I wouldnt mind a drink right now, said the Dead Father. Some little something.
I could stand a drink, said Julie.
Remember the last time you had a drink, Thomas said to her.
Oh boy, she said. Yep. Sure do.
Cobwebs in my throat, said Emma.
The men look like they need a drink, said the Dead Father, shading his eyes with one hand and peering up the road.
Well, God damn it, I guess wed better have a drink, then, said Thomas.
He signaled the men to halt. The cable loose in the road.
Julie broke out the whiskey.
What is it today? asked the Dead Father.
Aquavit with a beer chaser, she said.
Wow, said Emma, tasting her glass. Wow wow wow wow.
Yes, Julie said. Its giggles in the sphinxeries.
Quite good, said Thomas, the beer helps.
I like this drink, Emma said, this is good stuff, can I have two more?
One more, said Thomas, we have many a league to cover yet this day.
You are being stuffy. I find that quite extraordinary. You of all people.
What does that mean? Thomas asked. Me of all people?
Why are you always telling everybody what to do?
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.
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.
Emma threw down a guzzle of beer, then a guzzle of aquavit.
Okay Fat Daddy, she said, show me how to dance.
What? said the Dead Father. ;
Emma wearing blue velvet pants burnished to silver where she sits.
Do you know the Hucklebuck?
I do not.
Emma begins to demonstrate. Parts of Emma huckle-buckling in various directions.
Amazing, said the Dead Father. I remember.
Julie and Thomas watching.
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 --
He was a goat, Thomas said, thats well known.
Goatish still. Cops a feel whenever he can.
Ive noticed.
Prefers the bum, she said, a great grab hes got there.
Ive observed.
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.
And you replied?
With harrowing sweetness, as usual. Still he has something.
Oh yes, Thomas said, he has something. I would not dream of denying it.
Authority. Fragile, yet present. He is like a bubble you do not wish to burst.
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.
Hunkwash, she said, you are perpetuating myths.
The hell I am, Thomas said. It happened.
You dont appear to me to be overly hurt or damaged.
There are some times when you are not too bright, said Thomas.
Times when I am not too what?
Bright, said Thomas, there are some times when you are not too bright.
Well fuck you, she said.
Well fuck you, Thomas said, there are some times when I forget and tell the truth.
Sloppy, sloppy, she said. Self-pity monstrously unattractive.
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.
Me, she said. Me, me.
There is that.
You and I, she said, reaching into her knapsack for a bit of bhang. Have a chew?
Not now, thanks.
You and I, she said, the two of us.
Thomas began counting on his fingers.
Yes, he said.
And Emma, she said. Ive seen you looking at her.
I look at everything, Thomas said. Everything that is in front of me. Emma is in front of me. Therefore I look at Emma.
And she at you, Julie said, Ive seen some gazes.
Shes not bad-looking, Thomas said.
But we, you and I, care for each other, Julie said. It is a fact.
A temporary fact, said Thomas.
Temporary!
Expectoration of bhang juice (emphatic).
My God, Im simply telling the truth, said Thomas.
Viper, she said.
I know no better soul, he said, and the body is also attractive.
Measuring, are you? A measuring man.
Julie cramming more hemp into her mouth.
You forget the decay of time, Thomas said, I never forget it.
I dont like it.
Who likes it?
I put out of mind that which is injurious to mind. You revel in it.
I do not revel in it.
The two of us, she said, damn it, cant you get this simple idea into your head? The two of us against the is.
Temporarily, said Thomas.
Oh you are a viper.
A student of decay, is all.
Julie began to unbutton her shirt.
Yes, thats a way, said Thomas. Fifteen minutes or in the best case, thirty-five.
Come crawl behind a bush with me.
With all my heart, said Thomas, but I cannot abandon what I know. One doesnt find an absolute every day.
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.
Thomas spoke a long paragraph to the effect that this was true.
Julie pulling at Thomass sleeve.
Thomas and Julie underneath the bush. Thomas holding Julies feet in his hands.
Wash feet, he said.
Yes now that you mention it, she said.
I will wash them for you if you wish.
Not necessary. I know the drill.
Washcloth, he said. Thats the little blue square one.
Right.
Rough-textured.
Ive seen it.
Usually damp.
I remember.
I could just put some bags on them I suppose, heavy canvas bags with locks like the Mail Department uses.
Oh misery me.
The backs of the knees are on the other hand positively lustrous.
Not too bad are they?
Nine lines and a freckle, all immaculate. Nothing to be desired. The height of.
Could an Emma do as well?
I dont know, said Thomas. Ill have to think about it.
Julie made a circle of thumb and forefinger and popped him smartly on the ball.
Anguish of Thomas.
It will pass, she said, dearly beloved, it is only temporary.