’t real? asked the Dead Father.
They were real, said Thomas.
Julie ordered another drink.
You’ve had enough, said the bartender, no more.
He’s right, said Thomas, you’ve had enough.
I’ll decide when I’ve had enough, Julie said. I want another.
He could lose his license if you fell down or committed an outrage, Thomas said.
That’s true, said the bartender, I could lose my license.
Here? asked Julie, indicating the emptiness. Who is to be outraged?
One never knows, said the Dead Father. Thirsty pilgrims, natives of the district, commercial travelers.
Make it a double, said Julie.
We do not serve unaccompanied women, said the bartender.
I am accompanied am I not?
Do you mean the one in the orange tights or the one in the golden robes?
Both.
I saw him with his thumb under there, said the bartender, had his thumb on it I’ll bet. Shocking rude I’d call it, in a public place.
Shocking, said the Dead Father happily. Never in all my years —
You’re a family man, now, the bartender said to the Dead Father. That’s perfectly plain.
Very much so.
You’ve children, said the bartender, responsibilities.
Beyond counting.
Thought so, said the bartender, I can talk to you. We understand each other.
Yes, fire away.
We can parley, said the bartender, make powwow.
Thomas was looking at the yellow sky.
Till the cows come home, said the Dead Father, so much are we on each other’s wavelengths.
When he’s got his thumb in there, asked the bartender, what do you feel?
Left out, said the Dead Father.
Button button who’s got the button? chanted Julie. I’ve got the button.
Can I see it? asked the bartender.
Can I have another drink?
A double Scotch appeared on the bar.
Julie knocked back the Scotch. Then she removed her shirt. There was nothing under the shirt.
That’s not what I meant, said the bartender, but God Almighty.
A crowd had gathered, both men and women. They were laughing.
Thomas smoothed Julie’s stomach with his hand.
Don’t touch! she said, you’ll make the others angry.
The crowd stopped laughing, both men and women, moved nearer, was looking at Thomas with angry looks.
Who do you think you are? a man shouted angrily.
I am this lady’s lover, Thomas shouted back.
Leave our stomach alone! the man shouted.
Your stomach? Thomas asked pointedly.
They crowded closer.
Hands were stretched out toward the stomach.
Mostly we don’t get this kind of group, the bartender said.
Thomas began to write something with lipstick on the stomach. The white, interestingly folded, stomach.
Oh, you rascal! cried the crowd. Oh, you rogue!
Julie rotated the stomach at the crowd. Sunlight bouncing off the tips of her breasts (purple).
Emma sulking at the bar. Drinking a Campari-and-soda.