Julie pulling at Thomass sleeve.

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

I remember.

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 we 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.

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

Yes, he said.

Well fuck you, she said.

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

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

Viper, she said.

And in terms of verbal rather than physical attentions, he has proposed variously a shake of the sheets, a dive in https://read.99csw.comthe dark, a leap up the ladder, and a goose-and-duck.

Usually damp.

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

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

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.

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

I do not revel in it.

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

Not too bad are they?

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

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.

Why are you always telling everybody what to do?

Right.

And you replied?

I do not.

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

What is it today? asked the Dead Father.

The two of us, she said, damn it, cant you get this simple idea九_九_藏_書 into your head? The two of us against the is.

Goatish still. Cops a feel whenever he can.

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

Expectoration of bhang juice (emphatic).

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

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.

Julie broke out the whiskey.

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

Quite good, said Thomas, the beer helps.

Aquavit with a beer chaser, she said.

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

Wash feet, he said.

Not necessary. I know the drill.

Julie and Thomas watching.

Hunkwash, she said, you are perpetuating myths.

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

Thomas began counting on his fingers.

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

Yes now that you mhttps://read.99csw.comention it, she said.

Measuring, are you? A measuring man.

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.

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

The hell I am, Thomas said. It happened.

I could stand a drink, said Julie.

Anguish of Thomas.

Oh you are a viper.

Julie began to unbutton her shirt.

Cobwebs in my throat, said Emma.

I dont like it.

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 --

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

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

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

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

Come crawl behind a bush with me.

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

Ive seen it.

But we, you and I, care for each other, Julie sai九-九-藏-書d. It is a fact.

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

Yes, Julie said. Its giggles in the sphinxeries.

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.

Could an Emma do as well?

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

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

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

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

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

Rough-textured.

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

Shes not bad-looking, Thomas said.

What? said the Dead Father. ;

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

I will wash them for you if you wish.

Ive observed.

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

Ive noticed.

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

Wow, said read.99csw.comEmma, tasting her glass. Wow wow wow wow.

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

Temporarily, said Thomas.

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

A student of decay, is all.

A temporary fact, said Thomas.

Thomas spoke a long paragraph to the effect that this was true.

Not now, thanks.

Me, she said. Me, me.

Times when I am not too what?

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

Temporary!

Julie cramming more hemp into her mouth.

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

Do you know the Hucklebuck?

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

There is that.

Amazing, said the Dead Father. I remember.

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

Oh boy, she said. Yep. Sure do.

Oh misery me.

Who likes it?

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

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