12

  TheDeadFatherploddingalong,attheendofhiscable.Hislonggoldenrobes.Hislonggrayhairtotheshoulder.Hisbroadandnoblebrow.

  Awfullycalm,saidJulie.

  Placidasamailman,Thomasagreed,heistryingtobegood.

  Harderforhimthanfortheeorme,hesnotusedtoit.

  Iwasnevergood,untilIattainedmymajority,Thomassaid.Ahen--

  Iheredmyprettyheadaboutit,Juliesaid.SometimesIdidtherightthingandsometimesIdidthewrongthing.Indifficultcases,Ishutmyeyesandleaped.Agreatdealofleaping.

  Ahoseinstahathavefeelingsattached--

  Igoagainstthem,shesaid.Myfeelings.Methodoftheutmosttrustworthiness,learnedfromtheCarmelites.

  Ifollowmyfeelings,Thomassaid,whenIfindthem.

  Hesbeenveryquiet.

  Notapeepoutofhimthesemanymiles.

  Hasheperhapstwigged?

  Lookonthebrightside,Thomassaid,anddecidethathehasnot.Itsessential.

  AgrimaJulie.

  Theworldsslowstain.Whosaidthat?Preservedfromthetagionof,Ithink,theworldsslowstain.

  IbloitifIeverkhomassaid.

  Juliebitoffachewofbhang.

  Andthemen,saidThomas.Somepossibilityoftroublethere.

  Nonsehemenwillbeadequatelyrepeheredsandbluesandsilverstreakswehaveintrodutothegraytuscheoftheirlives.Dontworryaboutthemen.Theyareoerall--atractorcouldhavedohejobaswell.

  Thepositionwouldhavesuffered,Thomassaid.Thinkofit:Upthere,theeen,theOldIncibles,haulinguponthecable.Thelihecableitself,taut,angled,runningfromtheretohere.Finally,theobjecthauled:theFather,inhismajesty.Hisgrandeur.Atractorwouldhavebeentrèsinsipide.

  Chewingofbhang(nonittal).

  Beforeattainingyourmajority,Thomasasked,whatdidyoudo?

  Schemed,mostly.Schemingawaynightandday,towardtheachievementofends.Iwokeupangryonemandstayedangryforyears--thatwasmyadolesgerandscheming.Howtogetout.HowtogetLucius.HowtogetMark.HowtogetawayfromFred.Howtoseizepower.Thatsortofthing.Andagreatdealofcare-of-the-body.Itwasyoung.Itwasbeautiful.Itdeservedcare.

  Isbeautiful,Thomassaid.Isbeautiful,beloved.

  Thankyou,shesaid.Thereweremanymen,Ido,itwasmothstotheflame.Itriedtolovethem.Damneddifficult.Keptaharpoonguninmytallwindow.Trackedthemastheymoveddowreet,intheirridiculousdignity.IneverfiredalthoughIcouldhave,iterable.Havingtheminmysightswasenough.Myfihetrigger,alwaysabouttogooffbutneverquite.Tensionofthemostexquisitesort.

  Ithoughtitwasadart,Thomassaid.

  Juliesmiled.

  Often,whenIwasyoung,lastyear,Iwalkedouttothewater.Itspoketomeofmyself.Imagescametome,fromthewater.Pictures.Largegreenlawns.Agreathousewithpillars,butthelawnssovastthatthehousebeseenonlydimly,fromwherewearestanding.Iamwearingalongskirttotheground,inthepanyofothers.Iamwitty.Theylaugh.Iamalsowise.Theypesturesofinfinitegrace.Theyappreciate.Forthefinale,Isavealife.Leapintothewaterallclothedandgraspingthedrowhehair,orusingthecross-chestcarry,getthesillybastardtoshore.Havetobashhimohemushtoendhiswildparuggles.Draghimtotheoldweathereddodthere,hesupine,Irampant,maheresuscitation.Standback,Isaytothecrowd,standback.Thedazedcreatureseyesopen--no,theycloseagain--no,theyopenagain.Someohrowsablaovermydamp,glisteningwhite,incrediblybeautifulshoulders.Iwhipoutmyharmonidgivethemtwofastchorusesof"RedDevilRag."Standingovatioriumphisplete.

  YouleftoutAlbertSchweitzer,Thomassaid.

  Hardtopatchhimin,saidJulie,butheisthere.

  AtthatmomenttheDeadFatherapproachedThomas,holdingasmallbox.

  Apresent,hesaid,foryou.

  Thankyou,saidThomas,whatisit?

  Openit,saidtheDeadFather.Openthebox.

  Thomasopeheboxandfoundaknife.

  Thankyou,hesaid,whatisitfor?

  Useit,saidtheDeadFather.ething.ethingoff.

  Ispoketoosoon,Thomassaid,heisnotreciled.

  Iwillneverbereciled,theDeadFathersaid,never.WhenIamoffended,Iaunishment.PunishmentisathingImgoodat.Ihavesomeratherfineones.Foranyonewhodarestrifle.Onthefirstdaythetrifleriswelled,withstrongcordsandhungupsidedownfromaflagpoleataheightoftwentystories.Ontheseddaythetrifleristurnedrightsideupandrehungfromthesamestaff,soastoemptythebloodfromhisheadandpreparehimforthethirdday.OhirddaythetriflerisunedandwaiteduponbyalisedD.D.S.whoextractseveryothertoothfromthetoprowahertoothfromthebottomrow,theextrastobemismatgacctotheblueprintsupplied.Onthefourthdaythetriflerisgivenhardthingstoeat.Ohdaythetriflerisfortedwithsoftfinegarmentsandflagonsaentionsoflithesomewomensoastomaketheshockofthesixthdaythemoresevere.OhdaythetriflerisfinedaloneinasmallroomwiththemusicofKarlheinzStockhausen.Ontheseventhdaythetriflerisprickedwithles.Ohthetriflerisslidnakeddownathousand-footrazorbladetothemusicofKarlheinzStockhausen.Ohdaythetriflerissewherbychildren.OhdaythetriflerisfinedaloneinasmallroomwiththeworksofTeilharddeChardinandthemusicofKarlheinzStockhausen.Ontheeleventhdaythetriflersstitchesareremovedbychildrenwearingcatchersmittsontheirrightahands.Owelfthday--

  Iapologizeforsayingyouwereperpetuatingmyths,JuliesaidtoThomas.Iambeginningtoeroundtoyouropinion.松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

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