Galley A NOVELA Charles Porter FLAME VINE FLAME Galley

Charles Porter, Loxahatchee, FL Charles Porter, Printed in the United States of America by Health Communications, Inc., Communications, by Health America of States United the in Printed Deerfield Beach, Florida. ISBN: 9780989425629 (trade paper) ISBN: 9780989425636 (ePub) Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Charles Porter, Library of Congress Control Number: 2017909232 www.charlesporterauthor.com All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reproduced be may publication this of No part reserved. rights All including or mechanical, by any means electronic in any form or transmitted system, without storage and retrieval or any information recording, photocopy, owner and the publisher. permission in writing from both the copyright Illustrated by Kathy Von Ertfelda, Loxahatchee FL. Cover artFL. by Gisela Loxahatchee Ertfelda, Von by Kathy Illustrated Henoch. Hise Larissa design by Cover FL. Loxahatchee Pferdekamper, Grove. Strolley Von design and formatting Dawn by Interior Galley Porter ©2017 Charles For Bill, Julia, and Ethel Porter For Bill, Julia, Galley Galley v 1 ix 13 25 37 47 61 73 85 vii viii 145 159 109 127 ���������������� ��������������������� ��������������������������� ����������������������������� ��������������������������������� ��������������������������������������� ���������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������� Contents ��������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������������ Chapter 1—The Gas Chapter 12—Carburetion Chapter 2—Aubrey Chapter 3—I Wax Chapter 4—Incontinence and Joy Chapter 5—Leda 1967 Vietnam Chapter 6—The Junior: and the Sublime Terrible Chapter 7—The Chapter 8—The Blue Goose Gang Chapter 9—John Chrome Chapter 10—Arquette House Chapter 11—Aubrey’s PART ONE PART Gathered Schema GalleyForeword 211 229 241 251 263 277 289 299 307 313 320 163 173 185 195 ��������� ������������������ �������������������� ��������������������� ������������������������ ������������������������� ����������������������������� �������������������������������� ���������������������������������� ������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������������� Chapter 18—All White Chapter 19—Trucks Shell Rock Road Chapter 20—The Visit Chapter 21—The Cemetery: 2nd Story Chapter 22—Reckonings: Half a Love Chapter 23—The Saloon Singer Chapter 24—Alone Chapter 25—Sonny Interview for Discussions Topics Questions and Chapter 14—The Potato Thief Potato Chapter 14—The Visit Cemetery: First Chapter 15—The Averages Raw of Chapter 16—The Chapter 17—Sirens Chapter 13—Ship in a Bottle Chapter 13—Ship PART TWO PART ontents vi C Galley vii Gathered institutionalized schoolmate Aubrey’s other voice Aubrey’s the Tin Snip Killer Tin Sonny: the main character Aubrey: Suiter: Triple voice other Suiter’s Triple Sand: Amper Leda: Aubrey’s wife The Junior: old schoolmate old schoolmate Arquette: girlfriend Melinda: Arquette’s Punky: old schoolmate Nell Kitching: English teacher/surfer John Chrome: girlfriend Rose Mothershed: John Chrome’s Reve: a gypsy woman Galley None None None Drinking Bowel Brother Fat Chloroform Thinking

Blue jays Blue Swallowing Swallowing Neon

:

Ozone Fighting

Vietnam

Smoke Fidelity Drugging Nitrous Screwing Women Freon other Each Murder Killing THE JOY: THE GAS: THE GUILT THE INCONTINENCE:

SCHEMA Galley viii ix , by the same author; Shallcross Foreword ALL CHARACTERS IN THIS STORY ARE FICTIONAL. THIS STORY IN CHARACTERS ALL DEDICATED TO THE TO HEARING VOICES MOVEMENT DEDICATED This book is a prequel to the novel however, the two books do not have to be read in order. the two books do not have however, Galleyand pathological, is not always hearing voices The condition of for fear of do not come forward or tell anyone many voice hearers a story about paranormal This is not against. discriminated being taken is piece fictional This realism. magic or fantasy it is nor powers, from the real world, the scientific world, and cultural South Florida’s one hears in their my theory about slippers—voices except landscape, vast, unknown spandrels roads and in the neuronal on the live that head believe in slippers, but I do. The reader does not have to of the brain.

Galley -

Don Quixote—2nd book —Triple Suiter —Triple PART ONE PART There are two worlds! But they cannot two worlds! are There . Plato, only schizophrenia be explained by In 2004, a man named Charles Porter unlocks a door to an aban door to a unlocks Charles Porter named man In 2004, a Galleybook a sees he display table On a Bookstore. Sonny’s shop called doned with his name on it and opens it to the first page. The page describes and it on name his with book a finding bookstore, the into walking him name seeing his bookstore, a into walking him story about a reading on a book, opening it to the first page and reading a story about him- a book . . . infinitely. self reading a story about himself in Galley Galley Galley 1 as G he T Chapter 1 Chapter Summer 1950 Mr. Thompson’s appliance store gave him a summer job, and gave him a summer job, and appliance store Thompson’s Mr. stand it when his mother said the Sonny was not right. Couldn’t and his old scoutmaster Price, the minister, He got help from Dr. when Randy’s, At weekends. on high got him and White Randy Randy White learned him to huff Freon, unscrewing the copper copper the unscrewing Freon, to huff him learned White Randy spew into his lungs and ride tube from refrigerators to take the fly him through town in his his blood. His halfback legs would cried and the police watched no shirt, while his mother underwear, After he coolant in his sweat. him circle, too fast to catch with that hero home. collapsed, the police took their football breasts, down at her large word bosom, wrinkled her neck, looked at the open door of the bathroom and made him do things like stand He hated the bosom word and to talk to her while she used the toilet. His mother was know why. the bathroom thing, though he didn’t the house and pounded his every mean. Spread her pox throughout behavior. gasoline found Sonny private. in huffed he still but Freon, huffing for to make his head slop. fumes, too, but Freon was the best way football moves their facile off their girlfriends were there, they showed by chasing armadillos on the lawn, grabbing the half-blind animal’s tail on the run, holding it up for the girls while the creature kicked Galley in had Newman blue eyes and his mother lived with He, Sonny, body left on a German his father’s town called Ludowici, a Georgia foot­ played Sonny ruined. and racked tripwire somewhere, battlefield of 1950. of his high school class, the class ball and was president

- - - MIDGE came came Morgan, W. Charles ine V His right hand became a half-numb claw, and he bitterly drew drew and he bitterly a half-numb claw, His right hand became read that Christopher He Sonny read every day. In the library, Blake said God was showing Job the mulatto William He read that refrigerators in the main din At the leper place, he stared at the lame 2 ing room and thought about Freon. He studied the properties of other ing room and thought about Freon. He studied the properties of other prison a off knock to how him showed Carville at man a and gases, tattoo using burnt ash and a pin. Sonny scratched the word who dis Midgley, Thomas on the inside of his forearm in honor of perverse pictures with it on paper that seemed to move instead of the instead of the with it on paper that seemed to move perverse pictures pen. Sonny read everything in the leper colony library to fight bore and that the eye from a horse’s built a telescope with a lens Wren Testament, had no souls. He studied the Old believed women Turks surprised to learn God bet Satan especially the Book of Job, and was and Job would take it, like he could torture Job and kill his children wondered Sonny torturing him. because God was it, was taking Sonny what kind of god did things like that. and Sonny nodded to himself between the terrible and the sublime, righteousness and killing. then whittled a whole new idea about F Sonny got thought Price how Dr. That’s at their hands. and scratched in the bacterium armadillo that carried the nine-banded from leprosy, for degrees and perfect is only 93 where the temperature its hind legs Sonny and by law, seen it in India Price had to wait. Dr. the disease to have a year, in Carville, Louisiana, for was sent to the leprosarium on the outside. no contact with anyone Galley shop craft a was There self-education. of orgy an engaged in and dom things inside of to make a ship in a bottle. He liked where he learned afraid especially things he hated or was get out, things that couldn’t dream put him on the open recurring A of, and he was afraid of ships. the vessel, whaling A little dory. a in ocean his mother with a harpoon. Sonny towards him, and on the bow stood a model of the Charles Morgan made the dream go away by making get out. Forever. inside a bottle, where it could never - - - 3 as G he T Sonny received injections of a new drug called Promin to kill the the Promin to kill of a new drug called injections Sonny received trash, so Sonny people dumped White’s, In the woods at Randy flash cutting company roofing a with job a got he year, same That progress of the leper disease and was told he could go home. Bitter, Bitter, could go home. and was told he of the leper disease progress a leprosarium— that viewed the whole world as sad—a quiet hothead bad about the other hammer in his good hand. “Too he carried a mean said. hand,” the doctors He made a to a clear spot in the palmettos. dragged an old Frigidaire sacrifice to decided and Appliances White of Lady Our to there shrine in the war, should atone for his father getting killed things he thought at and weirdness, and being locked away punishments his mother’s Carville. Sonny didn’t have the nerve to kill Dr. Price, so Price’s Appliance Lady were Dr. the White up to the things he offered first cat, which ran loose in the town. nasty Jack Russell and the minister’s pictures from the their owner’s He put them in the refrigerator with what the last shape they chose newspaper and closed the door to see inside as he did the ships in bottles would be. He arranged their bodies he made and created a strange Cabinet of Cat and Dog, with flowers, barbed wire from the surround bones, empty Mayonnaise jars, and Galley give and they would they were called, “Halo carbons,” covered Freon. if you wanted. you a halo When the display was complete, he went down on one knee ing area. burning tyger, “Tyger, Blake’s to his oblation and thought about Mr. sublime. He considered himself a bright,” along with the terrible and though his love for animals made him wizard of enclosed things now, piece. later regret what he did with this particular he had learned in the leper col ing for valleys and overhangs, a skill possible with one hand while he steadied things with the sclerotic ony, he rolled the edge of sleep, one. In the colony at night, if he couldn’t a blanket into a cone and ran it over the webbing between his fingers and the palm of his hand to feel the pleasurable fluctuations of skin conduction from the woof of the fabric. The sensation made him flip - ine , or “fear of a ventriloquist’s dummy.” His His dummy.” , or “fear of a ventriloquist’s automatonophobia V At the roofing he company, cut flashing all day with his good from work guy he hardly knew a weekend, he went with One Sonny was terrified of Mortimer Snerd after that—something lame hand, whose haptic senses had been heightened by disuse of the heightened by disuse of the hand, whose haptic senses had been when the tin snips mouth his with mort to the urge He felt other. about that produced the sliced through the thin metal. Something end of on the rolled hand of his palm the as rubbing pleasure same tongue his rolled He locus. same the throb to seemed It blanket. his back as he cut the tin and sucked. Slack! Sluck! Clup! Clup! drink and Freon huff to planned They place. out-of-town an to with an older woman who lived there. By nine o’clock, the guy light. She even made a rough version of a dummy with a coconut with a coconut a rough version of a dummy light. She even made like Mortimer for bucked teeth that looked head and white seashells house, telling him Mortimer had and chased him with it around the those sucking noises. She said special ears to hear children making from buckteeth. “He will come the dummy wanted to save every child and You’llfix see! you. He has a pair of snips, and he will race into suck it back, so you can’t a crow’s the room and split your tongue like with those snips for doing and then he’ll split your lips and privates Soon buckteeth!” than better is tongue split A do. you thing stupid that when he was upset, hid from after this, Sonny started to hear voices and he morted even more them under his blanket, another enclosure, with his tongue. mother tried to catch Sonny morting in his bed at night with her flash her with night at bed his in morting Sonny catch to tried mother called 4 up. The mother called what Sonny did with his blanket and mouth mouth Sonny did with his blanket and The mother called what up. ­“morting.” Mortimer Snerd, and Sonny would have buckteeth when he grew when he grew and Sonny would have buckteeth ­Mortimer Snerd, F Galley this child, he had done like a shoat; as a back and suck his tongue His mother worked scared of his mother. when he was for comfort in a dentist’s office and told him if he kept dummy, the ventriloquist’s like teeth front his out would push tongue up the habit,his little 5 as G he T The mother and son moved to Stuart, Florida, where the mother Florida, where the mother The mother and son moved to Stuart, took a job working office.in Sonnyanother wasdentist’s glad and the second on apartment They rented an Georgia. get out of to ready job a got Sonny and River, Lucie St. the to close building a of floor Crane. Since he was in a bookstore downtown owned by old Mr. up, straightened her dress, and her dress, and up, straightened with Mortimer came towards him The woman, and his snips. Sonny, who was all over out, wet herself, blacked and stopped breathing It all from the Freon. disgusted him. No less by himself deranged gas, Thomas Midgley’s he walked to the other truck and got a guy’s then snips, tin of pair the places on cutting began body as he would roof woman’s flashing, especially places where the skin was webbed or thin. He his abdomen, and the sensation made her split long strips across tongue roll back and mort as the fluctuations travelled through his body. She never woke up, and died in the Freon’s copper coffin. knew Sonny was there, and the Last, he split her tongue. No one other guy was blamed. Mortimer Snerd. His mother stood His mother stood ­Mortimer Snerd. Galley The woman very high. the woman was dead and was chemically she was performing froze, and when who sort of to Sonny, came on with her mouth, it made that sound. Slack! Sluck! Slack! Sluck! to hallucination talking a toilet in a his mother on Sonny saw - Leagues under the Sea and Leagues under the ine V Sonny killed again in1954, though he did not mean to. though he did not again in1954, Sonny killed named lady saw a he bookstore, of the front in sidewalk On the A week later, he passed Rebecca on the shoulder of the road with he passed Rebecca later, week A he where backwoods area a to his car in unconscious her He took lame 6 considered partially disabled, it was something Sonny could do and and do could Sonny something was it disabled, partially ­considered read all the time. still get to and face. He knew the lady girl’s slap her little Kitching Rebecca as time her was before Nell customers. as frequent Nell, her child, had ordered 20,000 and Sonny a reader, F nently enclosed, and she would never slap or hurt her daughter Nell again. a flat and stopped to help with the best of intentions. She kept looking looking kept She intentions. of best the with help to stopped and flat a did, checking her dress cleavage, down at her bosom like his mother She told him she had to Sonny. and giving something of the look to and the look again, gave him the smile go to the bathroom urgently, lugs, Sonny, working to loosen the tire While bushes. and ran to the the heard the voices in his head and went to the ostensible Samaritan, iron until tire her with the was. He hit where Mrs. Kitching palmettos her jaw hung open. to Our Lady in Georgia, one he made the like shrine, another had made of White Appliances. A smile was on his face as he filled her lungs her watched and there put had he refrigerator old from the Freon with was high he when and gas, halo the to himself helped He die. and quit ear her toes, Rebecca’s between webbing the cut he Himalayas, as slack, sluck, slack, . . lips. her lips, her abdomen, smooth her lobes, her body sluck. His tongue went to the roof of his mouth. He placed then and arranged her limbs akimbo, inside the junked refrigerator surrounded Rebecca with wild flowers and small trash items from the was perma mother Now the tongue. her split he Last, heap. area’s Galleyseemed jealous Rebecca, mother, The Gables for her. Green of Anne on the sidewalk, The incident Sonny gave the child. of the attention the slap, enraged him. 7 as G he T Sonny wrote “Ship in a Bottle” with Rebecca’s blood on the blood Rebecca’s with Bottle” “Ship in a Sonny wrote the town hidden his work, but felt he had to give Sonny could have Sonny could apartment, From the second story of his mother’s Sonny the river and saw walked across the street to the One day, your name, kid?” What’s “Hey! The boy turned, holding up two crabs in his dip net. sir.” “Aubrey, must be a Shallcross, then, from the pointed-roof house up “You The boy nodded. “I hope you’re not gonna let your mother boil those for you, now Galley looked up of Florida, and scalloped clouds at the door, refrigerator he’d Cummings E.E. Mr. from line famous a speak to was moved your blue-eyed do you like “How up like he did Rebecca: smashed had sex of any kind Raggedy-ass God?” Sonny never Mr. boy now, other victims would he ever again with any of his with Rebecca, nor behind left Kitching Rebecca up in Georgia. he killed the lady after and her husband John. her daughter Nell a or steps of courthouse, on the of pissing kind Mrs. Kitching—some he used snips tin The and hormone. of rage smelled that piss church, life creation when someone found the still were there with Rebecca two days later. Shallcross the to knew belonged he house that a of yard into the look boy played there. Sonny An eight-year-old It sat on the river. family. women older with adults but had a problem and young children liked in the yard seemed watched The boy he if he thought they were mean. The town’s who was not there. to be talking to someone else, someone putting three and three murder, people were discussing Rebecca’s newspaper asked. “The the have?” could seven. “Who to get together and The local was the work of a psychotic.” body in the refrigerator Snip Killer.” Tin “The national papers called the murderer The crabs near the sewer line. boy from next door wading after blue boy was talking to himself again. there.” ine V “No, sir. My friends and me sell ’em to the Yankee tourists.” Yankee ’em to the and me sell My friends “No, sir. niggers will eat ’em.” “I bet the word.” a bad says that’s “My daddy mainly.” tellin the truth, your daddy’s “Yeah, the He thought that. his hand soon after down at Sonny looked lame 8 leprosy was back. This time, he begged to go to Carville to get away to get to go to Carville he begged This time, leprosy was back. he was there. while procedure new surgical a did They the town. from working in his repair, showing off home he was months later, Two boy the and watching walks down to the river, the bookstore, taking no one. Sonny sensed out loud to crabs and talking Aubrey wading for him—not right. this child was like F Galley the sewer pipe.” been eatin lunch on that they 9 Huck Finn – Huck but that ain’t no matter. , but that no matter. ain’t Shallcross You don’t know a thing him without about don’t know You the name of readbook by a have you Galley him and Mr. given out by That book was and theyCharles Porter, the told truth, things what they There was pretty much. they the told truth. but mostly stretched, Galley 11

Galley Galley 13 or you’ll fall, or

ubrey A JULY 1952 JULY Chapter 2 Chapter That’s me on the wall. Aubrey. My last name is Shallcross. I am is Shallcross. My last name Aubrey. me on the wall. That’s can follow it the other You The river is a mile wide by my house. snook and them in the summer, My river is full of silver mullet “When you walk the seawall, don’t look at your feet the seawall, don’t look at your “When you walk eight years old, and I am an only child. I live in Stuart, Florida, on the I am an only child. I live in Stuart, eight years old, and we summer, Ocean. In the Atlantic goes to the that River St. Lucie have them big and our typhoid shots, and we are all scared of polio the grownups a time It’s kid. white a I’m scars on our arms. smallpox call seg- segra-gation. go canal and cross Lake Okeechobee and way through the St. Lucie then to New Gulf of Mexico, to the River Caloosa-somethin out the Orleans if you want, my daddy said. head my with lie I too. said, daddy my wolves, water like ’em hunt hot, and I can hear really it’s in the upstairs window at night when jumping over the water to keep ahead of of them mullet gazillions and white the black winter, rain. In the They sound like the wolves. benches our on sit Yankees old like river the on sit to come ducks wild in hell for place said there must be a special downtown. My momma people from New Jersey. Galley kid!” Paul Gray said. ine V “I’ve told you before, Aubrey,” Grandmother said. “If you eatsaid. Grandmother Aubrey,” before, “I’ve told you angels, your guardian “show me said, Gramma done,” “Now that’s I have a needlefish skull tied aroundmy neck, like the other boys lame candy, you’ll get the sugar diabetes like me and have to get a shot every candy, that.said she after cereal my on sugar put even wouldn’t I morning.” make up her mind about people My daddy thinks his mother shouldn’t When she sticks is low he said. like Musso-lini when her blood sugar the needle in her leg, I wrinkle my nose the way Momma wrinkles hers when her hand goes toward my mouth with a spoon full of medicine. darling.” 14 on the river. It hangs there next to my Miraculous Medal with Mary, Medal with Mary, to my Miraculous hangs there next It on the river. when I run together two of them bounce of Jesus, and the the mother says and sofa She sits on her house. grandmother’s my to bank up the like fashioned, is old says Grandmother Momma her rosary every day. dress her there, sits She Victoria. named England in queen dead this before I was leg for her sugar diabetes shot. Once, pulled up on her She liked Pope. the to closer be to Italy in lived grandmother my born, run on trains the made he because too, man, Musso-lini Musso-, that John Birch, and Grandmother is in a club called time. Momma says a communist under every bed. she thinks there is F Galley - 15 ubrey A I lifted my shirt. Two next to my belly button, one on my ribs, one ribs, one one on my button, belly to my next Two shirt. I lifted my “Now your grandmother wants to see the big angel mole, Triple Triple mole, the big angel wants to see grandmother “Now your she Viceroy,” was—“The he there under and arm left my I lifted angel prayer say our “Now let’s That night, I had the bad dream. just above a hipbone. My moles. just above Suiter.” them cigarettes— him, like called me the big mole that protected moles other bossed the and Triple him around. I named Suiter after the three-piece puts father dress-up suit my I always kept on to go to Mass. that, dressed like Suiter Triple on mole was a he though even same the at my skin and an angel about you more tell He could time. me than I ever could. makes Grandmother lovey.” together, the sign of the cross. “Angel of God, whom to dear, guardian my near. me hold you love God’s be at my side, to Ever this day, to guard, to rule, and guide. light, Amen.” in the dark door slammed A light. I was on a sidewalk under a street Mississippi, two Mis “One counted, somebody and me behind place Galleyand tongue a red toad’s out like came bone hands sissippi. . . ” Slim I baby, was a I when because It’s throat. down my toaster kitchen a put would swallow things so they were mine. I go blind after that from this chased away a angel, my guardian Suiter, Triple big spot in my eyes. fingered hands.” ine - V Lots of Florida kids drown, so I had swimming lessons. Arquette swimming lessons. Lots of Florida kids drown, so I had Little boy, build your tree of rainbows. house build your Little boy, made of clouds. horse your for Build a fence tree. banyan a branch of your Hang a sign from they’re the justTell grown-ups allowed. not be a dreamer. Little boy, Go bathe in the northeast wind. Never you below mind those down be just to like them. you Who want “Aubrey got a toy soldier and My mother told the neighbor lady, lame Orlander, a redheaded boy my age, would punch me under water and a redheaded boy my age, Orlander, anotherhe called and buggers, like looked body my on moles the say But my grandma told meboy that had something wrong “a cripple.” ’cause God showed he liked methem moles on me were angel heads and obey him in this world and better than other people to love, honor, Arquette didn’t the next by giving me extra moles. She said if that boy that other boy, watch out, God would get him for teasing me and calling Arquette was a Protestant with no moles, David, a cripple. Besides, 16 and long other things caught in his throat when he was real small, and we had small, when he was real throat in his things caught other The doctor said he gets grown people a few times. to go to the hospital tops, rocks, forks, bottle like things, too, to swallow strange who want something called have people He said those knives, you know. even hair red with man tall this He was doctor. that forget never I’ll ‘pica’. F Galley the toaster from choking on Hand and saves me the Slim man he calls me sings Trip and up crying, wake I back. come eyes My dream. my in me better. he made up to make this song 17 ubrey A Daddy worked on the fishing boats for Shark Industries when I My father was born in the house we lived in, and he slept in the in the house we lived in, and he My father was born was six. They put bloody pieces of meat on hooks in the ocean. Every put bloody pieces of meat They was six. their all sharks up. I learned them pulled and out went the men day, They bull, leopard, and black tip. hammerhead, tiger, names—mako, fins the sell and oil, the for livers their out take back, ’em bring would docks, on the dead sharks would be The for soup. places Chinese to same room he was born in with my mother. People called our house our house People called born in with my mother. same room he was looked and top the at points in roofs ended the because Owl House the 1905 in it who made man the said owl. Gramma big a of ears the like break the wind of the hurricanes. wanted the ears to Galley a swimming have didn’t of heaven that went to a part and Protestants “theto something called they belonged grandmother said pool. My have Protestants didn’t Claire told me Sister Raymond Low Church.” like me. were all Catholic because the angels angels, either, guardian Catholic lessons a Methodist but she was taking Even my mother was and grandmother happy. to make my father - - ine V When the shark place closed, my father had a boat building busi- closed, my father had a boat building When the shark place for a long time room his borning and married My father stayed in us what a the nun sat us down and told At my First Communion, That sent my swallowing thing All of this was just perfect to me. My favorite day in the church was February 3, when the priest lame 18 ness next to our place. He made rowboats and motor boats out of wood He made rowboats and motor boats ness next to our place. they were beautiful, thought tools, and everyone with his hands and one at of them a lot making started people other these when but then he went broke. called fiberglass, time out of something bleeding inside came and took him, ambulance an after that. One day, nervous break a called they what had He hospital. the to stomach, his by a hit got now and right street crossed the was. If we day this great just swallowed we had because to heaven we would go straight car, we time “Or next to, we had said he of Jesus like blood body and the see Him, we better run.” to the moon, and it was the first time I wanted to die, too. I wanted to heaven to go straight so I could car a by hit get and street the in go out and swim in the big pool, but I was so how happy with it felt to swal for cheer to rail communion the at we knelt as our throats all blessed some for saving who was famous throats, of saint patron the Blaise, St. F I me.” killed daddy “Your said, that eyes open with me at looking sharks always thought daddy showed me after that. My were after me teeth so I could sell them with a hammer their teeth out how to knock New from Yankees old mean to the an envelope for a nickel downtown Jersey. GalleyAfter he friends gave him blood to keep him alive. down. My parent’s He had only two cars a friend helped him get a car place. got better, for sale on a dirt lot. Raymond blood and body and fully know him, like sister low God’s the pool. I could hardly wait about said we should, that I forgot Claire my next Holy Communion. ’til - 19 ubrey A

, a famous Catholic star. We eat We , a famous Catholic star. ~ I am twelve (To God Who giveth joy to my youth) (To Ad Deum qui laetificat juventutem meam Ad Deum qui One year, back when I was ten, my dad, out of his love and time, One year, My parents read a lot of books. They made me read and speak right, My parents read a lot of books. made a sailboat for me called a pram. When I helped him put in the for me called a pram. made a sailboat me, he said, “Watch wrong way, them the brass screws and turned you out them take To in, you say righty-tighty. put them To Aubrey. maybe and spigots, water screws, Everything—bolts, lefty-loose. say Some and lefty-loose. son. Righty-tighty even life—works this way, chocolate syrup over ice cream on TV trays, now that I am old enough trays, now that I TV chocolate syrup over ice cream on said about sugar diabetes. not to believe what my grandmother or reverse thread, cross thread, a call they what though, you get times, and for reasons hard to understand, things go the opposite way you There’ll be a lot of cross threads in your life, but thought they would. you’ll figure them out.” now that I’m older, so momma said I won’t “sound like a hayseed.” said I won’t so momma now that I’m older, , The Train watching Wagon Some nights we spend with our television Hit Parade, and Bishop Fulton J. Sheen Galley about story the from see can You bone. fish a on choking was who kid my you why he was I’m telling things that and swallowing my life But I mean. it, called doctor the pica, of my saint—’cause favorite colors, into turns it butter, peanut like things, good I swallow when when I especially books in my mind; and comic sounds, smells, and Jesus, things host, the body and blood of our Lord swallow the blessed always and I singing and stained glass and stuff, get pretty cool with it goes down. after “Yay!” say, - Gun The Saturday The Saturday . I could do imitations of all of them, but my favorite of them, of all . I could do imitations magazine. ine V After that, I started to think of most things and my ideas that way. way. that ideas my and things of most think to I started that, After sticks, my neck years I grew too fast, my arms like were There and vaccinations, There were doctors to patch me up—stitches, My first best friend, besides Arquette Orlander, was a big kid I was a child with “a very large imagination,” my mother would imagination,” I was a child with “a very large lame 20 I turned my thoughts into pictures and words that turned easily both that turned easily pictures and words thoughts into I turned my cross thread sometimes would I and looked, how they see to ways, just messed up. looked a little just to see how they them, too, collars to hide my spawn. I wore shirts with certain thin in a tortured fill were kids other when arms my over sleeves long and neck skinny a big deal considered constipation dreaded enemas, because medicine a lot of Spam and pound we ate in the 1950s. Maybe it was because in his pictures Our only town doctor had two large know. I don’t cake. “Johnny said, that smiling toilet the on sitting boy a showed One office. frowning, that in the other picture, can,” and the same boy on the toilet The boy in the picture doctor loved enemas. That said, “Johnny can’t.” Rockwell drew on the cover of looked like the ones Mr. in a place who lived on a ranch twenty miles away, The Junior, named all the Yuma both pretended we were Johnny We Indiantown. called time and rode horses to explore the ranch. I got a horse of my own for Christmas and have been in love with horses ever since. F Galley stand out if a girl in my neck to make a ligament ing out. I knew how when I turned the side so my neck looked bigger looked at me from promises in the mirror that I made back at her. my head and looked fat kids must skinny kids when I grew up, like I would always help of mountains me gave my parents kids, and fat to help promises make who they were. encouragement and love because of Evening Post Rifleman, western: The TV I loved every instead of just a liar. say, Smoke, Paladin who had blonde hair like me. Yuma, show was The Rebel, with Johnny - 21 ubrey A on collisions!” There were - My next best friend after that was The Junior’s friend Punky, Punky, friend Junior’s The was that after friend best My next There was polio that took two ranch kids The Junior knew. There There The Junior knew. kids There was polio that took two ranch We lived in this quiet place with two rivers around us. It had not two rivers around us. It had not lived in this quiet place with We twin brother and sister classmates of mine, Harold and Betty, who who Betty, and Harold mine, of classmates sister and brother twin we watched from the Ski Point, and drowned together last year off man on a A beach while they dragged with hooks for their bodies. pulled poor Harold and When they boat yelled, “I got something.” they if as each other, around wrapped they had their arms Betty up, were car accidents people called “head nificentObsession, which was a book my parents Frank read by Dr. books Slaughter—what a name for a doctor who wrote G. Slaughter. body parts. about taking out people’s Galley you asked him to potatoes and could fart anytime loved sweet who was the girl Nell Then there day. because he ate those potatoes every felt bad for Nell, because her mother was We Kitching, in our class. Snip Killer when we were all in Tin murdered by someone called the afraid for a year. fourth grade, and the whole town was dad would say and shake his been discovered by builders yet, my town. people lived and died like people in every head. Our town’s could think of—tonsils, gall Our doctors took out everything they parts. It was called their Mag parts, and men’s bladders, women’s ine V My mom is from North Carolina and says, “We live in a Norman Norman live in a North Carolina and says, “We My mom is from lame 22 Rockwell town on the St. Lucie River in the middle of a palmetto of a palmetto the St. Lucie River in the middle Rockwell town on only with Vermont, in Rockwell’s, town like Mr. kingdom, a small instead trees, mango and scorpions, snakes, damn coconuts, guavas, the mountains. of maples.” She misses F Galley down fell Nell Kitching. Nell to next standing was I hugging. were in that saw the bodies when she and started screaming on her knees mother laughing. My she started strange enough, and then hug death see all that. I was there to drowned me if she knew would have 23

Galley Galley 25 us. ax I W I Chapter 3 Chapter ­ and she was a real gypsy lady from and she was a real fisherman,

Reve made me a ring out of a small bone that floats inside a toad Reve saw me talking to myself talking Reve saw me He was a Quebec. The man’s name was Coker Barnes, and his name was The man’s Quebec. was Reve, which meant “dream” name wife’s drown, that children in French. Reve said Harold and Betty, like my schoolmates water into turned spirits their get souls and stay underwater —French, I think. She glued the glued She I think. a crapaudine—French, it called She skull. frog’s these and the stone would change colors to mean all stone in silver, Suiter never liked Triple around me. things were happening different and seemed to know I wasn’t just talking to myself. She said I had to myself. just talking to know I wasn’t and seemed in my mind, and that was a good thing, if a “slipper” something called I took Nell She said she had a slipper of her own. it was a good slipper. and when Nell went down to look at the Kitching over there one day, too, and that Nell knew she had Reve told me Nell had a slipper, river, friend, and secret angel was just my guardian I told her mine a slipper. shook her head. and she smiled and Suiter, Triple forever, because right be forever, fore they die they go such adream, this into beautiful dream, with colored fish every­ where, and they don’t want to be anywhere else but under the water. Galley riverbank from down the who lived man and his wife a I knew - at 20,000 Leagues under the Sea 20,000 Leagues under the getting pretty cute. Arquette sat on the other side of her, her, side of other sat on the Arquette cute. pretty getting ine V I wanted a Ball jar for a window like the one in the Nautilus to see Nautilus one in the the like for a window jar I wanted a Ball One day in class, Nell had a kind of fit. She said she and Nemo In the seventh grade, I sat next to Nell, who always made straight straight made Nell, who always to I sat next grade, In the seventh her eyes, she and Black Socks Nell said if she closed make could lame 26 my own daydreams, or drifties, Momma called them. I complained a like who I had not outgrown but cultivated, Suiter, Triple about it to mind, and I placed in my and I made a jar like Nell’s Trip royal palm. an imaginary copy of the toadstone ring the gypsy lady made for me inside. our theater downtown. A’s and was A’s to a cricket bringing started too. She she was cute, and he thought Nell told me the climb. with a stick inside for it to jar, school in a Ball her told I Socks. was Black name His friend. secret her was cricket armpit, mole in my left and showed her the large Suiter Triple about was so cute and else in my class, because she nobody but only her, weird. stars, like Deb- or they could become movie anything change shape, She said Presley. Elvis singer new that or Ladd, Alan or Reynolds bie all these things inside if she she saw her Ball jar in her mind with under anywhere, even her would take jar She said the them. needed the along moved Nemo and she where Nemo, Captain with ocean the reefs off Jensen Beach in the Nautilus and saw extinct fishes, golden subma rays go by the glass window in the groupers, and big manta F be a pill sometimes. and could ring. He was jealous, Reve or the Galleywould They she said. jar, Ball another glass window was like The rine. our drowned rivers and oceans, like things in the stare and wonder at an Nell and Nemo spoke must do now. Harold and Betty schoolmates me to spoke it she and other, each to Atlantis called language extinct back then, because in the fourth were all big on Nemo We sometimes. Kirk Douglas in seen we had grade - 27 ax I W I ­ different different Later, my mother told me Nell had a nervous breakdown, Later, Arquette, Punky, The Junior, and me ran after them with Nell’s Nell’s with them after ran me and Junior, The Punky, Arquette, That night, after I saw what happened to Nell, I had the bad swal jar, trying to tell Nell the cricket was okay and hadn’t drowned, but was okay and hadn’t trying to tell Nell the cricket jar, in putting Nell and saw them they sent us back. I turned around once sitting in her desk, hanging onto it like She was still an ambulance. drown, I guess. Punky so Betty wouldn’t Betty, brother did Betty’s She got a part lice. had head girl year that you guys last said, “I told screwed on!” that ain’t hit the reef off Jensen Beach and split their heads wide open. The Ball The open. their heads wide Beach and split Jensen off hit the reef cricket, rushed in. Her The water and so jar broke, did the Nautilus. said she saw Harold She Harold and Betty. drowned like Black Socks, before right Nautilus window of the the in with big smiles and Betty room with to the ran back reef. Mrs. Johnson, our teacher, the hit they and Betty and Nell was screaming about Harold the school nurse, and said it was let go of her desk because she wouldn’t Nell the cricket. and took Nell out, still in the desk. These other people came Betty. She left the Ball jar turned over on the floor and started to yell, “Ship grandmother told Catholic My diabetic a bottle.” in a bottle. Ship in seizures, and protects children from convulsions, me Saint Scholastica began I cancer. from us protects Peregrine Saint and sugar, blood low had Nell sure whatever I was because Scholastica, Saint to praying cancer. wasn’t low dream again. The pica monster came. The Slim Hand shoved one The pica monster came. low dream again. and the blind new cars from the car lot down my throat, of my father’s and my Suiter Triple calling Nell spots appeared in my eyes. I heard down ran Suiter Triple us. with there was right she knew I and names, back, he came Trip after the Slim Hand, and when hallway my mind’s us better. make to Nell and me to the dream to sing this song in began Galleyabout it with the black and I overheard her talking from my dad’s, Ella, who helped us keep our house. lady, The Tropic The Tropic ine V King CrèmeKing lives Cocoa de up above Gives courage all the children and love. the theHe wrote Bible; he wrote Psalms. are on. the big laws theHe wrote tablets the way. you just I’ll show a dance; Life’s is gone; don’t be afraid.The Slim Hand but could I could see the words and hear a typewriter clicking, with saw Nell downtown and and I were Arquette years later, Two the year after that, I started going next door to see Sonny from A lame 28 not see the person typing. Trip told me it was his own guardian angel, told me it was Trip typing. not see the person He said his lived in the bone bowl of his chest. Amper Sand, who and universe, the in typewriter every was on name angel’s guardian there is always more a way meant stood for the word “and,” which in and something was always next. to Sonny in front of the bookstore. He They were talking her aunt. crabs for fish to used I and eight was I since known had I man the was going the other When Nell and her aunt started pipe. the sewer off name my She said lips. her I read me, and at back looked Nell way, my raised I smiled. and head, her to pointed Suiter,” said, “Triple then the mouthed was, and mole big my where underarm, show my to hand than words Black Socks. She was two years older now and prettier his pants fanned who was more than girl crazy, Arquette, and ever, in Palm Beach heard Nell was at this crazy place We as we walked. weird kids; my mother said it was a good County for rich people’s aunt could help him with her. thing her father had money and her you of things miles about talked We bookstore and his wife, Beth. book called illegal an had they and school, in heard never F Galley worked for mother Sonny’s time. the books all They read Cancer. of bad things my teeth, brush my dentist, and she told me if I didn’t 29 ax I W I ­ normal Sonny played guitar and sang the new music called “rock and “rock called sang the new music guitar and Sonny played I told Sonny about Nell having a fit and the cricket Black Socks, That same year, The Junior and I got our first .22 rifles. One day, I day, One rifles. .22 first our got I and Junior The year, same That roll” on weekends in a band called the Hot Weather Hotshots. Even Hotshots. Weather Hot the called in a band roll” on weekends pick in his once, he could still hold a guitar though he’d had leprosy could I voice. mother’s my inherited I had and to sing, I liked hand. song sang that Orbison and Dee Clark when he sing as high as Roy for guitar got a I guitar. the chords on Sonny showed me “Raindrops.” put it down. my birthday and wouldn’t secret friends people have secret friends. He called and he said a lot of I was was my sidecar. Trip I guessed on a motorcycle. like “sidecars,” because Trip, say a word to Sonny about but I didn’t now, fourteen lost like Nell people Sonny said when I wouldn’t. Trip I promised friend secret the and motorcycle on the places switched they control, would happen to me, and then she’d pinch me. She had a mean face, mean She had a me. she’d pinch then and to me, would happen to happen to me. she wanted bad things and I thought did this bad thing. I wanted to kill something, anything, with my new my with anything, something, kill to wanted I thing. bad this did of blue jays in There was a family gun; some force had hold of me. myself not to do it, it was cruel, above me, and I kept telling the trees bull pine a like me at hissed gun the with powerful be to urge that but bad jays were blue the that head story in my up this I made snake. ate eggs, and the broke nests, birds’ other raided they because birds shots killers one by one with clean the baby the babies. So I killed it still haunts me. I know now most To this day, from my Marlin rifle. We birds will raid a nest, not just blue jays, and so will human beings. Galley He said to sit in the sidecar. drove the bike around, and Nell had sat their neurosis called people always drove the bike, and something for too long, then those people in the sidecar unless it got out of hand maybe and and sit in the sidecar, had to switch places with the neurosis like crazy place another in North Florida, Chattahoochee go away to to drive the bike again. where Nell is, until they learned how

- - True , about out True . I hoped my life gothic letter gothic . It seemed to to . It seemed Horseman The Western An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge, by at Owl Creek An Occurrence , ine V Trip told me he dealt with worries by writing his own told me he dealt with stories. Trip Every first of the month, TheJunior and I went to the bookstore Catholic a to me sent folks so my bad, were grades my fifteen, At in the Rye I read Catcher lame . Trip called writing, “When your whittle monster gets loose.” gets monster your whittle “When writing, called Trip . font stories of instead that write to began so I too, by now, poetry liked I because I was good at rhymes. He said Amper Sand typed them out for him in a out for him them Amper Sand typed He said would not have the ups and downs that Pip had in that story by Mr. Mr. by story that in had Pip downs that ups and the have not would were good, I thought of Pip and Dickens. Even when things in my life shot the blue jays. the murders I committed that day I 30 and asked Sonny for two things: a magazine called a magazine for two things: and asked Sonny monastery two hundred miles from boarding school, a Benedictine black Over the while. for a life other of my end was the That home. F ribs. I pound and baby back like eggs of everything, eat the young something bad happens sometimes when about it still, and my chest day, blue jays that the killed you because to myself, “It’s to me, I say Aubrey.” Galley one called door adventures, and father my what and stories, magazine—pictures, was a life of all me The Junior and I swore When wood screws turn. said about the way by saying, “ we backed it up to each other, something was true grave.” of old saws like “On my mother’s magazine!” instead that old spooky saying: “For board in every classroom was written what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and suffer the Any books we read had to be approved by soul?” loss of his immortal censors. But I actually , the Catholic Prohibitorum the Index Librorum the in lines opening the forgot I never reading. required thick the liked the truth, to tell Finn, and I always tried of Huckleberry Adventures like the truth, I told mostly, but some, it I stretched said. it like mostly, Huck did. Expectations Great and Dickens’s Ambrose Bierce, - 31 ax I W I After I came home from school at Christmas, I was enunciating I was enunciating at Christmas, home from school After I came When I was nineteen, my dad was driving a tractor in a field at Christ and my father’s What was I to do now with their unburied about the Kafka book. Someone was writing a At night, I dreamed me priests called Two When it happened, I was away at college. “Noth and spoke to the sky. I walked out into the night alone in’s there, Nell Kitching,” then I fell on the lawn of the cathedral there, Nell Kitching,” then I fell on the lawn of the cathedral in’s came to help me when I heard the door slam in Trip wept. and the dark, and one Mississippi, two Mississippi. . . the Slim Hand after went Trip throat. my down jays blue dead the all jammed GalleyJunior The words. I loved place. the over words all school boarding big started go and it so I let of those prissy boys, one sounded like I said The Junior had this time, around him. By a redneck again talking like and he summer, That football. play to colleges major three from offers ranches a lot in at the got to practice We rodeos. I rode in high school some easier both rode small bulls and I rode We 4H. Indiantown and in my teens. I was pretty good at, even in bareback broncs, which frond with a He went under a palmetto house to help out. The Junior’s flame vine hidden inside. It caught him under his chin, pulled him off disc behind, and killed him. the tractor into the Cain because he did to Yahweh body I had to bury? I knew what their throat for not cut the lamb’s was a farmer of crops, and Cain would Him, for sacrifice.This God. This hemal monster in the clouds who the under people snatch and everything of young the sacrifice to liked and Betty. like my schoolmates, Harold water, I did not know what the crime was— crime on my back I committed. What for that? my father the blue jays I shot. Did God kill maybe Drayton my father, I worshipped take Him whom made was it that from this careless What forensic was I to accept Shallcross, from me? I had loved for years? supernal overlord, this invisible suzerain looked at them, shaking my head, upstairs and told me he was gone. I come.” and said, “Oh, no, the cross thread has - other world. There His other world. ine V When you can’t see, take a straight shot see, take can’t When you Right through the heart of the spot. blind the truth knows magazine True lefty-loose.Righty-tighty religion and their the Catholic I promised I would never swallow otherness the to related now not me about otherness an was There lame 32 was a departure for me from one kind of consciousness to a new one. for me from one was a departure white host again. I wondered if this obsession had happened to other to happened had obsession this I wondered if again. host white to hooked phagomania this me, like sacrament the in kids soaked an of presence the history: human in proposition powerful most the we being that could do no wrong and his insistence that omnipotent his erased from or be know him blood to his his body and drink eat kind of mercy. world I was truth of the objective It was the steel or hell. of heaven all alone in for the first time, without God and F Blaise to save praying to Saint and I started The Hand ran, him. con protect me from Scholastica to choking, and Saint me from Galley saw I time, first for the later, and seizures. Moments vulsions my forearm outside standing on three inches tall, Suiter, Triple a than more was he me told He man. neon little a mind, my of of voices, like he was a slipper from the region guardian angel; I always saw he was, and he looked just like Reve the gypsy said of another I sobbed in the grass, and the inside him in my mind. spot blind a was There head. my in appeared cathedral of kind a in the top of the high dome, blocking basilica above the altar’s kept staring at the God I was raised with. I view of heaven and cathedral with too, was in this bone-walled Trip, the blind spot. protective rhymes to hold me me. He began chanting one of his up during this awful nightmare. - 33 ax I W I

Galley become had “I” as me of perception lone The split. had person first My in a life Amper Sand, and Trip, it was me, From here, stereophonic. threads forever. talks, and cross sights, cross time of sounds, Galley 35 & Amper Sand. True magazine, and sign my and name, magazine, True On a black Underwood I type the Underwood On a black I ride in the saloon of the psyche, And the of Cain. counsel The vapor of Able, the murdered shepherd, The vapor Galley Triple Suiter, slipper, theI am arch Galley - 37 , and non- pucas, and , oy J kelpies and

us. We do not tell our hosts what our hosts tell do not We us.

faeries, Chapter 4 Chapter inence ncont I I, the one he called Triple Suiter, found that perfect and strong in and perfect found that Suiter, Triple called he one I, the talk and animal, to person, animal to person from move Slippers The brain is a pacific of prairies, forests, flats, oceans, and some- among of silence rule is a There When a person is troubled, malefic slippers like the Slim Hand him. From breath to breath, I. From brain to brain, I, went to his dog I. From brain to breath, him. From breath noses. Aubrey when they rubbed then slipped to imagined— The slippers. other to hears us and tells When someone slippers are there. We times storms. the doctor calls it schizophrenia. a doctor, tree. Some stories. not are slippers, the We, stories. in this zooids—do Nell Kitching, and Reve Aubrey, hear and talk to us. people are able to of their The architecture do not. the gypsy hear and talk, but most slippers thoughts, imagination, Those people call brains is different. the Muse, or earworms. I once lived in the mind of an anthropologist awake, was us when he hear not could he but brain, the who studied other the like and Corpus Columbus, Dr. him I called dreams. in only the land he discovered. Columbus, he was not indigenous to He, the child Aubrey, could paint with his eyes. A hut climbing a hut climbing A with his eyes. paint could Aubrey, child the He, Galleyhosts our tell we nor do slipper, their from host another about learn we The slippers. other to talk to person and person from we can move but in does not tell them the thoughts of another, god our hosts believe The devil is just a bad devil they invented does. they think the Bible’s something them god told their imagine could they Of course, slipper. called a divine message, or as they would and that’s about someone, I will never under “God spoke to me,” instead of schizophrenia. say, stand this. - pater into the ground. of the slip away. November 1964 ine V In the shock that death brings, he was off and on in his head— his and on in brings, he was off death shock that In the In a closet before the service, he cried into his father’s shirts and his father’s into cried service, he the before In a closet Aubrey left college for one week to hold up his mother and bury Aubrey left college for one week to Sonny, the leper, has a good slipper and a bad one, and he has he and one, bad a and good slipper a has leper, the Sonny, the great outdoors, I once lived in the mind of a raccoon, you lame blank, furious, sunken, hallucinating—blank again. On a plane back blank, furious, sunken, hallucinating—blank to school, he saw a phonograph out on the wing, stacked with records. of Twelfth “The One by one, they dropped “Unchained Melody,” on out went Suiter Triple Fleetwoods. by the “Tragedy,” and Never,” Aubrey sang with to stack more records. to time the wing from time beat his face against the wall. His friends had to hold onto him. A long A him. onto hold to had His friends wall. the against face his beat his cortege of cars came to see them lower his father, Drayton Shallcross, dragged by a flame vine into the tractor the into vine flame a by dragged Shallcross, Drayton father, his blades, a killed man. 38 what medicine calls a psychosis. Sonny’s good slipper tells me Sonny me tells slipper good Sonny’s psychosis. a calls medicine what slip bad The snips. tin Freon and stop using can’t yet sick, knows he’s a When car. by a was hit you. My raccoon tell I could things The know. I slipped to the bird and rode the saprophyte him, to eat buzzard came the earth—Cadillac five thousand feet off F to Then I come story. through a cruel eyes and hurl them crash their fight. Me, Triple Quixote, from knight old history and fables other all your life. you’ve heard Galley and his it worse, the gas to make Sonny huff per in his brain makes another knight good like slipper, me, cannot seem to find this demon. his sins, his Sonny is not a bad person and hates In some of his heart, a his mother, but Sonny is in a double bind with good slipper says, is And that by motherhood. early in life damnable cross thread created his early his slipper—even from Sonny, about everything know how I life in the place called Georgia. - - 39 oy J and nence i ncont I homiletic blasts about right and wrong, but and right about blasts homiletic Thomas said something was insuperable about infinity. There There infinity. about insuperable was something said Thomas sometimes started ­sometimes At the Benedictine college, he walked with two young priests with two he walked college, At the Benedictine waf walks were shaky, evening priests on the Aubrey knew these would hector him in a sweet and low Trip They fought at times. during Trip from were other asides and sleeve-pullings There every evening after vespers. They talked about mystery. They talked They talked about mystery. They talked vespers. after every evening Aqui Thomas St. about whether They talked death. father’s about his The and cycles. the priests about life, religion, mock, trying to out-talk the came up often, the irony and danger of subject of self-exaltation and prospect of with the self and its own elevation self’s fascination people who did too Aubrey called everything said or done to that end. He liked the country sound or “Taters.” much of this “self-exaltaters,” of it. Two Taters! kinds, he told Trip: Blind Taters and Sight Taters. Aubrey said he did not. Taters knew they did it; Blind Taters Sight Trip Tater. Sight a him made that both agreed did it, and they knew he ego. a healthy doses made small because said some of it was okay, Aubrey felt better about it. or class a during excused be to ask Aubrey made that years these When stand. could he than was more voice his other conversation; whistled through his left nostril as he stressed, his nose he became his attention. to get happen it making Trip was and he swore it exhaled, no answer. You had to take a leap of faith to even get close to any of faith had to take a leap You was no answer. is out Whatever surrender to that if you chose. peace of mind, then created the cause of its own cause and somehow there is somehow Somehow. us, and Nell Kitching, and Sonny. itself then created them, silent, in the voice he had grown from his mother’s blood. his mother’s had grown from in the voice he them, silent, Aristotle was correct agnostic, because he believed nas was a hidden In his was missing. something and effect: of cause the theory about Summa, fling intheir faith but not showing it. And Aubrey was shaky, espe- tremulous now as a showing up on his arm Suiter Triple about cially hallucination. Galley Trip - - ups ups - , made him worry about his man’s dementia praecox, made him worry about his man’s ine V Aubrey thought Trip too bossy and nosey and told him to stop and told him to stop too bossy and nosey Trip Aubrey thought Aubrey was well read by now, and Trip wanted him to use some wanted him to Trip and read by now, Aubrey was well lame 40 when the gift fully appeared. The transition to a completed bicam when the gift fully appeared. since Aubrey was five, there were no sudden onset crises or hang or crises onset sudden no were there five, was Aubrey since trying to pick him up before he fell. His brain was somewhat like His brain was somewhat like trying to pick him up before he fell. was able to talk to the other the early Darwin brain; one hemisphere voice in the jawing air streams hemisphere and to be heard as another cave people air streams the power lines and city water, of the mind’s a gift,” gods, and spooks. “It’s heard in their heads from their leaders, angel had been his so-called guardian Trip told him, and because Trip thing about a belief he had stitched on his own to find peace, and even and peace, find to own his on stitched had he belief a about thing weirdness, “shut up and be nice” of Christianity’s a lot did like Trip if stars, Santeria, or even the Aubrey chose the if it was okay with him God of All Persian Throw Rugs as his image of longing and fulfill- to attraction host’s his youthful was against Trip that just It’s ment. in the name-drop the faddish fascinations found black existentialism, of sorrow and so-called recent Aubrey’s cafés, and that, coupled with late, completed of things until he could get grip on the righty-tighty and lefty-loose him comfortable after losing his father. The actual vexation to make. eral mind was not that hard for him of hallucinations shook him at first, andTrip could be hellish, as is of schizophrenia, but the scariest true in the misery of some types “One Mississippi, two Mississippi,” voice was still the Slim Hand’s, by a psychotic- Aubrey lay frozen, his apparitional ear notched when or what society called a registered blackout-barber-pole-transgressor, mental disorder. F Galley the question shouldn’t rote answers: “One to religion’s was opposed though, Trip, human ass kicked.” get one’s Lord, lest one ways of the its truth and relative at Jews were better and the Catholics the thought generally more educated they were Protestants, because history than science. and willing to accept

- 41 oy J and nence par excellance magazine True i ncont I magazine knows the truth. knows magazine When you can’t see, take a straight shot see, take can’t When you Right through the heart of the spot. blind True Righty-tighty lefty-loose!Righty-tighty One of the priests he walked with in the evenings was the drama One of the priests he walked with in “I miss Nell, Trip. I’d like to go see her.” Trip. “I miss Nell, things the and Drayton, father Aubrey’s away. went and Days came However, when Trip and Aubrey got along, they got along, and and got along, they got along, Aubrey and Trip when However, to put me away?” Are they going Trip? “Am I like Nell now, adopted the You family like you. have a religious “No. Nell didn’t ing songs and lyrics. Ambrose Bierce, the author-misanthropist who author-misanthropist the Ambrose Bierce, lyrics. songs and ing one of his heroes became War, Civil a head wound in the received coach for the college and encouraged him to take a part in a Noel writ campus, on band rock a in singing was already He play. Coward he had said when he was alive, replaced Aubrey’s old Jesus. His father old Jesus. His father Aubrey’s replaced he had said when he was alive, home years depression and a type of death in the family had suffered Now South Florida. in lot car on a himself resurrected then before When be no more resurrections. he had died again, and there would of the graven image the pale, and vagrant Aubrey felt from nature’s own gift shop. be You’ll fine if you don’t tell anyone. would be That church in Miami. to be in a Haitian Unless you happen safe.” powerful poem Trip’s to him, along with bookstore came in Sonny’s of all threaded apparatus. GalleyAubrey enjoyed Trip’s glowing figure on his engagingarm insisted man the little whatever else and him in irony, humor, cross talks, his points. upon to make and kept at ease with me. story from your grandmother guardian angel hearer voice young man, a are dyed-in-the-gene, You - - - pile refrig - St. Thomas said out St.

. infinity - mirror - be the work of copycat, but it had to be it but work of copycat, be the

way - ine V Aubrey read the story in the paper. He kept thinking about the He kept thinking Aubrey read the story in the paper. This anger over his father’s passing and the exit of his old god passing and the exit of his old god father’s This anger over his in 1966 to help his wid- He went home instead with his diploma lame Polaroid; how the picture of the woman holding the picture of herself the of the woman holding picture how the Polaroid; out in to the a refrigerator got regressive smaller infinity. and smaller, the Tin Snip Killer. Snip Killer. Tin the erator by kids playing in the woods. There were cuts where her skin were cuts where There woods. the in by kids playing erator tin of pair A split. been had tongue Her places. private in and was thin posi curled a in was presented body Her scene. the at left snips was nearby the from objects selected and flowers wild by surrounded tion, There was a Polaroid picture between her fingers. In the picture, area. refrigerator. self in the of her dead picture same the she was holding A IN was “SHIP rusting appliance door of the in blood on the Written could They said it BOTTLE.” Nietzsche’s Nietzsche’s infinity. Three 42 murdered woman in her fifties was found inside a trash through the turning scar in the top of his skull touched off a lonely off skull touched top of his turning scar in the through the taunts in bed at times. He heard that dropped him sleepless energy wondered if he might Hand when he was stressed and from the Slim have a real head wound like Bierce, Mr. especially the firstTrip time told and lawn college the on night November that arm of his rose out Aubrey Amper Sand. Since then, and about himself him everything Harold hugged his sister Betty as as tight new trinity hugged their per college’s the asked He ago. years Point Ski off drowned they as would have theaters York New The business. car the with owed mother years, another twelve after Now, was twitching. town The wait. to F a character Aubrey invented wisdom. cynical of certain and source imitations did and Bierce, Mr. of honor in Wound, Head called he his new acting amuse to content and style propositional of Bierce’s friends. GalleyHe got the part. and nearby, city in the for a play mission to audition pushed for it. Trip thought acting might be his life, and - - - 43 oy J and

. In the story, . In the story, nence ­ considering. i ncont I Aubrey had seen Jean Seberg in the movie Lilith Aubrey had seen Jean Seberg He worked long hours at the car dealership that summer, surfed, at the car dealership that summer, He worked long hours Aubrey strained in his life. He thought about New York and act and York New about He thought Aubrey strained in his life. and rode his mare at night through the woods and grades of stars. He at night through the woods and grades and rode his mare Palm Beach Kitching in the crazy place, the plush went to see Nell with him, She walked specials. stashed their rich the where asylum looked They behind. feet twenty always attendant an beautiful, blonde, to their heads, because they knew at each other and smiled then pointed there we have to take a leap of faith in order to believe that this infin- into the disappear won’t God, so our souls and ends with ity all starts tininess of more infinite regression andthe Thomas abandoned black. leap of if you took that not the darkness, would be there, said God from disappear Polaroid her with poor lady stop the to there, Be faith. cause of his own the somehow, God was, this omnipotent because ing, cause and the firstcause of everything else, even That Sonny. theory Aubrey. disappointed they had the same gift or illness, considering who was they had the same gift or illness, considering ing, feeling stuck in his hometown, trying more to be without his ing, feeling stuck in his hometown, thinkers he’d read when father and old god, warring with religious with the Slim Hand when he and warring they reentered his memory, came to torture him in a dream. would Trip join in, either to fight the not did he education Aubrey’s from thinkers other the fight to or Hand began Aubrey until trope own his with subjects flood would Trip like. His childhood to deal with another war outside of his mind—Vietnam. gotten in real trouble, and was had quit college, The Junior, friend, Galleyatten an Beatty, Warren lover, her and Nell, like place a was in Seberg like her everywhere, behind feet walked twenty institution, the at dant were they minds because had monkey Aubrey said she and Nell Nell’s. two monkeys struggling of the Monkey, Year both born in 1944, the voices and who could not. Nell into this world of who could hear the they When way. ached for her in a certain Aubrey Seberg. like looked she always carried a Ball jar. walked together, - his ine V Some evenings, he spent time at Sonny and Beth’s next door. He He door. next Beth’s Sonny and at time spent he evenings, Some visit with he’d drive west to Indiantown to On the weekends, up for the rodeo yourself shore to get Ready Aubrey. “Mornin, lame 44 and Sonny would listen to a record over and over, taking the chords listen to a record over and over, and Sonny would door occa Beth would stop him at the the music with their guitars. off sing with him. They liked to his guitar. parents and take The Junior’s their boy was know he was there for them while He wanted them to fighting on another earth, and he felt guilty he was After not. coffee, and Woman,” “El Paso,” “Devil they’d sing Marty Robbins songs: his truck toward the Z-Bar Up he pointed When he left, “Big Iron.” and rodeo arena a had family The clan. Zarnitz owned by the Ranch, the to rodeos around stock bucking provided business; they cattle big with hide on to sit on anything The Junior learned Aubrey and state. Mr. a lot of dirt from new horses or bulls that ranch, and they had eaten to trucks sold father Aubrey’s for his string. wanted to audition Zarnitz continued to be a good customer. the cow pen patriarch, and the man grinned. He knew the boy could ride. Zarnitz circuit?” Mr. F expected Aubrey and army, the He picked the army. or jail offered Galley own He draft wanted notice screamed, to any “Asshole! Trip go. day. Asshole!” This Sonny sionally; she’d say was in bed and wanted to be alone. Aubrey stopped going. happened a lot. 45

Galley Galley - 47 eda L Chapter 5 Chapter “You look like you don’t feel well,” she said, holding her mouth you don’t look like “You Aubrey answered. “Are you a physician?” Who are you?” Albright. Candle I am Dr. “Yes, said, turning into his man “My name is Jim. Jim Nasium,” he little a seems gym your and face, your at looking I’m Jim, “Well, face. I’ve just seen your remarkable until Mademoiselle, “Yes, “Which one?” your cyanide blue eyes.” “Rimbaud. It’s Her chin went up. “How did you know? Have you heard of this “I haven’t.” Alone at a table one evening, staring at his toadstone ring, a for staring at his toadstone evening, Alone at a table one open. Gorgeous, yet a little perverse. open. Gorgeous, Head Wound. dark tonight.” crazed French poet I love.” Looking at you, I’m reminded of a The lead singer is another Rimbaud.” The Doors? new band called ward girl—yellow sun dress and confident pelvic walk—turned a chair a walk—turned pelvic confident and dress sun girl—yellow ward was so around where he down and she could hang her arms sitting and like Nell She looked fair. It wasn’t backrest. on the prop her chin Nell’s, like natural and large eyes—not for her except Seberg, Jean his down at glanced Aubrey own supplies. her with dragged well but drop, then back to pale. toadstone ring. It went pale, to blood drawn to the nightlife in a town called Jensen Beach, just across the Beach, Jensen in a town called drawn to the nightlife sat an There, on the Indian River side, Stuart. St. Lucie River from on the short- The Blue Goose, a bar based bar called cracker ancient an old favorite attractions, Aubrey’s was one of sleeve shirt. Outside neon sign. Galley was now he and college, all-boy’s the at chaste mostly been had He - - Great Expec Great ine V “You don’t talk like the other guys here. You’ve been to school.” been to You’ve here. other guys like the talk don’t “You with my education.” let school interfere but I would never “Yes, Twain.” “That is Mark school, too.” you’ve been to “Ah! I see out, blocked looked that moves She had talked. They sat. They was bewilderingly thought she He each other. see to They began and she West, a nurse from Key Her name was Leda Rothstein, Trip?” “What do you think, fever that Wound, Head yourself, injure to going you’re think “I to see it. Cool live didn’t grandmother “Good thing my Catholic Pip in “Oh, well, yes, very cool girl. But remember lame 48 but he knew they weren’t. Her smile: the smolder. Her manner with a the smolder. smile: Her weren’t. but he knew they that smoke when she movies. He loved to watch her with old cigarette: and then take throat of her mouth from the up draft in her it drift out let through her nose. some back, perfect, and they would her up on his horse behind him, cool. He would pull they made love on the pine Australian pines where ride to a stand of lover, dream, a gorgeous man’s needle ground. She was a young an orgy of hair and tan flesh so sexualhe thought at times that you her zoo; a gay man, another woman, her gender, determine couldn’t a good horse would “Goddamn!” breed he’d her. scream at the over from the all-boy school, The Story had crossed his eyes, this man fresh he’d have to clear When she dropped her hair, of O kept under his bed. his throat. tree below your belt, I mean.” Hebrew girl, though, huh?” F Galleyhead flags on the car lot the next day and put her on his dining room woman at table height, screaming at A table to watch her face change. grabbing bosom and hips, legs his mouth while he stood between her making her come with the thumb. of ups and are a lot Dickens wanted you to know there tations. Mr. down in life with people of the other sex, and people in general.” 49 eda L DOORS. “Or something.” I guess.” done, “Wicked water, in the get Let’s Massafuckinchusetts. wicked wicked, “Aw, “How do you know there is a run-out?” we go Then fuck. Yankee “Because my cracker ass can see it, you wanted to take Arquette They sat in the parking lot at the Goose. She held up a record album she carried that Leda met them. through walking and was rising culture counter The was 1967. It A spillways. sank in the pearl ponds. Melted the sex boiled Reptile “I know, I know, god damn it! Can’t you let me enjoy this?” me enjoy you let Can’t damn it! god I know, “I know, about me. She’ll tell her sake, don’t heaven’s for Aubrey, “But Arquette Orlander. with his friend He sat on the beach whipped or You Aubrey. Leda girl all the time, “I see you with that Arquette. There’s a run-out over there we can paddle through to get through to get we can paddle a run-out over there There’s Arquette. past the break.” to the Blue Goose and get shit-faced.” carrying been he’d oxide of nitrous canister small a tokes off some him pot would make pot. He was worried the quit him around to help stupid. He had a surf buddy who was and that was a dentist, where he stuff “That Aubrey said, but Aubrey, to it nitrous. He offered the got than pot.” will probably make you more stupid Jim Morrison. Rimbaud, other of the face adorned rock showed the The cover read, history, about knew much who never adults, Young towns. American they wrongly reduction mental were redoing a form of physical and accepted nation’s the up offering before, done been never had thought moral gist to a runaway id. danced goat the horns of of instead love called they saccharine of type think you are Peter Cracked-Head Pan. She doesn’t know anything doesn’t Pan. She are Peter Cracked-Head think you like moving your lips her see you let don’t And hearers. about voice you do lately.” Galley­something?” - - - - It was scary delusion, Forever delusion, Forever Young. haul of its famous famous its of haul for some. Aubrey’s for Aubrey’s some. beginning the long beginning the long age group was right on the cusp. Split. You You on the cusp. Split. were either straight or straight either were cool; you were with the counter cool; culture, or you stuck with Ozzie and or you stuck with Ozzie culture, Harriet Nelson. Aubrey and some of Harriet Nelson. they wanted, has ever lasted without a power has ever lasted they wanted, ine V People prefaced things with “Man” this and “Man” that, and that, and things with “Man” this and “Man” People prefaced lame 50 “How ’bout those Students for a Democratic Society, man?” Timo man?” Students for a Democratic Society, “How ’bout those ful army. was the Dope, convinced them that his way the Pope of thy Leary, should they consciousness, and human of the badlands through way, People thought they disguises and games. drop the old culture’s with clerks that and entered health food stores were what they ate learned from Morrison was preaching what he had looked pretty ill. know anything until you derange yourself Rimbaud: that you don’t first. “The poet makes himself into a visionary by a long derange in 1871. Breton called Rimbaud ment of the senses,” Rimbaud said was just American landscape “the god of adolescence,” and the in the bedroom woods. The Victorians’ old religion was rolling off the off rolling was religion old Victorians’ The woods. in the bedroom read “Make up signs that they were holding and young population, espe no society, lasting truth that ignoring history’s War,” Love Not F cially the liberal utopia the liberal cially Galleythan hippies. Leda called renegades his friends were more standoff Jesse named time but a folksinger from that children,” hippies “dirt the to make folks get old “The wrote, he when right it got Winchester rules, and we have all the fun.” 51 eda L - , with a sound , with a sound Strange Days came to music, he was in one of Sonny’s of Sonny’s one in immaculata. prediction. ­ At the bar one evening, Leda enter At the bar one Aubrey listened, but when it when but listened, Aubrey The Doors put out a second album, put out a second The Doors tained the town’s young lions with her wit young lions with the town’s tained She smoked in her and condescension. of talked and manner sex-looking usual wanting to try LSD. Maybe out on the it, but it would be beach they’d organize stood Leda did. before they year another down jeans push her to on purpose once know- waist, looking corset her from ing the power of it, and gave the boys at She had smolder. the table that smile—the and never said anything in a few words Aubrey and in an excited cadence told was Arquette she thought Morrison one of the next beast from Bethlehem, those historical figures who founded a fake breaking in voice her new religion, school- old Aubrey’s Punky, affectation. Leda while sat and over came mate, and events historical off peeled heavy names with her Gillette of the cypress air the in tongue refrigerators all cut and flayed refrigerators all cut from a new electronic device called the Moog synthesizer. “People are “People synthesizer. Moog the called device new electronic a from pills when they got the said, and they were one of the songs strange,” of grain in a world the to Bardo the passed through then took Leary just right, if a stacked you weren’t And if in a bottle. sand, another ship and want out of that trip a bad you’d have of place, few bricks were out you saw yourself before bottle Galley Blue Goose to back her - ine V When Leda went to the bathroom, Arquette started on Punky to the bathroom, When Leda went Punky was Arquette laughed and nodded agreement. speciously and as he looked around the faces at The Junior, Aubrey missed lame 52 with his clubbing sarcasm, suggesting Punky might be becoming an be becoming Punky might suggesting sarcasm, with his clubbing enthusi drinking said, “I think I’m just a goddamn Punky alcoholic. the in these times as as outdated religious, a dirty-minded Baptist boy He on cars in July. stickers “Put Christ Back in Christmas” bumper Aubrey friends. his old were these or surfers, but hairs long like didn’t and Punky ordered another drink headlock, put him in an affectionate and farts of his famous one cut Jesus then Purple a called bar the from paper some pulled he Next, Arquette. to corn” crack “Jimmy said, he something triangles, into them re-shaping of his pocket, out clips he was nervous. “My daddy said I had done since seventh grade when Arquette.” Still pissed. alcoholic, not a fuckin was just a hard drinker, The friends all laughed. Leda Arquette would one day disappear, how could he know the table, and Punky would die in his dump truck? Everyone would disappear, Over in a corner say. the songs or out of road eventually, runs off sat sidecar, a called drink a with now, thirties his late in himself, by it all. He could have joined them, but he never had. watching Sonny, Might have felt he was too old for them now. F Doors: was the he than time the Motown at and of folk fan a more Gene and Wells, King, Mary Benny Guthrie, Woody Dylan, Baez, speech Leda’s He found of Clay.” Lbs. “100 who sang McDaniels, then drifted though, sort of hypnotizing, of acid rock on the wisdom place. the in ceiling cathedral the at up stared and would, he like away following are Catholics the “Everywhere mumbled. he “Cathedral,” me.” Galley Besides, ever’body a different see you with fucker. Yankee ast, you you addict, sex genuine kinda you some I think night. woman ever around in those a-yours you carryin and that hot dog yogurt pickle expensive pants you wear.” 53 eda L When they left the bar, Aubrey told Leda he was beat from surfing surfing from beat was he Leda told Aubrey bar, the left they When Jesus Christ in a purple suit; Jesus Christ written on his boots. today, wearing what he wore If he was neverThey’d hung him on the have tree that way. And the are the ones they ones that pay. save Tickets! said. Trip for tickets and what they will pay,” Amp, always “Yes, brain Aubrey’s thrilled of them both and clapped, laughed They Okeechobee Lake west to drove Jesus dreamer the later, month A Galley to his in his mouth next kissed him deep home to sleep. She and going dining his on was back she hour, half a In mind. his changed and truck he Aubrey dreamed That night, blood vessels. breaking room table, Jesus and Purple a group, drinking the Goose with Blue the in was still their rafters, the on saw doves He ceiling. cathedral the at up staring The boots. washed by another Jesus in purple pink trident toes being dove, to dove from Jesus going this had and queer, magenta dream, would stomp up and down The birds in the holy tending their feet. dream the watched and brain Aubrey’s in sat Trip dry. to hair man’s Amper Sand smiled Amper Sand like it was the evening movie. with with his tiny Underwood. chest Trip’s on and typed his thoughts Tripmade thoughtthese aboutwall hishollow oldfilms. host the sci- knew what you only if Columbus, Doctor “Ah, aloud, said and entist, shoulders.” really happens on top of these human self- for the drive reliable a Glade, Belle on 441 toward south then exam. He thought he had to figure out his love life and his whole life. lake, big the ringed that soil black Muck, the the in time was harvest It an old car axle in it, it would grow a new axle. if you planted so fertile, - excelsus calved ine V When he reached the town of Pahokee, he A saw the first smoke. Black clouds rose from the fields. Buzzards flew drunk through their took Marsh hawks heat. the from ran rabbits rats, Snakes, when he Chrysler on Sunday drives of his father’s In the backseat the vultures bank and the hawks hunt In his truck he sat, watching lame in his head. “A big drifty came,” as his mother would say. It was him would say. as his mother came,” drifty big “A in his head. tropical a loner, shiny man—the self-exal-Tater man—the Tater the as He was him. needed that for anyone cane of the who rode out hero that in the Cane Catcher Muck, the of the Champion Yuma, Johnny saved children from those hawks and buzzards as they ran from their Glade of Belle city the after and lives, burning towns and burning 54 few more miles, and he was on the side of the road watching what he’d road watching on the side of the miles, and he was few more the sugarcane. they were burning since he was a boy; come for in the sweet meth rising gliding, cooked air—rolling, the caramelized king crop. of the lake’s from the brutal agriculture glides, one molly buzzards freebased the boil in black the pick, while and rose cooled, The smoke rose, for them. left eye on what the hawks it reached towers of pearl cumulus when into argent until it changed 10,000 feet. but now as a Aubrey would conjure things in the cane, boy, was a little was he going to do with this Leda- What had his full shine. grownup, it her sex and conversation. She girl he was running with? He craved and he wasn’t way she grew up, the from said she was tough and cold word say the should never She said they it. her about question going to father’s his after own thinking his of build late the other, each to love his showed up in Spot Cathedral death broke his heart and the Blind made and he again, or love pray ever would sure he was not He mind. illness—schizophre mental hip a be might thought he what of totems over the burn while flames sent scab and ash that fell on him and the town of Belle Glade five miles to the south. He thought of getting out and walking closer to the blazing field, whena large F Galley it took to keep him safe. nia—to live and underwrite whatever - 55 eda can- L crapaudine say?” “She’s almost heaven.” “She’s Aubree.” “So is purgatory, the to back go had to it. He help he couldn’t days later, Three He drove to his mother’s and walked the seawall by the house He drove to his mother’s Coker of Ethel,” grandson son of Elizabeth, Aubrey, “Aubrey, accent. in her Quebecoise Reve said to him Aubree,” with us, “Eat “Love to,” he answered. woman?” A face has the problems. Reve looked at him. “You “How do you know that?” of How do you speak young man. a are you and a gypsy, am “I Conscious now in this unconscious place, he could see it—the Conscious now in this unconscious place, half-moon to Reve the gypsy and her husband Coker. The commercial the gypsy and her husband Coker. half-moon to Reve fisherman and his wife, her lower lipfull of snuff, had built a fire in a roe with eggs in frying mullet river and were the yard facing their black skillet. Barnes called out when the fire showed him against the coconut trees and night. you ring, your toadstone what does woman, and this slapped his back for it, he rode off to his hideout and waited for Big to his hideout and rode off back for it, he slapped his the Paladin, the Shane, the dreamer, the Him: burn again. Sugar to the in clean and pure himself who drove tanbark in the Tibbs Casey only happened now it just that It’s righteousness. televised of all name want of slalom a in lost and twenty-three was he because head, his in and what to do. huge domed arcade interior of his skull with the same keloid scar turn huge domed arcade interior of his skull with the same keloid Galley the road just as Clarence Carter’s namele, the sugarcane. He pulled off it exactly. “That’s radio. through his truck’s came Away,” new song, “Slip jar inside he said to himself and conjured Nell Kitching’s Slip away,” likeAubrey did, sang, and Clarence slip away,” his mind. “Slip away, go under their wings to dream. spoonbills in the mangroves when they ing at the top he always saw when the Slim Hand came after him, but All his. this place had no Slim Hand and seemed safe. - supposed to feel ine V An imagined cane field covered the floor of cranium. his One of the middle in the itself placed and bone wall the tower left The Thoughts, shapes, songs, film, people, hatched themselves out Every Possess it. too. this swallow all to Of course, he wanted lame 56 thing he had created today way past normal. If he could only make the If he could only make today way past normal. thing he had created through the blades of his conjured jar to enough, put them scenes slim take down his throat in this original synesthesia of his. Swallow their host used consecrated the like his bloodstream raid could elan so it carcass. Swallow what he’d to—the Eucharist thing—his old God’s summoned inside his band shell skull about Leda then flown around high-boned wall showed an RKO newsreel and its giant radio tower, tower, radio its giant and newsreel showed an RKO wall high-boned light and pulsed and white globe in black on top of the which turned again. 1950 was it if as everywhere, fans film and houses movie to out in his dream. he yelled “Slip away,” Aubrey climbed to top andcane circledfield. at the end ofa rope like into his Ball gazing in this place, he had made man over all a tetherball away!” “Slip away!” he screamed. “Slip jar. shattering, abstractions—permuting, decocting, Vaulted in the jar. because now hehe tossed the valence of everything, improving, while where Man, and this place inside his head was Tater was the self-exalt hesaid Rimbaud like things derange and grow to farm his safe; was he they were in the objective worldshould, then put them back the way that world, with its hardwoodwhen he was through; because it was was god in belief his after sane stay to regard high such in held he floor Mary the Mother of Jesus togone and the cross threads came without and Leda was the god had taken his father, Able’s protect him. Cain and knowing kept circling the tower, woman he could not seem to leave. He hung down from her shoulders,she had him head, hide, and limbs that Though he wanted to protect his heart, he did feel beautiful and thin. cool, protested. How could he not even if she, just to act love for her, What was he from the way his parents raised him? F Galley falconed his heart? West Ashkenazi girl from Key when the blue-eyed - - 57 eda L substan - own church the way the other church and their angels their and church other the way the own church his Trip worried. This place inside Aubrey’s skull, this secret place, skull, Aubrey’s This place inside worried. Trip in world you live to a slipper is as big as the atlas brain’s “The Aubrey “Where do you think the Slim Hand lives in my head?” He wondered how he would have made it out of his head if a high it out of he would have made He wondered how the RKO’s tower and spun far out over his apparitional cane field, it’s tower and spun far out over his cane apparitional field, it’s the RKO’s perverse. something into itself was cartooning apparition the just now in see his body going enough, he could it, and crazy He had overdone from yelled nuns the pants!” “dirty Oh, build. female giant a of out and the bone walls. “Rupture!” The devil somersaulted. Aubrey stopped. This craving to know everything like that, too. He wanted to swallow the holy wafer, take it inside him and fly it around the RKO, even in her, about thought every for Leda, dangerous love This pants. dirty was one he could not seem to go, and despite his objections, Aubrey objections, his despite and go, to seem not could he was one host old Trip’s it. hidden He had alone. was his of him this part said room like Corpus Columbus had never suggested a thought-built Dr. other voice. this could be hidden from someone’s I could “I think Aubrey the next day. told Trip and see on the outside,” to. me want didn’t you if mind your in made you place this find never slipper is only the size of a cell in there, and so are you when you A brain? a in are there think do you messengers And how many there. are Billions! There are mountains in the occipital and parietal lobes and to fathom the area that make it impossible Wernicke’s jungles in the I this room from me, And if you want to keep place. of the cartography I can to see what goes on sometime. understand. I would, though, like save for to me Sand and Amper for maybe, noises. Good material hear of us to for all we’d organize of archive kind Some you, or you from. you know.” enjoy later, asked. way patrolman hadn’t rapped on his window to ask if he was all right. to ask if he was all rapped on his window hadn’t way patrolman taught him to do years ago, like child molesters. taught him to do years tiated in tiated Galleywonderful, clean,filthy, so he could get it all slim and trans - - noumena that verstand from other ine V “Tell me. Keep telling me, Trip.” telling me, me. Keep “Tell of movement I am not. I am only the material are matter. “You “Ship in a bottle?” “Perfect.” “Sir, if I knew, I would go to his house and hang him.” house and go to his I would I knew, if “Sir, he?” “Who is too. Believe bad slippers in people, There are rogue slipper. “A slippers?” “Do you talk to other lied. “No,” Trip and I—” How did you Trip? from, “Where do you come and somewhere before before that, you and another from “I come and “I possess knowledge a house of ancient lame 58 what you have heard after I have said it. But when you see me on your me when you see But it. said I have after heard you have what conjuration the I am yet me, cannot touch You I am immaterial. arm, with consciousness your in person separate a am I me. find to need you store house of brought from the I have my own consciousness that Amper me and my other voice, worlds—a mind within a mind around Sand!” times, sliding blood to blood, consciousness to consciousness, times, sliding blood to blood, consciousness in a The clos see, but which does not bleed. form you hear and sometimes is what Aubrey, land where the souls live, to the ever get est you will the west calls schizophrenia.” me.” I am proposition. only of that faith the based on that, F Galley on your mind and brain’s depending phenomenon, a clear can become loca from that unlocatable Amper Sand likes to say we come ability. once in a dream line about, and he gave that tion of things thought wet yolks and you. From the to mention host I often doctor the to you hear when you hums what that soft wire the I come, uprights the Broca area. listen. From the banking centers of 59

Galley Galley 61 ­Offensive. 1967 ietnam ~ : V : Chapter 6 Chapter unior J he T “He’s what?” “He’s moth on the end of his dick.” “Upstairs in a bathtub. Gonna put a The Junior asked his friend. “What for?” he could come in less “Cause he bet these slopes and Marines than magazine?” “True “Yep.” it fly away?” Why won’t said moth. “You a damn big moth.” and it’s “Cause it don’t, Seminole a black Tommie, Freddie The Junior stood and followed aid,” tertiary we say, One, shall prop, gentlemen. one get just “I American soldier yelled. touch that cock,” an “No, you can’t Vietnamese The South no touch cock, no touch cock.” “Yes, Da Nang Air Base. China Beach. One year before the Tet Tet before the One year Beach. Air Base. China Da Nang one minute with that thing runnin around on it.” one minute with that thing runnin around Indian, through the bar Thereto werethe asecond halffloor. a dozen bathroom around an old claw foot uniformed men pushed together in a Vietnamese. bathtub, yelling in English and an He had voice. educated in said water the in sitting man naked the erect big toe down there and on his face, a very big nose. jumped up and down with paper money between their fingers. at West Virginia. “Too damn cold,” he said. He worked cattle for old he said. He worked cattle cold,” damn “Too Virginia. West at man Zarnitz, then got into a fight with two men in Okeechobee and up was “Questionable self-defense. Right The judge said it killed one. son.” So he if you join the army, in jail No time next to manslaughter. Vietnam. farrago of went to the lead foot Galley semester his one and only after and college quit football The Junior ine V “That’s one a-those Asian atlas moths. They also call it a snake’s a snake’s it also call They moths. Asian atlas one a-those “That’s big in the a bug that Ain’t seen one a-them. Never gills. “Jesus’s me about this kinda moth “The guy in the tub is Suskin. He told my fence post.” “I’d be afraid that thing would bite “Nope. Suskin says this kind got no mouth. Only live ’bout a week on “I told you I will not touch it, gentlemen, but I get to look at an but I get to look it, gentlemen, I will not touch “I told you a man yelled. stuff,” No Playboy “What picture? though it is a woman, personal, and It’s from my wallet. “No. One Put the wallet bill. out a hundred-dollar man pulled The bathtub in climax says I can This your two. hundred against my it’s “Okay, some kind of second, brought corner, in the man Vietnamese A lame 62 head moth,” Freddie Tommie said to The Junior. said to Tommie head moth,” Freddie Glades back home.” our squad tomorrow because to over comin Suskin’s night. other the hit. One dead. He told me the two of his shipped home and two were moth will only fly if it’s dark, so that’s why he got the lights on so bright in here. So it stays on his dick.” It’ll move the food stored in their body from when they was a caterpillar. round like crazy on his thing and flap its wings the whole time cause it’s with these bright lights in here.” fly off but it won’t scared of the water, in appearance for the creature to exist. Science would ordinarily insist it was too preposterous and man-made ­Science would ordinarily insist it was innocent picture.” innocent glance at the photo from his just her face.” He gave them a quick it’s but the others did not. distance. One objected, next to the tub. back on the table Agreed?” moth is on my piece. one minute after the The man reached moth. box; inside was the big plastic over a clear tip moth on the the placed then around it, his hand and cupped in moth spread out The surrounded by water. erection, of the tub man’s stuff—and colors—painter exaggerated in of wingspan inches eleven head. snake’s a cobra-looking at each tip, God or Gauguin had drawn F Galley - 63 1967 nam t ie : V : unior J he T There was that sound outside his hotel room, that saw-toothed There was that sound outside his woman had given him a massage, Vietnamese An hour ago, a Suskin told the group to time one minute and then said, “Go,” and “Go,” said, then and minute one time to group the Suskin told around behind to maneuver tried Junior The men were silent. The rotation, a reminder of remembrance. For The Junior’s father, it was it father, Junior’s The For of remembrance. a reminder rotation, a round before and round going England in B-17s props on the the sound of the forgot one no Vietnam, in but Germany, into run bomb and its blades that seemed to nick UH-1D, or Huey helicopter, the Bell had trouble sitting under The Junior they cycled. something each time of that. He had stood in too much ceiling fans later in his life because human blood with nick, nick, nick above him in this war. The what the army men called a “steam and cream.” He fell asleep. into girl came A with woke him up. ongoing cough he’d been living ning. They had never seen this kind of erotic presentation, and some and some presentation, had never seen this kind of erotic They ning. the bet. of them looked like it was worth losing Galley of rhythm. in a kind the moth at his breath his eyes. He blew closed breath, the felt it when helmet cock’s skinned the over scrabbled It woman a like down up and body its pumping and wings its fanning its feet but knew the water was there and stamped on top of a man. It would not fly off. Suskin opened his eyes, took the small photograph his breath to push He continued it. at to stare and began from the table, in and out at the moth. After fifteen more seconds, Suskin’s mouth shook the hands slightly increased, and his his breath open, cracked The and he came. a bubble, made Some spittle holding. he was picture moth flapped its wings and went up in theair a few inches from the fluid, and thencame back down in it,still balanced on the end of the penis. Suskin held, but Suskin had quickly the bathtub and see the picture together money The others put their table. down on the it face placed had put the moth back in the clear and handed it to the assistant, who All were shaking their heads and grin box with a gloved hand. plastic - and God, by noise out - The Western Horseman The Western ine V “You big man. Lots muscle. Not hurt me, no?” “You Me no hurt you.” “No, baby. “Let me see.” She pointed at his divide. The Junior pulled back the sheets. what all this?” Wow, “That nice. The girl in his room put her hand on his chest. “Big,” she said, and “Big,” on his chest. girl in his room put her hand The sweetheart?” your name, “What’s want drink?” She looked at You Tan. Mary Dinh “My name Mary. how ’bout we do two fingers of that shark snot over there, “Yeah, on a and she put her clothes In the dark, he heard her pour one, sweetheart?” you now, don’t English, speak a little “You He coughed some more. Thought the cough came from the Agent the cough came from the Thought more. He coughed some lame they have these little perfect bodies. Not like the ranch girls with red girls with red the ranch bodies. Not like perfect they have these little How can their legs open wide spots on their skin. What a doll-baby. American dicks and fat asses? enough to take in all those smiled him out of homesick. the bottle on the dresser. sweetie?” , he thought to himself. Professional chair. side, and the moth the other night still in his mind, the snakehead the other night still in his mind, side, and the moth Vietnamese screaming little dick for those guy’s wings fanning that weird anything ate that one hundred and thirty-pounders men—those other at each hollering feed to were so many there rice because with missed horses fucking sandals. Shit, he their in toy motorbikes on their girls, and shell rock roads. and ham, long cars, heavy-set ranch 64 Orange dropped from tanker planes. Nick, nick, the fly F and was the room and foreign place, foreign girl beside him—this of dead dogs, in a land in Florida, but and air like home Coca-Cola, Florida, to wake up in crows. He wanted doves or without mourning buy Aubrey, with his friend go into town Galleydrink and shoot then newsstand, and Sonny at the from magazine True Goose with his childhood friends. the shit at the Blue - - 65 1967 nam t ie : V : unior J he T “Yeah. We say that kinda thing, too, honey. All potatoes, no meat.” All potatoes, honey. too, thing, kinda say that We “Yeah. between his legs. pulled on the mass of ruck Tan Mary Dinh some kind a funny boy or something, think I’m “I hope you don’t I pinch.” “Okay, “Harder.” The Junior kept telling her, you like.” She came back She stopped and said, “I have. I think a guy put saw this I just darlin. know ’bout this, “Jesus lord, don’t and pussy.” ears in girl’s earrings I put I promise. like, You “No. and And it was no ice for the next and the next, But he did like. When he below was running. was an explosion. Everyone There “Oh, that. Well, there’s a lot of ball sack right there, honey. We We honey. right there, sack of ball a lot there’s Well, “Oh, that. “Squodum?” squodum.” “Yeah, She dick.” squodum, small big has man friend, my in bar, “Girl but I like my girl to pinch that scrotum hard with two fingers before we rock.” hand. from her purse with safety pins in her you gonna—” moth on his dick last night and now work his man side. “I know other Then she dropped her eyes coy to the off bucket ice the got and She stood again this.” He like man. like, no more.” “Ice for first one. If you don’t dresser. cod, his through closed locked pins safety five with in eased he when jeweled bag of his bang this new, to feel he did so from behind her, ese, ‘He all coconuts, no tree.’” She did her socializing laugh. no tree.’” She did her socializing ese, ‘He all coconuts, good the novelty of light pain ing into her leg tops. He thought how Maybe it was the pride he had felt with the pleasure of a hard fuck. for his anatomy there, or him getting over on the Bible taboo he grew up with at home, but it was good for him in this place with women who knew nothing about the Baptist church. Galleybig a got he cause me, Junior after The call they home at bull a got you see.” scrotum too, held up her thumb and forefinger an inchVietnam apart. “She say in - - - - Can’t see Can’t . master goin round an American firebase and had the had and firebase American an was ine V The squad spread out as usual, waiting for the Bell to fly away care. He’d taught himself not to care The Junior didn’t By now, The Junior was After twenty minutes, the rest followed them in. They were over the jungle-covered mountains two days later. two days later. mountains jungle-covered over the were They The Junior left Mary Tan in the bed and headed to the base. Mili base. the to headed and bed the in Tan Mary Junior left The lame so they could listen for sounds of the enemy. They were all broke in, broke all were They enemy. for sounds of the listen could so they and were been on other patrols no pilgrims; even the new guys had necks or their while they scratched aware the law of averages said that the mission numbers increased. cleared their noses they’d be shot as was sent toAmerican patriarchal political psychosis he during this and told the ser Tommie Freddie instead of jail, so he stood up with Everglades, the of edge north on the He’d grown up jungle. to used end moths on the atlas and giant for monkeys, mountains, and except geant they’d walk in first, as they always did. The other men considered men other The did. always they as first, in walk they’d geant thought they were already dead,The Junior and Freddie people who gunfire, around sociopath a like behaved who cowboy muscular tall the black Indian who would take theand Freddie, a reckless but spiritual shift. afterlife of hunting grounds any day over this water buffalo 66 Their squad: the sergeant, The Junior, Freddie Tommie, Pauley, Pauley, Tommie, Freddie The Junior, sergeant, Their squad: the When new guys. three and man, moth Suskin the regular, another tary police went by towards the smoke, and up above, the sound from up above, the sound the smoke, and went by towards tary police nick, nick, nick. a nighttime sky going he mountain ranges from the choppers, The Junior looked at the ever in North Car should be like mountains he’d seen always thought they He could maples and pines and no damn monkeys. olina, covered in maybe when sitting ducks going from the Huey, see where they were hillside the if even landed, they green flares on the LZ to signal the area had been cleared. hear nothin with this fuckin mix anything; can’t F Galley the him from up to yelled he knew sergeant American an went to look, at the Mackey.” room down blew up the whole street. “Shit, - - - - - 67 1967 nam t ie : V : unior J he T If the enemy wasn’t waiting for them when they heard the chop the heard they when them for waiting wasn’t enemy If the area the circled had squad the second day, of the morning On the Tom Pauley was screaming louder than a war movie, and Freddie a lit They word. a saying not Pauley, dead around sat team The of mountain where they were dropped off and sat down to relax when they were dropped off of mountain where to the off Pauley shot They up. opened them VC waiting for some got behind trees, moraines, or right of the group, and everyone else anything else that humped a little ground. green flare, radioed for the body to be picked up, and stayed on one a couple of mountain bombs clean off more day watching daisy cutter Galley felt like home. and vegetation bathtubs, the snakes of dicks in and in move to Cong Viet two days for the up to take could pers, it tra of the most to contrary warfare, was guerrilla It them. engage con the who got soldiers, American for training camp boot ditional gave the and that Vietnam, training even for WWII-type ventional Tom and Freddie The Junior Cong an advantage. Viet guerilla-smart raised and knew how They were swamp own advantage. had their mie Stay down wind of things. to track and hunt. with his arms to of him. Freddie pulled ten feet within crawled mie and stopped screaming Pauley and just as he got to Pauley, closer, get died. Freddie put two fingers on Pauley’s throat to make sure as the and and collar feet Freddie grabbed Pauley’s VC opened up again. shape so he could use it for lump into a fetal pushed the uniformed know didn’t he sky because the at was yelling sergeant The cover. of edge upper the hitting bullets the see and could was dead Pauley throat. index finger on Pauley’s One round grazed Freddie’s the body. was else in the squad Everyone Freddie buried his own face in the dirt. firing into the trees,but The Junior, in his wild aggression, made his heard VC. Freddie to be four preoccupied out turned way behind what out Junior walked The quiet. then a sustained burst from an M-60 and machine gun in front of the trees straight up, his twenty-three-pound of him still smoking. “All gone,” he said. - - - ­ billiards?” ine V “You all right then, Freddie, man. Wanna play some African play some Wanna all right then, Freddie, man. “You that?” “What’s got some money?” You “Dice, man. Craps. “Yeah, man. I got into the Peppermint Lounge once and seen em, man. I got into the Peppermint “Yeah, and black.” they’re like me—Indian “Well, no shit? I can get with that.” “Hey, to those girls sing ‘Walk I listen Wilson? know something, “You Pauley’s replacement, a black guy named Wilson from Harlem, Wilson named a black guy replacement, Pauley’s Seminole a black call sort of. I’m what they “No. I’m a real one, Florida, right? So redneck Junior over there, he from that “Yeah, The Seminoles part Spanish. “My mother was a Seminole and like that where I’m from.” “Oh. Man, I never heard about things sing girl that see ever “You said. Tommie Freddie Wilson,” “Hey, lame 68 and I seen ’em at The Apollo, too.” The and I seen ’em at ing group up there in New York called the Ronettes?” York ing group up there in New jungles, in my head, over and over out here in these ing in the Rain’ group. Nedra, I think in that one girl I love the always rainin. it’s cause her name is.” came to them when command picked up Pauley’s body. Around a fire body. came to them when command picked up Pauley’s Tommie, Indian, Freddie said to the black Wilson the last night out, jive or talk don’t You you from? Where you? with what’s man, “Hey, are you?” some cardboard nigger, ain’t You around like a brother. Florida.” Indian, from Ft. Pierce, how of you is Indian? I thought you was much maybe just slave yella, like a lotta us.” were happy to have us fightin with them during theWars, old Indian grandfa His black. was part he My father, whites. from the out hidin F to The Junior stood it stopped, When distance. It rained. tops in the it He sought lightning. from the storm’s air and the ozone smell the bomb and chemicals lungs of anti-foliage his cleared it out. He thought would fix his cough. things like ozone was convinced smoke. He Galleyther was a runaway slave from Georgia.” - - 69 1967 nam t ie : V : unior J he T The Junior was looking around the bar at different groups of of groups different the bar at Junior was looking around The China-lookin Those little over at that table. “Look at that stuff pussy with a mara eating than you got other What “Oh, yeah? some big money make boys probably could you white “Yeah, Suskin, known for never saying much, sat a few feet away and away feet few a sat much, saying never for Suskin, known Pauley’s see to went of them base, all the to got back they When of nothin, ’cept The Junior said. “Scared soldier,” good “One tall at his Freddie tapped gonna take this real hard.” She’s “I know. people. He was gin-nasty by now and wanting to get out of the and wanting to get out of the people. He was gin-nasty by now Americans, soldiers, Vietnamese There were South Pauley thing. was gambling on two Viets table of A and town girls on the stroll. them betting guy American another saw He jar. a in fighting beetles cherry stem in a knot with his he could do the ole tie a maraschino Suskin could get these people to tongue. It occurred to him that if then by God, he had a trick for pay for that moth dance on his dick, pitchers of beer the short time them, one he used in college for free he was there. shits’ll bet on how long flies’ll fuck if that’s all theyWanna got. see The Junior said to his table. me make some money?” ans who know how to drink. It’s because you’re black, too, I guess.” because you’re black, too, ans who know how to drink. It’s said. Tommie schino cherry stem on your tongue?” Freddie smoked the dope he had, letting it curl out of his mouth and back into out of his mouth and it curl dope he had, letting smoked the new man the Wilson hook,” air nose, or “big fuckin big his unusually Pauley. about thinking still later, went silent whole squad The it. called onto a transport with It was loaded refrigeration. body come out of the bar district to then they headed to ceremony, thirty others in a brief in his combat clothes of Pauley put a picture drink over him. Someone ordered round after round of brace. on the table and they his mother.” used to say to me, ‘Freddie, you are one of the few Indi drink. “Pauley that shit,” Wilson grinned. Wilson that shit,” Galley do All you guys hair in your throat. Brothers got don’t ­eating pussy. - ine V “I bet you guys twenty bucks apiece I can beat those ARVN at that at that ARVN I can beat those bucks apiece “I bet you guys twenty him and smiled. “I’m out.” Freddie looked at gonna do,” bet the money just to see what you “Hell, I’m in. I’ll the at was sitting now, girl favorite Junior’s The Tan, Mary Dinh them twenty dollars each The Junior bet Mary translating, With Time stopped. For five minutes in the skies over Asia, Southeast The necks to see in his crotch. craned their Vietnamese of the Two “But you only half black, Freddie, man. No wonder you do that you do No wonder man. Freddie, black, half you only “But “Wilson, want me to take your wife away from you?” asked from you?” your wife away want me to take “Wilson, lame table for a hundred fuckin dollars. There’s five of them sittin there.” in that direction. The Junior nodded Suskin the moth man signaled, too. said, and Wilson soldiers, and they Viet the asked her to help. She approached He bar. Junior smiling The at looked they she persisted, When waved her off. to him. at them from the bar and motioned up straight if he was sitting to his nipple his scrotum he could touch and loved them drinks in front of tossed the soldiers The in a chair. the wager. stretch would man a heard when they assembled angels multiracial below his belt, vellum that lizard-throated of ugly pavement, his piece to the north, other angels, too all the way up to his nipple. Fifty miles sides of the war on both people were tending the wager, busy to watch Wash In bad idea. unworkable, another yet day for that who had died and performer, venereal other room’s Suskin, the Junior winked at you boys get your money out.” said, “Okay, fur burger that way.” fur burger heard LBJ say to McNamara, “A ington, the angels over the Beltway man can fight if he can see daylight down the road, butThey had the same LBJ. The Junior liked thereVietnam.” no daylight in ain’t accents. Now he was very far from those accents at a bar room table, his pants and underwear around his ankles with money at stake. 70 ­Freddie. F Galley 71 1967 nam t ie : V : unior J he T One Viet said, “Where you money?” you said, “Where Viet One by his his pocket the table to reach put his cheek on The Junior of his crotch hand came out The Junior’s over. Half the bar came a little, soldiers pouted Vietnamese and the The cheers went up, Galleyankles and fished out a roll. Gave it to FreddieTommie. “All right, here goes.” his thumb and part of his scrotum tweezed between with the bottom forefinger, one testicle visible, sliding in the bag like a mango seed, He went half way to his bottom. at the stayed while the other nut with a smile way, the all and then face, with a pained for a tease nipple he got the nod When on hook. a towel hanging casually he was like thighs. let it go, and it snapped back into his from the table, he to love seemed They round for everybody. another ordered then but night other the show upstairs Suskin’s did they as much show as the Junior The called town over all Viets the that, After moth. the with comes here Or Squodum.” come “Here would say, They “Squodum.” evenings, they’d sucker other And on certain “Mot Man” for Suskin. by offered feats of these or heard seen not bets who had into soldiers The whole The Junior and Suskin made people money. the two men. 267,000 even on body counts that would total country bet, every day, and soldiers Vietnamese million a than more by 1969 and Americans end. One or two times, walking through a side civilians by the war’s Russian roulette playing soldiers Vietnamese Junior saw The street, one hundred and thirty- heads—little for money with a pistol to their of Pennsylvania. pound deer hunters, who never heard Galley - - - 73 ublime S the

and

Chapter 7 Chapter le errib T

he T “Hey, guess what’s around here, Junior.” guess what’s “Hey, whore house.” “A cathouse. How’d you know?” A “Yeah. full of shit.” “You’re One day, Freddie Tommie was looking at an area of jungle on his of jungle area an at was looking Tommie Freddie One day, die put each foot down carefully and scanned the trees. When he got he When trees. the scanned and down carefully foot each put die tracks, like the Florida panthers closer to the sand, he saw them—cat and The signs were fresh, tiger’s. A box. This was a litter at home. atten human any he did not want to attract armed, though he was well On the way back, he detoured to tion, so he left for camp and the men. The people. the of one down with squatted and village Montagnard the instead dark lineaments, with Freddie’s man was comfortable village face from Ohio. Freddie drew a cat track in of another mother-of-pearl cat a out scratched and nodded tribesman The finger. his with sand the man stick a drew tribesman The drawing. Freddy’s to next stripes with temple his up to his hand put and drawn he’d of what mouth the in chewing. Freddie and started made a face of a gun. He shape in the assumed he meant the tigers were eating dead soldiers killed in fire and hand man’s the in cigarettes of pack a put He rot. to left and fights headed back to the other men. own, something not condoned. Seminole stuff and human smell—he smell—he human and stuff Seminole condoned. not own, something along moved Indian The noise. too much other men made the thought give and else somebody at scream for monkeys to stream, listening a Fred disturbed dirt. with area sandy was a There away. location their tribe of Montagnard people. The Americans had two seasoned South Americans had The people. tribe of Montagnard of afraid were more Montagnard and the along, soldiers Vietnamese for torture. had a reputation Viets The South Americans. them than the Galley in and indigenous ran into an they went further patrol, On the next - - - - 16 that fired that 16 - 60 put out five hundred rounds per minute with - ine V “Well, I didn’t see it, but I saw the tracks.” but I saw see it, didn’t I “Well, “Whore tracks?” Fresh ones.” panther. striped Viet “No. up lit face Suskin’s men. the and sergeant the told they night, That Suskin,” the sergeant for a second, see him except “Oh, you won’t I think sergeant. Suskin, who said, “Yes, Everyone laughed except The told The sergeant they split into two groups. The next day, lame get; the enemy would go after the machine gunner first, and the tracer the and first, gunner machine the after go would enemy the get; 74 a range of 1200 yards. Every fifth round was a tracer, so a soldier that soldier a so tracer, a was round fifth Every yards. 1200 of range a a tar him This could also make it could follow its destruction. carried bullet belts for the weapon, plus their own weapon, an M an weapon, own their plus weapon, the for belts bullet The and bursts. had one machine gunner, in three-round Every squad Junior was it. His M for once, and he asked questions. Freddie told them what the tribes questions. Freddie told them for once, and he asked in your neck, you’ll see this said. “Right before he sinks his teeth Halloween.” fucking think it’s orange and black flash, and you’ll delusion that the how complete said, ‘It is amazing who Tolstoy was it a rare move, wrote what Suskin in The Junior, is goodness.’” beauty said on a slip after of he paper, figured out how to spell delusion, and in bombs went off cutter the big daisy When in his rucksack. it stuffed pulled he lightning, heat Florida clouds like the lit distant dark and the said. it out and read again what Suskin had gunners, AGs, or assistant as men other Suskin and three Junior to take they toted This meant carried. The Junior gun for the M-60 machine F Galleystart were they bet Freddie and corpses, eating tigers said about man on guard duty. and no one should get too dumb ing to hunt people lit. He started recit even more student, became Suskin, the graduate repre- and told everyone the beast tyger burning bright,” ing, “Tyger, something and horrible, of beautiful meld on the take sented the poet’s little to turn a seemed and he almost deadly, so perfectly yet so pretty of slice that see to give I’d what “God, was talking. he while feminine sensate wonder.” - 75 ublime ­foolish S he t and

60 first, and that’ll dis that’ll and first, 60 - errible T he T In hindsight, the move was foolish. The Junior was reliably The was foolish. move the In hindsight, The Junior was born with gray eyes, considered by some superior, by some superior, born with gray eyes, considered Junior was The and Bridge Owl Creek story of Junior the The told Aubrey once he where not ground, the at glancing saw Suskin Junior The I would not know a tiger sign if it was shown to me,” he “I know. “Here, Suskin! know You how to use my machine gun. Take it! Suskin set the tripod in the ground and began to unload on the area to unload ground and began tripod in the Suskin set the eyes with more rods than cones in his retina to be transduced by his than cones in his retina to be transduced eyes with more rods well see to was able he man, a boy and As a sense of. made and brain he hooked on to things like jungle, the scanned When he dark. in the on a horse, back at night looking for stray cattle he did when he was ahead of him, waved him forward. Those eyes always went home. rope broke and hanged by Union troops, thought the how the man, just took him away from As the current Creek. into Owl alive he’d fallen with gray eyes aiming saw a soldier man the enemy, bridge and the the eyes and his rifle at him and remembered gray eyes were marksman’s was sure he would be shot. them trees, stead a-hopin Watch boyeh. should as they walked. “Hey, you gonna see those cat tracks.” and branches off cutting canopy, the of out came gunfire then and said, elephant grass. M-16. your Give me them. around behind get I’ll man. em, Shoot at flow told them where he wasunless the gunner chose a Vietnam. bullet span in had the shortest life An M-60 gunner without tracers. belt after seconds or sooner eleven every move to had was you rule The alive. the weapon to stay you fired with the big heater. tract them from me. If that barrel gets too hot, use the glove and have and glove use the hot, too gets barrel If that me. from them tract and on the RTO to get men other one a-them And tell it. AG change the Keep their minds on you, man. tell the rest of them we found Charlie. son!” the tiger now, You GalleyM the get wanna They’ll with. run to easier It’s ine V He used the bank for cover, but something hard from above sent but something hard from for cover, He used the bank wakes When he him. tie Let’s for information. alive want him “We said. “Who wants to deal with shoot him,” another We Why? “No. - fol We’ll are. we where know will ones other the now, fire we “If short a M-60. In the and others, Suskin, the for headed Viets The her mouth saw his mother, in his unconscious state, The Junior, The enemy camp was a walk. day’s The first thing he saw at the lame 76 him black and concussed to the ground. Four North Viet regulars and regulars Viet to the ground. Four him black and concussed North him. Cong stood over Viet two walk,” they said in their language. up, we make him another prisoner?” back behind his partners.” tracks low this one’s the and Man Moth the AK-47s where their from out shots rang time, their to turned backs their target, the at forward firing in, dug were rest deaths. a cypress air, in the wetland across a Florida open, eyes wide, coming saw grass and threw a strike sun was red on the The her. behind dome by him knelt down to drink. His mother came at the trees where cattle Christian the her to next crate wooden orange On a cry. to started and devil sat, flicking a Zippo lighter onand off, staringAubrey riding towards them The Junior saw his friend The Junior. at her then at water from was danger until there on a horse, waving his hands like were regulars Vietnamese North The awake. somewhere washed him him pushed and feet his to him got They barrels. rifle with him poking He his neck. around leash rope a and his hands tied, trail, the along stumbled and bumped himself into realizing how bad things were. squat, a in holes of bullet full soldier Vietnamese South was a camp F Galley sergeant his stuff,” Junior “Typical lucky. was he but firefights, most in up when you don’t split never You bullshit. proof “Bullet would say. But until we get there.” Radio. Stay put you’re up against. know what from the of the enemy were only a couple believed there The Junior the area. to move along a high bank towards shot count and left 77 ublime S he t and errible T he T The next morning, striped leg Asian tiger mosquitoes had bitten The next morning, striped leg When dark came, the rain stopped. The Viets took their food and food their took Viets The stopped. rain the came, dark When The North Viet soldiers pointed to it and to him and laughed. One and laughed. to it and to him pointed soldiers Viet The North The undertaker done wiped my ass now. Like to find a way to off him everywhere. He was miserable, coughing, but Agent Orange in his in Orange Agent but coughing, was miserable, He everywhere. him sat around a fire. Later, The Junior was given water. He thought it The tasted man funny. that gave it to him grinned and forked his fin- gers around his own throat. For the first time in a long time, he was him out and made him was in the water knocked Whatever scared. bamboo was a on the soldier The executed vats of bad stuff. dream last thing he saw before he went to nightmares. He wanted his mother year but she was not in these dreams. Instead, a three-hundred now, and passed her in her lap his head held old slipper named Lucinda dream as bad him, comfort to his hair through and his face hands over The Junior did not know of Lucinda went. and came after bad dream was his mind a slipper was, because or even what or any other slipper, her When he awoke, he remembered Aubrey’s. not the same build as only as a person in a dream. of them shot the corpse again in front of him, scattering the flies. He They left rings and tied on his back. with metal was taken to a platform him, and it started to rain. . I get sat down on that bamboo myself before Galley Junior wondered The him. beneath ground on the blood arms dangling, dead on He’d seen birds like that, dead. stay squatting how he could a birds have him told His father on, but done. holding still a branch, it closes their they lean forward, When a pulley. like acts tendon that He rot. way and that stay just they and or not, dead around things, feet tendon and could die squat- Asian people had that same wondered if piece a large he saw that until all the time, squatted ting, the way they been rammed in the ground below the soldier had of bamboo buried Bridge a head on a London colon, like of last section man’s up the spike. - he might know. Let me talk what he might know. ine V “Yes, you can have him a little longer. Then we send him to his Then we longer. you can have him a little “Yes, jungle sky. The Junior lay there and stared at the the like we are mad at each other,” you must act “When we talk, do speak English.” You “What the shit? and damn good French.” “Yes me. piss outta the knocked that night last somethin me gave “They see, most prisoners cry at night, and they did not want You “Yes. “How come you speak English like that?” are a man You are very lucky to run into me. I know you. “You After daylight, a chicken got on the platform and started pecking and started got on the platform a chicken After daylight, Vietnamese, in and said man in uniform came Just then, another about their no more than what I have told you “I think he knows the men have him. I do not want to have to worry then let “Well, I am not sure sir, “But you know, lame 78 Jesus Christ after that,” the man in uniform said, and he walked away. walked he and said, uniform in man the that,” after Jesus Christ The Junior. man said to know.” knockout drop. I don’t Some kinda Made me think crazy. to be kept awake.” The man smiled. they call Squodum.” oner instead of killing him, if he has something valuable to give us.” oner instead of killing him, if he has to him for a while, and we will see if he knows more than I think. Giveto him for a while, and we will see if send him up to Hanoi as a pris me another day to convince him we will at his face. The Junior would spit in the chicken’s face and then the then and face chicken’s the in spit Junior would The face. his at and over at the camp, He looked him. blows with trade would chicken Junior The as this and smiling all was watching uniform, not in a man, GI, you are not “Hey, over. The man came sparred with the chicken. English. he said in good happy,” knows anything?” “Do you think he man answered in their language. movements,” the first mountains.” about him with their patrols in these F Galley he thought. ozone, to breathe need didn’t He now. matter lungs didn’t for breakfast anyway. goin to shoot him They were - 79 ublime S he t and errible T he T The man came over. “Okay, Squodum. You and I are leaving here and I are leaving here You Squodum. “Okay, over. The man came “What you mean your side?” “My side is your side, GI. I am, well, my officer wants me out of The Junior couldn’t believe his ears. believe his couldn’t The Junior bamboo. a on sitting be will you or this, them tell not will “You a North suit.” in ain’t You you? ain’t Cong, Viet “But you’re my help or not?” want “You What happens?” I want it. say that. Hell, yeah, “I didn’t but we are enemies, like so this looks day, you up all beat “I will in the The Junior man would walk over and slug the At times, look Junior saw him The stood up and man English speaking The tonight, and I can never come back. I was leaving by orders from my I was leaving back. come and I can never tonight, he said quietly. side anyway,” both of us, so this is what we do. I dangerous for here. It is getting us at that table you should entertain have told those drunk communists before we shoot you. and impossible funny by trying to do something those balls of yours to your nipple, you touch I bet them I can make ably how this guy knew who he was. Galley over one sad dead the word is, with the I think Suppository, . . what? Squodum?” what I say, there. Understand I tell do everything you Then later. explain I will enemies. not we are the toilet stump over there.” you, or you are on on urinated he once and stomach, in the then and bled, he until head the came, night When watched. others the while feet Junior’s The sat Viets around the fire drinking and playing cards. they Later, were who could keep a on their arms, betting drunk, putting out cigarettes straight face. at him from the fire. He began to talk to the other six men and their They all burst out laughing, shook their heads, and pounded leader. Junior knew you The nodding. and talking kept man The table. on the and whore, drink, gamble, bar, Beach China to a guy in a next sit could prob and that’s They were everywhere, Cong. Viet the guy could be - . ine V “Chin. My chin?” “Yes.” yours, can you?” touch your chin with that skin of cannot “You “Hell, no.” well, I was to make more money before I shoot just trying “Okay, around his neck, the men Hands tied behind his back and the leash his pants, slid them unbuckled The Junior stood half bent over, The soldiers couldn’t believe it. One of them wanted to touch the to touch wanted One of them it. believe soldiers couldn’t The lame 80 them.” led him Waryover of Theto Junior’s size,the theyfire. stepped back They put a gun barrel in his ear. and pointed their guns at him. One his hands, but untying about and argued a chair down into pushed him the leash on leaving settled They how else could he answer the bet? spy man would hold his Viet South the to the chair; and one hand tied head. The Junior’s pistol to reached into his crotch and started down, and sat in the chair again. He if him would kill he yelling spy-man the with craw, big stretch the to nip the reaching at attempt was one false There lost his money. he F you hell no, say, They you at that table. cannot, I will shoot and if you make some to it, so time have seen you do it, but of course I cannot do bad hurts very if it as you to act I want some people. and kill money, from and threats work much after it you do then and and is impossible, points He ” . . your. touch you bet I next and money, their take I me. to his chin. ple that failed by many inches. The men cheered. The next attempt cheered. The men failed by many inches. ple that I screaming, putting on the huge act, saying, “I can’t, The Junior had and slapped his The spy man pushed the gun into his temple can’t.” in his hand and screamed The Junior spit try, third Then on the face. sitting straight up in the chair again as he finally touched the nipple Galley The Junior’s into body part himself to see if it was a trick and reached his money, collected The spy man went around to each soldier, crotch. The his chin with it. The Junior could touch and then bet double that - - 81 ublime S he t and errible T he T The Junior spit in his right hand again, and then reached in his in his reached and then hand again, spit in his right The Junior The from swung his gun away he saw this, spy man the When this mysterious the next day, They ran south in the dark until legs upper and buttocks The half. in body was torn Suskin’s crotch and rubbed it around. Dried his fingersoff for traction. The rolled chairs and their off two fell and laughing, crazy went soldiers began throwing drunk. One got up on his knees and around in the dirt, own pants, their dropped table, the guns on their two left other The up. on their cods, making faces. and started pulling Junior’s head and shot one, two, three, and the fourth man. The fifth table across the dived hadn’t Junior The if shot him would have man to the ground and slam him taking his free arm, and grabbed him with laughing even Florida, Indiantown, from cowboy big and Vietnamese rain stories of who they were. On the second day, when they traded elephant ear leaves, and they bled gave them clean water to drink from palms when they ran out of that. Once, a bamboo viper landed traveler by the it Junior grabbed The from a tree. shoulders man’s Viet on the to break its swung it around his head, and reversed directions tail, They for fear of Claymore mines. back. No regular trails were taken watching machetes, without going hard jungle, random in the stayed to rec Junior started The snakes and patrols. for more second every mostly eaten. His rib cage was missing the organs, flies were terrible, Galley out the heads, then laid shaking their and jumped around men howled the table. money on one The head. man’s the to into was tied his other hand the chair ming The spy man walked over eyes closed. throwing up laid in the vomit, savior The Junior’s ran in. camp and shot him as the guard outside the shot him, too, with his second pistol. he riverbank the to next were soon they and surroundings, his ognize had He wondered what captured. had been running along when he was In a clearing, there. he left two men other the Suskin and to happened they heard vultures. - ine V “This man here is from your side. This man I know, too. He is the is He too. know, I man This side. your from is here man “This by that captured over there when I got we was together “Yeah, do not have to feel “You eat dead soldiers,” the man said. “Tigers it.” I see “Yeah, The wallet. corpse was Suskin’s to his shredded sand next In the lame 82 Moth Man,” the Vietnamese savior said as they stood over Suskin. savior said as they Vietnamese the Moth Man,” cause have had radio trouble or somethin, These guys must river bank. here woulda left ’em never He found them. have would sergeant the somewhere, here out dead are others and sergeant the Maybe this. like know.” too. I don’t holes in him every you can see he has bullet bad for him because folds. empty through the and thumbed leather wet up the Junior picked there. Between out, but the IDs were still The money had been taken one Suskin the photograph, single was a one fold and those cards bathtub the in cock his on danced moth atlas big the while at looked male It was an obvious The Junior held it up to see better. that night. and the big nose on the makeup, woman’s dragged in heavily face, face was unmistakably Suskin’s. F two were in the The other all around. were big cat tracks and there same condition. Galley before the tiger came.” where. He was dead Galley Galley - 85 ang G 2001: A saw 2001: A Space Leda

oose G Chapter 8 Chapter lue overtaken, analyzing the symbolism with Trip, Trip, with symbolism the analyzing overtaken, B was he T Leda moved in with Aubrey. Together, they strutted into places, into strutted they Together, Aubrey. with in moved Leda in up was caught he age, young a From music. missed Aubrey at compos He was good material. for original Frank was looking Their first job was a lounge called The End of the Road, another young, invulnerable, making pacts and promises to stay cold and sure, making pacts and promises to stay cold and sure, young, invulnerable, when she wanted him to shave the places on her body but melting - her legs and arms from the bathtub, some she shaved herself, lifting The rolling in bed together after. thing he thought silver as sex, then Whom were they would ache. She would cry; his heart give-away? kidding? a cynosure of sounds. He missed playing in a band and introduced who could he’d seen in a club player guitar a to Frank Clark, himself cook a room. Aubrey harmonies, and They sang bar based on the short-sleeve shirt. haunted by that last scene: the embryo-blasted Kier Dullea as Bowman Kier Dullea embryo-blasted the scene: last by that haunted eyes wide open in a crystal-clear space ship as a star child, the circling Had space? and of time nature cyclical the represent womb. Did it Bowman and representation linear a Or was it back? come Bowman had regressed to the end of infinity, where a prime mover had him and to up look we astronomy the among place different a in reborn sometimes call the sidereal “Universe”? he worked covers, earn money, To but he needed lyrics. ing melody, he had Aubrey asked if he’d look at some songs the way musicians do. written. Frank liked the work; he came over in the evenings to build a hospital. the shift at P.M. three-to-eleven did the Leda while repertoire dateline away from Vietnam, Aubrey and Vietnam, from away dateline Odyssey. Aubrey Galley States, a of the United behind the walls of ’68, In December

- and did imitations of Ratso and Joe Buck forever and of Ratso did imitations Cowboy and ine V Spring, too, was when the Okeechobee rodeo appeared, cow coun rodeo appeared, Spring, too, was when the Okeechobee Leda came to see them one night, and Aubrey did something he’d Aubrey did something one night, and see them came to Leda model and a high-class Rachel Mason’s true. it’s I’m her lover; photographed, being She can sleep while she’s Her eyes wide open, too. that a lady lives inside of her, There’s queen. Her psychological the lady that givesShe’s half of her; me the go-between.She’s to see Goose bunch went Blue of the all Year, New In spring of the lame after that. But it was the movie’s theme song, sung by Nielson, the after that. But it was the movie’s the most. Aubrey loved Meistersinger, that the town’s caught The only other thing that proudest occasion. try’s the fountain jumping Knievel was Evil eye, three months before that, a drawn Aubrey had his ass. busting and Palace of Caesar’s front in horse called Turkey Track in the first section of the bareback bronc Aubrey knew if he and as he was known, had a reputation, TT, riding. 86 written that subtly suggested love without going too far, considering considering going too far, without subtly suggested love that written and above it. He looked at her cool to be irredeemably efforts Leda’s the room. the mic and sang the madrigal for when he stepped to Midnight F Galley Trio, some old Kingston some Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, did solos: In their last slow song country and an occasional hour. for the dinner themselves Cricket They called originals. performed their set, they inside cricket Kitching’s from Nell taken idea, Aubrey’s It was Jar. the Ball jar. - g 87 an G oose G lue B he T like the idea of fighting for the army and did Behind the chutes, he sat on one end of a bale of hay, gripped his of hay, one end of a bale chutes, he sat on Behind the said. ooh-wee,” a cowboy today, Turkey you got Aubrey, “Hey, me.” lucky “Yeah, you some money if you get it done. That horse make “I’d say so. my mom’s got me out. I’m gonna sign up, except “No, college The man held up his crooked arm. was the What ago. two years Kissimmee, “Oh, yeah, I remember. Vision.” “Blurred do not Americans which most cowboy culture, This was Florida’s stood TT where the chutes behind catwalk the Aubrey walked leather-handled rig, leaned back, and spurred the front of the bale to bale of the front the spurred and back, leaned rig, leather-handled the doing were circuit the from knew he men legs. Other his up warm same. with ‘Nam in be might you Thought years. two in you seen Ain’t Junior.” you in?” Why aren’t having fits about it. name?” bull’s as only sand bars and beaches. know exists. People think of the state in the Union. Its interior parts state cattle Florida is the fourth largest from the social dissi walled off are miles of grazing herds, a world Galleyhis done had he provided well, score he’d buzzer, to the it make could ride. part of the towns east and west coastal the in place taking during the sixties dence but Lots of guys in cow country were the real deal, of Okeechobee. cowboys and wore boots and snap button shirts some were broomstick the real deal would climb down to blend in. Only a few from even dangerous with four legs genuinely on something the steel between the like didn’t ranches the on Boys man. gate the to “Outside!” say and smelled it thought They borderlands. in from the creeping thing hippie like communism. They underneath, caption the with trucks their on stickers sign peace had AMERICAN CHICKEN. THE OF FOOTPRINT - - ine V “Aubrey, you’re the third guy out,” the chute boss said. the chute boss the third guy out,” you’re “Aubrey, man another horse while on the handle his bareback He slipped time “First boss asked. chute the tight?” too You feel? “How you over there.” “All right. Still alive here does.TT his head. “Now you knowed what The other man shook gonna pull his bucking strap?” You “Yeah. Know what he likes.” “Yep. that gets me want choppy stuff it too tight. I don’t make “Don’t right before the announcerHe heard the guy behind him breathing voice said, “Outside!” A two or crowd grown after the heard but he look, Aubrey didn’t of his glove the top piece Aubrey rolled stood still. Track Turkey lame 88 used a special hook to pull the girth up, then he strung the latigo he strung the girth up, then to pull the hook used a special a veteran rodeo Track, Turkey down. it and tightened through leather ahead. horse, stared straight lucky You place. Zarnitz up on the tunin been you Heard right? back, that big Junior doin?” where you at. How’s to have a stock contractor right- he’ll feint right. He’s get it on. He go out to the left then seen him You footed, so he likes his right lead. He’ll start climbin after the first buck. he?” this time. He is a horse, ain’t Course, he might do something different no points.” Immokalee, Chig Biggers out of chute number two, from said, “Now it’s we’ll see if ole Chig can now, Florida, getting set on Elvis, and anytime make ole Elvis sing.” for this cowboy too bad The announcer said, “Aw, three seconds. just your applause, folks.” No time, no money, today. down with his it tapped and tactfully over his hand in the rig handle not touch chute, on a side of the leg back, each other hand. He leaned F with bucking rigs. being fitted of the rodeo stock with the rest Galleying the horse to upset him. He would bring his legs around at the last mar that cycle shoulders for the spurring out second on the animal’s last In the opened. gate the once violence of bucking rhythm the ried - g 89 an G oose G lue B he T There is this initial shock, this surge from the horse’s haunches from the horse’s surge shock, this There is this initial that can tear your hand out of the rigging and your bicep off the bone if bone the off your bicep and rigging the of out hand your tear can that down on He locked Aubrey knew. know what to do to help. you don’t shoulders TT’s into heels his boot and pulled with his legs snatch the Galley placed horse the broncs do: seasoned what did Turkey few seconds, a his head and lowered traction him to give spots favorite his feet in what was com He knew stance. football a taking Much as a man little. loose. Then all hell broke ing. - ine V Turkey Track went Track Turkey thru the air to a spot on his left as prefigured, Therigging with his free hand. He heard the buzzer and grabbed the you have How long Aubrey Shallcross. person, crazy a are “You “Ever since I could climb on one. Uh, you think you can drive my must be exhausted.” You “I can drive a truck. He took a lame step. wrong?” “What’s me going The horse kicked have. Shouldn’t on the fence. “I got off and the knee was swelling by the up his Levis, Aubrey pulled He He had to have the knee drained once a week for a while. lame 90 then coiled and shot to the right, torqueing his body in midair like a to the right, torqueing his body then coiled and shot for forward them shot and back legs his raked Aubrey sailfish. hooked and again. ground again the hooves hit front Turkey’s as buck next the left- initial horse’s the survived had He now. rhythm the had Aubrey right move. His head flew back like whiplash, banging sometimes on the croup, horse’s the lower part of his chaps flapping from the spur pickup rider?Where was the off. horse took it out of him, and he wanted rolled back in the other direction against the Turkey Now he was there, but catchto horse own his turning was man pickup The bucking. kept and chutes do. He reached overAubrey did something a bronc rider shouldn’t up when fromaway went Turkey When fence. the on off got hands and with both right knee, as can happen. Aubrey’s him, the horse kicked back and grazed empty chute and got sick. He stepped down on the ground into an in the parking lot. been doing this?” Leda said to him truck?” away.” minute. F with his hamstrings to give his arm some relief, which also satisfied your spurs the horse with as marking for what is known the judges require. chute, as the rules out of the over the shoulders Galleywhich of audience, and earth, sky, of pieces were see could he All ring. guardrail. her knuckles white on the Leda was a member,

- - g 91 Bus an G MIDGE oose G lue B he T getting married. When he got home, he said to Leda, “I When he got home, he said to Leda, married. him getting every month at the book at the every month Horseman Aubrey bought The Western Aubrey saw Marilyn Aubrey and Leda were in the store, and Once, he what and life married about friend a to spoke Aubrey day, One want to go to this rodeo outside of Jacksonville, and I was thinking. . was thinking. I and Jacksonville, of outside rodeo this to go to want . well, I know this town in South Carolina where you can get married do If you’ll money. the Just show ’em nothing. no test, blood no with and time to stay out of the army, that for me, it might buy me a little Monroe on a magazine cover. It made him remember the movie It made him remember cover. Monroe on a magazine thought of GalleyThe was and won the overall contest second in dollars. four hundred but it, worth wasn’t it said Leda same. the about to came bill doctor’s because bucking out horses ranch and to the Zarnitz he kept going the growing up around from, came it all where and was he of who tried saddle broncs, He had The Junior. his friend Florida ranches and spur strokes. He man for the quicker a shorter-legged wanted but that Elliot, Wiley old rodeo man, An of riding bulls, too. had had his share why once told him, “Son, down in the hell would you want to clamp you in or hit back of the middle in the you kick can that on something And bulls, up on it?” straight its head while you’re sittin with the face them. were that gymnastic, so he quit especially the Brahmas, Sonny was what about breeze and shot the Sonny worked where store seemingly to no Aubrey say, reading at the time. Sonny would hear like one,” that have already “I aisle, store of the end the down at one, hunting was a child he no one since say things to him heard he had blue crabs in the river. cow the of milk,” and a quart raw hamburgers three have Stop. “I’ll one of the He considered that boy said to the waitress in the movie. day. one it use swore he’d and life his of rest the for lines movie great deformed She liked his partially Leda talked for some time to Sonny. She saw the word away. hand and stared at it when he looked who or what it was, but didn’t. tattooed on his arm and wanted to ask - - ine V “I’ll do it, and we’ll call it an open marriage.” and we’ll call it “I’ll do it, at—” “I think if we look “I said I’ll do it.” and rode Zarnitz ranch four times that week Aubrey went to the into River St. Mary’s the Thursday and crossed left on a They He had called home. was crying when he got mother Aubrey’s Aubrey a told but her father either, happy, weren’t parents Leda’s at times. He’d tell people Aubrey could be wild and inconsiderate lame 92 broncs under the lights. His knee was better, though his tailbone was his tailbone though was better, His knee lights. the broncs under in the down strokes. He withers from banging on horses’ sore getting this with his life over around paced he and things, about lot a worried every girl toothsome the he was going to marry, West from Key girl into went then circuit rodeo the knew from they couple a with Georgia rings and never did. have wedding They didn’t South Carolina. she was fond of Leda, though even and her, told and road the from her upset regretted He later way. it hurt her feelings that he eloped this twenty thousand dollars. Jewish year later that it probably saved him girls usually get big weddings. off or fight them, and fights didn’t scare him, because fighting was down to slipping nothing compared the sides of a bucking chute on F it considering year, another at least happy for make my mother it’ll I are I know you and hers. I mean, of this illness with lately looks bad but—” like marriage, a social convention especially anti-everything, Galleyto say not allowed girl in town. He was coolest one thought was the feel him a way of making but she did have was true, it word love, the like what he was required to love her—another double bind in a way, mother did to Sonny. Sonny’s the way he considering want a ceremony, her he didn’t Told ting her. might and besides, being married Church now, felt about the Catholic She always him. forgave She while. for a draft him a pass on the give anything that had to do with the Catholics. She was still a him forgave very implanted Methodist. - - g 93 an G oose G lue B he T in yards to see if it was - when they opened the gate. He gate. the opened you when they On a Sunday afternoon, he came down too hard on a high-with on a hard down too came he afternoon, Sunday On a River from Jensen Beach was The barrier island across the Indian One night in the bar, Arquette was celebrating the purchase of five of purchase the celebrating was Arquette bar, the in night One bringing fall surf, and the wave boys were all parked at a favorite parked boys were all wave surf, and the fall bringing Aubrey checked the High Beach. On the way to the ocean, spot called something that would try to kill to would try that something used good. He was venue, but it felt a smaller at Jacksonville, had won air when he was his hands in the and he would raise to winning, alone the am “I shouting, King line, Lizard Morrison’s on take-off a do to King. I can do anything!” Tater go to pain for the weeks took It tailbone. his broke and bronc ered formed around the break. cyst a pilonidal called and something away, his for and went to Miami at the same time his draft notice He received and excised cyst the had he if that told him They failed. He physical. Felt go, no surgery. it He let they would pass him. properly, healed it riding started he and distraction occasional an was just pain the like in his pants. broncs again with a foam rubber pad acres and a house on Indian River Drive with trust money his grand flame vine thatpleached its way along fenced it when it was. It was blooming blooming. He would not surf when water. the sharks in those all killed had father his and father, his killed world, of the furniture the in everywhere hid these like Cross threads on things like growing vines never waste energy he thought. Flame in the ground; instead, they creep out in thin runners to roots large they can look into your house, choke, starve, and climb shutters so the back of your father off and throat, and clothesline clog your gutters a tractor and kill him. When that vine pealed its burnt orange flowers on “Fire screamed, it and houses of Jensen Beach, lines the lot along water. the roof,” and he would not go in the Galley Aubrey was invidious self. mother left him. He was his half-cocky, him drawn for had he design house rough a had and too, land, eying ine V “Punky, I’ve been wanting to ask you how you’re staying out of staying out of ask you how you’re been wanting to I’ve “Punky, now said. I just cough they asthma, I got this fuckin “Asthma. Arquette. Aubrey said to ’em why,” “Tell finger my pricked I and physical, the at arms my under soap put “I do?” Punky said. the soap “What’s asthma, from that want relief “Raises your blood pressure. If you to Aubrey asked Punky, business?” the trucking how’s “Hey, Don’t watch the world go by. “Shit. Just sit up there all day and Punky,” ought to buy that business from your father, “You We old man. and my binness, me truckin talkin ’bout the “We Arquette said. “Like our “Good thing for a married man like you,” Aubrey shot him a bird. lame 94 Vietnam,” Arquette Arquette said. Vietnam,” seen I was in and records medical a-my hold got they but then, and Aubrey for a kid. Four F-ed me, like they did room as the emergency broncs, I’m doing ridin still Aubrey’s a-his. Bunch a shit. tailbone that pro playing Namath’s Joe fucking that and days, work twelve-hour two kids got I Besides, knees. for his him four F-ed they after football How you ain’t come have to go if’nand don’t want, probably. I don’t boy?” Yankee over there, when I gave them a urine sample.” nitrous oxide. I do. I keep a bottle you ought to try breathing in a little stuff.” Love that for you. it get can guy that a my house. I have at of it and left the table. change the subject when Leda got up sweat none.” Equipment Stinson the buy me helping is father “My said. Arquette thing and the Florida thing.” He likes the business Rental Company. already, side on the binness repair a lawnmower me But I started talkin. up straighter. so I’m real busy with that.” Punky sat who has thrown himself down the business man here, other married well of that beautiful woman.” F Galleyover to the table. Punky came and his Leda. - g 95 an , so G oose , see sittin I, see sittin G lue Cuckoo’s Nest Cuckoo’s B he T “Yuk,” Arquette said. “Her monkey? Now and then, your sex your Now and then, said. “Her monkey? Arquette “Yuk,” the only ain’t You bet you did. Fuckin Education, I Mr. “Yeah, something Black and Decker “I see. Does the rest of her look like Yan stuck it up your know cornpone if someone wouldn’t “You they all went to Palm Beach to see Nell. It was cool The next day, The flame vine was blooming Aubrey for stayed real out now. of Aubrey every day. at the hospital Leda worked the three-to-eleven “Hey, speakin of pussy,” Punky said, “and I know you get plenty get you I know “and Punky said, of pussy,” speakin “Hey, descriptions over-do the ick factor, Punky. I believe I just experienced I believe Punky. the ick factor, descriptions over-do a half retch.” that now and then girl I do this Shit, round here. tail split gettin one and Black somethin like feels it so tight, a-her’s that alley tighten can Decker makes.” those hickey garnet stories to our makes? But please, keep bringing Blue Goose. I love cornpone.” had been bughouse. Sonny in the then to say you had a friend back the written Kesey had morning. that her visit to the water; stayed out of a few rodeos, too, until all the flowers fell off on the ground and lay there like glowing embers. up in that dump truck a-mine. Look down in those cars at stoplights, those cars at stoplights, Look down in a-mine. dump truck up in that up so pulled had her dress This girl day it was bad hot. and the other monkey.” far I could see her his of one cut and eye the in him Punky looked Arquette.” ass, kee over backwards in his chair. to fall pretended Arquette farts. signature or “booby institution, mental real a go to to cooler even it made that written anything Kesey and loved Arquette it. as Punky called hatch,” before light first for dark the in beach the on wait would and him about head his of back the blow would green prime of flash the so surfed, he out then imagine he was a Merry Prankster. Galley on these town horn colic you runnin you and that Arquette, of that, I, and I do mean what believe wouldn’t guys You women. - - - ine V A couple of days ago, the surf was so good he couldn’t stay out, couldn’t surf was so good he ago, the of days couple A down on his board and took Arquette, known for stupid risks, lay said. Aubrey this today,” need “I don’t Arquette answered. need it, but it was kind of cool,” ever “I don’t to the Blue Goose. was at him all the way Trip You finger. your on ring toad that with smart so you’re think “You lame 96 even though the flame vine had not quite finished blooming. His toad His blooming. finished quite not had vine flame the though even The shark swam and yelling. slapping the water the killer, toward off laugh caught a wave for the beach, and the two men away, a distance saw You thought it was all right to surf because your ring stayed pale. screamed It town. through went we when blooming still vine flame the one supersti How can you take the water. you entered at you, and still F to the when he got home and took walks on the car lot went to work signs ring for at his toadstone he looked house they rented; empty about him and poke carp would Trip thought. through as he plowed change colors— really didn’t kickshaw and it was claiming the ring, to Aubrey wanted Trip on.” you gypsy sold that philter shit rat “some sometimes, a stuck trigger him and hounded him like only to listen around anyone from away get to him forcing screaming, and talking went on for years with That down. quieted his other voice until him well into his thirties. Aubrey was until get better them and wouldn’t Leda. with heard he Trip’s of voice this of any share not would He be jealous of its say he was or even She might use it, or exaggerating, so often competed for cool. They abnormal regard. Galleyhe was safe. Hours he thought meaning pale, stone ring had stayed Arquette, its opaque eye with dark a mako shark circled him and later, shark When the pasty. cheap a stripper’s like him watching center was not it and eye, other saw its Aubrey way, other the to go turned family.” my killed daddy “Your him, to said It mammalian. but shark, and the back, looked from shore, they feet were thirty they When ing. at the last second. mako was right behind them. It turned What a paradox you are, Shallcross.” tion serious and not the other? - g 97 an G oose G lue B he T I DON’T GIVE A DAMN A GIVE I DON’T SAM. UNCLE ABOUT VIETNAM. TO AIN’T GOIN I the son,” manslaughter, or “Army either. damn, a give didn’t He “You know what, Trip? Shut up. Know what today is? The Junior Junior The is? today what up. Know Shut Trip? know what, “You met on the all sat, joined by a new guy they’d At the Goose they through the doors of the Goose, hitting the nail The Junior came judge had said that day in Okeechobee, so he slaughtered for the army. judge had said that day in Okeechobee, so he slaughtered for the army. Nothing to do with his jockstrap; the cow hunter bars in the South so he Florida backwoods were as dangerous as that war sometimes, tary caparison among his cattle ranch clothes. Who on the beach side ranch clothes. tary caparison among his cattle Crème Oil hair and the affricate Wildroot was going to laugh at his Vigorous Cowboy the This anyway? speech, sounds of his southern him, about arms, and something with frying pan hands, sixteen-inch a thing about what he know didn’t people These beach dangerous. They never got like him. grow up They didn’t “shit-kickin.” called They anywhere. or walked for miles beat, ass had their dirty or really never wiped the sand flies out of their eyes fishing to eat or trying to were or payment, a truck make could so they to sell something kill seen and snap button shirts. He’d laughed at in school for their accent he was over there. the signs they carried on the news when Galleya in six months spent he soldier, decorated a he’s though Even is back. the at us meeting he’s and officer, kid some up beating for jail military fucking up!” half years, so shut him in two and seen haven’t Goose. I school the high at teacher John Chrome, a young English named beach his and non-athletic, heavy person. His body was a quiet who seemed out-surf to ability preternatural this had he yet bald, completely head up cut him watching been boys had the and table, the at everyone was a It Punky. to him introduced Arquette Aubrey and day. waves all rubbing on woman stopped by and started considering. Some big day, her away. Arquette. He sent heads in the floor with his cowboy boots and size, no sign of mili - - magazine.” He looked at Aubrey and He looked at magazine.” True ine V “My cowboy monster! My ace boon coon!” Aubrey hollered at eyes welled Junior’s The you fuckers.” good to see all now, “Yeah, stranglin dirty nips with them been You me. off “Get them hands like over there,” us what it was and tell “All right. Sit down “Though Junior said in his base voice. The Mars, I guess,” “Like The Junior had come back alive. had them all together. Trip Now the beach in the They were all on The Blue Goose gang was ready. microdots single had taken new house, they Arquette’s at Earlier lame 98 him. “Here comes the meanest good man around.” him. “Here comes and pushed He grabbed Punky behind his neck up, tough as he was. the table. his head down on The Junior of his defensive farts, and Then Punky cut one things.” jumped away. The table went silent. Arquette said. been to Mars. never I ain’t a Aubrey for to over come to slipper Junior’s The get to was time It had Trip Vietnam. in years Junior’s The about Trip tell two and or day waited a long time for this. uninter who were Junior, The for Punky and dawn, except before dark F thought Goose Blue the in bums beach the what shit a give didn’t a they got anyway every time went to a doctor of them of him. Half bowel cramp. GalleyHe Vietnam. And that was all he said to any of them about winked. Down the road on vodka there. his time or valorized never criticized but it was and say something, where he he’d forget or bush lightning, was rare. sunscreens, were gang the With drugs.” or “hippie beach the in ested fluids, food, umbrellas, Quaaludes, and a syringe of Thorazine Leda Arquette sneaked from the hospital in case someone had a bad trip. emer for any oxide of his nitrous canister metal a small along brought gency relaxation he might need. - g 99 an G oose G lue B he T They waited, talking low in a circle. They remembered they were they They remembered low in a circle. They waited, talking Chrome said. Wait,” “Wait. said someone. what?” “Wait what like You’ll promise. I smooth, on comes It right. all “It’s The light is coming,” have to look. You “Oh, look at the water. the told Chrome Lizard,” the “In a few minutes, we celebrate The light increased. strange. They sat. Not moving. Feeling the Leda whispered. Someone pushed the but start the song,” “Let’s pieces ofAfter two hours of just going with what they had, they tore off talking. They were talking. “What?” one of them said. “Nothing.” They were talking. talking. Chrome but it levels,” wonder if it gets too strong, You’ll comes. assured them. The rush had started. Arquette begged the circle. group, meaning Jim Morrison. is always coming. No sun yet, but coming, as something Galley and new teacher high school the John Chrome, Pane. Window of LSD John and dealer. from a reputable it had purchased group, of the friend before, but a few times had tripped Rose Mothershed, his girlfriend, for the rest, it would be their first experience. Arquette was for once from song A usuriously serviced. he women of the any without alone, was silent, but ready in the for the Sun,” “Waiting the Doors album, boom box. All five squatted on the dune, watching the predawn sky over the water. the life he gave to Victrola, gave ton on the boom box, and the voice he strong came Americanis, and chaos, Jim Morrison, Lord Byron music the group they had word telling baritone each clear and discernable, shore/ waiting for the freedom’s gone down to the sea/ to stand on When the rock idol screamed his scream, the sun/ waiting for the sun. DOM DOM bridge, song’s the and ocean, the cracked light welder’s DOM DOM, sent the DOM DOM/ DOM DOM DOM/ DA DOM/ DA group out to the edge of the horizon to pull the huge earth’s fire star the rest of the way out of the water. ine V “Mystagogue?” Arquette cocked his head. Arquette “Mystagogue?” you know.” don’t leader of a mystical experience, A “Yes. “a the ocean, said, not taking his eyes off Aubrey “Arquette,” eyes, the beach, some lay down and closed their Some walked Aubrey said. I’m flying,” “Whew, Aubrey nodded. are good though, right?” Chrome asked. “You best way to said the guy in Miami “A his throat. cleared Chrome “I carburet that.” On the beach, Chrome said, “Everybody looks like they feel good. good. feel they like looks “Everybody said, Chrome beach, On the the playing stop and own thing my into get I’ll then, “Well lame masters in English, the teacher here has.” They burst out laughing. here has.” masters in English, the teacher Chrome, too. beach, trotting up the back then water the down to some went and Arquette was a walker and disappeared up the the pleasurable energy. of shade the to Aubrey moved and Chrome water. along the line sand behind the dune and sat on a fallen tree. Australian pines the ever sit in an apartment Don’t do this is always outside on a good day. dance crap and snow.” TV watching 100 ­mystagogue.” Are you enjoying it?” They nodded and spun their eyes at him. They nodded and Are you enjoying it?” F Galley Chrome kept watch. yogurt from the cooler. and ate it with cold dark bread Arquette Aubrey and see if they were good. at everyone to He glanced Rose front. Leda and come in from a weak watching the waves squatted, Aubrey until tears came. then laughed giggled on a blanket Mothershed theirThe boys got in the water with on the mouth. saw Leda kiss Rose Aubrey just rolled after wave. Sometimes taking wave boards, their energy Haroldabout and thought bottom on the there sat he sank; board and his off hisopened He grade. seventh the from schoolmates drowned the Betty, and see if they would and hummed an old school song to eyes in the green blur Trip Trip. he looked in his head for up for air, When he came swim to him. withhim watching just comfortable, mind, of his a corner sitting in was to go on and enjoy himself. Aubrey with his hand to a grin. He motioned - g 101 an G feeling are oose field horolo field - G lue B he T strept float,” but said he didn’t want to float today. strept “You what?” “You it explode and said you what of fuel the with air Mix it! “Carburet ought We mansion! fucking That’s man. horse one, good a is “That My Chrome, until today. you wanna talk, seem like never “You English.” the king’s “Listen to you spew “I’m stoned.” with diphthongs southern those in you drawling to used “I’m monastery.” “In a Benedictine Chrome went down on one knee, laughing. “Man, you “Sure did, John Chrome. By God, I did. I am. I did. Now tell me me did. I am. I did. Now tell “Sure did, John Chrome. By God, I with noise popping a made around and his head rolled Chrome The devices he spoke of had private tags, personal titles from his The devices he spoke of had private Aubrey said. then. Just the float,” the ‘present’ me about “Tell The work, eat, the moil, the grind. you know, the everyday, “It’s Aubrey squinted. candles.” “Yeah, I’m today. No candles cowboy man. though, Lucy, on this “Not into comprehension.” to hear about your carburetion theories.” to talk more. I want is a taciturn, laconic man.” perception of you Where did you go to school?” Punky and Junior. brain’s boat trailer, teacher man.” boat trailer, about your brain’s standard using the his mind arranged sometimes his lips. He said he the deeda now. You did not go to school in a monastery.” did not go to school You the deeda now. talk about the own capillary thought, as he put it. The past was “back peal”; the peal”; past was “back The thought, as he put it. own capillary had He jut.” “front the was future for byword His “float.” was present wa-wa, cavitation, cryptonyms to these, like projectamenta, cleated “ the he called and something sleep, march. Or when I just go blank and see candles.” no present stuff. in the future and the back peal all at once right now, gist, so I like to simply set things up that way.” gist, so I like to simply set things up Galleyleft a freak, time a “I’m future. and present, past, devices: - - day off. We have been sitting in here watch We our day off. ine V “So what do you think then?” that about you and Talk “I think it is a good way to spend a day. Aubrey nodded. They walked out of the trees and into the calm water of the first you with me tonight, “If you want to sleep Aubrey, Leda said to walk.” Aubrey said. “Let’s “Leda, come with me,” She told him about the things she saw when she closed her eyes, showed up as Trip down, came they after evening, that Later Anyone point? son at this favorite “And how is the hometown’s I get to try it, so fuck off.” “My day off. this Amper Sand and I enjoyed “I just want you to know that lame 102 ing your nucleus accumbens streak around your brain walls like some thing on, well, LSD.” trough to be with Leda and Rose. The tide was lower, and the sandbar and the The tide was lower, Leda and Rose. trough to be with tops, just their off The two girls had taken out. further waves broke the their Both women ducked feet of water. staring in three there sitting pulling time, same the up at came and time same the at under heads in with animals eyes huge, lakey, hands, their with their hair back their Aubrey and Chrome. pictures at the centers shooting to Rose. turned Leda Rose giggled. day.” all to me love make to have it?” “I read that somewhere. Beautiful, isn’t and dug sand knelt They now. aircraft like were coming they and that the when in back themselves dig them see and go them let to just fleas be she would always she thought waves washed back. She told him able to see the aircraft and the sand fleas appearing and disappearing, touched. kissed and and walked They wore off. acid the after even all day. Trip heard a peep out of Aubrey hadn’t acted. Trip Lazy, took a shower. Aubrey sat on the porch while Leda want to buy a car from a man on acid?” sort of It’s immensely. F Galley to say next, what I’m going I just said, rear-end to what I’m listening too.” kind of flying, because I’m - - g 103 an G oose very intense, G lue B he T “I was jittery at first, but I found it not unlike a lot of my every day, day, every my of lot a unlike not it found I but first, at jittery was “I are on to a slipper you who can talk like because people “That’s you say any Why didn’t was’? ‘who I once mean do you “What a like is possible to become this drug it when you take “Because Trip?” when they do this drug, “So what happens to normal people occurs. In mono- singular kind of encephalitis A interesting. “Very just much more intense. And there were parts that were were parts that And there more intense. just much it places are yes, there And makes. brain LSD their of natural kind a you back to who you’ve never seen. It will also switch you can take with me. But no, you did you were a ‘special’ you once were before fine today.” brain analogue more the to to return and you get Aubrey, again, child get your You have with me now. you had, instead of the stereo one you back for a while, like it was before your hallway sense of ‘I’ complete Sand, Amper world of me, other world, the of this part be to opened and unfortu lady you fawn over, Nell Kitching, that suspicious gypsy modern who in a way invented tribe Jews, the God of the the theism, you on the earth ‘I have put everything said in Genesis, monotheism, people When suspect. drugs, I natural good, includes that and need,’ Galleyat away slip well damn can You away. slipping Carter Clarence singer wedding, right?” that chemical go to, And then again, there were parts I didn’t but somewhat familiar. unfamiliar.” because they did seem Trip?” thing today, know— You world of slippers. The Hand. Slim of course, the nately, have I could “Sure, laughed. Trip it,” Carburet Aubrey. schizophrenia, but I preferred to watch with you today on that wisdom pill, interacted you what of kind is guess that I while. a for self old your with be you watch to out when you drive you say you go to, room bone do in the though I would like could be healthy, burn. I think that the sugar cane I you and I share and the brain to see this bone room somewhere in me.” without to it use to get stairs you must back to see the would like - raptura, a raptus or ine V “What you did today, Aubrey, can be rapture, astounding or fright can be rapture, Aubrey, today, you did “What “Hollywood Aubrey muttered. Homer,” not that, did “Hollywood Our 1954 movie. Nautilus in the the aboard Aubrey, “Ah, Kirk, Trip.” did. Good night, “You tonight head your in film a revisit you don’t why Aubrey, and “Oh, lame 104 ening, depending on the strength of the spar that runs through your on the strength of the spar that ening, depending mean to considered was once word ‘rapture’ the Historically, sanity. in the old French, or from Latin a ‘carrying off’ tied him to the mast.” we agreed in college no man Ulysses, our Spartacus in spades. I know, use. Movie examples academics Greek show cards like those donnish our world, now on in from name-drops scholastic their would replace I did just do a good job of combining the Although not mythology. two, I think. Carburet it?” got to you worth seeing again. one that know, You you’ve seen? that Amper Sand and I would love to watch it with you and promise we Maybe it will had trouble sleeping lately. You’ve say a word. won’t that Leda help if you take one of those—what are they?—Quaaludes send the I’ll you dream. make that pills the hospital, the from pilfers F some cases in hallway brain’s LSD, the take than voice hearers other Of they bus around. to hear the slippers enough for them can expand of effects the was just it think they drug wears off, when the course, And stuff. see that them hear and they ate that made the ‘religion’ normal head stream, straight again with their when they are totally creativity mysterious or some heard, Muse they was the think it they slippers Those are word—‘muse.’ so sick of that I get possess. they of that but the thought acid, and maybe even saw, they heard on the them on a regular day. sober would scare Galley be all of these feelings together, It can ecstasy. seizure or a spiritual Los when Homer tied Kirk Douglas to the mast in a too. Remember without having to go to the Angles studio so he could get siren-soaked real Mediterranean to be Ulysses?” g 105 an G oose G lue B he T .” tonight, Trip. I know every line. I want to see Jean I want to see every line. I know Trip. tonight, . I want Lilith Lilith “No. Soon the voices came, and Aubrey moved into the first picture told him. any film,” the voices Aubrey, “Pick a film, “Lilith “Yes, Aubrey,” the voices said, and he was gone. the voices said, and he Aubrey,” “Yes, voices to start the movie when you go down to the lounge for deeper to the lounge for you go down start the movie when voices to Yes?” The Kirk! Spartacus again. pick your man could You sleep. before he was gone. GalleyTrip.” to me. I love you, sleeps next Seberg while my other Seberg Galley 107

Galley Galley . 109 ‘Someone

hrome C Chapter 9 Chapter ohn J English class. “It’s a famous saying in composition, in saying famous a “It’s English class. A proxy for the arts and a quiet man, recessive, except in his lec- for the arts and a quiet man, recessive, proxy A almost been had It again. do acid would they group decided The By sunrise, they were on out the dune, “stoned immaculate.” school “There’re only two kinds of stories,” John Chrome said to his high said stories,” John Chrome only two kinds of “There’re tures, Chrome was just eight years older than the seniors that he taught, just eight years older than the seniors tures, Chrome was them. He could beliefs bled into what he gave and a lot of his personal likesound them make and literature from sayings solemn old, revive a reading, study, The Rolling Stones. He advocated Ali or Muhammad of expe- independent thought, the anarchy factory ground vocabulary, rience, and theology of surfing for mental maintenance. There were two small human noses with flared nostrils tattooed onhis back, one was “to purchase enlightenmentover each lung. His secretive drug use himthought his students of Most Aubrey. told he self,” purvey the and and Chrome wanted them too just too cool to be part of the enemy, gang, Goose Blue the into fell first he When enemy. the become to cool Aubrey had become on his life; his friendship with it had a big effect for miles of close talk. “mansion!” as he would put it, pabulum Chrome was even stronger. them among and the sodality a year now, for providing. from everyone and got respect his source in Miami liked to do the drug as before. They’d made the same pact and arrangements was Arquette with. they were comfortable people same place, Same at Melinda, a surfer who worked with one of his girlfriends this time, of the future. happy and sure seemed in the circle the Goose. Everyone from the Doors they had swallowed with the drug after the Words body’s confinement made them squeeze the speedy part into colors and sounds instead of talking and moving around for the first hour Galley a stranger comes to town.’” goes on a journey; - ine V Chrome and Aubrey went into the Australian pines like they did pines like Australian the went into Aubrey and Chrome the way you “I wanted to ask you more about “So,” Chrome said. air mix I “Carburetion: hands. his with contrails made Aubrey nodded. “Mansion!” Chrome swollen. Very red. “Very back. nodded Aubrey house!” big “Yeah, we are going to split. Can you “For you I have the last tab of acid teeth, I can, school teacher.” “God’s There were no real boards. They went for the water with their “God damn. I’m pure soaked in it. So you really like that Rose you see.” a thin-lipper, She’s “Yes. Together, all of them sitting, nodding to each other the way minor way the other to each nodding sitting, of them all Together, lame 110 the last time to talk. industry of the the in interested I’m tics. head carburetors and at look wash. . . time.” back head, you know, That comprehension. it into thought and explode with the fuel of a simple.” me were telling You you sort of quit me, John Chrome. But last time got more for me on that?” You how you unpacked time zones. ride some more?” regrouped Everyone surfed anyway. they thought they waves, but Chrome yogurt. cold with bread dark the ate and umbrellas the under Now they Aubrey kept looking at each other and making faces. and “Just had said, Yeager Yeager. X-1 with Bell the riding in were really the to shake starts cockpit the sound barrier, the you break before group when Aubrey and Chrome had to walk away from the most,” so some. Leda and Rose Mothershed that started to happen and level out looked passes that and conversation sororal intense an in be to seemed the pines, Aubrey and Chrome went back up in the shade of lesbian. cooking. Mothershed girl, John Chrome?” ities do, dividing things into fragmentS, mountainS, murmurS, before murmurS, fragmentS, mountainS, things into ities do, dividing beach. instead of the to walk on the ocean they stood F Galley - 111 hrome C Kyrie elei- Kyrie ohn J “A what?” “A fuller, them like men I know most lips. thin women with “I like “Good one.” time as the other educated to me, like you did last “Say something “ Wound. Head man his into turned and Aubrey stood Chrome smiled and stomped his feet. “You said you schooled in a in said you schooled “You feet. his stomped and smiled Chrome Aubrey shit.” residual other that and all vobiscum, then, “Pax started,” me get and moon dogs. Don’t stuff man, time “Aw, his shoulders like he usually did. “Float is my word for He rolled ones.tall candles, “Table ground. the at stared Aubrey “Candles.” but I prefer thin.” but I prefer time.” bubba-boy you slide into all the Not the cowboy Aubrey. Benedictine monastery? I went to Loyola in Chicago. I was somewhat monastery? I went to Loyola in Chicago. Benedictine too.” of a Latin scholar, Mr. Wound, “I miss you, Head looked up at the sky and yelled, together. cross the of sign the made Chrome and He Bierce!” Ambrose person, but sound to another might know how it said. “I don’t Chrome of mine, terrain head that about you more tell I’ll Okay, you might. and in my frank.” in, and I can be right there, active the present. It can be a present I’m Of the blank stare stuff. know, You or I can be there and not be there. have to at work, but when I don’t course, I have to be there when I’m like time, of periods for nowhere like else, go somewhere I there, be to listening thing cavitation the I got cavitating. it I call people. most an sound if certain a make They wakes. boat in rock motors outboard wa-wa-wa-wa. Hollow propeller, air cavity forms around the boat’s when the prop The boat-heads call it ‘cavitating’ you know. and low, does that. If I go into those blank stares with candles and wobbling air, Wa-wa-wa.” what I do. Cavitate. that’s I see them. My equivalent of your wa-wa is the sound of doo-lang.” Galleypharma good on ontology clear a to go I Catholics! crumbling ye son, Chrome, carbugoddamnrate it!” Dr. cology, - - - - - Misarary nobis! pray for us, John Chrome, carburet it.” pray for us, John Chrome, lang!” Chrome shouted. “Truly mansion! - ine V ass zircons these things of ours we profess! So what other the - “Doo “Yeah, “Yeah, just the infinite puzzle of you holding a picture of you “Thomas Aquinas, his zircons, that was the abbey. And Thomas And Aquinas, his zircons, that was the abbey. “Thomas lame 112 holding a picture of yourself,” Chrome sighed. “The infinite regress peared, because we didn’t, and actually he didn’t run into the Prime he didn’t and actually because we didn’t, peared, be the Aristotle were talking about. Something cannot Mover he and a meta doo- need a prime mover, You cause of its own cause, right? enough to compre sophisticated even or maybe our brain isn’t langer, ends it So shit! mover prime and cosmo this all of beginning the hend of faith, one that proposes suggested we take a leap Thomas up that though we can’t even somehow, there out prime mover is really the the best. Course, like I said, you see it and never have, and hope for carbure four-barrel the God, Elvis, Thomas’s end up with either could as the Prime Mover if you use brilliance or some other rounded off tor, more touch but if you want something suggestion, of faith the leap for something settle even you might obvious, or understandable, able, again.” Asphalt Shingles, or even nothing weird, like the God of fuck zircons were they were teaching at your abbey, and then what then and your abbey, at were teaching they were zircons fuck whittled out on your own?” were the ones you hooked way in doo-langer, was cool, one of my heroes and a quantum and and effect Thomas took us through cause right? But Aristotle, to picture a holding of ourselves picture a holding us there, left just then see the end and disap we couldn’t we got so small of ourselves, until Wild F when they The Chiffons, know, “You looked at him funny. Chrome doo-lang/ doo- they go ‘doo-lang/ When So Fine.’ song, ‘He’s sing that or cavita like your wa-wa’s, turn into something the doo-langs lang,’ Galley over. doo-langs over and blank and hear the and I sort of go tion for me, doo-lang, but words for a dead-zone existential, They are my favorite I attended, so they were teaching us at the abbey not the existentialism that,all with was I where and metaphysics own my out whittle to had I and so misarary nobis - - 113 hrome C ohn J Carburet?” He pointed at Aubrey. . Carburet?” He pointed at “Yeah, carburet,” Aubrey laughed. carburet,” “Yeah, candle.” of kind another with mentioned, I float other the is “There “We have a lot in common, John Chrome. I ponder that oat box box oat that ponder I John Chrome. common, in lot a have “We like things It is when I trombone projectamenta. the it “I also call he The past?” last time? you mentioned about the back peal “What did not hap that happened something is when I imagine “That pen, after something happened. I go over conversations and scenes I go over conversations happened. something pen, after or something I just passed minutes ago, months, years, off that came same story around it or walk through the another I make in my car. stories, as if in those dialogue redacting story again. I’m constantly up because I fucked up the way a conversation cop would write me that I said it the first time, and yes, misarary nobis, have mercy on us standing apes for being like that stuff all the time. What about your front jut you called it before, the it before, your front jut you called What about all the time. stuff future?” doom. I prob irresistible and of course, a little schemes, grandiosity, asked the English teacher. Galley Don of reduction. Theory it. and movers. I know and effect of cause himself reading a story about about a man a story reading Quixote, Quaker old the book. Or Cervantes second the in story, the reading Oats box and carnival midways, when you find the right spot in the lonely.” All unanswered, endless, House of Mirrors. ably spend too much time doing that.” He put a fist to his mouth and big the favorite out as far as it would go, imitating shot his other arm their breath. ground trying to get band horn. It put both men on the to attraction same the now, other each about things knew some They in his own Aubrey was to reveal the crystal set tempted brain lands. sugarcane the to drove how he and Suiter, Triple voice, his other head, fields by Lake Okeechobee to fly around the band shell of his skull in Yuma as Johnny And how he rode out of the cane his monster drifties. know Chrome to Needed yet. not but Glade, of Belle city the protect to people to talk. better and he was good at getting other - - candles make candles strept float. A kind of mental poverty, a nothing A kind of mental poverty, float. strept ine V He said it happened when he was worried or scared of dying when he was worried or scared He said it happened favorite teacher as long as he was the school’s Aubrey told him over stirring was a there but more, him ask to was going Aubrey Aubrey asked. “What happened?” Make it stop!” Aubrey. “Make it stop, eyes. Floods. Fear. He cradled her on the blanket. Her open me what it is.” Tell okay. “It’s eyes, those aircraft things, “Those things I see when I close my them want didn’t you and things, good were those thought I “But purse. my Get Aubrey? me, stop, you hear them make “You “Maybe you ought to give it a little time, Leda.” Stick me!” “No. I need you to do it right now. lame 114 ness without the dumbed down wa-wa around to sooth me and make to sooth me and wa-wa around the dumbed down ness without the but smoke, make good candles The stop. it before anyone knew him. It was when he fell into what he called the he called him. It was when he fell into what before anyone knew nausea. He said he was old-fashioned nothingness things better about “Even months. to Rose over the close he had gotten since that like too pretty to be with a fat man.” though she’s Beach, Bishop of the be the way he did, he’d always the surf and could she? wasn’t and besides, Rose was a thin-lipper, man, just a fat never women. And she knew he loved thin-lipped water, from the blanket up to the Leda group. Rose was helping by the yelled They herself. about something maintain to was trying Leda and other arm, Leda’s Arquette had Aubrey and Chrome, and by now, for steering her towards the umbrella shade. stop.” They won’t those sand fleas. to stop.” and you make now, me Stick it. in hospital the from Thorazine There’s them stop, god damn it!” chloroform with their critical flicker, a luteous gas.” critical flicker, chloroform with their F “Teta defensive. a little looked but shoulders again, his rolled Chrome Galleythe it I call nus stuff. - 115 hrome house of house C ohn J a mile from the main the from mile a had walked away from his mother in a clearing had walked away calf “Watch the fuckin monster charm him. He just ripples the water the fuckin monster charm “Watch The other man pulled his rifle out of the scabbard and gave it to Blue Goose the to went and date up his picked Junior The At dark, the Aubrey grabbed the microphone. “This is for my friend Junior, “You know what you’re doing, man?” Arquette said when Aubrey Aubrey when said Arquette man?” doing, you’re what know “You suit bathing her of part bottom the stretched He horses.” stick “I man another him, to Next horse two days later. on a Junior sat The with his snout, and every time that little bugger moves his baby-cow his moves bugger little that time every and snout, his with is gettin ready.” ass closer to see what it is, that gator silent. went then and boiled water The Boom! eyes. gray Junior’s The band, full Aubrey brought their and Frank Clark in Jensen Beach. songs. No more to shake the rum shrine with their original Jar, Cricket hometown for the loud get and to dance was time it supper music; Susie named girl Seminole a romancing been had Junior The people. straight him to next she sat and Reservation, Brighton the from Tiger mean real was the she that once Aubrey told He hair. black her in up right over in love, sitting never fall warrior who said he’d American and smiled, Aubrey counted. band The girl.” beautiful that with there and taken a few more steps toward a big pond’s edge, where a ten- a where edge, pond’s big a steps toward few more a taken and nose a for dot a and eyes his only with water, the below lay gator foot distance the was because gator the knew how big Junior The showing. one meant that and inches, ten was about his eyes his nose to from inch for every foot. mosquitoes, and that he thought ing of the term “swamp angel,” not he was in love. the Z-Bar Up. A the Z-Bar Up. Galley the needle. pulled out pushed then sensitive less it make to skin on her butt the down, slapped allowed ever wasn’t he who said woman the into contents styptic the her. to tell her he loved trees, the in hidden were They his. sat - - ine V Big Johnny Gator, was wide as a crater; Big Johnny was Gator, liveHe lived alligators. in Miami, fought the from A Seminole maid big Everglade Opened his shirt, and he melted away. like a dive-bomberAnd love momma. and your Dives on you like cheese a good grilled Love knees. on your and down starving When you’re table the around sat friends the All break. their took band The They were all when it happened. Arquette said he remembered lame 116 drinking and eating conch fritters, cracked conch, pigeon peas, and pigeon conch, cracked fritters, conch and eating drinking in conver locked Aubrey, Punky sat Junior and The Between rice. F gave him: the voice his mother ballad time, with then in rock Galleynumber the amount, salt swamp cabbage—the cooking about sation Arquette’s discussing were Chrome John and Arquette parts. hog of equipment company deal. Leda had left the table to find Rose in the place was full of townies. Only two more months of 1970 The crowd. be back, allowing the great ser left and then the winter people would money for clothes, cars, dope, vice industry of South Florida more at hurricane strong a was There undone. things leaving and dreams, After his third mixed were watching. people that east end of Cuba the Aubrey to cry. Punky started drink, a Purple Jesus chased by a beer, ago years was fourteen it him Punky told him. to around face his put Aubrey nodded, and so did James die. he saw his big brother today The Junior stood went silent. The table They remembered. The Junior. wife Donna in the crowd. She took Punky outside and found Punky’s with her to the parking lot. 117 hrome C ohn J “One day, Punky and his brother were playing in the woods. They They woods. in the playing were brother his and Punky “One day, bar to get Goose, and Donna went to the in the back Punky came we been talkin about makin shine out Me and Punky, Aubrey. “So, “I’m listening.” part well, we was wonderin if you wanted in on it, and if your “Yeah, “You need some money, fine, but I can’t be directly involved. Tiger. The Junior looked again at the Seminole girl, Susie Arquette Another old schoolmate, David, the boy in the wheelchair climbed on top of this abandoned tank truck. James wanted to know James wanted truck. tank abandoned on top of this climbed see He couldn’t tank and unscrewed the top hole. what was in the big a match to light dark in there. Punky handed James in because it was ten, you know. were they since both smoked They’d and take a look. and when James still on the bottom of the tank, There was gasoline lying brother saw his he me Punky told . . . well. match, the struck of blast blew all the just a skull for his head after on the ground with it through that okay Punky seemed to make skin and scalp off. James’s for breakfast Randolph’s Donna waits on me at back then, but now? Still sees himself of year. this time and told me he has nightmares handing James that match.” The nothing of it. trying to make him another Purple Jesus. He was Aubrey between it placed then out chair his pulled and stood Junior hear what was being said. and Punky so the rest of the table couldn’t run We’d good bush lightning. know, You on the Brighton Reservation. dump truck loads. I’m gettin to Palm buyers under Punky’s West it to roundtouch me no one can dad, and Tiger’s be good friends with Susie those Indians ’cept the Indians.” the buck mash.” to cook off cooker for the would be loanin us the money a chance like that. The car business is too good for me to take Risky. Where you going to hide it?” talked Everyone bar. the into were kids, came when they tease used to Galley John Chrome brother was twelve. years old. Punky’s kids, eleven tell him.” You “Aubrey. Aubrey. nudged The Junior and asked how, - - ine V Cars were selling for Shallcross Chrysler. The new ’71 models The for Shallcross Chrysler. Cars were selling Aubrey liked to fool around at When he on wasn’t the sales floor, with Aubrey watched the colored gas in the glass In the sign shop, lame 118 were already in demand, especially the Plymouth Road Runner Super were already in demand, especially to the back garage and work with a or go the neon sign shop next door, Cabbage Junior’s. The of friend a Pinley, Cabbage named boy country knew what and he because he knew he’d get dirty, Aubrey accepted he was even if it took to be a professional rodeo rider, kind of mettle son. the boss’s the signs off a few old wa-wa stares. He also bought one of Chrome’s and he garages, back the In collector. a become had he now that walls things about talked and plugs, and points, starters, changed Cabbage like cam shafts, solid lifters, float valves, and of course, carburetors, F now face: embarrassment wore a strange Arquette, who to him except On his bathroom. the for headed Arquette maybe. was grown, he that of sympathy, in a rare show shoulder hand on Punky’s he put his way, drink it when they were got into he and Punky constantly considering Galley he pulled out and his eyes welled up again, then ing. Punky nodded putting triangles, into them bending and started his famous paperclips something scat, some kind of metal it like to mark ashtray in the them bar, across the corner a Over in school. high since ever done had he The Junior went Aubrey and with his drink, watching. alone Sonny sat Leda came back to the table say hello to him earlier. out of their way to evening went on. with Rose, and the man a ’71, of February press. In the by car” “muscle a called bird, from Level Cross, won his North Carolina, named Richard Lee Petty, the Grand National and became third Daytona 500 in the same car, a cerulean painted was famously The car again. Series Champion get of hell; the public couldn’t blue, and it could go like the hammers you sideways put it so strong, thing “That Punky said, of it. enough color “Petty Blue.” the car’s in the street.” Chrysler officially dubbed - 119 hrome C ohn J When Leda got home from the hospital, she came out on the porch she came hospital, got home from the When Leda Robert Mitchum, Thunder Road, ghost. The macho boys have gone to Give me a ’55 Chevy, GTO, eat the road. Or a Petty Blue Plymouth, I’ll Bobby Joe Smalltown, look at you. Bobby Joe Smalltown, into Newport News, uh-huh, I saw you ridin Richard Petty blue. In your full race Plymouth, all over you, uh- You got the muscle car dream huh. you Lady killer, Mr. Dragonfly, boy, brown eyes, uh-huh. Hypnotize ’em with your big do those things And Virginia ladies make you a street machine, When they shake that tail like uh-huh. At home, he sat on the porch of the house he and Leda were rent were house he and Leda porch of the he sat on the At home, to sit with him. She had not been the same since the last acid trip—a A would ambush her. the jimjams sleeping, dysphoria of sorts, trouble she had what as if seen before, been had not stood out on her that vein ing, a double shot of gin next to him. He stared into the air alone with alone air the into stared He him. to next gin of shot double a ing, a sky had west The on his lap. lyrics of song and notebook ballpoint a minutes, more five In gin. the feel could he and moon, wound puncture started writing a song monster got loose; he whittle the alcohol and his Elvis. day in the style of a soon-to-be-dead he would sing one Galley valves reminded Float Aubrey forever. part that had marked the engine of seals what kind and god knows and the wa-wa, him of Chrome time they talked. his head the next say he had in Chrome might - - - Toro feces! Bubulum feces! Toro ine V He put down the pen and lyrics and began braiding rawhide strands strands rawhide braiding and began pen and lyrics He put down the Leda sitting there Aubrey said to is carburetion,” “Contemplation she said in that breaking voice of hers as she exhaled her “Yes,” that she matter It didn’t to have her. He blessed his own heart lame 120 around a whip handle used in the cattle business. His mother’s health His mother’s business. used in the cattle around a whip handle to buy the car and it worried him. She wanted him was up and down The responsibility payments. He could make time business from her. with ranch Zarnitz on the job a get just would rather he ton; a seemed and father his mother all about guilty would feel but then Junior, The that were the quiet lyrics gin, and writing Bombay Braiding, had built. lefty- rotten part of getting too far into the it and the took his mind off jays those blue he was stressed, even stupid things like When loose. had Trip him because of who he was. as a kid still bothered he killed jays. “ blue the words to say about a few Latin next to him, the punch wound moon almost gone below the trees now. then exploding it into compre “Mixing air with the fuel of a thought Aubrey.” so weird, smoke. “You’re house. It the rules around no-love-to-be-cool those insensate played to affection. came when it times at her coldness she faked matter didn’t and up, well eyes her see would He broke. she broke, when she But them now—soft—no slaughter they made love the way it worked for F She Halloween. wrong a day was truly that beach on the experienced could see Aubrey and her sacred cigarettes, the smoke from inhaled her profile in the dark, the white gas moving in and out of this beauti Galley effect. thing like a special ful living !” Bullshit. stercus way you do it.” the hension, that’s of say it was the hijinks To table any more. on the kitchen house stuff his heart, to say it was the contrail of coitus still there when they first had enough real dragged eyes of hers, eyes that or those slightly met, not did he safe, half feel him make to him on were when they them in wanted him to shave her legs, and she wore the chenille She still know. 121 hrome C ohn J Oedipus. . Leda had sworn off any had sworn off Horse. Leda Man Called A In these times, he continued to find room to resent his old god like god old his resent to room find to continued he times, these In the with beach on the happened what from suffered Leda When neon signage Palm Beach to look at certain West They drove to days three MDA drug called Rose had given her two caps of a captured by Indians, Palm, a story of being West The movie in it was a form of fervent prayer. And when agnostic feelings showed to feelings And when agnostic prayer. fervent of form a was it for it, like someone the old god again, he suffered make him long for thoughts. from intrusive who suffers always She malaria. religious his own against weigh that he would acid, would come with him for strong, but an equipoise seemed to compete superior to no one. he felt in a place would put him in another year that and to see a movie: pull than push. with more speed, not acid, it was like ago, swearing pantheistic like acid, especially But it, too, had a way of opening doors you slow enough to record left ones—l o s t t i m e d o o r s that every time changed had markedly but a sky that went by, the sky that you closed and opened your eyes. They loved it. sits-mark on them. a large Harris, left starring Richard Neither had to work the so next they day, built a fire in the back yard drug that was considered even close to acid, but she was taking 20mg she was taking but acid, to close even was considered drug that at with Quaaludes along wall, sample hospital from the beauties black from opiate, synthetic a Dilaudid, lifted she treat, As a sleep. to night and John to rodeos Aubrey went off When cabinets. locked white the Chrome was not around, she did up the Dilaudid with her new cotton rating same the totaled women both because Mothershed, Rose sister, for addiction. Galleya for chenille, so liked because he bought for her birthdays robes he they were Suiter knew: Triple His man would never tell. reason he his by things man gets taken and every worn by his mother, the robes beautiful, innocent, most of them rest of his life, did for the mother with cheap shots from and nothing to do - - ine V “When MDA “When firstMDA hits you, you have to fight theurge to talk too Aubrey went right to the Indian movie after the first hour of to visit her parents. She for the weekend West Leda went to Key lame 122 much or be overactive, a little like regular speed, but not the same speed, but not the regular like a little much or be overactive, be quiet for a Leda. “If you can force yourself to thing,” Rose told of speed up. It almost begin to slow down instead while, then things different A energy. amphetamine a certain but with narcotic, feels quick. feel can it but slow, drift You effect. speedball small a feel, Cohen songs in your and hear those mourned-up Leonard dream You a from it got Chrome that and pure, drug was the said She head.” who came through town from Denver. Arquette’s friend of into Richard Harris. He closed silence on the drug and turned himself Sioux garnified a inside them opened and drifty coming a for eyes his wore and necklaces bone with circle a in sat men red where lodge, cen the in him put vision first His heads. their on geese Canada whole was the daughter of a Navy pilot at the Boca Chica air base and had see to she went Once, Street. Duval of air wild grown up around the when word got roof of a house trailer on the had fallen where an angel F the ate and movie in the Harris Mr. like people Sioux tribe to become their made and tom-toms bongo had They Rose. from came that MDA paint. with smiling war faces up Galleystuck and movie, the in like up, an walked men Two lodge. of the ter to buckskin them attached muscles then sharp sticks into his pectoral solar monstrance A the structure. lines that lifted him to the top of up there, and like Richard Har sun through an open hole blazing was god of the Sioux and the Tanka, Wakan vision. had the Aubrey ris, came close to his face and nodded to him, while Leda all creation, pleasurable, painless, was experience The chanted. drums and the beat Aubrey as the to was as familiar truly l o s t t i m e, and the lodge The next in his own the Slim Hand around. cathedral head, but without he kept thinking about it and stored the experience. day, 123 hrome C ohn J The Feminine Mystique, Feminine The came out in June of out Klute came It was a time for women. Not so many years before, they were they years before, Not so many for women. time It was a that MDA?” she asked him. “What did you think of last night on And you?” ‘Big House!’ “As John would say, to think some things through. If the I thought so. I was able “Yes, film The week. a movies two saw They that year. Jane Fonda played a call girl who she worked Jane Fonda played discovered that year. control in her she had a need to have complete the profession because number was good. “Rule money of course, the and relationships, life’s Leda for.” feel the man you really one: never come with a John, only part, and thought she may have knew she was like that, the control after self her old reify to back, something it and wanted lately lost it the bad acid experience. Her first affair on the marriage was with an up in the and ended He got sun poisoning in Stuart. vacationing actor pulled down the sheets, and sat hospital. Leda locked the room door, or make any noise, and then faked him not to move astride him, telling after, together two cigarettes smoked actor the She and climax. her The actor left town. like Jane Fonda in the movie. not even allowed to serve on juries or have their own bank accounts. to serve on juries or have their own not even allowed reached thirty- when they to retire were forced stewardesses Airline Bunnies, them and called rabbits women like two. Hefner dressed like one. It they were cute, but that they fucked implying not so much wrote Friedan Betty when change to began fucking acid of that instead MDA group trips again, I’m going to take and have my own good time.” Galleygas by a Mary Magdalene see to claimed woman a where and around, and writer local from the revered stories that came day, pump every Frances Signorelli. columnist, And women and rights. for blitz out in a hardline and women were around the she got military, was conservative family though Leda’s the small picked she wanted to speak up. She Keys and into anywhere for so she could cool off in Miami, town of Stuart, after nursing school a while. Aubrey. Then - - - night. - day, day, mid - ine V Anxious thought came to her all the time nonetheless, stricture- nonetheless, time the to her all came thought Anxious users, cook frequent even more became Leda In time, Rose and lame 124 ing narcotics in a spoon and drawing them up with a syringe through up with spoon and drawing them ing narcotics in a This seemed to shut out the memory loved to eat. what the boll weevil this other Jane, and snake, this great alleviator, of the cold, seven-mile in actor the with she did do what to right some had she she thought Fonda said in the movie, Like come. as long as she didn’t the hospital, Aubrey when she lost control, with came she and because “Control,” and to her, him was addict safe with him only way for her to feel the with. addiction was something she was sleeping like flash backs from beachthe morning, that mid in her eyes, fortress patterns those lights and things, Those picture was not her pole And now Morrison quit. that wouldn’t with aircraft F Galleycold riding the about lines with out her creeped he and anymore, star when she put miles,” lines that came to her snake, “long. . . seven She continued toilet. on a or sat night at mirror a in face on her cream her arm. On July 3, Mor to put in from the hospital to lift Dilaudid “Good.” and Leda, in her cocky way said, rison died in Paris, 125 . The cripple man comes, Sam Lillycrop. in a film. He’s in a gym. He’s of no cripples. in a world He’s than me. braver He’s I’ve seen his pelvis. gone. The socket’s The femur floats. bad. The doctor’s That shakes his head. Doc says. “Beats me,” on . . . The cripple’s Cripple strong Galley Galley - 127 rquette A Chapter 10 Chapter To Arquette’s right tonight sat an older man, Sam Lillycrop, man- right Arquette’s To That evening, he sat in the Blue Goose, content. And so was the evening, he sat in the Blue Goose, content. That Harry Beasley, 81 Beasley, Harry square I “A dancer, bet. Little flag on his radio aerial that said he Ace of Diamonds, Jack of Spades, Jack of Diamonds, Ace of all promenade! partner, Meet your ager of his newly purchased equipment company. To his left sat a sat his left To company. purchased equipment of his newly ager the Speed Bump. in his bed he called Martha, a regular woman named company Arquette and his father had closed a deal for the equipment Stinson to from the name Ralph Stinson, and changed with the owner, ner after partner out into the cold. whole Goose bunch lately, except maybe Leda. Even The Junior and maybe Leda. Even except whole Goose bunch lately, John Chrome seemed brighter since the group first formed around a was Trio The aging Kingston place. table in the old photo-taxidermied The folk group had one more hit song in them: on the sound system. give a damn about a green back dollar,” “I don’t “Green Back Dollar.” had sworn the very one that the chorus pandered to the counter culture, up the road in the eighties, but it turned out to be a lie materialism, off the in fucking flesh that and money, and mirrors to out sold they when became with so preoccupied were they beauty and love of free name German cars, to get what they wanted: just another form of currency and part fucked themselves eventually and more fucks that cocaine, was.” Arquette was alone, and so loved his voice and life these days these his voice and life was alone, and so loved Arquette was.” his own that he often spoke out loud and called name. “Could that be of Spades?” Ace of Diamonds? Jack The Arquette? you, Arquette sat reading an obituary in the Palm Beach Post. land, Arquette sat reading Galley off his nation ran the darkness the daylight before On a morning - - ­ giggled ine V “I didn’t understand a word of that. Mr. Lillycrop—” She understand a word of that. Mr. “I didn’t Arquette had the obit from the morning paper with him and put with him and the morning paper had the obit from Arquette “I know you can do better.” Sam looked at him. “Show clucked. Bump Speed the Martha has,” already “Oh, he what turned back to Sam. “That’s Arquette “Not in here, Martha.” I’m real Shickelgruber. A tooth problem. another “I think it’s the time?” Martha asked. “Why does he say Shickelgruber all The Martha. concerned, as far as he’s the word ‘shit,’ “It means lame when she said his name, “—has a terrible limp. What happened to him?” when she said his name, “—has a terrible limp. 128 it on the table in the bar. “Sam, see this obituary? A deceased square deceased A obituary? “Sam, see this bar. it on the table in the it , and I’ve been carrying I found it in the Post believe. I dancer, poem they used tat of having this short thinking I’m day. around all your tattoo, honey.” Lillycrop Mr. when Ralph Stinson do better,’ can ‘You you’ve always said to me, It meant a lot to me when was boss, and now I’ve bought the company. feel bad?” You the matter? What’s you said that. Mary.” to my and go home to you and Martha myself excuse going to They nodded him out. is an Shickelgruber ‘shit.’ real say the not will he and religious, man’s American an slur from the me he inherited Austrian surname. Sam told to liked general The war. during the he drove around in a jeep general Adolph’s man, so know about Hitler the gas everything he found out name, maiden given his mother’s father was born out of wedlock and grandmother. Adolph’s was lady Shickelgruber The Shickelgruber. Shickel name the dropped he up, grew father Hitler’s when Later, F was the town and was 1973, The year Company. Equipment Orlander becoming a late bloom boomtown of operators who knew how to flip and residential zoning. to commercial palmettoes Galleytooed on my body.” was Sam said when the general gruber and selected the name Hitler. extra an back family Hitler’s smear to ‘Shickelgruber!’ yelled, he mad, generation.” 129 rquette A High Thread High Thread Count. “A Nazi bullet destroyed his hip joint.” destroyed his hip Nazi bullet “A I’m wantin.” Arquette. go, “Let’s but skirt to show herself, her she pulled River Drive, Along Indian Martha?” a drink before you and me, “Take “No, I’m right.” just smiles, no No eyes, cotton. she drops her bedroom, In the Galley trees—long go by in the night blooming cereus the he was watching white flowers hanging upside down that looked like little Draculas waiting to die at first light. asleep in white gowns, the on feet her bed, his of end at alone twists and stretches serious floor, her hand on the door, pointing that girl trail at him, waving it on there tattoo undressed—the He swallow. him to make forth back New Roman Times in the bar in his abdomen she mentioned earlier that said, - , by ­Rivers Ran East The , the sex act had gone from suspect to grand. , the sex act had gone from suspect ine V Arquette’s “contraption,” as Punky liked to call it, stiffened three it, stiffened liked to call as Punky “contraption,” Arquette’s He was uncircumcised. Uncut Christians liked to believe they believe to liked Uncut Christians He was uncircumcised. ejac of double feat the work out began to he of twenty, age At the him to increase telling She spoke to him now as he bumped away, lame 130 or four times a day, an involuntary reflex, a comic bother at times, but or four times a day, stand in class couldn’t were moments he school, there In high an ability. on always focused Arquette was it was up. upon because when called as a teenager called a book his penis. He read F carried a more sensitive member. They had a theory that it went off it went off that They had a theory member. a more sensitive carried second the for longer last then and quicker, recharge could but quicker, with skinned ones. might be superior to males They thought they time. showering in a gym less shy about them made Such unproven claims they could out-fuck them, and amongst the cut boys, if they thought them all. Arquette was determined to out-fuck no- him, because he could—the Man,” Martha called “Back-to-Back fuck. stop double climax and long aerobic half him She backed gut. a make to his stomach his speed and push out and Faster better. sister her would get of her so his stomach way out he faster, hit the right place with his paunch until, “Oh! Oh, fat man! Galley tribe that hung weightsAmazon stumbled on an Leonard Clark. Clark leftIt babies. were they time the from boys young of cocks the from member curled in with this long, thin the author, them, according to a small basket they wore on one thigh. Arquette hung small fishing increasing as a junior in high school, gradually weights from his own his size was any but he could not determine if the weights over time, quit. was too much after a while, so he and the pain of that different, “box,” to in very became He post. loss of or dismount without ulation double genuine A place. lady’s the or then, back it call to liked as they dates first and repeats him got It drugs. dick before way was, he fucker and in language, has before it like girls the around word got when the book, and feminist Friedan’s AIDs, Betty no of pessary pills, time this Griswold vs. Connecticut - - - 131 rquette A Martha sat up and looked at him after he rolled off. “As much as much “As off. he rolled after him at sat up and looked Martha Some Martha. smiling, without have fun you can most “Sex is the left. Arquette.” She “Maybe it was you, He was a fit person. Not an ounce of fat on him. Her fantasy was term of the meaning real was the “Arquette Aubrey used to say, New family that lived was from a patrician England Viceroy The we have had sex, I’ve never seen you smile when you make love.” seen you smile had sex, I’ve never we have a man with extra stomach. He knew about her specifics because he for men with belly. for a month. She had a thing had been seeing her was started up by a beer gut Arquette she hers told Another lover of shafts cock place the it, touching lovers weren’t six-pack her trim after seem to reach sometimes on certain women’s and pubic bones didn’t how Arquette taught She could. shape man’s fat a though anatomies, the German goiter by pushing out his stomach and holding to make she’d pound faster and faster until his breath then bumping her with it those flanks of his. He liked nothing better than that in the end from faking it, he would put his And to know they weren’t any of them. finger on their necks to make sure the big artery throbbed when they artery did. what that came, because when it was real, that’s Women him. Chrome called Venery,” of The “Viceroy gunner.” “tail Apollo Belvedere. town’s adored him, as if he was some beach If a high-pressure ridge sat over in Massachusetts. cold ocean by the Islands, and Mar Nashawena Hunk, the see Cutty you could state, the GalleyOh, you fucker!” She sobbed and came, pounding his flanks like her was found. lost child remember who.” but I can’t one famous said that, manu successful a father, Arquette’s place. their from Vineyard tha’s the over ‘I know no one me, told man once “A used to say, facturer, thought year round and hasn’t England lives in New age of forty that to Florida the family The father took about suicide more than once.’” to battle his own were little thoughts every winter since the children of self-murder. - - that reads: ‘Man Loses Home reads: Post that Beach Palm ine V Sam Lillycrop, Arquette’s general manager, knew about these general manager, Arquette’s Sam Lillycrop, Ralph Stinson got the old man’s hunter, prostate cancer. Like a Like cancer. prostate hunter, man’s old the Stinson got Ralph “Oh, my angels wicked sang my!” Yankee in the cold skies over He had an apartment by the FEC railroad tracks in the beginning beginning in the tracks FEC railroad by the He had an apartment Arquette graduated from Brown as a pre-law and business major. major. a pre-law and business from Brown as graduated Arquette lame dren Saturday on the Jensen Beach Causeway.’” wolf it comes, thinning the aging male herd, preying on weaker cells wolf it comes, thinning the aging male had a trust fund Arquette knew bunch. Ralph back from the fall that Only wanted to buy his company. of some kind and asked him if he his father. Arquette made a deal with the guidance of twenty-four, son? Gone State our Bay gone, “Why has he day. that New England lot lines, where Ford Ranchero from the stone walls to the southern First National Bank of Narcissus pilots cruise the job sites, where the class working the God and goods are the where moon, of the out falls vs. debt column, and the devil in the pan picks lives in the mammon a sending pond, red the over low too flies asset an if dough real the up the into young couple Kills Self! Benefit picnic for their twochil Wife! and Business, Kills 132 son Equipment Company. That went on for three years, no MBA or no MBA years, went on for three That son Equipment Company. moved largo more of south Florida’s Gradually, law school in sight. north looking for jobs. “For only in on him and others who left the pay on a are they later, years Three say. they’d honey,” month, one wife in Ohio another and their themselves telling bar, phone in a tiki ­transparent story about their future. and got work driving a delivery truck for Ralph Stinson and his Stin truck for Ralph a delivery and got work driving people along the Intracoastal Waterway, where he’d paddle off shore off paddle he’d where Waterway, Intracoastal the along people left “the swells, northeast the from left broke that waves the take to boys in the Blue Goose called them. pearls,” the surfer playground, where alcohol and cocaine stole time and reason from stole time alcohol and cocaine ­playground, where After class, he watched women at the lunch tables on Thayer Street Thayer on lunch tables women at the he watched After class, his graduate off He put Florida. in childhood of his and dreamed to his old and headed south he promised, just one year,” studies “For F Galley - - 133 rquette A church, The First Church of the World Gym, and the World The First Church of the his church, After work, Arquette went to the gym, even if he was sick. He had if he was sick. He gym, even went to the Arquette After work, He was also a hypochondriac. He always saw a work. It didn’t a lot of business fervent Baptist, the Arquette told Sam Lillycrop, nightspots around town were his side alters. He bought drinks in the in drinks He bought alters. his side were around town nightspots something called body dysmorphic syndrome—one never likes the body dysmorphic syndrome—one something called American fan got it from movies, magazines, and way one looks. He When he used gyms and weight rooms, skinny man in the lying glass. ones for fat away from the mirrors—stayed with the he was careful with French and German was bred He taller. him stood that members in dimple killer lady handsome. He had the physically truly red hair, his lint like a navel. In his chin that was so deep it would accumulate religion, values, moral toward was made effort every home, family Aubrey when it Arquette was not like and love, but with cold eyes. trust and love; he was usurious with women. He didn’t came to feeling cliché, misogynist old that believed he women. Secretly, or respect “They’ll fuck a snake.” took place at Galley spot Brown how to kid from rich the did his best to teach things and Sam had checkbook. with snot in their artist change a South Florida in Small Busi Nice Guys Fail and Succeed Why SOBs his own book: failed. business small own his after sale yard a at it found He ness. to stay on until Stinson for years and decided He worked for Ralph Arquette and then maybe Ralph sold the company to when he retired aged beef came for him. something that craved one pitched The same growing up with a complex. tasy as a skinny kid than muscles more door getting next boy the and mirror by his home create the vegan with bad skin, helped him; same one his teacher, habits, forcing his folks to weird eating Arquette’s when it came to in his mirror the him at pointed They 6-2 and 185. step in when he hit hoped and looks, good and build good his at look him made room, a with what he thought was he’d stop the humpback preoccupation bad reflection. ine V “How you doing tonight, Arquette?” “How you doing tonight, fresh?” What’s Annie. “I’m well, probably tough, so I would big grouper, but it’s “The grouper, Melinda Where’s Annie. Make it a double. too, Morgan, “Captain There she is!” but she was in earlier. “Night off, “Did you surf today?” Arquette motioned her over. I waves? the are Where more of this glass. much take “No. I can’t just my house. Jet bubbles, too, but no breeze, water at “There’s Arquette.” “I’ll take it for you and the fan, buddies for fuck other, from each spa across sat in the They at the Goose?” “How long have you been working the Calypso.” She aboard my dreams of getting long with “Too biologists pounding nails and running marine I meet “I know. future.” a it’s least At Arquette. business, a have you lucky “You’re do and you only in your twenties, You’re for you. change “That’ll do Wanna now. right of it bit a little change I’ll and I think “Yeah, The is all about the grants you get. know this biology stuff “You lame 134 order that cracked conch you and Aubrey like, with pigeon peas and like, Aubrey conch you and order that cracked rice, says me.” tonight?” get in the water.” even didn’t could place a fan next to it.” We me. I am the breeze. months now. rolled her eyes. roofing companies.” have that degree.” up it They took mirror. compact over on her She brought it line?” a and she began to unroll a coke-hope story for him. with a straw, F Galleyto came who Men chains. gold in men and contractors for evening thin to backs dropped birds whose tropical bars with long-haired the country club a shift from the and the coin slot, butts, waists, perfect real business was. he thought the grew up, but where where he - 135 rquette A inch fish in the Amazon, the candiru. It - grant kink in the name of science, and my new idea for a grant kink in the name of science, and “Well, “Well, there is this two “I’m listening.” “Piling up the karma then, aren’t you, Melinda? are You surfing big The then? this, how about Okay, water. salt in live don’t “They what that is, but I’m still listening.” know “I don’t of rectum the in inserted dildo a husbandry item, animal an “It’s “Oh, no!” Arquette, come on.” “Oh, yes, “Not in my rectum, you won’t.” on me.” “No, honey, farm kink.” “That’s “That’s it hurt you?” “Won’t and you dick, skinny four-inch size of a the only no, it’s “Heavens problem is you have to have something novel going on. Sometimes Sometimes on. going novel something have to have you is problem apply to the gov problem and then a just make you might you think to solve it.” ernment one day and karma sends that fish up your—” one day and karma paper farm hometown my I read Sometimes evening. surprise of the immobi- for an animal from Pennsylvania. I saw an advertisement the on used them seen I’ve and expensive, that really not They’re lizer. farms where I grew up.” sheep, goats, to render them frozen in a kind of, a can’t-move cattle, the leave but muscles, down voluntary shut pulses Electric state. pink eye, or treat Farmers can castrate, ones functional. involuntary whatever with that device in an animal.” affects an animal.” project. I want to find out firsthand how it can adjust the pulse rate.” She touched herself under the water. Galley anuses, urethras, orifices, human and fish into borrowing around, darts a vein. I could it spreads its spines so it can feed on vaginas, and then release the fish here in Florida and write the proposalthem.” to eradicate - ine V “Have you done it?” “Have you did become in case I really to try it alone, No. I was afraid “What? Sex Lover in Sodomy Electrocutes can see it. Local Man “Jesus, I be fucking you rather Would any sheep or cows. killed hasn’t “It Always liked your erotica.” “No. do it in the water.” “I can’t She stood up to show a case In the bedroom, she took out herself. AC?” “My god, Melinda! Battery or lubricant. “AC.” She opened the manufacturer’s for your shar pei?” he “So this is a backdoor deal, not something you see, a vast amount of “Oh, no, this is backdoor because, the nerve?” “What’s of location real be the to by some thought nerve, pudendal “The “C’mon, Mel, you tried this with someone already.” you?” getting excited, aren’t You’re “Absolutely not. much How . . but. while, a for scientific be to trying was I “Yeah. lame 136 immobilized. Come on, Arquette.” Come on, immobilized. Act.” heads?” one of your bubble con was a There kit. drill to a Drexel similar backpack, from a small asked. nerves for the pelvic floor come out of the sacrum and go there. The and animal, the freeze what are nerves pudendal the branches of many dial, bingo!” when you find the right place on the Japanese the like button belly the below of right instead chi, body’s the the consoles in those other controls nerve pudendal the because say, crotch that give pleasure to men and women, the first chakra, the one to Melinda. Just listen shudder. that makes them suck air when they going to talk you through this.” She’s F Galley wand, and two a separate stainless steel phallus trol box with wires, for face clips to produce an additional clips with no teeth soft alligator effect. - 137 rquette A me immobile, very still.” “Jesus. . . work on you.” would be surprised how still a bull gets when you put some- “You weird enough, Melinda.” “This isn’t gonna be easier than putting that marathon “Oh, come on. It’s go near the waste gate.” “I don’t “So imagine you’re taking my temp.” placed the end, and applied pressure. Arquette moved closer, “Careful, careful!” She lubed the wand and told Arquette he had to put it in from her Arquette he had to put it in from She lubed the wand and told “Fifty-nine ninety-nine, plus shipping.” ninety-nine, plus “Fifty-nine “Melinda?” turning butt in the air, her fours now, on all getting yes,” “Okay, this on you again?” “Why are we using “So I can see firsthand if it works. If it renders thing up there. We taught dolphins to let us use our fingers, and believe and fingers, our use us let to dolphins taught We there. up thing me, they would be cock of yours in that tight place.” Arquette. Fucker. Aren’t you listening? I need to know how it feels so feels know how it to need I listening? you Aren’t Fucker. Arquette. it around if I have to. I want to know what and change I can present it it feels like to an animal firsthand, that freeze state, so I can work on laughed. them and you can work on me,” she the on dials the move to free be would hands so her position, kneeling as she was supposed to, When she became incapacitated, control box. back to zero. he was to count to ten and turn the dials her head to him. “There is another reason. I told you, science. So the science. you, I told reason. is another “There him. head to her was There once. project manatee and dolphin on a is I worked reason thrashing to get of crazy a lot stuff, vet doing the always a problem this with genius a like look to project the to back going I’m in. needles I redesign it for under drug-free, after the sea life and sedate device Galley for that thing?” did you pay this of heard never PhDs Those patent. separate a for file and use water like my dad know it.” thing, but farm people ine V He stopped. “Melinda, I don’t know what hurts and what doesn’t. doesn’t. what hurts and what know “Melinda, I don’t He stopped. “I’ll do it with you. her hand on his. back and put She reached thing electric that want I don’t anymore? hand my “Do you need it turn to going I’m Now your hand back. have can you “Okay, “What is it like?” going to “I’m some strain in her voice. you what,” she said, “Tell inside my house, I’m a dead “Melinda, if you blow out your ass She went to four and then five. Her back arched, and she froze. “God damn, Melinda. Melinda! Shit. That would have made a “Ah-hah . . . a-, a-, a-, a-. . . ah-hah.” scared.” had me some You you shut up? “Would I wanna do it again.” Okay. “Okay. “No.” clips alligator soft those want I time, Only this now. right “Again, lame 138 I’m trying to—” I’m trying wait a second.” really in. Now that’s Ooh, oh, I’m already shocked.” to shock me. I mean, feel I it. one, two. . . I feel “Now slowly a click. made dials The on.” it.” talk.” Can’t take it up to four now. ass the rest of your life.” man, and you’ll be a woman with no counted and over falling from her keep to side her on hand his put He when he got to six. She slumped until he panicked and yanked the cord down on the bed and began laughing. great picture Christmas card. Merry Christmas! This is my girlfriend me how to be an She taught immobilizer. using her animal Melinda get my certification.” animal immobilizer assistant so I could where they’re supposed to go That’s it comes with on my face cheeks. clips the placed and elbows and knees her to up got She animals.” on When the dial reached number five, she just in front of her ears. F Galley - 139 rquette fraternity. ­fraternity. A They lay on their sides. She wasn’t laughing this time. Ten sec Ten time. this laughing sides. She wasn’t lay on their They They’re supposed to be just the porpoises? What about “Creepy? they but it, try to wanted why I That’s know now. I don’t “Yeah, plug?” “What about the butt that was a half way pleasant sensation, and it worked. “Actually, do it again.” “You’d me, baby?” want to try something with You “Oh, yeah. I’m not playing with that thing.” “No way. till up it turn and butt my in it with back my on lie I’ll mean I “No, Side of the Dead Girl by the much like Too “So, no, no, I won’t. “What dead girl by the side of the road?” never heard that one?” “You me.” “No. Tell “No.” “C’mon.” “It’s stupid male stuff. Okay, then. When I was first in school, I like us, aren’t they?” like us, aren’t whole makes the That clips. those face about have to do something thing scary somehow.” I had once with a deep me. It felt like an epidural immobilized Truly tingle.” do me in front and see You I freeze. Like we could do a necrophilia. once, not that only I want you only to come to you, feels like what that like it.” may We double fuck you like to do. Road, you iced up in a spasm like that.” did more of a convulse and her eyes looked thyroid. He counted and thyroid. He counted her eyes looked of a convulse and did more plug. pulled the “It answer. He didn’t she whispered. was creepy,” “That by. onds went you until counting you hear I could I mean, must feel. a stroke like felt then I started to panic, but I was paralyzed.” and got to four, Galley law a so I was pledging lawyer, a be to I wanted thought - - ine V She cocked her head. someone has just on a country road. Up ahead, are driving “You coming,” she said. “What? Oh, I see what’s And of course, right thing, or do the right thing. do the it’s “Yes, “What’d you say?” I would only do it if I had a “I knew it was a legal trick, so I said Side of what I looked like to you, the Dead Girl by the “So that’s “Right, you did.” immo animal the some more, bed and laughed lay on the They lame 140 bilizer’s silver wand bouncing up and down next to them. He stood, up and down next to them. wand bouncing silver bilizer’s of nitrous back with his small canister walked to a closet, and came When they stopped, he reached over They did a couple of huffs. oxide. thrown a dead girl out of a car. You see her. She’s beautiful. You pull You beautiful. She’s see her. You out of a car. thrown a dead girl but warm, still her, made as nature grass naked the in is lying She over. her heart has stopped.” Only I stood up and we would.’ all of the pledges screamed, ‘Yes, which was the right answer for the seniors to hear said no, I wouldn’t, because it was a law fraternity.” of the president The Incrimination. testing. of semen because rubber, law Orlander! fraternity Good said, thinking!” Then “Yes, they made with ice of block big this off olives black pick me, except everyone, the cracks of their asses.” the Road?” F court get us in a makeshift classmen would the upper During hazing, Galley older gorgeous ‘would you do your like ask us gross things room and out naked across you saw her passed drunk and home came sister if she which there would To be a resounding her yes, bed?’ sir! to make the some give up and stand would seniors the of one Then laugh. seniors young in homes that let was declining about how incest dumb lecture to a test moved they From there, a younger age. a car at have men the Side of the Road.” called Dead Girl by - - 141 rquette A

Galley Next, he placed so well. hers she kept barbered chi of that and cupped min a half for stop him made She there. body his of part hard the ute after his first come because of her own sensitive climax until she com towards the second him to continue Kegels to get began using could England New from hypochondriac redheaded the one the ing, always promise. Galley 143 ouse H s ’ ubrey A Galley Galley - 145 , stand- The Rebel ouse H s ’ care. Another year had passed. Even she Even had passed. Another year care. Chapter 11 Chapter to Orange in his wild white outfit of suspend-

ubrey A didn’t seem didn’t

A Clockwork A foot silo that ran through the middle of the whole structure. At The place sat on fifty acres of palmettos and pine trees at the end The interior had Plexiglas dioramas built into the walls, lots of the into built dioramas had Plexiglas interior The - called it his house—two diamond-shaped sections hanging between house—two diamond-shaped it his called an upstairs with a thirty- the other part at ground level, poles, one tall acters from two of his favorite films: Johnny Yuma, films: Johnny from two of his favorite acters Little post, and hitching a against storefront western of a front in ing Alex from held a tennis he wore that gizmo boots, and the jockstrap ers, combat ball he liked to pull out and bounce. Aubrey finished the house with other admired vitrification—neon art behind the glass headboard of a custom piece above for no reason, and his bed that said FLORIST indigo, and orange glass tubing of the in yellows, reds, the kitchen mythological Leda being made love to by Zeus, as the swan. Plexiglas, vitrines along the living room borders that reminded Aubrey reminded that borders room living the along vitrines Plexiglas, offered a taxidermist, friends, Junior’s The jars. One of of giant Ball were there and scenes, wildlife the for pieces aviary and animal his in child Aubrey saw as a ones the like two scenes with mannequins people made downtown. He was sure they Dry Goods store Green’s char were mannequins The old. years was four when he store that in five was the top of the silo the silo a stained glass blue eye, and inside to the bedroom second level went from the that slide was a circular living room. Mirage in the woods! A land ship, hard to limn if you usually not The Junior, swore it breathed. You wrote for architecture. of appearance had named it O’gram, the parallelogram a wordsmith, him. the front elevation having spoken to house. Leda Galleycar—his a under in the water, in bed, out had seen it—lying He - - - - fly greens, all boiling pink and grape castles of chrome - ine V There were parties and dinners for friends and good customers of were parties and dinners for friends and good customers of There of glass and wood, He had drawn the house himself, a panopticon the dope in her arm. She Leda was rolling, the booze in her hand, Soon after he and Leda moved in, an artist came and began work and began work in, an artist came he and Leda moved Soon after lame 146 Shallcross Chrysler, Inc. The Cricket Jar band would jam on the pool The Cricket Inc. Shallcross Chrysler, Aubrey had created of pastureland deck that looked out over the acres his old mare he owned since he for the two horses he kept. One was was thirteen. was when it outside from the were visible interior points of the so all trying to get a peek at the over, kept coming Arquette up at night. lit Aubrey had them hid was started, but blueprints before construction and down on Morrison after Gibran now, Kahlil writer was big on the apothegms with stage-land Morrison’s her bad acid trip, replacing fortunes for the laughter and your tears up give “Don’t galore: Gibran will of the jungle the people laugh, because Don’t of the multitudes. vicious little a She was getting hyena.” the of laughter the just is it say ered in paint one day while she looked over his shoulder at the neon the at shoulder his over looked she while day one paint in ered Her the swan. around legs its wall, other the on namesake sign of her eyes after that, something in the man’s Aubrey saw house, too, now. say what. but he couldn’t den until he was ready to build. blues, blow sand- the taxidermy sun. One of from a back-lit edged gibbous clouds a favorite mouth, snake in its a garter held mural the below cranes hill the artist all cov waders. Leda fucked candy bar of the gray-legged on murals behind the wildlife displays. There was a backdrop of Ever of backdrop was a There displays. wildlife the murals behind on F the with road that loved Aubrey how oh, and road, rock shell long of a wetlands on either side. In later years, he bought fiftymore acres on 1975 approached. was good as the car business Yes, border. its south Galley distant hammock and summer sky glades savanna with of thunder full dark bruised Paint Store: whites, Yahweh’s hand of heads in the upper - - 147 ouse H s ’ ubrey A The boys tried Dilaudid a couple of times, but gave it up after they a couple of times, but gave it The boys tried Dilaudid looked boy and girl of this world are blind,” she began, and “A got sick from it over and over, to the delight of Leda and Rose, because to the delight of Leda and over, got sick from it over didThey would look at their men after they meant more for them. it “Slip away.” smile and say, themselves in a vein then in soft unison, the same capacity for strung out. Still, times what they women; Two with herAubrey to make love, even were, Leda would go slowly to afterwards, she told him one of herjunked-down libido. By candle light where as she inhaled the gasmany stories that came from god knows letting it move in and out of Company, Tobacco from the RJ Reynolds sure wasn’t Aubrey loved her stories, because even if she her as needed. his. She had suborned his heart. about her own feelings, he was about Bra from She, Jacksonville. from “He, bed. their from ceiling the into about people, and by now, her drug use was in the open at home. It was home. It open at was in the drug use her and by now, about people, dangerous was considered much nothing that life American in time a on caved had Chrome or behavior. dope to came it when of line or out Aubrey were he and and it was obvious too, narcotics use of Rose’s draw it from a pair of cotton sisters, watching them truly in love with arms their left off tie into a syringe, the white ball the spoon through for the blood flow because it was closerto the heart, shoot up, and go for sober up, the girls took a Rexall used The next morning, to slack. stole Leda hydergine. called people, old in dementia and confusion too. that from the hospital, Blind School for the Florida to the them sent The sighted parents zil. Augustine. His name was Paul, and her name was and Deaf in St. began to spend time with each other as they entered high They Luiza. par her graduation, after suddenly, but magic, some felt They school. ents sent for Luiza, and she returned to Brazil to finishher education He They started lives without each other. for the blind. as a teacher worker who wrote a social person in his community, an active became never but he Jacksonville, in celebrity a him made two books that Galley the fire he had for Luiza. ­forgot your ine V “Not mine. Not my story. Well, maybe it is. I can’t remember.” maybe it is. I can’t Well, “Not mine. Not my story. We can talk about what you just said after. finish it for me. “Well, I’ll finish tomorrow night.” Hurts too much now. “I can’t. with the period stuff happened when you were thirteen “What know.” She shook her head. “I don’t three bareback broncs at the He got home late after sitting on out go won’t fire “This started. her get to said, Aubrey then,” “So, “You know “You what I mean, Aubrey? Not the fire downbelow that is this one of or the blind people, Leda, “Is this a true story, lame 148 You always hang me out and stop in these stories.” You then?” Kissimmee up-coming for the practice to lights Up under the Z-Bar the he had showered and moved to the porch of rodeo. By the time hospital. She sat down in her new house, Leda was back from the and didn’t uniform and said she was having a lot of anxiety nurse’s When she came Aubrey told her to go roll a joint. know what to do. back, he told her to take a few drags then please finish the story she started last night. the one he has for Luiza.” for Paul the blind guy, stories?” He changed the subject, not wanting to talk about what she to talk not wanting subject, the He changed stories?” from the tough she usually wore just said that was so ass-backwards and put on him. you and I laugh about with people, but the real fire that spreads. Not the in Lilith girl your and Bathsheba and David consumed that one the it is so scary to is there because like to admit the one I don’t movie, but me—the heart fire. too, Sure, in but down the when below, whole it’s and the one I want you, your mom and dad taught you said like body, and got know it went when I was thirteen where for you, but I, I don’t part? heart that lose I did How me? to happened What period. first my just I think I Now sometimes child. a as love knew how to know I I know what to say. He didn’t to tear. She started know how to fuck.” She had become weaker. F Galley 149 ouse H s ’ ubrey A “No, it won’t go out.” She stares. Quiet. “After a while, Paul Quiet. “After a out.” She stares. go “No, it won’t around him. She arm put her Leda Aubrey looked emotional. “What happens?” he said. “Oh, blind as he is, he decides to fly to Brazil by himself, even alone also but chaperoned, are they and for two weeks is there “He gin of his nightly pours more Aubrey and other, each look at They “What happens?” he says. “Maybe tomorrow night.” “No, you, god damn it. I wanna know tonight.” the tell they night She says yes to Paul, and that okay. “Okay, Galley times a two or three the letters He keeps sending write her. decides to postal of a changed held onto, but because only address he year to the for write to continued He her. reached never letters the Brazil, in thing two more years, until someone at the post office down there felt sorry by gone have years address. Six right the with back wrote and for him She decides to answer it, which begins six and she gets the first letter. of memory the let he never He said and forth. back of writing months what and that, that’s her in his heart, carried her die, and he always know. is it real? I don’t It is always carried around, but Aubrey. love is, I just don’t.” she had left him alone. knew he was alone all the time, because Paul is an extraordinary person. but with the concerns of his family, ten-hour the takes and leaves he before ring engagement He buys an flight to Sao Paulo, where her family greets him with reserved but a dinner party with friends, to stare at this manners and cultural polite American. blind memories as teenagers and old feel- refreshing their with each other, ring one day he takes her aside and proposes. Gives her the ings, until out of it over it.” he bought before he left, and she is into a glass for both of them. allowed she isn’t for a wedding, which means all prepare They family. to custom. During that time, he asked to see him for a week, according ine V “Like what? A tattoo?” A “Like what? They’re “No, Aubrey. blind.” “Yes.” stones small designs on their bodies by putting “The locals make though even story, that loved shots. “I two more Aubrey poured and I lie. you know that about me. I make things up Aubrey, “Yes, came he when screamed Chrome Mansion!” “Royal! was place The pond on the property and His old mare went down to the marsh He went to the woods and cried by himself, surrounded by his lame 150 under their skin. It’s their Indians. So he has a thing in Brazil from It’s under their skin. stones under his skin on with tiny raised in Braille her name, Luiza, her feel she can love, make when they way, That neck. back of his the name right below his hairline with her fingers if she puts her hands with you.” back there, like I do his stones under Braille the about last part up the I know you made skin.” it.” help I can’t jealous little was a Arquette woods. the in house new the see to out Aubrey Boring. formula. Florida expensive was an house his because pride could not peak; his mother was proud of what he’d done, but his day, next the and disease, Gehrig’s Lou with diagnosed been had another sad thing happened. She was one of those rare horses that will walked into the cool water. to play around when she drinks. put her head almost all the way under in the lily pads, a cottonmouth moccasin must have resented This day, in the nose and once the on once her twice, and bit disturbance the the was It field. the in dead morning, next the her found Aubrey throat. throat bite that had swollen so much she suffocated. was inconsolable. he but him, comfort to tried Leda palmettos. sacred F Galley something he knows to help him do her brother is done in that city art.” something in skin can get anything, where you - 151 ouse H s ’ ubrey A horse, I survived. alive. south, took her life. deer from the lights. rodeo, to get throwed. hands— sensation, you’re not a man. you understand. own; let him stand. I was arranging my course; for the soul of the my course; for the soul of I was arranging see her stone free, for no man to She was runnin in the cottonmouth, some power When the great and she run like a Now the Gold Coast is clear, you been in the So you rode a few ponies and down on the gear And you know the fear getting back fence riders, top Listen, bronc fighters, young the growing As the soul moves its station, the horse you’re on, As you change and become, Your image you’ve known, and the horse has his Caesar wants horses to ride for kill and that’s all. Before the backhoe came to bury her in a place he could see from see could he place a in bury her to came backhoe the Before thing of himself with that mare. He remembered the first day he got and night that front porch on the He sat was so hard. It thirteen. at her this song. in long hand, wrote Galley to always have hairs off some of her tail bedroom, he cut his upstairs He buried some how he felt. No one. No one knew of her. something - Et unum sanctam Catholicam, et apostolicam apostolicam Et unum sanctam Catholicam, et ” Then he looked away, suddenly stood, hooked one leg one leg stood, hooked suddenly away, looked Then he ” ine souls. V “Aubrey. How come I never see you at Mass? You know your You Mass? at you see never I come How “Aubrey. and shook his head, as if to say, eyes the man’s The Junior caught then back at the floor. Aubrey only looked at the man once dad was.” Your should be in the Holy Name Society. “You chair and began speaking to Aubrey squared his feet under his don’t “You use the Latin anymore, Dan!” he yelled, sitting on the all to asked them The bartender The man, in shock, did nothing. on the Z-Bar The Junior’s at Aubrey woke up the next morning Cowboys who die want horses to give them their horses to give who die want Cowboys didn’t They around the farm. and they walked came by, The Junior lame father went every day. You too busy making money?” You day. father went every “Not today.” the guy in Latin. “ a dead church as it’s and a dead language, you know, chest. “It’s guy’s that Latin, and your kind of Catho far as I’m concerned because I loved leave. Up. He had a headache from drinking and told his office he wasn’t lots ones with the grapefruit, marsh white ate and sat They in. coming Florida people do, for eat, but all the old of seeds the tourists won’t its taste. say much. Leda was working, so they went to the Blue Goose. Aubrey Aubrey Goose. Blue went to the so they was working, Leda say much. there, and how to dance about how their parents used talking started whirling around them see he could sometimes when he was drinking, the dance floor. The Junior said he remembered. They stared at the Aubrey knew him. man came over. A pine floor. ecclesiam. and threw him to the floor. behind the man’s, to want I it. learn to flippant fuckin too were you because away it sent lic church want the language of Henry’s I don’t hear the language of Peter. when I sit in my old church!” and those other English speaking fuckers 152 F Galley - 153 ouse H s ’ ubrey A - After breakfast, the two men rode men two the breakfast, After “You ever notice how the notice ever “You not really.” “Naw, you’re at “Look at it next time do-gooder fuckin was the “Who “Someone I was an altar boy with.” and found them They rode on toward the cattle they?” “Beautiful, ain’t Glad I’m out here with you.” “Yeah. care of their horses then Aubrey went to town after they took you want me to do?” What “Sure. REPENS on my right arm, at the “I want the words SERENOA look up the I’ll for me. that to spell but you have brother, “Okay, deep into the ranch’s improved and improved the ranch’s deep into - thou ten pastures; unimproved of greensward sur sand acres green out is completely palmetto the by over palmetto and the here, in color?” I am is blueish where coast The Junior. he said to my place.” last night?” grazing in the open. the to next parlor tattoo the into walked He Pierce. Ft. to north headed my arm with some language.” surf shop. “Glen, I want you to mark Copper called It’s font. certain this in it And I want bicep. of the top Galleya There was rounded them. out- sky that could painter’s sat they and painter, a paint of middle the in horses their the palmetto kingdom. plate Gothic.” Tree County, the name Rain Tree ine V “It’s the Latin name for the saw palmetto around here, and I want here, and I want around palmetto name for the saw the Latin “It’s wished to He house. his about thinking Stuart to back drove He when she saw him coming. “Aubree,” Reve called They sat outside under the snake and his horse. He told her about he said to Reve. Tree,” “I call this mango tree the Rain “What you mean?” with Montgomery Cliff “Because it makes me think of the movie And you, it is good tree. I talk to the tree and it talk to me. “Yes, Suiter.” “Triple this from talk he Sometime too. me, to talk slipper my well, “Yes, “I wish I could talk to my mare again.” ride You slippers are. the Aubree. One day you go where “I know, lame 154 it in a lighter blue ink, the color of the ones that grow closer to the that grow closer color of the ones blue ink, the it in a lighter coast.” out in the palmettos that came, mare when the time be buried with his He walked southern States wherever you see them. stand for the lower wife, his and fisherman old the to down mother’s his from seawall the new tattoo covered. Reve. He kept his The tree county. the only one of its kind in the a banana mango tree, one with peeled of gold fruit and green ones yet to ripen. Reve was full saliva the from juice the spit she Then Aubrey. to it gave knife and her and took a in her mouth into an empty soda can next to her, and snuff piece for herself. the only banana mango tree in this county, It’s Taylor. and Elizabeth in like the rain tree was the only rain tree What his name?” talk to the slipper? You Aubree? mango tree.” her again. I see her smile at you. She wait for you. She put the wind in than horse more the loved always gypsies have The again. your face They are its fur and sex like the dog do. lick The cat the dog or the cat. F if I can ask?” does that mean, What font style. Galley like a cross between a banana and a peach.” Tastes of the movie. 155 ouse H s ’ ubrey A , the gypsies say. The horse The gypsies say. , the mahrime le - birthstone you say, say, you birthstone the “This mango is “Reve, I feel like I don’t have anyone soon. My mother is dying dying is soon. My mother anyone have I don’t like I feel “Reve, It is not fair what the evil told me ’bout you mother. Coker “Yes, whathim asked She unclean inside for that. They are are They that. for inside unclean the color of my stone and color of my stone and the stone—gold, you mother’s citrine, goes, one golden ripe, the other green. of this awful disease, my mare is gone, my lover seems distant and seems distant my lover my mare is gone, disease, of this awful I’m having problems My slipper is trying to help, but self-destructive. about, you told always I’ve one the head, my in slipper other the with the Slim Hand.” the bad one I call the Slim Those devils like does. hide and slippers bad are Hand of the sand evil in the belly moochibonereens skink and house. I under you mother’s give something for the house to important. most That her. help see if to something And I give you woman loves you, then you know when you know, what to do.” month his mother was saidhe When born. she said November, she was born then, too. She stood and picked two man Galley clean inside.” lick himself and is does not chupacabra. crapaudine, the toadstone And this green mango—” She held it held She mango—” green And this . They read you, but do not write but you, read They drabarav. November. ­November. , the babies, get ripe in the mother. They mother. ripe in the get Les enfants, the babies, . When you leave house, close door three times so bad times house, close door three leave When you . ine V Reve stood. Went into her place and came back with acorns and acorns with back came and her place into Went stood. Reve skink and the the about talked you have boy, I was a little “Since the Spanish, the how you say it, what gypsies call, “It “If the friends come to see you mother, they must leave by front they to see you mother, “If the friends come “Oh, yes, I remember now.” in bowl of the water two acorn and put them take Aubree, “And lame 156 some dried yellow grass. Aubrey took them. She wove the grass into a Aubrey took them. some dried yellow grass. place it under his pillow tonight. knot he’d never seen. She told him to with it meant his relationship If the knot was undone in the morning, mean it could not be saved, she Leda was falling apart, but it didn’t she said. “Dat a bad lizard.” told him. “It dat damn sand skink again,” that last one was.” what moochibonereen. I have forgotten moochibonereen will not go by them to go under the house. If acorn to go under the go by them not will ­moochibonereen the bad luck It will bring tree. to the seed, do not cut the little take under the house again if you do.” when she born. The The born. she when week. one in birthstone, my and birthstone her like turn gold, “It up. green a bring and me to riverbank down walk you week, a time One eat. is gold, and she must In one week, it you mother house. mango to her the strength. She When mango turn gold, it give It is her color. must eat then. the color try to make you mother We mango. come out as the gold gypsies believe these things. Know The these again, like baby before. are gypsies The things. luck with them, the by back door they take the good They leave door. bonne chance should look at you You luck no try to get in. F these things I have told you on paper. these things I have I will give colors I teach you say. ring I make for you. See what the bag of the acorns from my old home, Quebec. Put them you little The sand skink and the house. on the ground around the bottom of GalleyLike that. Same thing, only it different.” 157 ouse H s ’ ubrey A ,” she said. He nodded. He walked down the walkway and looked back at her. and looked back down the walkway He walked “Bonne chance Suiter. Triple he was stirring, and so was On the way home, Aubrey?” to mention me to her, “Why did you have boy a little break. I was praising you. I’m not “Oh, give me a fuckin “The best you can.” A week later, he drove to the cane fields and then eastWest into telling “I’m said. Trip Aubrey,” truck, of this you get out “Don’t He didn’t. anymore, so you don’t have to worry about her getting more respect more getting her about worry to have don’t you so anymore, mother?” What am I going to do to help my you. from me than I give Palm Beach, where he parked in front of a row of offices along the was marked David Sloan, Psychiatry. One of them water. medicate to going are They spirit. tutelary your life-long you this as the hell out of you.” Galley when water tomorrow in the together close home. If they are when you in Many maybees okay. with Leda maybe up, then you love you wake shook her head. love.” She Galley - 159 We’ve We’ve Blue Goose as a Fetus Once. I mean, I know I’m ion arburet Chapter 12 Chapter Chrome talks about with his candles. And with his candles. Chrome talks about strept C house a year now. I’m thinking about the I’m house a year now. own love of swallowing.

around, when times were not good, my mother would singwas around, when times were not good, my the new I know I get plenty off. Turn into my man Head Wound, clowning Wound, into my man Head Turn off. I know I get plenty Alone on my back porch, me—Aubrey. Leda working tonight. Leda working me—Aubrey. my back porch, Alone on around, or jiggering the around, or jiggering that I know thatAnd I know they know They get that way. my friends? me and my friends, spend a lot of time imagining We, they know they do. Where is all seemed happier a year ago. We we are something we’re not. now. much self-exaltation Too us? the kindness and compassion among and when people, Tater by moody crap. I was not raised Tater much Too the strept a storm/ hold your head up high/her Garland. “When you walk through folks dealt withThis was the way my be afraid of the dark.” and don’t to lift with me and this Goosetrouble. But now the drag never seems not happy, be wanting to the ourselves, bomb to how know We bunch. I’m the saddest great thinker at thiswanting to bullshit. “Oh, look at me. Arquette comes on to feel good about him And then table, but I’m cool.” Galleybeen in It’s in. she’s place that in Nell about Thinking mob. Our us. of All bunch. America for the whippoorwills come back from South early March when wide warplanes, they dive—same sound—mouths the bug life. Like old open for their What’s failure. other people’s off self with this fake boilerplate that eats with his barracuda business ideas?the big German word for that, him he’s because head his in furniture the over himself dragging Chrome John The only two not living this are over weight and afraid of chloroform. How do you walk through a war like But I wonder. The Junior and Punky. always And that Baptist, Punky, The Junior did and keep walking right? talking dirty and doing illegal shit while he rides around with a bumper W sticker on his truck that says Jesus - - - - do miss the kindness, the ranch

or veritas.” t I wonder what happens when all the mangoes get ripe toro feces toro ine V I got to get out to cow-country more. Get away from this great suf I got to get out to cow-country more. My Ambrose Head Wound Bierce would love this cynicism around would love this Bierce Wound Head Ambrose My corner with a from the bookstore sitting in a Sometimes I see Sonny some that Does around. He ain’t No. it? talk about to want you Trip, lame 160 times. I know what he’s gonna say, anyway. “Work it out, Aubrey. Every Aubrey. it out, “Work anyway. gonna say, times. I know what he’s thing is either I fering artist crap. I need the woods. mother had. I need to be on a horsepeople, the compassion my father and The kingdom. Cow hunter. in a dogtrot going somewhere in the palmetto I could leave this car business and make a lower living, Wish real me. call hell, and something wrong with my mother the doctors but there’s they don’t know how to fix it. I bring the mangoesThe steel hibiscus Never complains. every week, and she seems better. from Reve to her Bu my mother. and are gone by summer. us; big cake appetites we have for hip burnout and mock majesty, as long and mock majesty, for hip burnout appetites we have us; big cake We’ll more righty-tighty. need We painless. Romantic star shit. as it’s dead mother, tighten up; end up like Nell’s if we don’t come apart from it men Whoever Snip Killer and the Buddha. Tin for the holding a Polaroid catchI never can but this, acting like we’re knows he I think and drink, to him when I was leaving thehim looking or sizing us up. I did speak he was drinking, and he said, “A bar the other night. I asked him what That I remember when he told me about sidecars and neuroses. sidecar.” This fake fad anyone at our table. could be happening to Leda. Or me. Or real thing. called depression could turn into the F wanna- this Jim Morrison incontinence, them, this dramatized in it with gears and the doo-lang stripping the his boy-god Rimbaud be glory and of that fucker. always doing imitations I’m down to no hair. of the world Galley Goose? their family when we are at the Who mentions tions other people? “not cool” when cool. Leda is the gang leader of Or love—not considered me think of that though now and then she makes we sit down together, a little girl.” “She breaks like round this year, Dylan song line goin 161 PART TWO PART Galley Galley - - 163 magazine publication magazine publication True ottle B left Sonny the little magazine and magazine and left Sonny the little

a

in

Chapter 13 Chapter hip S leaving no heirs. He leaving no heirs.

Sonny always had his gas, but was careful. Knew too much Sonny always had his gas, but was careful. Knew too much The property he inherited had a house trailer under some oaks, oaks, some under trailer house a had inherited he property The ing out on the memory of his mother, who had recently stroked, and who had recently stroked, and ing out on the memory of his mother, he stood there and did noth imitating her falling to her knees while on him as a child stuck ing, the wrong-arm behavior she fret-worked of He acted out the departure in his eyes and bent gumption forever. live with because she wouldn’t Beth, his wife, who Sonny couldn’t flush a toilet she peed in and left the toilet paper lying on the edge over that woman-pee Sonny was pretty bad off of the yellow water. thing and wondered if there was a phobia prefix for that. He looked Didn’t prefixes. phobia of kinds thousand one the at dictionary the in find it. and there was a creek off the river’s south fork that ran from the south fork that ran from the the river’s creek off and there was a guided things Harris Ranch. Sonny built things there—long-tonged things, the unusually large inside glass bottles, his sacred enclosed of an aqualung with a primitive bottle in front of him now the size finished, was it When inside. made had he arrangement bone inferior he installed a regulator on the bottleneck and filled it with Freon. he and face, his on fitting nose a to went tubes emphysema line Thin tank strapped to his back—some the glass danced around the trailer, just high enough to do as he pleased, act kind of scuba in the dry, Crane died, had ever seen. place outside of town no one bookstore, and a country store less and there for days, and opened the Sonny would lie doggo discontinued its less. Fawcett Publications even for the The Junior quit coming Aubrey and after forty years, and anymore. the same for Sonny . It wasn’t Horseman Western Galley ’75, old man In January of the workbench. over Sonny leaned

- - - - Hawke, Youngblood . He went to the Palm Beach rest home Horseman. He went to the Palm Beach rest home ine V The Western At the bookstore, the few days he would open it, Sonny read old open it, Sonny read old At the bookstore, the few days he would he thought himself invis Comfortable in his backwoods place, On the huge Harris Ranch across the creek from Sonny lived a Sonny was surrounded by congeries of bottles he’d collected in collected in by congeries of bottles he’d Sonny was surrounded to get inside an old refrigera There were times he had the urge lame 164 stuff, new stuff—Voltaire, Goethe, Luigi Pirandello’s plays, Mickey plays, Mickey Luigi Pirandello’s Goethe, stuff—Voltaire, new stuff, Wouck’s, Herman Spillane, Norman Mailer, tor as a captured art piece himself, fold his shape like his victims, fold his shape like his victims, tor as a captured art piece himself, the elision of these suicidal and become a self-portrait. He sought thoughts by huffing more gas. even On weekends, he went to his stand, common with her brainworks. inside a another mooncalf get high, build to creek hideout by the famous Thomas Midgley’s in and leave it soaking glass container, gas. He had two junked ible and eventually moved there permanently. They sat in the weather like empty cof refrigerators on the property. Waiting. fins. to see Nell. Nell would move into word salads he couldn’t under word salads he couldn’t to see Nell. Nell would move into the house trailer. Sometimes he made tiny creations using miniatures miniatures using creations tiny made he Sometimes trailer. house the Each bottle, and kept them in his pockets all day. from liquor stores work. his finished he after Freon with filled was size, what matter no some fetish some hermetic capture, he didn’t He never saw a bottle element halo by refrigeration’s jailed piece of weird, surrounded years ago. had given him up in Ludiwici, Georgia, White Randy F world A rest of his life. it to last the you and wanted would damage Galley nitrous Arquette, had neon; Aubrey had oxygen; mit gas: breathers in his gas candles Chrome imagined cigarettes; John oxide; Leda, The Junior had farts. light. Punky had trenched a green head that the beach cough, and half the surfer boys on Vietnam ozone for his out on so they could close themselves fumes of paint thinner huffed and then slip away. the beach, or in wave, 165 ottle , with B a in hip S Half Track liked to wander great distances and watch Sonny Sonny to wander great distances and watch liked Track Half long before so it wasn’t Sonny had a sense of his surroundings, Sonny had seen most of the Blue Goose gang grow up, with the from the palmettos. When his brother asked him what he did today, today, did he what him asked brother his When palmettos. the from would smile and pat unintelligible sounds. His brother mumbled he him on the back. on him and instead of going he discovered the retarded man spying speak, write, he saw he couldn’t after him, he befriended him after a week, Twice to have around. or sign—a perfectly safe companion The ranch foreman followed his brother one Sonny fed him lunch. The to stop by. Track and Sonny told him it was okay for Half day, man thanked him for being so kind. He was, exception of Leda and John Chrome. in a hidden private way, crowd their with mixed never he though even and them, of protective their lives in the Goose or his now they were grown, he had watched movie Liberty Valence The new in. bookstore when they came Galley whose swamp buggy after the half-track Track, Half halfwit named the anywhere through its hunting party belts took it and cleated rear houses, barns, and from the small place was two miles muck. Sonny’s brother, Track’s Half where the foreman, on the ranch main house When needs. who cared for his with special lived—the good brother the half- on broken brother his took went hunting, he brother the track, letting him sit high on the tower with his floodlight grin, and how he got his nickname. that’s James Stewart, and Lee Marvin, was an armature for Wayne, John shot Liberty from Wayne John how Sonny saw himself with the group. Stewart from being shot, though the shadows to save his friend James no one knew it, even though James Stewart had won the woman loved. Wayne Sonny wanted to be that unselfish, invisible guardian, done, had he things bad the about better feel to He wanted Wayne. like along with the other bizarre bracelets he wore, the ones woven into - - ine V The Goose bunch? The Junior was the only one among the the the only one among The Junior was bunch? The Goose lately to balancing out the Sonny was giving even more attention lame 166 friends who knew about killing and guilt. He had to drag around to drag around about killing and guilt. He had friends who knew death when he handed brother’s guilt patrolled his Punky’s Vietnam. was Arquette’s day on top of the old tank truck; him the match that like his, either. body; John Chrome didn’t like his because he didn’t all of them, but nitrous, ozone comforted Freon, neon, cigarettes, when they felt That’s work better than each other. nothing seemed to artster-gloom the Goose on a good night when the the best, sitting in they so smiles stories and knowing exchanging table, the off was live from anything they couldn’t could laugh themselves continent in a corner of the bar with his real with while Sonny stayed to himself were his family. history of horror and pretended they to par Wanted he had done—those sick, blackout crimes. bad stuff F social and of fantasy lanyards the softer not perversity, murder and and platform toast white wove, gang Goose Blue the misdemeanor and blood-cram. no-shit homicide to Sonny’s shoes compared Galley made that rage mother move away from the somehow, himself don regret And he especially in Florida. him do those women in Georgia, cat and dog that belonged to the doctor ted killing the minister’s The minister who said ago. who sent him to the leprosarium years part of his will.” He did love the creative his leprosy was “God’s but wanted to make up for the murders and the way he framed them, When he looked put in there. deaths of those little animals he once there was an almost insuperable at the junked appliances in his yard, urge to climb in one and close Click! the He door. thought if he just and smothered himself, then curled inside one of those white boxes But he by somebody. at least the animal murders would be forgiven thought about some of the human ones who had it coming, and the future ones who have it coming, and that was worth staying alive for. and he loved nature nature,” offend can’t He read somewhere, “You 167 of it of it ottle B a

werks in hip S He went to see Nell again at the Palm Beach place. They sat in in They sat again at the Palm Beach place. He went to see Nell said she could hear the trees On the porch, they were quiet. Nell “There are a lot have an uncommon gift,” Sonny told her. “You like when people though. I don’t like, I don’t “There are sounds Sonny said. “Me, either,” called misophonia. He “My doctor tells me I have a condition wrote it down. He also got a Sonny loved the word for that and days it was still open, he In the bookstore, on one of the few a corner and talked. Sonny gave her some books from his store. He his store. He Sonny gave her some books from a corner and talked. the now, all right. She was talking very straight asked if she was She told him with her. used in his last visit weren’t words salads she pointed to her her well except one nurse, and she everyone treated wanted to go sit hall towards them. She said she walking down the the room, because the nurse had on the porch now the nurse was in bit her. “It makes a screaky sound.” talk and the grass grow. because that other people can’t of things you are able to do and see of your gift.” chew ice.” when your brain turns certain sounds into pain.” says it’s like. good look at the nurse Nell didn’t woman was telling her friend about A listened to townspeople talk. a man who had veal calves chained to posts next door to her place. She said she saw him flank a calf, cut its throat, and hold it up by its hind legs until it bled to death. She said he seemed a cruel person and Galley closely the he had watched that saying, and and loved spiders waiting to see paralyzed nest the mud dauber’s all, opening we, Aubrey, like knew, eat them. He wasps to hatch and for baby ate the and our babies babies of others, else, ate the and everything he nature?” we killed for them. “Can you offend adults and babies at times it was possible. mumbled. He thought ine V When Sonny got to the man, it was late at night. The man walked man walked The it was late at night. got to the man, When Sonny There, the calf killer was fitted with the bigglass aqualung full drove to a old refrigerator, He placed the dead body inside the in all its spook, the curled up body in the container The next day, This killing distracted the Blue Goose Bunch from each other lame 168 through the veal farm in the dark from a storage shed, and Sonny hit hit shed, and Sonny dark from a storage veal farm in the through the along with hauled him to his property on the creek, him with a bat and place. man’s parts he found lying around the some butchered calf made inside, the with the bone sculpture Sonny had of Freon, the one lungs through set for gradual delivery to his dial on the giant bottle the refrigerators he was chained naked to one of the nose tubes, and calf’s life. In a to remind him of a veal outside in the mosquitoes semi hallucinatory daze from the light doses of gas, the man flailed calf legs and heads Sonny had around and cried, crawling over the turned up the Sonny After two days of no food or water, scattered. making one shallow cut across but not before gas on the regulator, had no throat, so he slowly bled into the ground. Sonny the bot’s with his tin snips like he did with interest in making cuts in the skin his other kills. unloaded his work, stood it up, park in another town late at night, but worth it. Risky, drove away. that note a with discovered was parts calf butchered by surrounded Nature.” No Ship in a Bottle written in blood said, “He Offended man in the hand of the the man’s this time, but the usual Polaroid in holding refrigerator, a picture of the man in the Infinite refrigerator. picture would take the son of regression. Sonny hoped the Polaroid far away he was gone forever. a bitch out somewhere so small and and gave them and the national news something to talk about, and The like everyone else, they kept lights on in the house all night. of They had recently tried one again. than worried more town was F Galley unacceptable conditions for citations him given had that the county for animals. 169 ottle B a in hip S

Galley and the deputy two girls, for brutally murdering sheriffs their deputy alluded was crazy and more because he to murdering had confessed Snip Tin had for sure they They thought Snip Killer. Tin the to being but were disappointed. this time, Galley 171

Galley Galley 173 hief T

otato . She was fascinated . She was fascinated reviewed in the Post P Chapter 14 Chapter bars, a movie in West Palm Beach. Leda had Leda Beach. Palm West in bars, a movie

he T Seven Beauties The movie began with archival footage of misery from World War War World from of misery footage archival with began movie The yeah.” laugh. Oh, they when enjoy themselves don’t who ones “The image, not knowing they “The ones who worship the corporate in the cradle. Oh, yeah.” “The ones who should have been shot more consecutive times andAnd this went on for thirty-two in the real world instead of Leda: “The ones who think they live but have a yellow front tooth. Aubrey: “The ones who dress well is another afternoon in the three think ones who “The Chrome: in the Bible. Oh, Rose: “The ones who think Detroit is mentioned and still feel like shit. Oh, ones who eat vegetables Arquette: “The restaurants, concerts, seen the film the seen II, narrated in English—declarative statements in a deep pedal note statements II, narrated in English—declarative of each, the narrator said, “Oh, yeah.” voice, and at the end work for someone else. Oh, yeah.” only they made up their ownbecame an anthem for the Goose bunch, bar shooting them across a table“Oh, yeahs,” and took turns in the in the dark at another table andwhile Sonny drank another side car listened. America. Oh, yeah.” Fort Oh, yeah.” Oh, yeah.” form of purgatory. yeah.” yeah.” by the woman director Lena Wertmuller with the German last name, Wertmuller Lena by the woman director who made Italian films about the outrageous behavior of her leading man, Giancarlo Giannini. for Galley the Goose bunch One day a week, went looking Day. Excursion - Leo Kottke Pentangle Harry Nilsson Lowell George Neil Young The Doors ine V Jesse Winchester Fudge Vanilla Poco Cat Stevens Dylan Ry Cooder Ry Ferlingetti Kosinsky Kesey Magazines Camus The Junior and Punky listened to Waylon Jennings, Meryl Hag Waylon to The Junior and Punky listened Melinda: “The ones who think judges touch their dicks when when dicks their judges touch ones who think “The Melinda: lights. Oh, yeah.” their noses at stop them that pick Punky: “For at without lookin can cook a steak “For them what The Junior: care about: didn’t The Goose Bunch Underground The Weather Whole Earth Catalogue The The Patty Hearsts The IRA The PLO The hijacked planes The Norman Lear television shows The hippies The presidential scandals The music they liked: lame 174 gard, Little Jimmy Dickens, and didn’t read much. The rest of the read much. Jimmy Dickens, and didn’t gard, Little group read, or claimed to read: they’re trying a sex case. Oh, yeah.” a sex case. Oh, they’re trying their watch. Oh, yeah.” F Galley - - 175 The hief T o t a t o P he T sparring partner.” your sparring One Flew over the Cuckoo’s over the Cuckoo’s One Flew , and Punky read Punky Horseman, and The Western Aubrey. Watching waves from the beach. Chrome in the water from the beach. Chrome in waves Watching Aubrey. whole min A Silent. Aubrey. to Chrome sits next Out of the water, Slippeddefinitely. away“Yeah, on that one. it How’s goingwith understand. to mother a Sometimes “Oh, Rose, Rose Mothershed. “Yeah.” married the with things How are partner? “And your sparring with dope much too doing Leda’s “Touchy. “Where are they getting that lately?” closed the store the hospital, but since Nixon “She takes it off Mailer Roth Didion McGuane Flannery O’Conner Death Trip Wisconsin only read Junior The eying a set, taking the second wave on his Dave Sweet board. The bal Sweet board. second wave on his Dave the a set, taking eying Aubrey asks him. you and your old lady?” and go, pick up her clothes I always have the feeling she might I mean, scream We woman. thin-lipped of a gorgeous, but in between, the stuff sand spurs and sand castles, and yell, but love can be snot and sugar, bother just that I hope the fat man doesn’t bother me; it’s and it doesn’t if you know what I mean.” her, couple?” your Rose has been getting this brown heroin from Turkey, in GalleyShotgun News. six ocean; the who loved artist cutback the rider, nose the man, fat letic living room. pictures of Duke Kahanamoku in his seen This week, they’ve all ute goes by. to movie words from the Chrome speaks two important Nest. Finally, fruit.” describe the last wave he took. “Juicy - don’t don’t When Leda’s on, she wants on, she When Leda’s she can make you think she does. you think she can make in interest She has an extreme you don’t, and even if she doesn’t, and even if she doesn’t, you don’t, sug- Dylan Man.” Thin of a lad Jones walks into gests that Mr. a song of Dylan’s called “Bal- called a song of Dylan’s thing: she might know thing: she might something this bizarre a room and sees all show time. Attention. Her time, her Her time, Attention. show time. the at speeches dope, hard smokes, stuff and concludes that something concludes that and stuff Goose captivating people (men in in (men people Goose captivating with her tank top skin. Her favorite with her tank top particular), getting their full attention attention full their getting particular), is happening here, but he doesn’t know doesn’t but he here, is happening what it is. Leda uses that same cliff when cliff same uses that what it is. Leda knows what is happening and they knows what is happening know what it is. She told Aubrey once she know what it is. She told she looks down on people with her Angie her with she looks down on people Dickenson squint and makes them think she think them makes and squint Dickenson thought Dylan believed he didn’t know what was hap didn’t he Dylan believed thought ine V The artist is back at the house to do a mural touch-up. Aubrey is at touch-up. house to do a mural the is back at artist The lame pening, either, and in fact, that was the subtext he was scattering in pening, either, in the the song. She said that is why she and Dylan were believers because her, Aubrey loved moments, these absurd. In of the theater like these, she got into his she seemed completely honest. In moments flag, the dropped she when but flag, and vainglory her with even heart she’d drop to her knees, wrap her arms around his legs, and cry into help it. Had to love her for that. his thighs. He couldn’t 176 Mexico. They snort it. Doctor Brown, they call it.” it. Doctor Brown, They snort ­Mexico. F Galley 177 hief T o t a t o P he T up enough to write and calm enough to live. to enough calm and write to enough up - Aubrey comes home at five. Leda has gone to the hospital and he worth it?” it’s think “You “No. Small waves.” the Goose and drink?” go to “Wanna to talk. started Chrome people. watched they table, At a corner his drink. laughing about the uterus and spilled Aubrey started when school is out. I “Some. Measured. Easier in the summer “Or listened to Lord Jim,” Aubrey said. “Or listened to Lord Jim,” Morrison was Byron flipped another way“Yes. with a great band and Byron.” “You is alone. He calls Chrome. is alone. He calls home She came night? other the told me my dearest what know “You her marriage. on girlfriend her advising she has been because mad out and told Rose to ‘Pull her The husband got pissed when he found her face, and smother herself with uterus out of her box, drape it over and me pissed at She got really very creative. which I thought was it,’ house and help her beat on the wanted me to go over to the couple’s thought he was creative.” husband to make up for me saying I if he was doing any writing. When they quieted, he asked Chrome work. Leda and the artist thrash in the living room then put everything put everything room then living in the thrash artist and the work. Leda and Aubrey going long with the arbitrager, way it was. Leda, back the that ego of her part the in drought cover the to artist the short with is always starving. withering one that her other self, the belongs to Galley jacked stay to hard it find read no one with an ounce of real blood in them who’s But seriously, Byron is relaxed anymore.” though. as Byron now, Dead player. organ that Especially him. behind too counteract to to Buddhism as a balm attracted I have always been And I think it Buddhism, I mean. much Byron, but I’m not good at it. affects my writing. I write fiction and believe good Buddhists make lousy fiction writers, and lousy Buddhists make better fiction writers. too peaceful.” That shit’s - - ine V “When I’m drinking, Aubrey.” drinking, “When I’m . . drinking with Wound. Head and my man Young Neil “And I’m we live with?” with those two hellcats we going to do “What are has got to stop. Leda gets pretty This hard dope thing “I know. ordered a sidecar. Aubrey drink. Chrome ordered another his about asked him said when they “Know what Hemingway “Oh, yeah.” and Leda. He never forgets Aubrey has this feeling about the artist his surprise in shows up with the artist and One day he is home, sit on the porch. They “Aubree!” Reve hollers, as usual. “Aubrey, I’m goin floundering tonight. Wanna come?” Coker “If I can borrow a pair of your sneakers.” minutes.” Twenty “Okay. my lover is seeing another man. into Reve. “I think Aubrey leaned lame 178 you.” my and illness, mother’s my that, And between out. she’s when bitchy I’m a car dealer, fuck am I doing in this town as wondering what the shooting up with Leda.” thinking I might start is often a mechani life “‘Modern sat up straight. Chrome drinking?” man, in Brazil—the lovers blind story of the the him when she told feel could so Luiza skin in Braille Paul, who had stones put under his he thought she made he told Leda remembered Aubrey her name there. I make “Yes, she said, and story, the in stones part Braille up, the it help it.” I can’t Aubrey. know that about me, You things up and I lie. that he just wants to touch up a few He stutters Aubrey. eyes to see the art After he leaves, Leda acts mad and says things on the murals. says, walking away towards the river. F Galley liquor is the only mechanical relief.’” cal oppression, and After working late, Aubrey is suspicious. but them, ist is bothering to then walks the seawall mother, he goes down to the river to see his Coker Barnes. Reve the gypsy lady and her husband, - 179 hief T o t five mil a - t o P he T bandicooter.” “And what did the acorns I give to you do in the bowl of water?” give to you do in did the acorns I “And what apart.” “They floated pillow?” I give to you to put under you “And the woven grass I did it. so maybe too. But I toss in my sleep, came undone, “It a “Ah, maybe she be that?” “What’s steal plant, up you potato pulls goes in you garden, who “Someone Dexedrine a 20mg again. She has taken her stories . . . into Leda a length abdomens, spin off “Did you know spiders can raise their Pegasus you this thing, this dope about to you to talk “No. I want “Pegasus?” The one with wings. Heroin.” Leda, the white horse. “Yeah, Brown and use only snort that Dr. We do heroin. “But we don’t “But artificial,is that brown,stuff all or smack. care I if don’t it’s “So who are you, the moral brigade?” That shit’ll make a mess of you.” “Sweetie, you got to be careful. “Okay! I Okay, will. And did you know that in the summer, any I just don’t see anything that would give me proof she has been with would give me proof that see anything I just don’t him.” in to ground, it, and put the nice green plant back the potatoes under like the potatoes still be under there.” on the porch. on a Sunday morning and is sitting altitudes of 5,000 feet?” of silk, and catch the wind to reach and Rose are doing.” some Dilaudid I lift from the hospital.” smack!” still plant life. It’s He’s work been doing some all over my house. I looked on a mural at He’s out of place.” but never see anything for clues, lion insects and other living things drifting high in the air, the way lion insects and other living things drifting high in the air, plankton does in the ocean? In the Beartooth Mountains of Montana, Beartooth In the ocean? the does in ­plankton Galleycubic mile of sky over a temperate region contains twenty are. er st ine Lady las bed like a lair. Your The white sleeps there. angel hair. river your In black He needs the dark jade, been made, times that he’s For laid or where. who was And don’t know V “Where do you get this?” “Where do you get before I went to nursing school.” “I majored in biology insanity/death, came sometime fear of self-erasure, Aubrey’s lame 180 from living with the way he was, the hallucinations and choking. choking. and hallucinations the was, way he with the living from the other kind of erasure, When he had sex with Leda, he wanted the one he deserved; the one that lovers find when they disappear He now. changed had her with this of part Some other. each in out for Africa. He’d reach in felt at times that she was that spider with a saturnine face that said, and she would come at him her, “Don’t!” as if she’d put a string around They her. were starting to empty their relationship out on the floor; it lay around like worn with the band anymore, a good clothes. She hardly came to see him the from coming were songs new the of some because maybe, thing were getting personal: refuse that followed them home and F Galley of years old. Summer deep, thousands sixty feet is a wall of ice there and grasshoppers ancient of layers and melt, ice surface the makes up the slope just way the and birds go all bears The exposed. bugs are spiders. always loved further in. I have the wall as it melts to feed on soil, places from the crystals little gathers Africa that in is one There When of silk around them. and then strings a line its hole, around them and the spider races a musical sound, it makes prey touch the string, eat them.” out of the hole to - - 181 hief T o t a t o P open.” doesn’t he T women.’ That is a tau That women.’ femme fatale loves of my the life. loves women, God baresGod white his fangs, Screams in street out slang, been gang-banged. My angel’s dare? Who’d Femme fatale “Yeah, but that’s the beauty of it, Chrome. It’s redneck murdered the beauty of it, Chrome. It’s but that’s “Yeah, again. Leda gets furious. Aubrey brings up the subject of heroin and business. your rodeo life have You your music. have “You you do That junkie stuff slip away. the healthy but that’s “Yeah, kill you and close the door?” “Oh, and rodeo won’t the real She turned and left to meet the artist, He had no answer. And it them. Leda closed it. That door did close, but on both of The bar was quiet at the end of the song. He’d played it solo on at the end of the song. He’d played The bar was quiet A to some show this stuff you ought to Aubrey, you, “I’m telling motherfucker.” the truth, “Tell I would draw your atten as an academic, is one line, There “I am. English, like the song is pure murdered human love.” English, like the song is pure murdered so I get to slip away!” away, how you slip That’s another one When one door closes, you, Leda. will kill was singing about. “slip away” in the song Clarence Carter Aubrey would only be a matter of time before she would close others. He thought in town than her. gotten more attention had angered her, from him, but she was more about the shut her off was the junk that it She considered it her duty to Tater. Her turn to be the blind self-exalt. tology, like the term ‘widow woman.’ Kind of redundant.” like the term ‘widow woman.’ tology, tion to, and that’s when you say, ‘ when you say, to, and that’s tion Galleytable a to over He went stage. the at stared People guitar. acoustic an where Chrome sat. swollen.” pretty It’s and R people in Miami. - - - ine V When he got home, Melinda was returning from a marine biology from a marine was returning Melinda he got home, When between area the in irritation little this have I seems it “Melinda, not herpes, is it?” “Uh, what kind of irritation? It’s He tried to ignore it at first. “It’ll go away in acouple of days,” ­everything. ­ innervate the rectum, the scrotum, and the penis on that side of the the scrotum, and the penis on that innervate the rectum, lame convention where she was presenting her ideas to put dolphins and convention where she was presenting manatees in a freeze state with her animal immobilizer. my legs, and the doctor said it may take some time to abate.” 182 for cupation with the love act, the nerve on his left side would not stay would not side his left on nerve the act, love the with cupation on towards as he aged and went on and place in its normal couched would Medicine love. made when he coming second signature his the catch it mimicked it was, and because what years later only learn with their good money urologists made diagnosis of prostatitis, all first finger, telling Arquette they could feel his prostate was “a little the and prostate The wasn’t. it fact, in when side,” left the on boggy in the world of healing and have been blamed uterus, very lucrative body. The hard hump of lovemaking can repeatedly drag the nerve the drag repeatedly can of lovemaking hard hump The body. across the notch, the friction fraying and inflaming it. It cantrauma—a occurs after that or one disposition, anatomical inherited, be an Arquette’s split gone wrong, a deep squat at the gym. It was gymnastic and considering his preoc bad luck to have one of these anatomies, to he would say. He’d been sore before, considering his interest. But it considering sore before, He’d been he would say. the far up from where pelvic medulla, and deep in the go away, didn’t an ana pudendal nerve rubbed against the large pain in his crotch was, F was driving had no idea better-than-you with everyone and compete It was one mental alai. jai like herself at She threw vanity her crazy. failing, Arquette was of town, and on the other side another, day after to started had pain a and his body, as happy as only seemed He too. after sex. show up in his crotch Galley pelvis, turning the nerve of bush, a bony protuberance thorn tomical into another flame vine, one that bends downward from the sacrum 183 hief T o t a t o P he T “No. I got checked for any infection. I may have to back off the off back to have I may for any infection. checked “No. I got Don’t will. way with this. I whole the be with you I’ll “Oh, honey. And she meant it. Galley for a bit.” love-making with you.” in this heart my It’s sex. that need I don’t baby. you worry, Galley - 185 isit V irst : F truck man, it is both. There is nothing - Chapter 15 Chapter pickup - emetery black and white film night scene—his father and father scene—his night film white and black C he T switched—a - “Yes, I think I do,” Aubrey said, uncomfortable. I think I do,” “Yes, man A so you have heard that one. How about this one? “Okay, “It is both, Aubrey,” the underarm angel said in his usual glis- usual his in said angel underarm the Aubrey,” both, is “It The moon was higher and pallid now, making the graveyard look making the graveyard and pallid now, The moon was higher asked another man how his friend Fred was. The other man told him asked another man how his friend Fred was. that Fred had swallowed his birth certificate.” deader than a doornail, and there is the dead ringer, too. I bet you is the dead ringer, deader than a doornail, and there besides the twin thing.” meaning know dead ringer has more than one cemetery. “Yes, flying “Yes, cemetery. sando slide down the bicep dressed in a loud, Jack Taylor, three-piece Taylor, Jack loud, a in dressed bicep the down slide sando some skin from the other ego he suit for the occasion, ready to peel held out a few garnets for the always Trip had to deal with every day. tions, or did it have some real message you had to decoct like those like decoct you had to real message some have tions, or did it dump truck? Jesus stickers on Punky’s dimmer were two spaces There monument. granite below the grandmother him. He saw left, one for his mother and one for the six-foot distance What did it mean of the graves. through the gumbo to the bottom or a “dead as a doornail” was “Dead said something when his mother that one of those stupid allitera Was other than the obvious? ringer,” yet and it was Easter. He always took lilies for his family. His father His for his family. lilies He always took yet and it was Easter. was time it way there on the him told Trip grave. grandmother’s and world and their talk about things swirling around they had a serious kind of for their setting an appropriate cemetery, in the should be it ontology based doo lang. So they left the house, bought the flowers, onto his family paved road by the mausoleums then and turned into the words as usual. respectful and felt at a loss for plot. He was nervous, Galley been to the cemetery Hadn’t fretted. Aubrey moon coming up. Full - - - I try to swallow.” ine V “You’re bothering me with that pompous vocabulary of yours. of vocabulary pompous that with me bothering “You’re top of that tower the says, at Webster nest, I believe lofty A “Aerie. tombs. I’ll be in that truck seat, promise.” say “Don’t in your sleep lounge. are already comfortable You “Oh, come on. sleep that in alive still I’m I dream, and bed when I’m in “Because Aubrey. you die, stay in the ground out here when “But you don’t “One would assume so, if you can get it slim enough, considering so, if you can get it slim enough, “One would assume going. I’m left.” We’re it. “That’s to get you an easement Agnostic Man, I know how “Oh, but “Sure you do.” reset them to do what every person does to have You “I think I do. “Meaning?” “He died.” suggest I guess you’re my fetish, midget, considering “Oh, funny lame 186 What the hell is a magic ee-rie, or however you say it?” he asked, leer asked, he say it?” you however or ee-rie, magic a is hell the What like you place other the yes, And head. your in around fly you say you sleep lounge, with one of your to be is down in the tombs, in your films and Quaaludes, and if you don’t talk to me here, I will throw a vocabu- my remember, And Schizo! next. there go you when fit schizo Schizo!” vocabulary. lary you make fun of is in a way your Why time. I have heard you. call it that all the You That is like a tomb. here?” should it be any different lounge, that tomb, but not if I was out here.” ing that will be the last thing ing that will and importance the major size Recognize have to rehearse. You selves. up much too are You world. natural the world again, objective of the you inhabit in that magic aerie that bone stretch tank of yours, up real, on the you lose your take goods and subjective the screw balling magazine.” on the True ing at the animation on his arm. your fetish.” thicket you are in if you’ll let me.” through this secular F Galley - - - t isi 187 V t irs : F ery t Two Thousand and Thousand Two eme C he langed into those films of films those into langed - T “Makes it easy for you then, doesn’t it? So where did you come “Makes it easy for you then, doesn’t out there, and I am going “I come from you and that big windmill you’re at up, but you always say when this comes what “That’s Abraham? The god of “Who? What is he, a big fuckin windmill?” or something else. “Yeah, that see to able be And you used to man. existential is right, “That When it is over for your body, you go to those same movies you ask you movies same those go to you body, for your over is it When for every night. What is in these graveyard coffins is your bug shell, you love, and the orange clock the dead skin of your kernel, the molt of blows through consciousness your after cemetery the in here stays it of fetus that stars with the to out and skull of your top the in scar the at the end of orbiting the space ship Keir Dullea’s, . There’s no senseless abyss. It is going to be you, I tell you, all you, I tell no senseless abyss. It is going to be There’s One. from? And where are you going after this, Trip?” are you going after this, And where from? I am going with you.” back to that after you pass through. a peek at what’s I get why peace with that, and I’m not yet. So can’t top of my skull any I look through the Why can’t out there, at least? Agnostics always you? didn’t serious agnostic, a when you were even they if him find to where know they so door the outside right him place scar in hypertrophic now by that closed out. But your door is chicken the top of your skull, the one you see when you go to your big room and opened You around. comes Hand Slim the and out black or you ous breeze, subsumed by the new eternity. Maybe you even become as Maybe you even ous the new eternity. breeze, subsumed by I am, a voice for someone, a I’m slipper. kind of an infinity resident, heads being walked in people’s you know—me and the other voices around this water ball.” sit again, stars or him all—the and see it scar, turning past the more, there, I’ll know once and for not And if he’s ting on the cloud chair? some peace.” not, and get all he’s Galleydoo and LSD’d, MDA’d, coked, Quaaluded, will just You slipped from this form into another. yours after you have with a more marvel into a bigger windmill move out of one windmill ine V “Seems so, doesn’t it? My Catholicism crashed I guess. My rosary crashed I guess. My it? My Catholicism “Seems so, doesn’t John’s and Elton line Taupin’s would be Bernie line “Uh, that see to experience near-death a have to I have Maybe know. “I “Aubrey! can You get it through rationalizations and epiphanies Spot Cathedral Blind the in skull of my top the to you, going tell “I were walking by on their way to a well-known raccoons Two until you “I were was not fiveAubrey, yearspart of old, and you, how his exposure to people in the Catholic him reminded Trip lame 188 has broken. My beads have all slipped through.” has broken. My beads melody.” other side.” something on the with me.” while you are open except anything see I never but death, like hooks feels hand those on looks like chest X-rays up there. So why?” that stuff They stopped to watch the crazy man talking a mile a min- trashcan. They looked confused and kept ute to no one around the gravestones. going. because But one. swallow The dream. bad the had had you then by with blood barrier sides of the you had the dream, I got to be on both to help child ego and old god religion you out of your developing I was Even though I am a slipper, with things, remember? you deal by gardened angel, as your guardian cultivated and coaxed Catholic about those moles on your better your grandmother to make you feel of powered head-still Then you ran with it, you and that bowel body. your Adam. I bet up made Bible the like up large, me yours making you would story she told mole angelic that thought never grandmother get this swollen. But where were we? Oh, Catholicism. . .” a few of him, especially had touched of higher learning institutions F Galley have You were younger. times when you door too many closed that check so you cannot now, atheism a lonely into agnosticism gone past days you Hell, some huh? anymore. Scary, the windmill on him or man.” Tater are a god anymore, even think you don’t - - - - t isi 189 V t irs : F ery t eme C he T magazine. Trip laughed when he said he said he when laughed Trip magazine. True stop signs around town. You will figure out which way which out figure will You town. around signs stop way - Trip told him it was the parish priests who were so closed-minded told him it was the parish Trip made you a boy, a when you were screwed up everybody “They me once if I was ever someone asked know, You Trip. “I love you, direc thinking this free but you should continue maybe, “In a way, bet the public could not dream these declarations or apparent hetero apparent or declarations these dream not could public the bet universities. He in the Catholic from the intellectuals and different you to told faces grave with homiletics their parish priests and said believe them or get mutilated by a griffin. god old orthodox exegesis, the one with their kick-ass product of that on you for stuff Tater holy and his foot soldiers working the two-faced control.” had to say yes. . . intellectually.” molested by anyone in the church. I the priests Aubrey knew in the sixties that defrocked themselves and themselves defrocked that sixties the in Aubrey knew priests the those late- All from college. he graduated right after left the priesthood if heaven to go Zulus whether of subject on the conversations night Catholics higher-thinking how many Jesus, and know about don’t they to buy exclu have they do, and that you don’t and priests believed or transubstantiation of Jesus Christ god concept sively into the man/ into conscience and heart your follow you as long as salvation, find to the is you decide what but a few of from a Roman priest or monastery, doxies would come Belmont, Abbey at school, the old priests at the more luminary the around has been thinking of free kind “That Aubrey. across to that got up them or locked people burned they workers since sacerdotal those for fear then back anything said have would not but they Galileo, like of the same.” There are good priests, even great, noble tion some of them gave you. when it comes to Wound Head priests. Follow yourself and your man self or he crosses you, and you become some crazed doxology head self or he crosses you, and you become to turn, because the Trickster in the white collar really will get you to white collar really in the Trickster to turn, because the make the sign of the until cross you finallyover and crossover, your Galleyfour those - ine V “Are you backing whatever I come up with for a personal belief? up with for whatever I come “Are you backing have.” He continued to talk and answer nodded. “I always Trip lame 190 Are you saying that will help solve the aerial torture in the top of that Are you saying that will help solve The Blind Spot Cathedral.” black church when it comes? per aerial questions as best he could. His theory was that the Aubrey’s F need to keep You for money. his hand hold out will he Then banger. you are I know through. bolts putting are you life happier on with this works into a spot that trying to settle dilemma, with the faith wrestling for you. And I know you are not going to be satisfied with someone is you, that own stuff; your make to like you because design, else’s be hard to bring. might design original particular Shallcross, but this So many people have already offered their mark on a finished- draw whole credenda and the philosophy, religion, think ing of what they You you. know I but like, look cosmos is supposed to and of mankind even Aubrey, no appropriationist, you are them; copy to going not are only stealing from the very best.” though you kid about Galley Aubrey’s of was a manifestation formed in the Blind Spot Cathedral He said, or pointless. was godless he thinking from generated fear Slim Hand thrived on that kind of “Nasty slippers like the saprophytic of his own idea in to believe reassured him Trip desolation.” mental through it think question: infinity the to answer the and science or god he liked. He didn’t the scaffold without the historical prompters. Make about the to these messiah mongers or dharmic have to be married “I chose my idea of god because religion he was raised in to be happy. of us, of all generalization broad was a or It He, She, thought I always This power, put up. oils they the this was not like I realized Aubrey. whatever it is, was just as flexible, stressed, and amazed by the direc- people whose head voices tions things take as any human, especially I. and you like rooms, bone cranial these from day every them to talk God, It, schizophrenics. the ones other people like to call know, You slipper rotten a with, battle to Hand Slim a had has always science or see it.” You the news. Watch or rotten force. t isi 191 V t irs : F ery t eme C he T He told Aubrey again, when it came to this power or kind of a god, this power or kind to it came when again, Aubrey He told first my of one was He Trip. Jesus, on slam to mean really don’t “I and many them, were many before And there Aubrey. “I know, and knew they of his family remains the Aubrey looked down at Galley Testament ass god the Old bad us. “Not the omnipotent it was like so it could win them people to fear story just wanted That claimed. god in much a son to that well, he was as And Jesus, time. over at the Again, a break. him to cut so you ought Aubrey, are, story as you the I another story. there’s maybe Hell, it. at to look this is only one way too.” Gita and the Daoist angle, mean, I like the Bhagavad love with much grandmother and by my father me heroes, a story told and sincerity. Shit, he was my first cowboy, my firstShane, the first in of guys killed a lot onto latched I’ve in action. killed met one I ever Yuma, Johnny were gods, Spartacus, they whether then, since action Adams, or somebody at the fire station.” Nick love the truth and beauty of doo- more will be coming after that, that wobbly candle floats as much as you and I do.” lang and Chrome’s putting would consider some of what was said here tonight heresy, us. of rest the with morning every toilet the God on Big Jay and C. would they promise him made Trip now. leave to had he Trip told He bone and tower the about more him tell to promise and back come him. arcade he’d hidden in his head from Galley 193

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w a Chapter 16 Chapter R he T remained a good friend. She wanted to be a virgin before a virgin be to She wanted good friend. a remained one and 105 pounds—and Thimble thought the safety pin - foot Comes a nasty man named Cobia Lukens from the backwater On the banks of Bessey Creek, off the north branch of the St. the of north branch the off banks of Bessey Creek, On the - endary Bill Haast at the Miami Serpentarium, and the ridge along and the ridge along endary Bill Haast at the Miami Serpentarium, with lived rattlesnake Bessey Creek was where Jake the diamondback hole in the makes a nice The turtle the gopher tortoise in his burrow. bite through the tortoise the snake can’t ground and is a vegetarian; works for them. so cohabitation shell and likes those ground holes, smoke the When it. light and hole the in dry grass would shove Albert Albert came out coughing. Now, the snake and the tortoise got thick, for Bill had a favorite food, the turtle, and another live rattlesnake Haast to milk in Miami. five in Tan of Mary Din him reminded Her size crazy. and was good thing on his split do a cheerleader she could Aubrey and he told Vietnam, Aubrey kidded Thimble. her fence post. Her family had nicknamed eventually Tiger Susie time. the all difference size their about him thing awful an and tribe, the of member another Albert, married occurred. short of species A water. the runs along ridge sand high a River, Lucie gopher tortoise, or what locals leaf pine lives there, and so does the a new husband, made Tiger’s Susie Albert, chicken.” “scrub a call poisonous snakes for venom to the leg business out of selling small marriage, as was the tribe custom, and she would have never put those put never she would have and custom, tribe was the as marriage, Instead, to that. had come if it in his scrotum, liked pins he safety angel, swamp another found liver, his through cowboy, bachelor the Thimble Taylor—beautiful, with a gracile figure that went about though she though Galley Tiger, Susie the Seminole girl, last long with didn’t The Junior - them. The Would he beat Cobia to death Would Would he shoot him out of his boat at night for night he shoot him out of his boat at Would ine V The Z-Bar Up Ranch, owned by Caspar Zarnitz, is twenty thou Zarnitz, The Z-Bar Up Ranch, owned by Caspar Susie never told Albert about the rape part because of the line it Albert about the rape part Susie never told He lay in bed and turned on the small ozone machine he ozone machine crabs? He lay in bed and turned on the small lame 196 sand acres. Not the biggest ranch in the county, but number two on two number but county, the in ranch biggest the sand acres. Not pasture to unimproved There are miles of improved and the tax rolls. breed cows and produce calves. In a remote area of the unimproved and sugar into buck The Junior was turning barrels of corn, water, part, brought all the way from California after Vietnam. He put his face in He put his face Vietnam. after the way from California brought all until he fell asleep. rain-smelling air and breathed the charged, if he could find him? the garbage cans of the St. Lucie and Allapattah Flats, his face mottled mottled his face Flats, Allapattah and St. Lucie cans of the ­garbage his boat he slinks in Up Bessey Creek, like the moon. and pockmarked net seine illegal an using night, October an on fisherman another with the around one in camp and Susie’s Albert by He slides for mullet. noticed Cobia but with just oars, unnoticed, quiet morning, Cobia, who One night, the other man with would have drawn on her. coke and Quaaludes and told held Susie down, got loose over some before right Henry what happened, friend taxidermist Junior’s The The north to Cedar Key for good. Henry told the man absquattled with and stole a moment Junior went to the reservation The and Junior, The up when asked. eyes welled Susie, who would not say it, but her jerked when he saw those eyes, and he wanted to touch body Junior’s before man the seen never had she said She didn’t. but shoulder, her The out of a pocket. had fallen and showed him a set of car keys that Junior took the keys and left to think. F Galley those goddamn about talking started They drinking. were two men Indians that come all the way from Okeechobee to fish their area and Mary and Albert it. beached and around boat the turned They hunt. were asleep. Cobia hit Albert in the head with his catfish club, and the Albert was out cold Susie. Cobia raped her. both men grabbed whole time. 197 ages r ve A of aw R he T Punky worked with him. Punky’s to bring the truck was used tank with him. Punky’s Punky worked was drinking he and Susie, to talked he since passed Four days had “Holy shit! guy I from knew Brighton A you said was he around. miss that M-60 you used to carry?” You right, soldier. “That’s cough still I Hell, Orange. Agent miss that don’t And I all. at “Not up to your nipple in here, and “How ’bout you pull that scrotum bigger crowd.” for a Waiting “Never done it here. eatin you?” a while, Freddie said, “Somethin’s After They talked. the rape he knew Albert and Susie story, The Junior told him the There that. with trouble bad in been I hands. my with it do can’t “I Fred- pay,” to hell be there’d her, raped had he knew tribe the “If there, Punky was ranch. the on still shine his for left Junior The water in, and The Junior had a way to buy corn from the ranch’s feed ranch’s corn from the had a way to buy The Junior in, and water There cash. driver with his own the delivery by paying off company Some gate. main the besides ranch the into get ways to other were kettle dripped would sleep there while the big nights, the two men it of cooking idea original the can Junior had to The shine. and money Tiger’s Susie to jars free take would but Reservation, Seminole the on never Indians. He with the being he liked because on holidays, family Tommie. Freddie Vietnam, from his Seminole squad member forgot Indian black when the County, West Inn in the at the Johnny Jumper in. who he’d been through hell with, walked Tommie, Freddie The Junior hollered. seen you in Ft. Pierce,” from that shit.” you and me make some money?” tribe knew. Albert nor no one in the had happened, although neither who Cobia motherfucker no-count with that to do was he going What did it? eyes a-his.” those liver-colored must be a way to kill him, him with reservation Pierce Ft. the on mossback old an to talk me “Let said. die say who. Promise.” and tell him a Seminole girl was raped. I won’t Galley moonshine. bush lightning, or to get cooking it off mash then his in ten different women different ten in his - ine V “Next subject.” he does?” Aubrey talk to himself the way ever see “You “Always did that.” too, and my Donna the time, “Fuck me, I’m startin to do it all seeing one be better off You’d “Somebody like a head shrinker? Some killdeer flew up in the dark, bitching about the noise, and to ride in rodeos again. He’d laid out all sum- Aubrey was itching then north on 441 Junior drove west to Okeechobee, The He and “Well, how ’bout that goddamn Arquette lately?” Punky said. lately?” Punky Arquette goddamn how ’bout that “Well, “What about him?” up serious Took house on Indian River Drive. “Bought that big still hate him?” You “So? Now he with Melinda, right sometimes. all “Shit, guess not. He’s lame 198 a week.” it.” thinks I should go see somebody about that broke-down thing a-yours a-those asshole doctors and getting Junior said. The fixed,” The out on the pangola prairie. the two men heard coyote song dogs rape incident. about the Aubrey, Junior would tell no one else, not even he got cyst on his tailbone excise the pilonidal mer to have a surgeon of bareback broncs, the injury that from banging down on the withers and probably saved his life. Vietnam kept him out of Junction, and skipped the turnpike to go through ranch Yeehaw past There was a rodeo there that paid more. country towards Kissimmee. The Junior entered the and know, Aubrey had drawn a bronc he didn’t to started bronc Aubrey’s chute, jumps out of the Three bulldogging. can’t imagine him not stickin that gar fish a fish gar that stickin not him imagine can’t with that good-looking girl Melinda.” with that good-looking F Galleytending the fireunder the cooker. Punky took one Cut around. it rolled and down ear, his in finger his stuck burped, aswigs, beer in five still drip. sat, listening to the The Junior farts. of his noisier 199 ages r ve A of aw R he T “Shee-it. Look at us. Ridin down the road, beat up, dumb cowboys up, dumb cowboys road, beat down the us. Ridin at Look “Shee-it. sure was he horse, but that off bailed just I should have “Yeah, and started Junction, Yeehaw in Desert Inn Bar, the at stopped They table, drinking. They all sat at the ranch girls’ today, Kissimmee up in been You cowboys? boys rodeo “You Aubrey. Neither did say anything. The Junior smiled, but didn’t your truck when on sticker are, cause I seen an RCA “I know y’all “Know what, pretty girl? I am very married.” again,” The Junior said. again,” That thing could run.” flying. a lowered bartender lady The pain. the kill to more laugh and drink to threw peanuts face, and he The Junior’s rubber spider on a string into the inside of the Blue Goose The place looked a lot like and had at her. and signage neon the examine to up Aubrey stood forever. there been Valence. on with Liberty came put money in the jukebox. Gene Pitney law Liberty only was the of a gun point “The chorus said, the When so perfect as Gene, as high there up right sang Aubrey understood,” the off Junior The and him dragged up and stood girls two ranch that them for the next song. bar stools, making them dance with one girl said. ya?” ain’t blood that with him me, to off bucked you guys look and in, we come in his eyeball and you with them stitches in your head. Hell, I can still Aubrey just Aubrey. She looked at on you, honey.” the hospital smell and put her hand on his leg. under the table The girl reached shrugged. Galley saw head, and horse’s the at looked forward, leaned Aubrey just run. He’d arena was The end of the getting closer. were closed. his eyes is knew this and before, bucker” “blind a called was on what been end and crushed at the fence hit the The horse Bad luck. what he had. bull- Junior The open. head his cutting too, did, Aubrey and it, into of one and horn, a with face the in him poked that steer a dogged his eyes filled with This blood. sent them both laughing toward home Aubrey. for after thirteen stitches - magazine, our magazine, True ine V “You ain’t wearin no ring.” wearin ain’t “You hang up on something.” it wouldn’t so it off “Took money?” guys win any “You ran that horse a got I and eye, his in horn a got My friend “Nope. Lou him, to you listen “Would a face. made girl The “My dear?” didn’t bartender The bar. the and sat at in guys came black Two the in off niggers black as road tar just come “God, look, two Junior was fresh The shut, but his mouth kept have He should might be sittin with a couple nigger We Darlene? hear that, “You this here at right a couple you spotted Ann, I think Lou “Lord, Then we gotta get we buy you girls a drink? why don’t “Aw, Aubrey got loud Then guys. black the about girls got louder The lame 200 into a fence instead of the paycheck, my dear.” into a fence instead Ann? He cute.” was 1972, and Civil It either. girls didn’t, and the ranch look happy, in cow country. done well yet Rights hadn’t know bet oughta “They table. to the said Ann girl Lou the Turnpike,” one of the had been Tommie from ’Nam, and his man of color Freddie always would. and sat in his heart through it. Freddie reasons he lived wrong with them?” he said to the girls. “So what’s she laughed. lovers right now,” table,” the other girl pointed. Aubrey going,” said. right ladies, you tonight, to something explain gonna “I’m it. about history of you and you the I tell Why don’t Junction. Yeehaw in here me? It starts in Africa, in the middle part where they find this skull, No, not found anywhere. ever skull any than older me, us, you and yeah through put it Then they Africa, in a riverbed. in the Holy Land, but in something called a mass radiocarbon and spectrometer, boom! There the the oldest ever, stuff, the real it is, miraculous, F Galleyole boys round here do something lotta There’s ter in the Desert Inn. about that.” 201 ages r ve A of aw R he T The one girl looked at the other and started laughing. “I swear, laughing. “I swear, other and started girl looked at the The one Aubrey the biggest guy walked out of the back of the place, man A on his right brass knuckles had He table. the to came man big The lousy one, too, cause he keeps hittin his A “No, he a bronc rider. fan made that sound—nick, a hunter ceiling Above the table, Aubrey boiled from the comments. The Junior flashed back to The Junior said to him. biggie,” be leaving now, “We Nick, nick. “I know up in his face. The man came you, buddy.” Darlene. I believe this cocky, better-than-thou-and-you-and-me just just better-than-thou-and-you-and-me this cocky, I believe Darlene. what? “Guess hollered. she Cecil!” Hey, niggers. of couple a us called niggers.” the big education just called us This guy in here with black guys at the bar put some money The two Kind of fat. ever saw. The door. the towards moved and yell girl the heard they down after here, if you know what’s people stay outta “You big guy said to them, They kept walking. good for you!” Aubrey. said to he mister?” or something, Rider Freedom a “You hand. said. one girl head when he get bucked off,” The Junior’s in ’Nam, and it got louder in the helicopters nick—like ears as the big man stood there. It was getting dangerous. Nick, the jungle mess because of the fan. seemed and Junior The and Aubrey at looked girls the of One nick. Aubrey just as Then the other girl stiffened scared of what she saw. caught man the and man, big the hit to chair the of out straight jacked his feet like a hanging. and held him off him by the throat in midair and fist, his swinging purple, turned Aubrey When waited. Junior The The Junior stood and told the blood started dripping out of his stitches, Aubrey fell to the floor. man to let him go. years ago in Okeechobee. Friend couple someone to death beat “You a-mine.” Galley skin turned its and Africa of out wandered skull that Then beginnings. you and you know where now and north, went as it whiter and whiter it?” Carburet at the bar. like those guys Africa, ladies, I came from. , or medicine man, said he would help said man, yaholi, or medicine ine V It was explained that the body has two souls. The first diagram “It was self-defense.” Nick, nick. Nick, “It was self-defense.” man said. “Crap!” the the guy. They walked past Aubrey.” on, leaving. Come “We’re The it went through And Nick, nick. lovers,” he said. “Nigger man days old medicine sat with the black tribe’s Tommie Freddie lame 202 shows that in your sleep, one of the body’s souls goes up north when body’s of the one in your sleep, shows that then comes back into you before dawn and likes it there, you dream Junior’s ear into one of his arms with a closed hand, and that hand arms with a closed hand, and that ear into one of his Junior’s hand that killed the The same head from the side. caught the man’s pulled the trigger on his The same one that friend years before. man’s The guy staggered. The more. many killed gun and M-60 machine Junior hit him The again. man fell aon pile large the offloor, Central Florida flesh. The Junior reached down, took the brass knuckles off tongue-slung bloody, man’s the into and shoved them big hand, the mouth. They left. to a The Junior was there too, and told him what had happened later. The no names. He used rape, the beating. and his wife—the Seminole known as a old Indian, show to top box a on diagrams drawing began and this for justice get nature, dual soul’s the about believed Seminoles Junior what the The unconscious conscious and of the build understood the tribes the as if mind centuries before science did. F Galley - 203 ages r ve A of aw R he T to call that soul back from soul back from to call that The medicine man looked at them. He needed to know if they looked at them. He needed to know The medicine man him to stick the man with the The Junior said it was too risky for Aubrey said. going on?” “What’s with him in “Oh, I been hangin around with this guy Freddie. I’s wanted to just make this man who raped the woman sick and leave this man who raped the woman wanted to just make Junior The send him west to the City of the Dead. him in the east, or had what and feelings his about talked he when his voice in hiss a had wanted both for this man—sick, been done to his friends. He said he and was even a bad reputation then very dead. He said this man had a calves. Once he heard that Cobia threw known to butcher manatee dog in the water to attract sharks he was fishing for and let the sharks and came back with a The old man went to his chickee get the dog. and came from a He said it was thunder medicine long pine splinter. Junior would have to stick The by lightning. struck that had been tree for four would chant shaman the did, he After the splinter. with Cobia days around a fire and purge himself with a black tea to call the bad to him and send it north, east, then over the Milky other soul man’s west to the City of the Dead. Way He asked the shaman be viewed as assault by police. It would splinter. was another way, The old Indian said there if there was another way. The Junior nodded and medicine. but he would need a week to get the Aubrey at the Johnny Jumper Inn. left to meet ’Nam.” Galleyis someone when diagram, second the In lives. soul other the where shakes east; their body then over to the soul goes up north, sick, one asks the yaholi and the family with fever, diagram rep The third soul to be cured. home to the other the east and around to the process: one soul goes up north, then resents the death Four days Dead. the of City the to Way Milky the over west then east, Dead to other soul goes to the City of the the body’s at nightfall, later, and the death is done. join the first soul, . Up in the bush by the black bush by the . Up in the knew this as well. And so had yaholi knew this as well. , stood by a black coffee pond in a in pond coffee black yaholi, stood by a ine V The old shaman was no ordinary medicine man, advanced to the man, advanced The old shaman was no ordinary medicine “Well, I’m coming out to your place tomorrow night to take a a to take night tomorrow your place to out coming I’m “Well, to cattle push some gotta I me? with stay you don’t so why “Yeah, horses. quarter their on sat Junior The and Aubrey day, next The they?” aren’t “Goddamn gorgeous, on him.” quarters hind the at roan. Look blue that Look at are. “They what when you can tell That’s three months, three years. “Yep, man, the Indian The is good- beauty that delusion is the how complete is amazing “It lame 204 tenth month of the calm moon with no wind, and he was clear in his moon with no wind, and he was clear month of the calm tenth materia medica tribe’s of the knowledge The Junior’s friend Suskin in Vietnam, quoting Blake and Tolstoy the Tolstoy quoting Blake and Vietnam, friend Suskin in The Junior’s his shot-up corpse. night before a tiger devoured half of the is where This knew why. he of otters, and skeletons the pond laid He took a beauty. this of all was, in the middle he wanted medicine at the sump under the shallow water wood spoon, scooped some black couple of buckin horses under the lights.” buckin horses under couple of ’em in the afternoon.” vaccinate, and mark the pens, from the King Bailey, stallion, had his own breeding Zarnitz Mr. line, and most of the horses original King Ranch place came on the the to off the mares and foals watching They were from that stock. the alpha mare in the or get too close to the stallion side, trying not to off. group and piss them in the pens got cows to get We go. they gonna look like grown. Let’s before dark.” The Indians grotto of woods north of Lake Okeechobee. beautiful of the very afraid are Indians The there. live Giant People the believe The as huge trees in the forest. Giant People, who disguise themselves setting for the pond was a place of blooming wild flowers, cypress towers, and cypress knees. had said, and the Tolstoy ness,” F Galley - - - - 205 ages r ve A of aw R he T The Junior was called back to the reservation. The medicine man The medicine back to the reservation. The Junior was called blow this stuff do with this? I can’t what am I gonna now, “Well, If this man Cobia is like most Flor Think about it. a way. “There’s one smart soldier.” “You’re with a spoon brown chain bottle. Little cocaine, little little “Yeah, that was Cobia it sure” damn “god make to wanted Junior The had made some of the black sump from the pond into a dry powder. a dry powder. the black sump from the pond into had made some of sub- and were shown the chickee in the old man’s He and Freddie sat The Junior that men The shaman told bag. stance in a tiny buckskin it breathes enemy and the of an enemy the face blow the powder into or two. In the pow very sick and die in a week in. Soon they become people will face. He thinks I’m some kinda friend a-his, and in Cobia’s old the hurt to want didn’t works. I stuff this if something did I think work, either.” tell him this won’t feelings and man’s on the end.” Coconut Bar south of One night, he went to the this crime. committed Stuart in Salerno, where he knew Cobia drank with other fishermen. When he left, he searched the with him. He sat in the place and chatted door truck Cobia’s keys in the tried and truck for Cobia’s lot parking Galleything, an evil carried for home. He and started a container, edge into Sci evil. was knew it He and itself. only to a microbiologist appealing a trophozoite amoeba: , or brain-eating fowleri it naegleria called ence and desiccate will that south of the ditches ponds and the found in encyst in unfavorable conditions, then proliferate again by binary fis- returns to its environment. sion when any moisture to is returned when it but dead, plays that spirit a lives said, he der, The Junior thanked him and alive. the water of a living thing, it comes but the man refused, say pig for payment, bring him a small to offered justice. Indian girl and justice, the tribe’s ing this was for the offended in his truck to talk. The Junior and Freddie went for a ride ida commercial fishermen, he will probably snort anything he thinks is dope,” Freddie said. - . got one more man to kill got one more Not yet. I ine V Deep in a nostril, Cobia pulled the powder in on one side and then The old shaman had told The Junior not to breathe in any of the of any in breathe to not Junior The told had shaman old The at The Junior and sat place ten minutes after Freddie came in the the fishing this week?” “How’s Settin no records,” Cobia answered, “Right in the fuckin middle. “The mullet come back yet?” look back Hey, too. me, snook to “One more week. Brings them The Junior said. “Could be,” Johnson.” “That fuckin Lyndon to do. He about Junior was The what pleasurable more made This “Sure!” Cobia said. it to offer so don’t for later, “Just one thing, Cobia. I need that do it! Don’t worry ’bout “Nope. Won’t that, son. Junior. Oh, hey, lame 206 the other, his head thrown back. When he was sure he got enough, he his head thrown back. the other, went to the lavatory and wet his fingers so he could drip water in his powder in the bag. He said to pour it and only scrape it together with a with together it scrape only and it pour to He said bag. the powder in The strong while he held his breath. to keep the spell feather buzzard’s drug tiny the into stuff the scraped ranch, on the Junior found a feather night he went back The next amount of cocaine. certain with a bottle They with him. on going insisted Tommie Freddie Bar. Coconut the to before many times. had killed together small The Junior was next to Cobia at the bar, sitting a table alone. talking. eyes. The Junior with his dirty and he looked at Indian nigger?” there at that table. Is that some kinda to the bath of coke bottle his little asked Cobia if he wanted to take anybody in there, you hear?” The today.” over officially is in you’s War Vietnam fuckin that heard I Junior just nodded and thought, F that Susie Tiger said fell out of a pocket that night. Click! The latch side. the driver’s shot up on Galleyroom and do a bump. - - 207 ages r ve A of aw R he T When the end is coming, what do you think? How When the end is coming, it was you wish What were thoughts? Cobia’s No At one could first, really know. Coco the to went Junior The days, convulsive last Cobia’s In the tell to Ft. Pierce to Junior went The done, was Cobia When your best think, instead of screaming the days away at first like Ivan was a experience conscious whose last mind famous the or Ilyich, by his window, about in the neighborhood going deer herd he had read he considered as a last something closed forever, right before his eyes thought, two-bit. Flu? headache. and a in his taste and smell was a change they say there to coordinate neck, the inability stiff vomiting, Then fever, cold? A and pond of dead otters the from organism as the movements muscle cell after brain cell, and an old land of the Giant People swallowed fire his around waited away, miles twenty Pierce, Ft. in man Seminole to be told Cobia was dead so he could begin to work the cruel fisher other soul could be sent to the City of the man so Cobia’s medicine Galley in its encystedThe amoeba absorption. users do to get better nose like tropho- the next stage. Its now to move to more than it needed state had in the coming days nervous system central invade Cobia’s zoites would migrate and from there of his nasal tissue, cribriform plate through the and feed to brain his into cranium the of floor the and fibers nerve along The bottle to back to his seat and handed the Cobia walked multiply. in his home. Cobia staggered top. One week later, Junior under the bar Way up to the north, to the east, then over the Milky other soul man’s west to the City of the Dead. on Cobia’s updates would give bartender The night. Bar every nut when he got in trouble to the patrons. “Shit, I remember condition Services for starving his father half to death, but he don’t with Social How in the now. gone-minded They say he’s deserve to die this way. in the got from just being he’s in ya brain thing that do you get hell What is the water round here. all grew up swimming in the We water? law of averages?” - ine V “You know,” The Junior said, “I thought I might feel just a little just feel thought I might Junior said, “I The know,” “You say an Indian this is not said Freddie, “and you somethin,” “Tell lame 208 ing. It was an old German lady in town that told me this after the town German lady in town that told me this ing. It was an old the on shits always devil ‘The said, She mayor. crooked a re-elected of shit.” and that Cobia was a pile highest pile,’ bad doin that the way we did, but I didn’t, not for one bit for what he one bit for what not for we did, but I didn’t, the way that bad doin at a fork in a oughta bury him They Albert. and Tiger done to Mary stake through his heart.” road and drive a fucking F Galley back to his truck. The Junior walked Dead. Freddie 209

Galley Galley 211 was irens S Chapter 17 Chapter Nell. Sonny, too, bit the nurse, who too, bit lived alone, after he hit Nell. Sonny, It was a Friday night at the Goose, and everyone in the group It was a Friday night at the Goose, and disappearing, were sixties of the days laid-back cherished The Things cooled off some with Aubrey and Leda; a kind of reset Aubrey some with Things cooled off showed up. Aubrey and Frank Clark were not the band, so Aubrey band, so Aubrey and Frank Clark were not the showed up. had increasingly group. Cocaine could get loose with the rest of the old an way same the Waterway, Inland the along scene the entered Little fashion. recidivist some in around back come might dance dirty when they to people and backhanded got passed under tables bottles sound the hide to often so flushed toilets The bathroom. the to walked Goose, Blue the of owner the Fred, that line a snorting someone of complained his septic tank behind the place was running over. by volts from the white stuff was quickened culture now the counter the in six at or “shit” dandruff,” devil’s or “the “Lady,” called they that bit came around. They figured, “Oh, hell, this isn’t so bad.” Leda quit because she but not all that hard, either, easy, which wasn’t narcotics, every weekend. had been only using on weekends—but her in the head and filled her lungs to the top with one of his custom put it in another took her body to his property and Freon set-ups. He to his other grandstand The act bore no similarities old refrigerator. watcher The viewing. a public arrangement, snip cuts, artistic tin stuff: into disappeared out for his, and the nurse just had simply watched the Track, Half Sonny taught hole. an open in appliance white another how to dig and bury trash from the Harris Ranch, brother needs special white box as never saw what was in the Track or anything else; Half new year the before just sod on top, placed and dirt with it covered he of 1976. GalleySonny found to visit Nell. He still goes out who the bad nurse - ine V John Chrome had just done a line in the bathroom, and when he in the bathroom, just done a line John Chrome had the imagine who love Chuck Berry and could Aubrey: “For those every a mass extinction those who know there’s “For Chrome: years twenty-four million been who know it’s Rose: “For those drug. Oh, expansion mind is a speed “For those who think Leda: is another form of “For those who think backgammon Arquette: but still buy dildos. Oh, Melinda: “For lesbians who hate men, know what to say. don’t The Junior: “For them what sometimes and bite the bubbles. Oh, Punky: “For them what fart in the water looking through the window, And if you were standing outside lame 212 came back to the table he roared a baritone, “Oh, yeah!” So it began. he roared a baritone, “Oh, yeah!” came back to the table belt. Oh, yeah.” unfasten the safety he couldn’t way that he felt when years. Oh, yeah.” twenty-four million Oh, yeah.” since the last one. yeah.” masturbation. Oh, yeah.” yeah.” Oh, yeah.” yeah.” from off who had taken time you would see eight people at a table sober to wear away at things more playful. Though they still fired off other each with laughed also they irony, black and cynicism, satire, The full moon over the old rum shrine bent without any killjoy around. at an invisible nodal and crossed it again earth light around the the after strike river made snook in the The point somewhere out in space. while clocks had balled in a circle, they strike on schools of mullet the day older along got another going, and people kept everywhere of Cancer. Tropic Indian River Lagoon, just south of the F light. seen striped the sunrise they’d ever when the ugliest morning sat and the bunch party was just starting, Goose tonight, the But at the put and then stimulant expensive the off edge the drinking together Galley on again. ting it back s 213 iren S A Man Called A Aubrey decided he and Leda should do something non-opiate—a non-opiate—a should do something Leda and he Aubrey decided movie the drug and revisit do the would They Leda and Aubrey remembered the rules for MDA; no talking or for MDA; no talking rules the remembered Aubrey and Leda and hand. She turned her head, looked at him, He held Leda’s He went upstairs. There was his bed with the fake flowers and reward for her staying off the hard dope. The drug would be MDA MDA be drug would The dope. hard the off staying for her reward sounded it because it, call to group liked Davis, the Miles or again, that heroin. Let’s other dope is bad, that like saying, “Hey, cool. It was made and then back was familiar that attitude an dope,” good this do it years later. people laugh about moving around in the first hour you swallow it, and when you feel the feel you when and it, swallow you hour first the in around moving smooth part come, you go where And it where goes. it went first was as with its short eclipse and return over and over, the afternoon sky, come they’d if asking song kept The eyes. oscillating their passed it this was one of the most pointed Aubrey, To to die again. by again song lyrics, when on any given day lines in contemporary existential The or shouldn’t. but couldn’t they wanted to die, someone muttered un- puck, air his in hidden life, his of rest the him with stayed line removable by therapy or Rexall. their and band another to changed music The sky. the at back looked went pool area; the and left Aubrey stood Hollow Blues.” song, “Wall hop- room, living the in of drywall section a at stared He house. the in exploration, wall hollow of all slimeration slow rocket see the to ing “Soft Parade” to store him where he could lie in wait for Morrison’s mother dying, Leda’s story than the one he was in—his in a different problems, his siloed life as a small-town car dealer. Galley to conjure the Indian tom-toms and face paint the Horse. Out came sixties, band from the A box for music by the pool. Sioux and a boom song a repertoire their in and tour, to started had Swine, Before Pearls that line the with your ear in crawling indelible, played—haunting, again/ well, try again/ die to again/ by you come Did leaves: never another time. - - 2001: A Man Called A ­ssippi,” and the ­ Missi ine V He saw monks sitting with Sioux Indians. Two red men in paint Two He saw monks sitting with Sioux Indians. Aubrey moved back to the pool deck and lay beside Leda. She to the pool deck and lay beside Aubrey moved back lame Slim Hand came into the Indian lodge and crammed the blue jays he 214 his hands. Then he heard it: “One Mississippi, two Then he heard it: “One Mississippi, his hands. came to him with hooks tied to flame vines and pushed the hooks through hooks the pushed and vines flame to tied hooks with him to came . The wrong church that appeared the night his father died had died father his night the appeared that wrong church The Horse. things bad. mixed itself with the movie to turns looked at him, and he could tell she didn’t even know he was gone. He even know he was gone. he could tell she didn’t looked at him, and thought of the burning cane fields around Belle Glade until a dream of at the end that spacecraft fetus circling Kier Dullea’s came, F Flowers Florist? Why said FLORIST. that headboard in the neon sign boom box down neon, the and Leon slip away and neon, and neon, Galleyhe McKinley/ “Mr. rag: of assassination kind some playing stairs stay but he didn’t to Buffalo/ just rode on down do no wrong/ didn’t the president hard times, hard times./ Leon shot too long/ hard times, and took anarchist the grabbed people ground/ the on the and he knelt times/ hard times/ hard times.” ole Leon down/ hard it Then his head. in tower the Aubrey circled Space Odyssey, like A He took on in his jar to be over-examined. quit, and more things came of floor the on field cane and RKO the was There room. big his to them his rope by the Eiffel, steel of the bottom the stood at He his cranium. feet. Up to the top and out on the rope over the cane field, in the gyre his jar. in whittled he designs while psychometric the make used to he riding his old mare in the woods, with turns playing He saw himself he was until of palmetto patches small around pine trees, jumping Things changed. Became house. switched to the doorway of his new dark. Leda was there on the living room floor with the artist and the swan, their bodies lined in neon; his wife, that man, and that goddamn with tongue and beak. Couldn’t bird taking turns between her legs mom. ALS, like his he had Thought move his limbs when he saw that. and kerplo Nell Kitching,” nothing there, voice boomed, “There’s A oee! He was suddenly in the Blindspot Cathedral with s 215 iren S . lefty-loose

magazine knows the truth knows magazine When you can’t see, take a straight shot see, take can’t When you Right through the heart of the spot. blind True righty-tighty He woke up on the mattress next to Leda. Her eyes were closed. Her eyes Leda. to next mattress up on the He woke “Jesus and Howard Johnson, what the hell was that about? I saw wasAubrey said, breathing hard. “I what happened,” know “I don’t When about. room you talk “This room, this room, this big domed Aubrey was ride, but That night, Leda was tired from the MDA When she opened them and looked at him, he saw his mother shaking When she opened them and looked Leda Aubrey. do this with her, her head in those eyes, as if to say don’t came out and sat on his arm. Trip closed them again, and and I thought I had him for the Slim Hand run by me from a hallway, a second.” I blacked out and woke up in thisenjoying the ride in my big room, when Leda and I saw and sent me toother room. Indians came from that movie the blue jays down my throat.” the ceiling after the Slim Hand crammed from you defend help can so I room,’ ‘this show me to you going are these bushwhacks?” still on. Galley up by the hand men hoisted him The red boy down his throat. killed as a dome. of the cathedral’s scar in the top the spooling keloid hooks to and there like Jesus the blue jays, hanging was, choking on There he of the Christian the ape hanger handlebars arms out on Richard Harris, time, this Tanka Wakan of the Sioux god There was no vision cross. that his old god might be low belly belief agnosia’s just the low pain of coming towards scar above him. He saw Saint Blaise behind the turning Trip go down. his throat so the blue jays would him, trying to bless the vines broke, Hand, Saint Blaise disappeared, went after the Slim rhyme. protective their screamed Trip floor. the toward fell Aubrey and - - - ine V “Yes, maybe,” Leda said. “Yes, fan of. How big I’m a which stuff, environmental this all “Like Leda began a cry. Leda began her. Aubrey asked it?” “What is they think Do you die? and ashore come to want do whales “Why of people who maybe. Maybe they’re like a lot “Some of them, by and she began to cry again. Five minutes went wrong, Leda?” “What’s is going to work. I just don’t.” think this racism thing “I don’t What?” equal rights? mean “You I read that novel by Kosinski, Aubrey. , Bird The Painted It’s “Yes. behavior or Darwinism Is racism blind. color for so much “Yeah, lame 216 ism, or both? Or is it just the ‘haves against the have-nots,’ even within even have-nots,’ the against ‘haves the just Or is it or both? ism, the same race? I don’t know,” he said. “I think about the last fifteen this revolu with our generation, this idealism years. I think about all going to work, this love fest. tion of what? I say to myself, this isn’t out of their a vegetarian to make are trying who people I know these cat. Their cat! People either train the wrong stuff, or they don’t train like that Summer Hill project in England with its, ‘Just anything at all, Anyone who creativity.’ kid’s the spoil you’ll or man, happen, it let trained to some extent.” knows mammals knows it has to be be any forest wouldn’t there for petroleum, weren’t it I know if ever, they because bare but was all Island In 1840, Long this country. in left Oil Standard perfected Rockefeller After warm. stay wood to needed And oil saved the forests grew back. and could heat a house with that, are really closer to the land than the sea?” closer to the land are really in the scattered ashes and want their land the sea than to the closer are ocean.” these all pigeon a painting friends his and him of story the tells he and The other colors and releasing it back to the other pigeons. different She rolled them.” look like because it didn’t to death pigeons pecked it buried her head in his shoulder. put her arms around him, and over, F Galley - s 217 iren S A Man A them for oil.” “Yeah, so what’s going on with me?” so what’s “Yeah, lot is A what is going on. that’s singer, are one stressed lead “You Columbus would Corpus old host Dr. your do you think “What enough of that, schizo.” “I think he might say that’s him?” “When will you tell me more about “Not tonight, Miles Davis.” half hour he started the bed table. In a Aubrey ate a Quaalude off “Oh,” Leda said, half asleep. “Oh,” Leda “Now the oil is killing And us! look at If the it economy. doesn’t from Leda. again “Yes,” stage A allegory. terminal A is. this erasure grand self a “What awayAubrey moved out asleep. She had passed answer. Leda didn’t happening in your life right now. Why don’t you think of a film tonight film a of think you don’t Why now. right life your in happening wrong turn that use one after Sand and I could Amper some? relax to pick Just don’t today. head your in took you four-way the on think of this MDA?” any film.” He to Aubrey, slip away and the voices came. “Pick a film, in his head lounge sleep and went down to the mind his daylight left sonal. So you were spooked by that MDA thing today, I’m sure.” thing today, MDA sonal. So you were spooked by that Called Horse. Ha.” grow, they say we are in deep shit. What if it just stabilized? They just stabilized? if it What shit. we are in deep they say grow, They to grow. want it don’t They cancer. about way that feel don’t to always the economy But they want or recede. want it to stabilize earth will be so the body of the to grow, and the population grow, then die, like people with cancer.” finally overrun and about Talk absurd. of the theater about Talk this. four oxymoron, all stay warm How are the hippies going to you puke. ’til paradoxical They’ll start cutting all the trees again, I guess. when they give up oil? They love fires. So do I.” Trip to close his eyes from his rant. from her in the dark and was unable the subject to something more per came round. “Whoa. Let us change Galley used too, because they the whales, - - - . Considering,” he sleep talked. . Considering,” ine V One-Eyed Jacks One-Eyed “Brando. the voices said. Aubrey,” “Yes, alone with in Mexico, hill on top of that And there was Brando, Leda, tell Aubrey doesn’t January. Aquarius of ’76, is January It feet twenty attendant the with outside walked Aubrey She and lame 218 bullets flying, watching his friend Karl Malden go off the backside for backside the off go Malden Karl friend his watching flying, bullets never came back. fresh horses. Karl He and as Punky calls it. Hatch, Booby in the Nell see he goes to but When he gets to the place, of the Monkey. Year the Nell were born in she says, and underwater, It is a monkey to show him. has drawn Nell She points to the Nautilus. glass saloon of it from the are seeing they about They talk Aubrey nods. her head and says, “Monkey mind.” her what tells slipper, cricket’s Socks, her says Black She voices. their and to the pills they give her as they go to say to the nursing staff him through a rough time is helping Suiter Triple Aubrey says down. a given has been Nell detail. go into doesn’t but now, right his life with tells and appointment prearranged Aubrey’s before of medication load gone; nurse must have She says the her. bit on her and nurse spit a him they nurse back, the she bit says after Nell there anymore. she is not hurt, and it with electricity took her to a room, and she was shocked her bones scream. see you could now, right her if you x-rayed and that tree to show her favor Aubrey to a calamondin him behind. Nell takes F “Pick again. came voices The sleep. an even deeper into he fell until Aubrey.” a film, Galleyand cubist—reticulations web is very irregular spider’s The spider. ite has spider says this Nell webs. correct symmetrically other, the unlike web she has ever seen and says it must have what the most beautiful to make a beau to be able the doctors told her she has, schizophrenia, for a second. He Aubrey feels his body go tight that. web like tiful shapes of his own house—irregu him of the reminds loves the web. It jar in her mind, Nell tells him that she had to make an imaginary lar. s 219 iren S When July of that year finished, so did the mangoes. Aubrey didn’t Trip house. family old the in night the through slept He Over the next two weeks, some blue jays started showing up on responsibly delivered the green ones to his mother every week, and the green ones to his mother responsibly delivered at and smiled piece a small she pretended to eat when they ripened, itself through the rest of her nourishment squeezed her only child as nose. to her one through squeezed oxygen and stomach, to her tube a The muscles that move the diaphragm She was slowly suffocating. The myelin sheath around her nerves cracked and had lost the signal. about the blue jays, kept thinking broke like rubber on old wires. He him for it when he did. attacked Trip blaming himself for all this. she could a stanchion for his mother, Aubrey so wanted to be a cleat grip when the worst of her disease decayed her neurology in the last one day and whispered how much at him awful months. She looked him as her child, because she never knew what he would she enjoyed this, or my any of let ever with you. Don’t bored “I was never do next. she had a The next day, Aubrey.” death, make a winter of your heart, her. with bed on the was sitting he while died and seizure mal grand When they came, before he could stop her. The home nurse called 911 form in his hand. he had the signed Do Not Resuscitate come to him, and neither did the voices ask him to pick a film that so well, about sleeping They knew he was gored. He felt guilty night. It was over. living horror. she had was a The condition but knew why. Galley anything let her have won’t They Ball jar. took away her because they in his mind, too, he made a jar Aubrey said of glass now. made out but did closer, moved The attendant him. and hugged smiled and Nell in the Jean smelled Lilith as he imagined Nell smelled not stop them. a moment. blonde hair covered his face for Her long movie. Seberg from his mother, her a hibiscus and said it was When he left, he gave that Nell would have and hibiscus, like his mother, and it was a steel too, while she is here in this place. to be a steel hibiscus, - ine V He went to Orlando for a car dealer convention months later, even later, months convention dealer car Orlando for a to He went He went upstairs to the bathroom Aubrey left for home immediately. “I did, but you didn’t.” I guess this is where I better shut up.” “Yes. you better.” “Yeah, She knew about us—the slippers and Aubrey. die, didn’t “Reve lame 220 though he kind of hated them. While he was there, someone in his in someone was there, he While them. hated of kind he though office called about business and mentioned she read in the paper that with her husband had died. the gypsy woman that lived on the river he opened a small cabinet in the pan in O’gram and bowed his head before was She us. about She knew now. is she where is That world. other the I was kind of a fool to be jealous of like you. She heard all the time. Just a fool about it.” her. F the backyard bird feeder at his house. At first, he thought they were bird feed. for the trees in the would wait soon they but him, haunting he One noticed day, there was a button and a flip top from a beer can said jays will Audubon, the book his he consulted When on the feeder. were bartering crows if you feed them, as if they do this, and so will in you something by bringing them food you gave the you for with Trip he made peace with them? Aubrey shook his head. Had exchange. parents and the awful way they As far as his all. might be right after but he people, part with about that talk want to both died, he didn’t good people they were with anyone. would talk about what Galley was a tarnished silver chaliceeled wall. Inside this backwoods tabernacle out, it Lifting Glade. Belle around fields cane the from dirt black with filled small felt bag with drawstrings andhe probed in the dirt until he touched a he turned it up, the toadstone ringWhen placed it on the lavatory counter. on the surface. He inspected it forReve had made for him, years ago, fell turned it and finger, his on it put he until normal looked It change. color any Suiter Triple sadness. Aubrey’s eyes when it sensed Junior’s The gray as of her.” I know you thought the world Aubrey. spoke to him. “I am so sorry, - s 221 iren S “She told me she’s gonna die that day. And then she told me when she told And then day. gonna die that “She told me she’s go to a doctor.” Wouldn’t “Let me guess. been having these busy she said. I myself “Nope. ‘No croakers,’ dreaming?” “Can you hear her when you are not sure. I can imagine it.” “Well, “But can you actually hear her?” you.” son, not like I’m hearing “Well, toover leaned he when mind Coker’s entered had Reve knew Aubrey spoke it if hear to strained and tree mango the to out walked He “I’d be a fool, too, to think that you really didn’t like her.” that you really didn’t fool, too, to think “I’d be a know.” I would let you up in my world, “If she showed shows grandmother my or father, mother, my if first know me “Let mango banana the under and river her ashes on the threw They she did, to bend over and kiss her for at least five seconds, but only Coker said. after she was gone,” as clear as a bell and we talk.” dreams, where she comes to me just before he did, why she told him to wait until she died and that’s kiss her, could travel into his nose then toto be sure she was in the other form and that knew also Aubrey time. his was it him when for wait and mind, his he said he could only hear her in because Coker was not a voice hearer, and he wondered if this Coker now, dreams. He was happy she was with slippers at the end. was really true; wondered if we all become to him in some kind of ventriloquism or breeze. The ring on his fin- saw the small red speck in the ger was put up to the light and he the the hour glass, the one Reve told him was on the belly of middle, gypsy the Jesus told said she one the and skink, the widow and black gypsies the boy that the Jesus told the foot of his cross. boy about at one day he comes back and breaks the red until to steal, are allowed mony of friends. up, then tell me if Reve does.” up, then tell cere a small porch after on the front with Coker alone He sat tree. Galley ­hourglass. - - ­‘Mansion!’” ine V “Truck lore, right, The Junior? Or as Chrome would say, say, would Chrome as Or Junior? The right, lore, “Truck It was just a the St. Johns River. they crossed After Jacksonville, The Junior was hauling a rig to the north every two months and two every north the to rig a was hauling Junior The Aubrey said. “Damn nice truck,” enough to pull a building. This Kenworth is strong it is. “Yeah, “Good to know.” without you spill it, I’ll “If you wanna take a sip a-that coffee that?” “Why’s trucks you see, the granny lane is where most of the big “Well, During this last year, Aubrey felt like he’d gone from Wonder Dog Dog Wonder gone from like he’d felt Aubrey last year, During this was only work for a week. She West home to Key went Leda lame 222 back-hauling hay. He asked Aubrey to come along. “What you need, along. “What Aubrey to come He asked hay. back-hauling up in the Aubrey climbed me.” son, is to get your ass on the road with like windshield the RANCH and watched said Z-BAR UP big rig that The Junior drove. film. American it was another a sick pull this’n wouldn’t old man had before the International That a toilet.” whore off move over in the hammer lane.” rigs makes the road have these ride, and over time, the weight of them I’ll So if you wanna sip a-coffee, waves cause they so damn heavy. move over to the passing lane. Smoother ride.” ing three weeks out of every month at the hospital lately, and took lately, of every month at the hospital ing three weeks out Aubrey saw new had started using again. when she pleased. She off bruises on her arm. to Withered Dog. It was now 1977. He was as bad off as Leda seemed as bad off 1977. He was as Dog. It was now Withered to had come. and other shoe promised equipoise fate’s to be emotionally; trying to rational other sometimes, all day to each and he talked Trip F Galleyof lefty-loose. clear solutions, staying ize his life with righty-tighty out to hatch tower the and his new headroom to going Aubrey feared to had appeared Cathedral the Blind Spot shapes after the beautiful So he stayed Hand and the Indians on the MDA. him with the Slim it took to get there. away from the conjure - - - s 223 iren S In Georgia, the wiregrass was on both sides of them for miles for miles both sides of them was on the wiregrass In Georgia, on the a ten-thirty-three They’s “Break one-nine north-bound. see nothin all the way back to Florence, c’mon,” I didn’t “Ten-four. southbound on the other side the man going “Thank ya, driver,” was its usual long and boring, and in Eastern North Carolina The sun was coming up. They had stopped in a truck stop over They had stopped in a truck The sun was coming up. where the tide ran under the bridges toward the ocean, and the paper ocean, ran under the bridges toward the where the tide by-products. made the air stink from the sulfurous plants of Brunswick Pee and the Little the Big Pee Dee low country, In the South Carolina the sloughs. under the road and disappeared into Dee River snaked who general the of the Swamp Fox, Francis Marion, Aubrey thought in places by hiding War during the Revolutionary evaded the British radio on, the CB radio the kept They and bogs. surrounded by water ama and the ten-meter somewhere between the shortwave lives that right at the 170 yard stick, c’mon.” The Junior answered. was it and road the left had car a mentioned, marker mile the At said. blue lights. in the ditch, surrounded by flashing hay trip this time. Mr. Zarnitz liked to feed his blood horses a timothy/ blood horses a timothy/ liked to feed his Zarnitz Mr. time. hay trip this the was worth it thought he and the north, grown in only mix alfalfa it. personally inspected The Junior to go get it after fuel and time 19 provided for blue collar teur bands, the sacred space on Channel rigs with rimmed both corny and cool, as the chrome America, and real by the monotonous mile markers. a hundred amber and red lights roll night to steal four hours sleep, Aubrey in the front seat, The Junior in The seat, front the Aubrey in sleep, four hours to steal night his exposure from then now and coughing cab, of the part sleeper the stop hook Agent Orange. During the night, two lot lizards—truck to but they sent them away frowning. “I ain’t ers—knocked on the door, Aubrey and went back to sleep, still The Junior said to doin no skank,” coughing. He missed his ozone machine. “God bless ozone,” he was illegal in that state. Galleyit was dash because the off The Junior took his radar detector ­Virginia, - - - ine V North of Baltimore, they angled northwest and took 41 up into took 41 up into northwest and angled they Baltimore, North of At least fifty or sixty Amish carriages were tied to rails that ran Aubrey said. like the eighteen hundreds,” “Jesus. It’s a-piece a-work, these people.” they “Yeah, “How you mean?” mean.” “Come on inside, and I show what I horse through the bidding— The auction was running horse after down route their backtracked and hour an in there of out got They a got they is do Amish them “what said, Junior The see,” you “So shittin me.” “You’re it. I and that’s a ‘beast a-burden,’ Their Bible tells ’em it’s “Nope. lame 224 Pennsylvania through Amish country and towns like Bird in Hand and Bird in Hand and towns like Amish country through Pennsylvania of New sale area into the agricultural they pulled until Intercourse, parked on the lots. of hay and straw bedding were Truckloads Holland. many smelling and touching after wanted he hay found the Junior The the forty-foot-long horse trailer. bales, and they loaded auction They walked over to the the main building. down the side of area. an older black horse came When looking, others not. some decent Amish car Aubrey it was an The Junior told through and was sold, after Amish going home passed buggy after buggy of the They 41. pigs to baked goods. selling everything from lambs and shoat kids have a horse their around for years, the family hauled horse that’s Then they take it to New Holland and sell it to the kill grown up with. people these figure can’t I and now, years three for here up comin been no noth no car, out. One day you see their house with no electricity, F after the war. in the Blue Goose from time to time heard to say Galleyriage horse that was of no use any more, and the man who bought the meant slaughter. Aubrey knew that horse was a killer buyer. big farm out on their it of turnin instead done with it, ers when they where it can live out its old age in peace.” ing, and the next thing you see ’em in the front yard with one a-them - s 225 iren S , this implicit oath; anytime there was a omerta, this implicit Aubrey thought about Leda and what she may be doing in Key be doing in Key and what she may about Leda Aubrey thought so Junior seemed The why he and Aubrey wondered night, In the The Junior they stopped for barbecue. North Carolina, In Eastern one done ain’t We Aubrey? thing, rodeo this doin with we “What one buck to old too getting be I may I was considering know. “I the same age as me.” You What? shit. “Aw, Thirty-two years tougher.” but you’re tougher than me. “Yeah, keep goin with it.” “Oh, hell, c’mon. Let’s “All right then. Probably get killed.” the in the road that tread tire They passed lengths of cast off crisis he would throw down with The Junior and The Junior with him. Junior The Junior and The down with crisis he would throw It brothers. oyster and apple like up growing children only two Yet, way he died, death and the The Junior’s after years later, until wasn’t The Junior rode with some of the same cow Aubrey would know that West with her time as the road opened up after a crossroads town crossroads town a up after opened road the as her time with West the South thru 301 grabbed they Delaware, Newark, At Gap. called Washington so they could miss the Baltimore/ Maryland farm country were taking the backdoor to Richmond. slow-downs; they departure, history and genetic was this incomparable There different. true, and yet he had such an affinity for what The Junior had. And of there was this kind use They didn’t liked the rub they used on this side of the Piedmont. sauce. He said, over by Raleigh, they tomatoes in the vinegar-based They went down the road in it.” made sauce with “damn tomatoes and talking tea, sweet sipping slaw, cold and pork pulled their with thinking. in months.” out.” Galley expensive a pair of them and them wearing machines eater new weed colored sneakers.” cross carried of existential bunch he did, his own choice boy mental on his country back. ine V “You know what bothers me the most when I see trash in the when I see trash me the most know what bothers “You what you mean.” Know “Yeah. Junior thinks The when Aubrey it occurred to Further in the night, lame 226 truckers called alligators and pieces of wood, metal, broken furniture broken furniture of wood, metal, and pieces alligators ­truckers called on the shoulder. off clothes, like a jacket I see these said. “Sometimes The Junior road?” things, and I think there must a dress or a child’s or shirt or some half desertion, or divorce a Like stuff. kinda that behind story sad a be lying It window. car the out throws it and mad Somebody’s beatings. I mean?” just seems. Know what know, I don’t there alone like that, and smell is only that say the smell of the woods, it about something, Aubrey does, he goes too When of he considers. him what it reminds far to the wall with it. F Galley 227 sinkin down.” the water. I got snowshoes here that’ll keep you from from that’ll here keep you snowshoes I got your money. your Say, “Come here, boy, and give me some boy, “Come here, Say, the mound. He just talk like you-know-who talk on talk like you-know-who He just talk But he just walk like you-know-who walk on on walk like you-know-who But he just walk I thought he’d sink down in the in snow. down sink I thought he’d Galley see me, to man came When the snowshoe Galley 229

hite W ll Chapter 18 Chapter A Uber Coca: recreational lives were better served by the served lives were better recreational Now their Coke elbowed the healthy lifestyle. Its big nose walked over healthy lifestyle. Its big nose walked Coke elbowed the Exhilaration and lasting euphoria, which in no way differs and lasting euphoria, which in no way Exhilaration In other body. from the normal euphoria of the healthy are simply normal, and it is soon hard to words, you . . . No drug. influence of any are under the you believe the further use of cocaine appears after the for craving taking of the drug. after repeated first, or even What Freud was saying was, she don’t lie, she don’t lie, cocaine. lie, she don’t lie, What Freud was saying was, she don’t an antide- works like knows cocaine science ironically, Today, He was wrong. It’s He just was that wrong. his It’s own insufflation of the stuff had him reason not to stop. He was wrong, and so were J.J. needing a colorable that song of theirs. She does Cale and Eric Clapton when they wrote turns to dysphoria. as strong as coke eventually euphoria Extrinsic lie. him. killed finally It either. him, hurt wouldn’t cigar his thought Freud pressant that paradoxically creates depression. It is an artificial sero- transporter dopamine a to itself binds that inhibitor re-uptake tonin transporter from performing its This prevents the dopamine protein. re-uptake function, making dopamine stay in the synaptic cleft of the from LSD. said people of lot a what said Chrome cocaine. candyfloss, sexualized when the same stuff you can see you’ve done acid, back then. “After to do that anymore.” need don’t You you’re straight. new angel food exercise, and psycho-actives as the clean living, diet, Freud hundred years ago, in the other eighties, of the eighties. One paper had published his Galley bunch the moved away of that year, most and By ’78, through - ine V Aubrey and The Junior went off to a rodeo in Arcadia. Leda went Arcadia. rodeo in a to off The Junior went Aubrey and and mannequins of the lights Only the sat. they room, living In the with things behind Aubrey have such a fascination “Why does when he works better his imagination said and he asked him, “I lame 230 to the Goose by herself and there was Arquette, alone. She walked Arquette, alone. was to the Goose by herself and there how it started. Melinda, That’s up behind him. “Buy me a drink?” pro- Miami in project biology marine a was at girlfriend, Arquette’s bathroom, in the line drink, a After the immobilizer. her animal moting for the suggested nightcap. a drink, a line, he followed her home displays were on, and so was the neon sculpture of Leda taxidermy and the Swan. said to Leda. Arquette glass?” by the glass and takes behind glass. He feels protected sees something can imagination same that because with his thoughts, chances more very strong with his is something there I think scary at times. get long as he thinks the glass is between to imagine things, and as ability glide factor to, like the him and what he gives too much of a grizzly in glass jar sees a he me He told over there. man Orange Clockwork for writing and drawing things his head. Some kind of stage machine F nor to be recycled body to the back it of taking instead longer, brain Galleyof is that process the but good longer, feel you makes simply It mally. at is pulling function brain normal The kindness. of cruel agonist, an drug loses the When other. the at is pulling cocaine the end, and one in a big way and brain cleft the leaves the dopamine the tug of war, all the to feel that good for that long not supposed You’re you crash. your brain, Prozac leaves When not natural. says. It’s the Bible time, And now you need happen, but not as seriously. the same thing can was Goose bunch The is. that And Sigmund did, too—cocaine, more. and doing lines Freud believed, what side, trying to believe on Freud’s non-habit the so-called, talks on weekends to enjoy night holding late episodic. until it got kind of crazy and forming “uber,” 231 hite W ll A “Him scared? He’s a rodeo rider. I can’t believe he still rides those rides those he still believe I can’t rider. a rodeo He’s “Him scared? the life and he he wins at those rodeos, too. He loves and “Yeah, Leda.” What a man you have, he sings. “Like a perfect thrush Arquette?” okay, You “Right. Guess I do. “Not really.” Aunt Leda about it.” tell Well, “Oh. times about his imagination.” Aubrey feels at “I’m terrified. Like “Like how?” “Like stupid.” “What of?” and experiencing, been he’d pains perineal the about her He told favorite your That’s sex? having not are you mean you do “What but I have this fear of it now.” “Yes, “What about Melinda?” Me being like okay with it, but I feel bad for her. “She says she’s “Did you try to masturbate?” I it would hurt after I was afraid I wanted to, but “No. I mean, do it?” you Could looked. just you and this I showed you if “What crazy things. Why would anything scare him?” Why would anything crazy things. is going to One of them of his. guitar he loves that loves to win, and kill him.” said though they And even cancer. had prostate he thought he that was afraid He said he them. believe didn’t he test was negative, the and they was wrong, but he couldn’t, to have sex, because something couldn’t figure out what. He was negative for infections, too, but he ultra-microbe some it’s if “What either. that, on them believe didn’t show up on the tests?” that doesn’t it?” thing in life, isn’t this.” did.” Galley He was that means. whatever drunk know, music, you like this house, said it.” when he , - - Carnal Knowledge Carnal ine V “I don’t have an erection problem. It’s a fear of pain problem,” in problem,” of pain fear a It’s problem. erection an have don’t “I He began to coke. the holding His brain now. to talk He wanted on yourself has worked a “Maybe putting that kind of pressure “Showed me what?” “Showed her to underwear and jeans of her out shimmied stood up and Leda “I’m sympathy. she said, but with no touch?” “How ’bout we play psychologi degree, some you is, to is wrong with if what “What lame 232 a jeremiad tone. and sexuality his of history the about life his in time first the for unload to be the best lover in New he was determined told her as a teenager be a double-climaxer to himself trained he how He told her England. without stopping. Arquette. No wonder you have pain down there if bad thing on you, healthy is not is, it nurse as a I know of it What every time. that you try some release without or go too long of that do too much to for a man call to used They congested. get actually can It gland. prostate the of why those doctors do prostate That’s disease in the old days. it priest’s good as just get not as massages, but the doctors always told me it’s cal?” Leda said. “Like Nicholson at the end of end the at Nicholson “Like said. Leda cal?” gypsy lady the have was to erection an get can only way he the where front of her with his legs apart.” talk him up while he sat in a chair in to attenuate the problem.” ting yourself off figure. He looked, as he said before, terrified. He had alwaystried to . . . now. her clothes, and disimagine over from me to talk just you then and line, do a we know, You serious. Arquette looked at the here on this other sofa.” there while I lie over nodded he Then place. her and her at back then and second a for floor away at the display with and looked to her, bottle and threw his coke the all with diorama the and Alex Little dressed like mannequin the place of hers, the neighbor’s Anything to not look at that wildlife in it. sure he and he wasn’t His hands were trembling, wife, he should not. wanted an erection. F Galley 233 hite W ll A with her call-girl customers. “Where does that leave me?” “Where does slightly, knees her bent towards him, side over on her She rolled climax a single Just now. should try masturbating you “Maybe “Three or four weeks.” she was out of this if you see the satisfaction getting could You I want And proposes. “Here is what Nurse Rothstein-Shallcross Maybe she was right. Arquette thought about it for ten seconds. down, and his cock back his pants, laid He stood and took off The patient is a clinical setting. Leda smiled, “this “Remember,” Galley going could see the light her legs. He small pillow between and put a to feminine more knees were bent woman’s A and the detail. through, him. He didn’t like the straightened leg. It made too much definition and looked masculine. double that perform to pressured feel reasons so you won’t for health hurt yourself. How long has it been?” come you do and had the when she almost This was Leda corner. were a roach in a whole fish in the boat, presaging the way this would go tonightwith her combining somewhere this in sex act own crafted her Arquette, and control, like the control Fonda horns, drama, center of attention, had in Klute should look at me over You you to know this is strictly therapeutic. The your tubes. Once. out clean up, then yourself get to start and here nurse says.” good reasons, and were medical and there twice, No pressure to come he see it, though to get he’d and excited she would get even maybe if he’d want to in his state. know didn’t but no lust. There was excitement, started to leaven. never here at the doctor’s were You privacy policy is invoked. house.” He nodded and stared at her place, moving his hand on his was the lit neon tracery Behind her on the kitchen wall achy organ. Arquette looked back and forth from her place of the other Leda. legs until he to the wall piece with the swan between the woman’s - animal—Aubrey’s his animal—Aubrey’s ­ crumpled, hoping it would not be painful. hoping it would crumpled, ine V “Yes, just between you and I, Arquette. Biblically, we did nothing we did nothing Biblically, Arquette. you and I, just between “Yes, I put on myself and that pressure not putting I think know, “You in the shadows by the Off car in the driveway. He walked to his the on refection physical looking for some normal kept Arquette rodeo, but beat up from Psyched about his win at the Immokalee Leda stood, put her pants on, and brought him some paper towels. paper some him brought on, and pants her stood, put Leda this like something me told “If you had go,” he said. “I gotta lame wrong. Right? Do you feel better down there?” wrong. Right? Do . . ” the anxiety. getting to release pool deck, another man stood trembling and clenching his fists, the artist. screwed for sport—the mural man Leda occasionally perineum that the hurtful vine on way home instead of the pain in his his left side usually presented. The pelvic floor took the drain well. always felt that in his left testicle There was only a slight residual burn on that When he masturbated drawn up inside him like a cryptorchid. Pretty Aubrey was away at a rodeo on a bucking horse named couch, the two scenes placed And if you the same time. Boy Floyd at exactly side by side—two films say, in slow motion—youwould see a one rhythm same to the on a dangerous animal air rising through the man on hand rising and falling as the other man’s and later, Aubrey was on the road again two weekends the top bronc, Arquette so was Melinda with her marine project. Leda knew where as he was walk the place was leaving She every day. lunch almost ate between you and I was going to happen tonight—” you and I was going between hand, Arquette’s after bascule; horse kicking out, throwing in bascule You something. finish to hard so trying men both twisting, and jerking to overdo it; the two old friends might even put a soprano behind it all towns, determined to get to some still point on this earth. in different she simply passed him, she went When lot. parking the from in ing said the word “Rodeo.” 234 exhaled and exhaled and F Galley 235 hite W ll A “I didn’t know if it was cool,” he whispered on the bar stool later stool bar on the whispered he was cool,” it know if didn’t “I parallel the you at See tonight. own again is. I’m on my it “Yeah, go first.” You “Yes. in Sonny was sitting Main Street, car went by on Leda’s When driveway. the in cars down, both turned lights the house had The condition. Arquette’s went to Soon the conversation in the house Arquette.” me a story, “Tell story?” “A “Or a something close. A confidence about yourself. That would “Then will you do the same about you?” “I will,” she said. so, where to start?” “Okay, is our clinical this since again, your sexuality about talk “Let’s Galleyat the Goose. in the woods?” then? For some neon O’gram, He turned his head with the car. window of another bar. glass the plate in Arquette lived and since by, Arquette go he saw Five minutes later, to a side road close Sonny left the bar and drove the other direction, to Aubrey’s. Sonny where and look through the glass openings found it easy to hide sure what he was seeing. He wasn’t the shades were never perfect. session, still therapy so-called had set up their Arquette and Leda across and just lay there a mirror, off of lines dressed, did a couple Sonny shrugged his talked. sofas and from each other on the different shoulders and left. like Boston. Get epicenter Leda told him he ought to go to a medical if she Arquette asked hospitals. checked out by one of the teaching this thing, good, because him feel This made could get him a name. months and he was this curse, had been going on for six becoming more and more down and spleeny. snitch.” and I don’t listener, I’m a good be better. something you, with on going worm a out root can we Maybe setting. - ­ appearance. appearance. ine V “I, uh, well. . . was very concerned about my body and about . . was very concerned “I, uh, well. “Yes? And your sexual parts? What about penis size? You know, know, You size? penis about What parts? And your sexual “Yes? all that’s and sister, a I have size. breast worry about know they “I very good at it, too.” thanks. He’s “Yes, “Welcome.” idea mine might not be big They both laughed. “No, I had this to keep going. Get a “Sure. I’ll get us another if you promise She brought the cocaine over. so this yes, well, right, All little. a Ooh, burns better. that’s “Okay, did that to your cock?” “You school, for two hours a day after year “Only my high school junior lame 236 At first, I worried about being a redhead, but that went away when the when away went that but redhead, a being about worried I first, At over I and skinny I was too thought I Then minor. stayed thing freckle ­adolescence.” she like she said, glib, age,” that at breast size their girls worry about pause, no Goose to the bunch around the table—no said things at the expression. fifteen was I when bras her of one stole I mirror. the in out checked she unsnapping so I could practice and put it around a tree in the woods it with just my forefinger and thumb with one hand. kids.” Aubrey how to do it when we were I even taught called The Rivers Ran East. enough. I read this book in high school this. I’m telling believe . . shit, I can’t that. tribe Amazonian an There’s Can we fix our faces again?” drink, too.” and members, the young boys’ Amazon tribe hung small weights on skinny ones they had long, they maturity, reached they time by the curled in a little basket they wore. Guess I started too late.” F when you’re stressed; area down on the crotch makes you bear that your about me Tell yours. of this pain exacerbates that something Galley and I was picky about eating.” did the weight lifting, 237 hite W ll A flaccid ones sometimes get only a little bigger, and bigger, little a only get sometimes ones flaccid looking - “No. Did you tell your urologist?” “No. Did kidding?” “Are you you?” Do you think your cock size bothers I am. “Yes, I show it to you okay? Could it’s think so. Do you think “I don’t “Not while You it’s canflaccid. never tell from the flaccid state. Arquette went on about his mastery of the double climax and his and climax double of the mastery his went on about Arquette He looked at her. me about your sexuality.” Tell “Now you. I think I always used it as a stalking could start with libido. “We “And what were those?” that age young a know from we see, You this. do women of lot “A “And what is surrender to you?” when you’re with a certain . . . it’s put it best way I could “The in the light?” One of the main findings in the Masters and Johnson study: ‘Don’t be fooled by the flaccid The penis.’ little ones can get pretty big and and then I quit. It didn’t look any different. You think I could have hurt have think I could You look any different. I quit. It didn’t and then be paying for it?” it and now Galleybigger the hard for as big ones are not as consistently real I think they said the can show it to me You aroused. long as the average sized ones when pressure to do the me about Tell right now. talking keep but let’s erect, put yourself under.” a double climax without stopping you women to the trees with it. She theory he was able to bring many how her told he and faking, be might of them some thought if he asked they when throbs artery big the where necks their on fingers two put he not throb, he said. came. If they faked it, that artery would horse for my real intentions.” we get trapped by it and lose the ability Sometimes we have a power. to feel anything, which is miserable, trying to figure out when to use submission between difference big a There’s surrender. to and when it to be on top.” fucking someone, I’m going and fucking someone. If it’s Helpless, frail. feel so you can bottom the want you only and someone, ine V “Does that happen to you with Aubrey?” happen to you with “Does that it, yes.” as I try to fight “As much what did we do here tonight, and are we doing What shit. “Well, to be on top, not frail, butArquette, I’d want you, “If I made love with “Yeah.” you to make what happens and see line do another so let’s “Okay, sipped the line, They did When she came down, she had on a robe. what a big fan of onanism, if you know “Rose gave me this. She’s Arquette said. “God bless her,” Chrome nods his head out, her man “Rose says when she takes it to use it?” Are you going so funny. That’s “Fucking Chrome. for you to my leg this time “No. I’m just going to lean it against lame 238 last time? This is wrong!” last time? is likeWhat we are doing here going to make love. you and I are never go under in the operating room. I watch people I work anesthesiology. when you and I doAnd die. died, but they don’t and it looks like they Those we are not having sex. like watching people have sex, but this, it’s these couches the anesthesia, and we get up from people wake up from I know you cherish Melinda.” touching each other. and go home without upstairs to get it. Be right back.” I’m going feel better. him it was getting she told more, until some drinks, and talked their back her on her side, she pulled Lying late and it was time for therapy. his pants, and looked at the took off stood up, robe. He looked over, stirring in his a wall until and the Swan on the kitchen neon of Leda it, he saw her touch herself. nerve endings began. Half way through gland?” be bad for the that said, “Wouldn’t stop. He to She told him ten seconds.” She went upstairs and but give me She said, “Not really, came back with a vibrator. I mean.” God from the machine.” and says, ‘Deus ex machina.’ look at.” F Galley from Canada.” Young helpless as Neil helpless, 239 hite W ll A “Do you use it when you’re with Aubrey?” with use it when you’re “Do you setting. in this clinical inappropriate personal question, a “That’s Galleya friend told Gardner once Ava Aubrey is, as say this, though. I will need it.” So I don’t between the feathers.’ Sinatra, ‘Good about Frank Galley - - 241 bump

rucks T Let’s do a bump here.” “Let’s a do do bump here.” “Let’s a Let’s Chapter 19 Chapter showing. It was, “ Aubrey and The Junior took another trip north to deliver quarter another trip north to deliver The Junior took Aubrey and side they stopped for the east In Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and the man The Junior talking, Aubrey saw the farm owner and tell me you’re holdin on this trip. I told you I had to “Shit. Don’t I and me, with go to minute last the at asked you well, “Yeah, leave.” “Fuck it then. Get it done and let’s horses from the Z-Bar Up and back haul hay out of New Holland. out hay haul Up and back Z-Bar the horses from the Florida state line station before the agriculture They went through health AM, certificates, showed andat the crossedtwo horses’ the St. night, doing bumps when They drove all Marys River into Georgia. have to worry about any “Fuckin toma The Junior didn’t so barbecue Junior came The When Aubrey. at looking around and looking kept I got to Aubrey, grin, “Uh, large back to the truck, he said with a rare, do a little business here.” mine.” be careful with that car business of the wood shavings in the under stuff that with loaded already I’s mean get out of it.” so I couldn’t horse trailer, before we go in there.” “Let’s do one because it’s raining.” “How raining.” it’s because one do “Let’s there.” in we go before from turned had use The winning.” are Dolphins the because one ’bout this was canker. only coffee, weekdays at work, like weekends only to The Junior was to blazed on it, he said When ever they felt sleepy. “I love the fuckin road. If I die anytime soon, throw me out Aubrey, on US 1 and let the big trucks run over me till I’m flat as an ole coon. Sun and rain can do the rest.” They laid the horses over close to dark at toes in the barbecue sauce.” Va. a farm in Petersburg, marks GalleyThe rake Coke. The Chrome. weight, even all losing They were . Some- High Times ine V “I hope this was a cash deal you did. I am not in this truck with this in not I am you did. deal cash was a this hope “I family.” from my mother’s “Cause I know him a long time. He’s They didn’t talk for the first ten minutes on the road, until Aubrey Aubrey until road, the on minutes ten first the for talk didn’t They the papers no never makes is something that moonshine “Yeah, “That’s right!” Aubrey screamed. “That’s how all the old NAS- Aubrey then for a minute. He looked over at The Junior was quiet him were bringing You me the rest. right, tell Aubrey said, “All but no shit, not cocaine.” “Yeah, “Grass then?” “No. Mushrooms.” “Oh?” Thimble, my sweetie, see, me and You “But not like you think. that she know how How did you saying? are What “What? dope magazine, a book from that “She ordered lame 242 some quantity of coke or something else you traded for it, am I? How a narc?” do you know that guy isn’t times I trade them pills for grass or blow, but mostly for straight cash. for straight mostly but blow, for grass or pills them trade I times than go looking for rather pill swallow that to just like See, people in a tea later.” them shrooms and have to cook it up threw his head back and started laughing. “I can see it now. Local man Local man can see it now. laughing. “I head back and started threw his bust.” interstate moonshine caught in here country judges around some old-time there’s more. Hell, I bet old days.” because it reminded them of the that would let us go Thunder Road.” CAR runnin bush drivers started out, liquor on fuckin a couple of times. back at the windshield you?” the shit, too, weren’t stuff that grow to how out figured she Well, Taylor. Thimble know you All what grows on top of that in baby bottles with like a Jell-O in there. oven, the in foil tin on it put we then mold, cotton white this is Jell-O and capsules vitamin cheap buy them We powder. a into it turns it and to sell.” empty them out, and she puts it in there worked?” F Galley - - 243 rucks T They went back through Maryland farm country on 301 as usual, Maryland farm country on 301 They went back through Aubrey asked. tired?” You want me to drive? “You They pulled over and switched. “Okay.” Aubrey watched the signage and mail The Junior soon fell asleep. The Junior woke in a couple of hours. Aubrey?” do a bump, “Wanna we had any left.” know “Didn’t it.” “Got a gram, but that’s have a couple of kilos in here.” I’m relieved you don’t “In a way, got away clean with that back there.” We come on with it. “Aw, for now, coffee get and we stop for fuel but why don’t “Okay, in mold mushroom the about Aubrey asked South of Richmond, When they got into the top part of Maryland, The Junior stopped Junior The of Maryland, top part the they got into When with a load of timothy/ alfalfa bales. It was turning dark. They crossed turning dark. bales. It was alfalfa with a load of timothy/ through Upper south again Annapolis, turned the Bay Bridge into until the land Waldorf, and Rosaryville towns like Marlboro and little In the bridge over the Potomac. Nice W. the Harry dropped down to deer and dead deer they saw live Virginia, AM backwoods of a one on the side of the road, their dead open eyes still able to reflect the There were stretches them. headlights and wheel rims as they passed like ocean phosphorous. of asphalt with so much mica it sparkled instead?” baby bottles again. row was Saturday, the sale would open, and truckloads of everything of everything open, and truckloads the sale would Saturday, row was would roll in. All Redwine, Doorman Curty For Wormslo, names like boxes go by, busted- Home, Slaw Funeral Nash and the Needs, Estate Real Your ramps, and now and then knuckle car shops, houses with wheelchair half on the asphalt, where a car a burnt spot, half on the shoulder and caught fire and had melted the pavement. Galley were haul- the horses they farm that bought the called for fuel and Tomor a room. night and got New Holland by that They were in ing. - ine V “Hey, parkin lot, you got ears in there?” the baritone man said to said man baritone the there?” in ears got you lot, parkin “Hey, c’mon.” “Yeah, believe in Jesus?” “You Baptist.” raised that way. “Oh, hell, yeah. I’s going on between religion somethin I think there’s know, “You that? C’mon.” “How’s “I mean, you have to be real careful when you do that,” The Junior The that,” do you when careful real be to have you mean, “I and barbecue Mount for more Rocky in again over pulled They Pee Dee River they crossed the Big Carolina, Dark now in South of what end the to get they and radio is on the someone When Ten as was deep voice man’s The listen. to Junior The He told lame 244 another big truck. and watchin the weather and what it does to your mind. Feenished.” nessee Ernie Ford’s. He must have been south bound, as they were, He must have been south bound, as nessee Ernie Ford’s. because the signal stayed strong. told him, “so you don’t get no other stuff in there with it, cause it will cause it with it, in there stuff no other get him, “so you don’t told mess ever’thing mold.” all this other kinda up with for “brownies,” the end cut of the The Junior asked the man slaw. of out miles Twenty stuff. burned and cooked more drier, the meat, o’clock three It took until on. light came alternator Rocky Mount, the it replaced. the next day to get to Jesus came paychecks from CB radio. Every subject to the listening Tanker types of rigs: different names for the slang the up, along with thermos bottles. “How thermos bottle? ’bout ya, trucks were called If you another. to out would call driver one in there?” ears got You “parking new cars, they were called a truck hauling wanted to call lots.” A flatbed truck was a “skate board.” Aubrey kept hearing this truckers. same base-voice guy talking to other so the back” or “Over,” “C’mon” or “Come they are saying, they say, said, to simply Aubrey was listening but the man other guy can talk, “Feenished,”or finished, with his heavy southern accent when he was through. F Galley - 245 rucks T “The ghost. Yeah, on Channel 19.” The Junior nodded. The on Channel 19.” Yeah, “The ghost. we call him.” what That’s “Ghost of 19. giving snoot to celebrate of that do a line right. Now let’s “Aw, “I read that there’s this part of your brain that can let you see Jesus see Jesus you that can let part of your brain this there’s “I read that trade back and forth? C’mon.” “So you sayin they right. Feenished.” “That’s you Jesus. So where and clouds mean I nice. Kinda that. heard “I other driver tried a The gone. And he was “Heaven. Feenished.” The Junior said. “What?” “Did you hear that?” I heard that.” Aubrey. “Like the guy said, “That was incredible. He says this redneck feenished, or finished, said, just you fuck the know what don’t I but good, that’s “Well, so coffee the snoot of yours and quit “Now we should do up that What you wanna call ’im?” right. “Aw, on know where he is out there really don’t You a ghost. like “He’s him a name. Probably never hear him again.” ing over the surface of the road in this mist we’re driving through? A A we’re driving through? mist ing over the surface of the road in this I said, of some kind maybe. Or like radio band trucker transcendental a ghost.” Galley brain box this part in your Then clouds and watch without thinking. and up for more clouds head to jack it around your sorta ricochets Feenished.” more religion. out of, driver?” Aubrey but static. was nothing there but him, to call of times couple The Junior. looked at of those grits. He like the rest of ‘C’mon,’ instead after everything, CB a paradox into objective/subjective whole the subsume to tried just and then disappeared.” radio chat about the weather and Jesus, college boy.” a name to this guy on the radio.” gotta give We I can think about this. truck out there at all, but just hover not in a What if he’s this road. size PVC crosses out in a Bible Belt field stood as stood field Belt Bible a in out PVC crosses size - ine V “I just had this flash.” Aubrey poked out his chin turned as he from heard I ain’t comin. Wound’s Head me. tell Don’t “Oh, shit. you seen this new movie, comin. So have who’s that’s well, “Yeah, By the time they crossed into Georgia, they were wide-awake they were into Georgia, they crossed By the time your Aubrey, “Yes, voice. inner with the Aubrey in on started Trip work Monday go to to have I didn’t Wish Trip. know, I know, “I You seat? truck that in there over to talkin you Who son. “Aubrey, Just drive the truck.” “Yeah. Until Petty. Richard beer, women, about chatting kept CB The that him, or somebody imitat- “Was The Junior. Aubrey looked at them burp things on the air all the time.” They do know. “Don’t He looked coke. the from Buzzed good place. Aubrey was in a lame 246 into his man Head Wound, but a more redneck Head Wound, for The for Wound, Head redneck more a but Wound, Head his man into sake. Junior’s him in a while.” come to these aliens Anyway, Kind? Close Encounters of the Third close together as that Friday in Jerusalem. and then, three life three then, and from the coke. Aubrey kept thinking about the radio truck talk, all its all talk, truck radio the about thinking kept Aubrey coke. the from scientist, a or banker, Yankee a something argots, southern and code shit he’d snorted. felt sharp from the He a translator for. might need I do believe I got that white line disease.” The Junior, “Goddamn, fast.” Too faster than this truck. wheels are turning I could major a long-range trucker with this radio. and I could just be himself. again,” he said, talking softly to in philosophy all over to was talkin you like lips those moved always You lips. your movin ever since you was a kid.” somebody, the over burp came human loud a Savannah, of south time, more one speaker that ended with “Feenished!” said. Aubrey ing him?” as he as far jar, Ball designs, another hatching windshield, the through now and Road kill crosses went by on the shoulder, was concerned. F Galley - 247 rucks T movie; it’s a voice it’s movie; the Tater King. I Tater am the Close Encounters note musical piece sound like some kindergar - five “Okay, Morrison.” “Okay, you don’t Kings of slimeration, The Junior. “Oh, me and Jim, “Guess what, Head Wound? Just tell me the story.” Wound? “Guess what, Head informa- ‘Breaker one-nine, for some local the voice says, “Okay, happens?” so then what right, boy, “Aw, looking and dials the checking start scientists MIT these all “So now.” Wound “Man, you are a Head I guide the space ship in “And after the aliens answer back, earth in a space ship, the usual. So there I am, the indisputable janitor indisputable the I am, So there usual. ship, the space in a earth radio dish facility, government room for a big up the control sweeping out in source signal from an intelligent trying to get a that’s you know, wastebaskets, emptying duties, janitorial my about I’m going space. when it finally happens. They, NASA, get a signal, only it isn’t that has in the stupid music Spielberg know. We know how We to get know. things small enough. But wait! So I’m at guiding in the space ship so they the truck stop with President Carter, ten shit once it has been revealed that CB was the language they chose they language CB was the that revealed has been it shit once ten dum go dum that movie Spielberg in the notes of those dumb instead the to me, talking are they America, And look here, dum dum, dum. I because King himself, Tater Lizard and janitor, can do anything.” tion. . . . Get it? Breaker one-nine.” tion. . . . Get it? Breaker is and sure enough, it really know what to do, they don’t around like miles over the Orange a million coming from some back-forty nebula while microphone step to the janitor, low-life And then, I, the Bowl. ‘How ’bout their zippers and say, the great scientists are scratching c’mon.’” for that local information, you, driver, aliens the language the is that because CB lingo; standard using the they waves set of air on the truckereeze to listened they while learned And it makes that to hook on to down here from outer space. happened Close Encounter Galleythat says. . . guess.” - - - ine V “Shit. You should have said feenished at the end, like the Ghost said feenished at the end, like the should have You “Shit. And The aliens, I mean. think he is one of them. “I would’ve, but I jars?” Ball and, and “What was that last part about Mr. lady lying her ass off That was just the cocaine “Oh, nothing. It was five in the afternoon when they parked the stock trailer in The year turned into the winter of ’78. The town filled up with Goose the up at showed thirties, their in group, now truly The nobody did. said. But Leda Yeah?” Oh, to play wants “Who lame 248 of Nineteen.” to steal his stuff.” want I don’t again, feenished.” They headed for the Blue Goose, scored some more the ranch barn. The awake then sat down with Chrome, Rose, Leda, and to stay stuff and Aubrey much. talk who didn’t Taylor, Thimble girlfriend Junior’s when trip, and the about forth and things back batting Junior kept The “Feenished.” said, they’d say, they got to the end of anything they Amer pension funds of great from the Yankees snowbirds and other every Friday. Nobody catfish?” the feed and dock the on out go to wants who “Okay, did. “Okay, who wants to go out on the dock, feed the catfish, and F instruc trucker country them telling right, parked thing the get can Galley your right Now, driver. bit there, hand a little left ‘Pull your tions like, got.’ Hold what you like your comin. Come it driver. That’s hand. to talk to on their the aliens, want they, I am the only one Because com lingo that makes those space creatures the That’s all. radio, that’s and big-ass eyes—me, the funny looking heads their with fortable, the of possessor and flier field cane a astronaut, of kind another janitor, ever made Ball Mr. the coolest jar in a Ball jar, toadstone progenitor Ball used to blow glass.” when Mr. and unlimited residencies homes to get ones who bought the ica, of Florida. homestead exemptions from the state - 249 rucks T They swam in their underwear and it was cool that night, so they and it was cool that underwear They swam in their Chrome said. why they call it crank,” “Hell, that’s you up, “They call it that cause it cranks The Junior. said “Naw,” Rose said. and then it makes you bitchy,” “Yes, They don’t can quit. so anybody that wants to quit Okay, “Okay. drug. away from the to stay some had managed weeks later, Two dinner songs and then one fast one that shook After one set of tame Pennsylvania. to back My friends moved prettyIt’s up there in the Poconos. ­Ostensorium. went in and out of the sauna then back in the pool. They had a lot of They had the sauna then back in the pool. went in and out of and ought- to stay awake and talk about the oughts shit between them at this age. How nots of their lives last coke they should make this the cranky. was looking tired, getting weird because everyone party, ‘crank’ anything call they and em, to shine I sell me. bikers tell them speed.” that’s Leda old, anyway,” all getting We’re approval. need the group’s planet sunrise on the ugliest the until laughed all and they in, weighed Everyone slinked home, mumbling they would quit. started to show. the at ritual night Friday the song for special a written had Aubrey the It was that was abstaining. Goose to honor anyone in the group turn to entertain the locals. Cricket Jar band’s written. He Aubrey opened the next set with the ballad he’d the place, Leda. especially was there, Goose bunch the all sure make to waited the came spotlight, single a under guitar acoustic an just with Then, always on key. saloon singer, do a bump?” They all said yes. After that, the group left and went and went left group the that, After yes. said They all do a bump?” taxi of woods full the in house the Leda’s, and Aubrey O’gram, to but his place, had offered Arquette neon. and mannequins, dermy, formula South Florida Arquette’s called to go. Rose nobody wanted Galleythe ine mangroves, over, Poconos. news. lady. you. just high. had on. that song. V Cause there’s somethingthere’s Cause here I never get could like me looks The South the Florida sky to somebody, the lines go on the and you’re mirror at all. ’bout nothin all night talk And you I’ve done everything the could sell me. man see on the evenin what you and shot Swallowed throat like that grabAin’t nothin white your that stuff; it make touch Child, don’t a mess of probably And whoever lie was said she don’t Where did J.J. Cale and Clapton get that song? looked on the ground If you where their feet were hangin round, the size of Florida they see snowshoes You’d when they wearing wrote snowshoes definitely Me, I think I’ll stay hereSouth in Florida, I thinkMe, I’ll stay through the and float Lie on my back lame 250 F Galley - - 251 oad R ock R 1979 Chapter 20 Chapter hell mannitol. S he T you the shits, if it was stepped on with a look-a-like it was stepped on with a look-a-like give you the shits, if A lot of Americans didn’t want to have job that got their hands hands got their job that want to have didn’t Americans of lot A The food pyramid turned upside down. Fat was vilified; corn and The eighties were coming with a new mindset—money fever— were coming with a new mindset—money The eighties income then prac an independent Old Greek saying: First, secure Leda was still in it. Did not have the equipage to quit, and the prof in it. Did not have the equipage was still Leda dirty. The ones that had to were tempted every night by a TV that told TV every night by a The ones that had to were tempted dirty. children their had, and based on what they they stood where them was Physical appearance and asked why if they didn’t. turned to them was and a major illness in, in quantity, up. Health foods were hauled day all around was carried bottles carcinogenic in Water dehydration. For the water business, or dizzy. and sipped when someone felt tired of that was a windfall. the placebo effect Then came the a nation of tubs. pasta products were at the top to create was this reliable and there later, proved to be toxic that vitamins daily tice virtue. antithetical to the sixties’ and seventies’ mindset, and things like things and mindset, seventies’ and sixties’ the to antithetical anything win at to took it of whatever orchestration the and cocaine capitalism. started to drive a baroque and obscene ligate spending it took was no deterrent. Even Aubrey couldn’t beat Aubrey couldn’t Even deterrent. was no took it spending ligate weekends. on the lines did too many and settings in social bugbear the too much to take the edge off. It was true to its slang name: shit. All All name: shit. It was true to its slang off. the edge too much to take from Columbia was shit, bad for you shit, this stuff the bunch knew it that could laxative powder called Galley drinking and were coke quit the to seem couldn’t Rose and Chrome - again and ended it in it ended and again Buster and Billie and Buster . This new guy, Jan-Michael Vincent, is in it. is in Vincent, Jan-Michael guy, This new . a year ago.” ine The Mechanic V They finished dinner and went to the Goose Chrome’s in old how much of this we do,”“I’m getting more than worried about about talking started Rose “What’s the movie?” “What’s “Buster and Billie Aubrey and Chrome kept surfing together. Arquette was rarely sat. Around the table they Aubrey asked them. flicks lately?” “So, seen any good you, honey?” it, didn’t liked You Right, Rose? “Yes. About this regarded white-trash girl of nor “I more than liked it. lame 252 station wagon full of beach sand. After two drinks, they were back After two drinks, sand. wagon full of beach station could look You little conch house on the Indian River. at Chrome’s where there, waves from sacred and the island barrier across to the came out of Atlantic swells. Rose the left pearls broke over from the another room with some lines. get in their hoof a hoof condition horses there’s know, Aubrey said. “You hoof. Horse caused by a fungus. Looks like a chalk line on the wall. It’s it.” got I day, other the Junior The told I disease. line white it call people I think he was a TV actor, but I first saw him in a film with Bronson called mal looks who has the hometown hunk fall in love with her.” mal looks who has the hometown hunk seen at the beach anymore. Leda had gone to Key West for a long for a West Key to gone had Leda anymore. beach the at seen over to his house. Rose Aubrey to come told weekend, and Chrome grits, and greens. was making grouper, F how food feel,” “mouth called engineered companies food the craving steered Mouth feel in your stomach. not mouth, in your felt and drink “My like, jingles and juvenile Candy Land tasters, sugar, carbonation, stars! How does Mars make such wonderful candy All bars?” of this the white shit, to snort the white shit, shoot while people continued buildings. and jump off Galley does Why miss Leda. “I saying. kept she romantic,” “Severely tears. all the time?” West she have to go to Key 253 oad R ock R hell S he T Liberty Valence low-life trying to burn down trying low-life Liberty Valence Aubrey headed to Kissimmee for another rodeo. Leda found time found time Leda rodeo. for another Kissimmee to Aubrey headed When the figure reached the side of thehouse, it poured some- across from positions their up taken had Arquette and Leda Inside, Arquette?” “Need to fix your face, “That would be nice.” on a down in her robe with coke back She went upstairs. Came ground for the around looking and artist the Sonny was watching Galleywho was Arquette, anxious to the Melinda on a boat to get his for was Sonny again. Leda see could so he gear dive her with Bahamas car went by when Leda’s window drinking glass plate in the same did who artist the Then went by next. car Arquette’s Street. on Main Sonny of time spent a lot now and then, went by. murals, and Leda what every- his own car just sitting, so he knew outside of bars in thing The whole personally. did not know the artist one drove, but he another take to decided So he obvious parade. an What funny. looked The Aubrey and after all, the protector; watcher, look. He was the his too. a way, but the rest of the clutch was, in Junior his main job, It was a he was on the side road close to O’gram. In twenty minutes, edge at the the palmettos farm, and when he parted short walk in to the of the pasture, another Itfigure was was sneaking in fifty yards away. the artist, carrying a container. seconds, the few more a In edge. the along container of the out thing you watchman? What are What now, Sonny. smell of gasoline reached going to do about this in the did to Liberty house? The same thing John Wayne Aubrey’s movie? Kill him? each other on the couches. mirror. he ran up behind for silence, feet with. In his bare him to hit something both arms to douse the house with up with him as the man reached more gas. Sonny got under those arms and put him in a full Nelson. The two of them rolled on the ground by the back porch, far enough I ine V “So, Arquette, how’s the pain level?” how’s Arquette, “So, sometimes.” “Murder, have helped?” think our sessions “Do you back.” better for a few days, and then it comes “That is when I feel and wrestler positions are exchanging blows artist Sonny and the robe and her opened Leda Arquette.” started, get then, let’s “Well, he your own last time,” of to share some fantasies promised “You begin with yourself over there, and during you Why don’t “Okay. The artist has Sonny on his back, trying to hit him with a free “I want to hear something Arquette from says you to now!” Leda see?” She shows You thumb. “I like to push my nipple in with my cock. his works he while louder says Arquette it!” Show me. “Show Now Sonny has the artist spitting blood, and he puts him in a lame 254 now. A box of matches fell out of the artist’s pocket, and he tried and he pocket, artist’s out of the fell box of matches A now. married the where house the burning about rabid them, to crawl to in her robe with another man. woman he loves is pillow between her knees. put the usual small said to her. and what me about to talk when you want me me process, tell the revolution, so hard he makes a complete hand. Sonny rolls him off kick him in the stomach. allowing Sonny to get to his feet and as he strokes himself harder. “It makes it turn out to the side, under the him and speaks quickly. skin, and then I use my index finger to rub the bottom part of itwhile is the only thing of a nipple tip the Usually there. holds it my thumb but I like the underside of the nipple that gets rubbed in love making, like a hand.” womb neck contract rubbed. It can make a woman’s by the back door. chokehold next to the whirring air conditioning rubs the underside as she described. tip in and Leda pushes her nipple to move starting Leda from this, and notices is to a new level Arquette F Arquette. Leda and their grunts from away to hide Galleylike physically.” - - 255 oad R ock R hell S he T But what were Leda and Arquette going to do in Arquette Leda and But what were

The artist is out cold. Sonny put him in a strangle hold and par Sonny put him in a strangle hold The artist is out cold. there,” I see what you are doing over Orlander. this, Mr. “I see I “Yes! am!” He is breathing hard and pushes his own nipple in to the man still breathing Behind the house, Sonny has dragged woods, and Sonny used the from the car was retrieved artist’s The for what him in strips alive I should have cut The son of a bitch. dangerous guard this for his again, out watched had watcher The Leda says. “You are proving to me the story about coming twice with are proving to me the story about Leda says. “You no loss of erection.” finger his with skin his under backside the rubs and hand, free his with Arquette comes again. Leda touches her place, and the way she does. car He gets him in the time. the trees and choked him out one more to at came the artist An hour later, and roped. after he is duct-taped Sonny’s as he was being fitted with a Freon death mask.flashed the execution bulge, and Sonny didn’t hesitate His eyes to make it last he gas before the of effects high pleasant the feel would man so the Aubrey’s him for trying to burn down died. Even though Sonny hated who is very stoned before place, he feels better about killing someone in barely equated of killing, for the guilt balance they go; his counter climax. adultery if she doesn’t some twisted way Leda feels about container, to shut the man in a reliable last of his junked refrigerators Sonny wanted his like enclosed, reassured the barn-burner was forever car to a deep years ago. He drove the man’s mother enclosed in a bottle home. canal close by and sank it, then walked he was going to do. that house last night? Galley feels to herself. He what she is doing hips slightly from her legs and keeps he time this only comes, he and increase his mouth in saliva the the same getting come, toward a second hand up and down moving his sex. he gets with real out of his erection response him. tially suffocated Ranch buried the from the Harris Track he and Half The next day, ian. - - , who started from Iowa and turned into his international into turned Iowa and from . enjuenue ine V In the eighties, people wore tee shirts that said “Right Now,” Now,” said “Right that shirts wore tee people In the eighties, Aubrey couldn’t August; suicide in Paris in committed Jean Seberg In his house on a Sunday morning, Aubrey lay on the upstairs bed In his house on a Sunday morning, It was September hot. The seasonal rains came, the hard pound- It was September hot. lame 256 or “Winning! It’s everything.” The ethos—quick and next. “Damn, faster so eaten up on bumper stickers. Food was I’m Good,” showed Only essays money. and make more from the table people could get up on maga were too long. Slicks, and slick covers were read; novels The woman who first made his knees squeeze together was believe it. in Lilith gamine gone, the one who played the beautiful F when weird stares and smiles all was Track Half refrigerator. closed any of the dimes want didn’t change. He him some pocket Sonny gave big were they because quarters, and nickels the only hand, Sonny’s in ger than dimes. and seri- to be faster, Every task had page-turners. zines were the new change This historical given to time management. ous purchase was was forced and made possible not only by attitude, but by inflation pay the had work to parents so high both rates the interest and jacking Chrome of computers. with the advent More speed came mortgage. from vibrator—God Rose’s he called thing same the computers called the machine. perfect as the out ing, sub-tropic soup. The serial killer, Ted Bundy, had been convicted had Bundy, Ted killer, serial The sub-tropic soup. ing, every on television were hurricanes, serial the and His name, July. in wanted storms that year, that unhappy seemed that hurricanes night, monsters working rotating the again; to run with them jail out of Teddy and up into the Gulf so they could their way around the tip of Florida turn right and head across the state towards Raiford Prison, where chair when they short out the electric brother; Bundy was. Spring their seat. down in the Teddy put Galley his Dulcinea fantasy, - 257 oad R ock R hell was still alive, alive, he was still S he T , or St. John’s wort, covered the marsh. There, around wort, covered the marsh. , or St. John’s hypericum The rainsqualls blew outside. Water dripped loud off the edge of of edge the off loud dripped Water outside. blew rainsqualls The dark when you drop, though?” just “What if it’s Why do you think I am here the way I am, if there Aubrey. “No, it more so I can I wanna go to the big room to spin know. “I don’t owe You tutor. to me, your cranial I do not think that is fair “Well, this I have to get off I think But right now, “I know I do. I know. rock road, he crawled shell on the driveway, Out the farm’s the house, and in between, the sun the house, and in between, the sun shone through the dark changing his Shallcross missed his mother, Aubrey storm sky. tropical of virgas Suiter came on as he lay there and told Triple and grandmother. father, run into his family again he might him how short a life was, and that sooner than he thought. is not another world?” reassure myself.” as to what you really do in this big room, and what me an explanation it looks like.” bed and go for a drive to clear my head.” plants and wetlands, flooded side either On truck. his 1in US towards called webs, hundreds, spiders wove their the plants, those thirty-inch-high Galley him his on the tin roof retold the rain sound his mortality; with just was he Where think. him made rain the back, far and Slow history. as back peal, The constant what they did. he was with, before, who the hor his parents and began to cry for Aubrey it, and Chrome called eased his legs down on a he died. In fact, every time way they rible to suffer a disturbing desire he felt chutes lately, horse in the bucking because gate the opened when they violently or die for the good life his act of contrition cross threaded as if it might be a for courage he used this guilt thought he At times, parents gave him. coming In the that. about guiltier even and felt things the crazy ride to by a a man get killed quit the broncs after he saw he would eighties, in front of him. horse at a rodeo right - - - ricochet that shoots air pucks shoots air that ricochet ine V He conjured his Ball jar. A perfect drifty came, and he worked drifty came, perfect A jar. his Ball He conjured that, mess after whole the swallow and try to going not are “You in my me on this other level “No, asshole. I’m taking you with he revolver,” brain is the great “The Wound. turned into Head Trip part, his fore crown organ from the planet’s Aubrey saw it all lame 258 brain, the left pearl of perception and perception of pearl left the brain, off rose His truck hallucinations. into wire wet off bounce-backs and the shell road and shot up in the sky over the Florida woods. He had other was any it like turn a banked his hands and in wheel steering the flying machine as he looked down at the sloughs and marshlands he thousands of them, and Aubrey stopped every day to look at their at look to day every stopped Aubrey and of them, ­thousands Nell one the like looked that web saw a he then, Now and designs. crazy place—schizophrenic. tree at the on the calamondin showed him the because Serengeti, knee-high the wetlands the He called Cubist. Africa. On the road this morn trees in dwarf acacia plants looked like hybridly looked that parts with creation punk steam a into truck his us fly and here back lean gonna I’m it? try wanna Trip, “Hey, airplane. left, and circle the savanna.” straight over those pine trees, bank are you?” head, and we’re gonna fly this Dodge truck likeWright the Brothers. it, and I they did, but we’re gonna do may bounce and bump like We hope you appreciate it. Ready?” blood from the fuel takes “It Aubrey and the wetlands. to announced Lord it, punk, carburet punk, truck steam punk, into dream and turns it go!” Jesus Christ. Let’s F Galleying, were also real Africans, elbows walking like fins dorsal their catfish,used they while air breathing anand crawling invasive species, any from thing weather Any warm side. other the to across get to had next to the Florida. He got the same feeling he where can live in in jar his with something do could he feeling a road, this on fields cane brain to the big room he in his without going deeper mind his surface him for this one. Suiter with Triple take had built. He could - 259 oad R ock R miracle stuff stuff miracle hell S he T interesting, looking for faces, animals, and Catholic interesting, looking for faces, animals, ­ “Left pearls, Trip! God damn left pearls! Good as the waves out Feenished!” Wound. “Now that was mansion, Head big in the that do ten times I can was something? that think “You now you but you that, told always I have “Oh, just splendid. “How can you do something subconsciously on purpose, midget in it about me Tell me? to place the describe least at you “Can’t in truck Put his real else. say anything Aubrey nodded. Didn’t “You want the usual, Aubrey?” want the usual, “You at High Beach!” in the It’s Trip. is not in the air or heaven, The other dimension room. head.” these you make Do slow. really you are it? Sometimes suddenly get sub- you do or me, torture to room big the about accident by remarks consciously do them on purpose?” to to the big room soon, but I need time you I’m going to get shit? all.” work my way around to it, that’s like. looks Cathedral Blindspot the know what I mean, I detail. more I hope I never see that black church I have been in there, and frankly, of yours.” again. But I want to see that other arcade an made had Trip for breakfast. Diner Randolph’s to headed and gear about the diner a couple of days ago because of its fat- at humor effort Donna, Cafe. Catheter The it was calling he lately and menu, packed exami Aubrey’s and interrupted over to the table wife, came Punky’s loved. The spider webs below were hit by the sun from a top angle angle top a sun from the by hit were below webs spider The loved. eagled Trip He and eyes big as a lemur’s. seen before, his he’d never punk. of steam beginning the Nautilus, the about and thought area the They flew until both had had their limit of sensoryexperience and After one last bank to the have been abusive. knew any more would rock road. Dodge, they landed back on the shell left in the flying he did if the patterns top, something table marble fake of the nation Galleywere in the swirls. - - school - grade - since - time - the - all - hisself - to - talkin - bustin - ine bronc V - “Yep, Adam and Eve on a raft.” and Eve Adam “Yep, the kitchen. back towards And she headed cowboy.” “All right, C’mon, this morning. Lymon do me some Frankie Trip, “Hey, a tape a song like a perfect impressionist. Could imitate was Trip When he finished his first cup of coffee, he was back on his love know Punky’s “You table. the at Donna was back Aubrey.” “Hey, the plate and left. He followed Donna, who put down singin-cowboy- The dealer. car slick that ain’t If it here. “Looka lame 260 friend-a-mine, Aubrey Shallcross. Hey, that’s okay. I’m talkin to I’m talkin okay. that’s Aubrey Shallcross. Hey, friend-a-mine, that I started since ‘specially too, time, the all crazy a like myself Punky looked you know.” alone, there shop. I’m in lawn mower repair surfin Trip, please?” Trip, for each one, a vinyl even with the beginning record noise recorder, before the the crackle and the capstan to the table as it dropped from some in Love,” Fall wanted to do “Why Do Fools Trip song began. She told me the other night Trip? life. “What do you think I should do, and getting a job in the hospitalshe was thinking of moving to the Keys to invest inAnd now there are some guys in town who want me there. long divorce A if I have an estranged wife. land with them, but they won’t I mean, if I told her we needed to get divorced would tie up the property. probably just shrug her shouldersso I can do this land deal, she would be a to get married. It wouldn’t and say sure, like she did when I wanted care about any rules or social shit.” horsehide divorce. She doesn’t Adam and me to move Want sittin over in that back booth by hisself. Eve over there?” F Galley on purpose, considering Aubrey thought he might have chosen thing to West She went to Key practicing. was Leda behavior absentee the it hard for every other weekend, making see her folks or somewhere did such a good job with Trip But the relationship. Aubrey to measure his Donna showed with and that, about Aubrey forgot song, Frankie’s on a piece of toast. Adam and Eve on a raft: two eggs poached 261 oad R ock R conversation?” ­ hell S he T you want, honey?” Donna was back at the table. you want, honey?” Donna was back “Only Jesus, and I ask him about mechanical problems, especially problems, mechanical about him I ask Jesus, and “Only “You ever pull anybody else from your head in on the “You “Doesn’t matter talking to yourself, Punky. My doctor friends My doctor Punky. yourself, to talking matter “Doesn’t runnin.” been shine binness me and Junior’s “Not as good as that Know what want to hear about that. you know I don’t but “Yeah, you binness. Donna told mower lawn Uh, the forgot. “Oh, yeah, sure.” Aubrey flinched. “Uh, maybe. Not “Whatta havin.” Aubrey’s “I’m gon have what The doctor said eggs was bad for your asthma. “No, you’re not. have that Fidel Castro Aubrey? If they just didn’t “See what I mean, that without simple and flat too be might life Punky, then, but “Oh, things around, I know. beautiful got one a-them You “I hear ya. them new things called weed eaters that just came out, and how come that just came weed eaters them new things called those plus down here, machine pain-in-the-ass particular that sent he their legs.” things with Castro ’tween all say it’s perfectly normal as you get older. Donna said your lawn Donna said your as you get older. normal perfectly it’s say all going pretty good.” mower thing’s I mean?” every morning to That girl struts through my shop ’bout my doin’s. it when like a Nazi sometimes up right. She’s see whether I’ve cleaned have didn’t they if women, these Aubrey, swear, I doin’s. my to comes even talk to em.” a pussy you wouldn’t left for the kitchen. I’ll bring you oatmeal and toast.” Donna em.” to talk wouldn’t you legs, a-their top the at there down thing lookin thing of ours, too.” wondrous thing in the region, and that I it, what I say about I. No matter and I guess so am you lucky, Boy, not she’s When kids a-ours to death. them and Donna girl do love that she’s and now myself, on to I rattle I said, like directly, me to talkin even got me worried about it.” Galley shape to into a triangle he was folding another paper clip down at were right. the proportions make sure Galley 263 isit V nd : 2 On the shell rock road, he stopped at he stopped road, rock shell On the

Chapter 21 Chapter emetery C he left Leda sleeping. Leda left

T When he left the diner, he headed for the Z-Bar Up to help The to help Up Z-Bar for the he headed diner, the he left When of his cheek inside on the he chewed ranch, out of the Driving Tater one have 19, and on Channel overpass, this off sit “Gonna his mind for his Ball jar and Adjusting his seat back, he went to diner and Junior with cattle vaccinations. They worked from late morning till late They worked from vaccinations. Junior with cattle and hush puppies, tail, gator for house main the to went then dark same the food at their through Junior went The He and potato. sweet “Feenished.” Everyone else at the and said, time, looked at each other, table smiled. flesh over all that had happened—death, the business, east for the He drove their relationship. about obvious ambivalence Leda’s and of the horizon like a ball off coast, where a full moon was coming orange radium. After five miles, his truck rose on the overpass that the road and clicked on his He pulled off Turnpike. crossed the Florida on the main towpath between CB radio to listen to the big rigs below Miami and Orlando. it today.” I earned Trip. fantasy to relax, took a whiff off the toadstone inside to carburet a flight around the on the CB he hoped the voices tower in his big room, conjuring the to truck crouched behind a star listening chose as they spaceship aliens drivers speak blue collar doo-lang through the diodes and aerials of the chrome rim prophets use their the place where their Freightliners, the webs. their with spiders had done the what checked and spot his usual and wetland, the in plants hypericum to the waded next cranes Sandhill among they seemed like giants scale for a drifty, if you adjusted the dwarf-looking acacias. Galley at to have breakfast got up early Aubrey spring of ’80. It is the - ine V But at that very moment, before he could put the fantasy through before he could put the But at that very moment, down in one of them purty broke You a-matter? man, what’s “Hey, Aubrey flew out of his brain and reached for the squelch knob on traffic. truck the to listening here just I’m Punky. No, Shit. “What? Goose to drink, get Blue the to a-goin on you. I’m checkin “I’m you and Jesus.” Punky, “Yeah, Punky left. “Trip! I had something big going in the big room till that fart room?” big secret your in on was going I know what “How would my fantasy with was reliving “But you’ve heard this one before. I on that hay It was right after your fascination I remember. “Yes, ya, ver saying, ‘Thank Elvis Like his signature. it’s “Because lame 264 his slimerater and swallow the whole conjured dream in the self-exal swallow the whole conjured dream his slimerater and - pulled up behind him and started blow wonder of it all, someone Tater Punky. ing the horn. It was window glass and the through Punky yelled Dodge trucks a-yours?” idling engine noise. the truck’s his CB. What the fuck are you doing?” high, see Jesus.” machine showed up.” Remember?” the aliens by speaking CB to them. trip with the man on the radio who said finished, or feenished, after And what Nineteen. the Ghost of Channel him called You everything. feen or finished says continuously who trucker a of significance the is souvenir another connoisseur of the psycho-generated He’s much.’ F America, look here, And language. another like country cryptonyms the aliens were talking to him, King, the Tater the original cane field flier and radio head wound, with a whittle monster inside a magical Ball jar. backwoods Galley as if there was do now, The Junior ished after everything like you and some hidden gravity in it?” t isi 265 V nd : 2 ery t eme C he T “Oh, you are a connoisseur all right, Toad Smoke,” Trip said. Trip Smoke,” Toad all right, are a connoisseur “Oh, you A spirit. curious and creative just another sign of my “I think it’s talk, tell-all a I ought to have and is a sign you it yes, and “Well, turn. He for the when he downshifted jumped chest Aubrey’s headstone: not he saw that It always did one of two things when the Ghost for him, he heard place grass-covered at the As he stared Trip.” like a heretic, “The last time we were here I left feeling heard Trip was not heresy.” about “But what we were talking sign.” the way your head works some honesty about you expose lately before crimp fear an irrational Leda and sink into innards to your veridical - every argu will lose You knows your bowel habits. once she really the in talk this have to we ought And I think that. after her with ment You two miles. in right up on the is coming It effect. the for cemetery your family anyway.” should be paying an overdue visit to the even though he claimed made the perfunctory sign of the cross, head stone and shut his engine next to the marble state of non-believer, lapidary letters, SHALLCROSS. that read in large, just and side this on life by preoccupied was too he because much, dizzy, go knell, death the hear Or he might good son visit. the making ground. see his own coffin down there under an rise up like grave of his future bottom in the Nineteen of Channel that him in of clot hunk a off broke It “Feenished.” say, and embolism the with two-way a rant, schizophrenic a by thinned be only could insuf- occasionally and erudite the his head, in set crystal long-toothed Suiter. Triple ferable intercessor, of your conservatives close-minded thoughts. “Only to the Aubrey’s He, She, or It God is not a Catholic. old church would it be heresy. toadstone calcium pure white baser of the free unencumbered is an Galley rare and truck property intellectual Ghost’s the Nineteen me. It’s like prick.” He you little from the very best, and I only steal doo-lang, onto the highway. pulled back ine V Trip reminded him he was superstitious, that he thought the toad- him he was superstitious, that reminded Trip you because Aubrey, this, who knows about one am I “Look, you? It’s don’t do know, “You on his arm. Trip Aubrey looked at lame 266 stone ring and the flame vine were the weatherman; that he thinks the and then him when he abandoned the Romans, blue jays he shot jinxed his headroom into throbbed stood up and Spot Cathedral Blind the church— black in that symbols were there guilt All the blackouts. hooks through his bloody the punishment of the choke, the stigmata, in scar keloid swirling that to up him taking vines, flame to tied hands someone on the other side would the top of his head so something or break just could he if did his mother like him around arms wrap their apostasy; imagined his of is he terrified So scar. whirling that through terrified of certain swollen skits that go too like far, some of the ones that ones the Glade, Belle around fields cane the in or drugs on runs he tend to skin the divine like sun damage. subconscious, and the about question important the answered haven’t sleep of dreams The die? when you go dreams your do where is, that when you hang there, just half-sleep The paradoxical that is not sleep. inside the wall hollow after you first lie down before the deeper sleep of consciousness you rake-off in the larger comes and you realize might be immortal.” when you first wake up too, in limbo after an afternoon nap. Those That ever die. your mind won’t feeling that give you the half-dreams F Galley to and wondrous you, and it is real just like jar of yours, rock in that you like slip away the of yours into stone carbureted that be smoking footage Same there. out house full the savoring to comes it when do goes all mornings and rock road in the truck is on the shell when your Or when you pick Frankie Serengeti. over the knee-high out airplane out Lymon of the coffin in the diner at breakfast and get him to sing myths, art, gods, mortals, them Call in Love.” “Why Do Fools Fall erection; or just your morning science, fantasy, natural progressions, Aubrey.” shining left and right pearls, they are all the same - - - t isi 267 think V - nd : 2 ery t eme C theirs,’ because that’s because that’s theirs,’ he T keeping “I sometimes worry about other people who hear a voice like me, “I sometimes worry about other people quit looking at it as pain and just have to You Aubrey. “Maybe not, you could walk out over a gorge, drop down a thousand feet, and pick down a thousand drop gorge, walk out over a you could a flower with your anus and live through it. I wonder why I over I why wonder I it. through live and anus your with flower a kind of brat fettle some Is it hard balls. such into it Turn much. so it if I had been Wonder I was born into? easy-living bubble I do in this I have had running from bullets, would The Junior, like Vietnam, in to? I I have had time Would over there? these same preoccupations nothing there’s For some, me. like people on harder is peacetime think My Kipling to me grandmother used to read scarier than peacetime. goes, ‘If you can and I changed that line of his that when I was a child, can ‘If you to theirs,’ losing you are about all while your head keep all about you are keep your head while lucky ones who aren’t The with it. dealing and I wonder how they’re sad Are they them. help to Trip, you, like sidecar a have to enough Kitch Poor Nell crazy? they’re them are telling medicos the because the line you once saw on you remember Don’t start seeing better stuff. ‘The reason for being is to let a card in an Orlando head shop? It said, the world life by giving your life the world give you life, and to give Yuma, Johnny what that’s Maybe that. like or something world,’ to the bought that card and taped You Jesus Christ, or the Buddha believed. I want you to con stuff That is the it to your dashboard for a while. Galley not It’s with a long time. I’ve had to live something and a lot harder, you’re if it losing people other watch to distraction unpleasant an such but it is living hell if you’re the not, even though it lacks compassion, to. happening only it’s ing. And I wonder if I was deep into fixing weed eaters, like Punky, about this ground-glass exis my nose all the time would I be picking tential in my stomach?” of the keloid And as far as what is on the other side on more. centrate own Your scar up there in your skull, it is the same thing on this side. again back and it through then house, your to running road rock shell - - . More AND. Even per se. More ine V “Jesus, your mastodon words.” “Jesus, your mastodon one that you remember I know Aubrey. your words, “No, they’re there’s Trip, about, talking “But at the end of the loop you’re truly is He there. is why he and loop, a is why it is That true. “Oh, know, You about this so much when I was younger. worry “I didn’t More Sand again. Amper is That “Right. lame 268 from Father Anselm’s German class. It means your conception of the your conception German class. It means Anselm’s from Father that world.” world and the place of humanity within right where the loop starts again.” Amper Sand, always saying, ‘And’ And I know own beloved slipper. a luminary for you and me, and my at the bottom of Yes, right now when he heard you say that. he smiled he wants you to see his symbol, every page, at the end of every road, &. So did the Danish thinker, of the alphabet: the twenty-seventh letter to constantly toss the dialec- Soren Kierkegaard, who asked everyone tic to keep the doors open.” and could fuck my glandulars in twenty-year-old when I was drenched this nervous about losing now I’m But subject. the changing way to stop believ somewhere, ‘Once you reading of mine. I remember life F An end you love. the knee-high Serengeti rock road and to the shell less loop through time and your life and the palmetto kingdom. Do not kingdom. your life and the palmetto through time and less loop what is on the dark Floyd knows that Even a mystery. make it such dark. on this side in the same thing that is moon is just the side of the Maybe you already disappears entirely. really Another loop. Nothing sum the is what This know it. don’t and wanted you always what have in the wheelworks elements of your existentialism of your credo, the This we have Aubrey. based on, should be you lead life of this ontic - your Welt call tonight should be what the Germans talked about here anschauung.” ing in God, you start to believe in everything.’” Galleyrotten a be can stuff French of that some and maybe, Sartre, little a it is got to remember, You’ve careful. if you are not kind of nihilism tower around the three-sixty sub-psychic of the own version Sartre’s - - - - t isi 269 V nd : 2 ery t eme C he T Aubrey slumped down on the big stone covering the graves. covering big stone the down on Aubrey slumped appear Eiffel’s the conjured and cemetery the over He looked out gave they what Henry Ford, and Webster, Dan God bless do. “Yes, do in the big room in my head, “So over the years, I thought what I what your Remember okay. That’s so juvenile? think that’s “You what he saw in his big room—the tower Trip Aubrey described to my world. It’s objective is the symbol I use for the Eiffel “The “Okay, the tower then. I’ll tell you. It’s my RKO, the iron Eiffel on top on top Eiffel iron RKO, the my you. It’s tell I’ll then. tower the “Okay, a kid.” black and white newsreels I saw as of the globe in the Amper Sand.” language. Let us to carburetion and hear it, me and my grinned. Trip I’m I mean, Sugar buzz Disney. was juvenile. this thing like tetherball, flying around that thing up there like Peter Freebase Pan, thinking I smoke it for more gas, but some can make a toadstone vaporize and grandmother used to say to you, ‘Aubrey. suffrage women’s Victorian They have to stand up and act like a man, strong and childish.’” You both laughed. in the middle of a cane field on the floor of his crania surrounded by the high ceiling of his skull. Trip mutation.” for post king my yet and immutable the for standard nodded like he understood. “I circle it, holding on to a rope in one jar with the cen things in my Ball I arrange or derange hand, while Galley which I tower, your but not Aubrey, you, like of, off he is working know a lot about.” don’t every grave, in wires running from the top down to ance in the middle, over and needed to radio kicked had their bell case any Dead Ringers he more in detail,” you It shivered him. “I’ll tell someone to get out. messing the dirt with his foot. said, standing up, in of what I’m creating scared and I get out of control, things get times ‘Some you know, Tower,’ Watch singing ‘The I hear Hendrix the jar. way outta here.’” trifugal force the orbit makes.” - - y air - Two Thousand Two . Father Anselm would like I Anselm . Father ine V The two raccoons that passed by earlier were on their way back way their on were earlier passed by raccoons that two The “Sometimes I push on something till its blood sticks out, Trip, Trip, out, blood sticks its till I push on something “Sometimes Trip looked at him, tricking his smile. “Same stretch as your stretch “Same smile. his tricking him, at looked Trip “Yeah, who’s driving the motorcycle when that happens?” Trip winked. Trip that happens?” when the motorcycle driving who’s “Yeah, that big German Hand. I’m drivin not the Slim boy, “Me, white lame 270 from their favorite trashcan. They stopped when they heard the man- heard the stopped when they They trashcan. favorite from their . I know you, Aubrey.” and One, or None. I know you, noise again and stood up on their hind legs, sniffing the cement walk in circles, Aubrey watching from the corner of a mausoleum, with the disease they call rabies. wondering if this human was sick themselves to talking circles in walk then disease this coons get Many like him. I like it know To swallow. to jar my enough in it slim I can’t still and have I Then me. in anxiety horrific a up builds and hurts That to. want to go back down to the base of the tower and restore it to the objec tor, getting smaller and smaller out into space until there is no more out into space until smaller and smaller getting tor, at the end of dawn, or when you run into Keir Dullea gods of the to apologize can so I from, it took I world the world, tive with for screwing shingles, or whoever, physics and asphalt quantum again.” try it to want few days, I might a in maybe, designs. Until their examination of a photo of a photo in that Tin Snip Killer’s refrigera Snip Killer’s Tin of a photo of a photo in that examination remembered that one. That’s the German word for objective. And then And objective. German word for the That’s that one. remembered that’s to do the work way, the subjective the other way I circle, there’s lefty-loose, way I mess with an off-road This is the much more fun. part numbers I have and past their to get things so impressionistic to it good, I take gets that something When them. describing trouble Houston and fly it up in the Astrodome with Bud Cort, in the movie if I’ve gone to the big McCloud, because you can bet he did, Brewster to I have something some ordinary. to just toggle room, I’m not there The new meaning Aubrey. by Fission monster. cook with my whittle of changing the station.” Sachlichkeit a sidecar they call bike with F Galley - - - t .” isi 271 V nd : 2 ery t eme C have that urge to slim urge that have he T still authorized sidecar, Aubrey. I’m in the - “Shit! I’m your factory Trip waited a moment then asked his next question carefully. his next question carefully. then asked a moment waited Trip Yes, world. “Objective out he was holding. air Aubrey blew the He froze and held up his finger. “But I “But finger. his up held and froze He it was the real meaning of their rhyme told him he thought Trip have You Amper Sand. about our “It seems so, but I never forgot “That was the counterclockwise direction you just went through. The you just went through. direction counterclockwise was the “That with the mien or elan of when you say you caprice way subjective the what you call direction, about the clockwise things. Now what objective world?” I can of righty-tighty. the meaning That’s way. the clockwise that’s in the counter I’ve spawned creations any un-agreeable usually kill erate and swallow it, even if it got poisonous or too large. I always I always large. or too poisonous got it if even and swallow it, erate to starting is it and there up left black a took something know when His voice . . ” pica. this have, I compulsion this And yet dangerous. get whisper. worked down to a way; creations clockwise to the I go back when direction clockwise or repaired or started over that are flawed and need to be euthanized seven number the over symbol that sits there braided, existential, time drew I Trip. mine, of house Underwood. I know this black a on key and I I’ve hyperventilated, it, damn to stay sane. Now, it and built it monument. grave over on the He crumpled I’m going to crater.” think and had to rearrange himself. the forearm was knocked off Trip “True magazine knows the truth, righty-tighty, lefty-loose,” and this and lefty-loose,” righty-tighty, truth, knows the magazine “True of the understanding personal a hashed out had Aubrey was how to tower the around right, circles he paradox: subjective objective/ take subjective means his and to the left world, the objective imitate and wild reshaping of that world. a secular person and want honest to be at peace with him if you’re rag doo-lang, the the you have you think when just answers. Because Galley and I ought to be able to go with you God Store of your self-portrait, to the big room for these sessions.” - - - - strept float trying to solve this. Stuff they ine V “You will. I’ll take you soon. Promise.” you will. I’ll take “You see “I can Wound. of Head an imitation on with Came smiled. Trip sets. I think of my tower as “Because I always loved scenes and speak of Punky who pulled up behind us again, and blew “Let’s lame 272 you turning in your thesis to the hyper-didatic university brass on the brass on university hyper-didatic the to your thesis in turning you tower with of a based on an analogue dilemma, subjective objective/ a called appliance aposteriori apriori/ new a holding man, ball tether a it be used in this esemplas hand. Next, you recommend jar in his Ball one good-god-glorious- the epistemology, some kind of wrought-iron stage. I’m a product of props super prop and theatrical iron-monument I have in my own house. Got and sets, stage and movie, like the ones appara that all with Frankenstein, like films watching way, that raised never going to pan fry any- said. “He’s Trip his horn an hour ago,” to have he won’t Of course, anyway. bless his heart level, this at thing while either, question, God the of yours over dark church that endure blue of lawn mower parts instead he bleeds from his hands choking on now will Cathedral, Spot Blind of the top the way up to on the jays way his is just the it again; bless his heart Nothing against Punky, he? in the mother dressed him in those genes of his. He will always live their during house the in else go anywhere don’t people Most foyer. F Galleyin doo-lang thinker great other physicists, and that way by quantum tic frustra the escape can both so they known as Punky, town our small tion of this historical paradox that has puzzled mankind Oh! forever. Aristotle, and some of regret that Socrates, Plato, And how much you part and the this bless you for tackling to alive not boys are Sophist the spin the in there, out spent they years the all after it, in senses play the of some other wa-wa and Kubrick, who Stanley director and that Elvis, Jesus, on before decided simple, don’t and said, ‘Oh, it’s movie space along in his epic came tower and jar Ball this need you think you do why So it!’ about worry Aubrey?” things, ing apparatus in your head to see these mansion. ” Victor’s tus downstairs in - t isi 273 V nd : 2 could cross ery t eme C he T Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Patris, et Filii, walked up the bicep toward Aubrey’s armpit Aubrey’s toward bicep up the walked consigliere “Wish I didn’t know about the second story sometimes. I’d get to I’d get story sometimes. about the second know I didn’t “Wish the with stuck all we’re remember you but Aubrey, know, I “Yeah, What about the me and Leda we skin tonight? “What else should I I heard what beat. really I’m Leda. you and to that “No. I leave made or somebody that Is something “Did we solve the question? solve it, but we sure bumped it good. Nobody in “No, we didn’t tiny The his moth father’s, Aubrey moved closer to the three graves—his .” He thought again how Trip was so right. The parish priests was so right. Trip how Sancti.” He thought again you really and yourself,” “Cross say, incessantly used to you would make that Then careful. if you weren’t end the yourself in sleep like Punky does. Nothing seems to bother him except weed eat- Nothing seems to bother him except sleep like Punky does. vagina.” ers and his Donna’s of our own air pucks.” limits and abilities going?” that’s situation, and where as you here about your headroom and its apparatus, needed to hear out get out of here.” like to call it. Let’s us and loves us out there?” Sand Amper the and entirely, thing this un-shirted has ever history answer the by getting this subject throat anyone to deep allow won’t knows he really I think from you. come It has to else. someone from like Kierkegaard keep saying ‘and,’ and his mission is to the answer, us to would mean more It for ourselves. it discover would, so we will then.” did at the Durante way Jimmy the and turned around in the spotlight end of show TV his in the Then 50s. he put his finger on his chin and exhausted.” Aubrey, squinted. “I’m left, as you like to say, Galleylife. They do not even want to know they have a second They floor. about and stay right or high school in the sixth grade sort of peak there.” sign of the cross and said the the He made grandmother’s. and his er’s, “In Nomine words he grew up with. Latin - - ine V On the way home, he had to carefully consider what he would say consider what he had to carefully On the way home, in his apparatus the from her—Trip, he kept much was so There lame 274 to Leda. No cemetery. from the yard. the truck about two hundred feet head. He stopped the in one the even structure, the in light on every turned had Leda through shined that one house, the of the out rising silo of the top some watcher like wetlands over the glass eye of stained zaffer the a big, Jackalan like looked truly wood home The on commission. F you might about your life yourself a story people telling one of those story when the ball a like and you’d drop true, wasn’t day one decide for his truck and headed He climbed in became too painful. stopped or woods, O’gram. his house in the sweetheart and his part-time GalleyternedchandelieredBuckminsterFullercoloredglassblowncompartm watching Aubrey just sat there, sentimental, enthousevaingloryship. he built because of self-exaltation it move and breathe without a hint such a swollen thing in the first place. What he felt was love for the was more powerful at the moment and that way it looked right now, chest, then Tater to turn it in his jar and beat his than any inclination and world objective beyond the it trombone room to big for the head slim enough. swallow it to know it when he got it 275

Galley Galley 277 tory S ove L a

alf : H Raining outside. The place was full of of full was place The outside. Raining May of 1980 Chapter 22 Chapter Chrome. ings eckon R “What are you guys doing tonight?” from Aubrey. from “What are you guys doing tonight?” Thimble and go The Junior gonna get Donna and me and “Aw, that. like something do to like would Rose perhaps well, “Yes, away again.” “Sure, I’ll come. Leda’s trying to make a joke “That girl ever stay home?” Punky asked, Aubrey looked down at the table. Always gone, it seems.” “No. too, Arquette, here. in her see we gone, is you when and “Yeah, to the Johnny Jumper. Hot country band tonight. Why don’t y’all y’all Why don’t Hot country band tonight. to the Johnny Jumper. come?” Punky said to the table. Aubrey? And you, for a change. It would get us out of Jensen Beach and yours?” from John Chrome. You of it. Galley The at the Goose—Aubrey, a table sitting around They were Punky, Junior, There was so they quit early. to work today, truants. Nobody wanted When he Aubrey. the friends that had to do with uneasiness among Arquette seemed around the bar as Leda and they watched was away, when the other contact, something friends look for to jump-shoot eye As careful and other is on their own. there, and the other, half isn’t enough Arquette were trying to be, it was never brief as Leda and not the total insider Arquette was when the right eyes were on you. the South Florida orthodox. among the local boys, the orthodox, This but Chrome was liked more. either, Of course, Chrome wasn’t but the friends were ready to offer would not be an intervention today, gave them an opening. Aubrey any kind of disabusal if he - ine V The Junior fished for his wallet. Inside the leather dividers wasa I believe,” Chrome offered. Tolstoy, “That’s well, a guy I knew in ‘Nam who was plenty book smart “Yeah, Aubrey nodded. “Well, I can’t say she and I have been that close been that close say she and I have I can’t “Well, Aubrey nodded. too,” Chrome said. feels this way about Jensen Beach, Rose “Yes, ever’bodythink I hell, The from time,” to time from do “Aw, me and Leda. I think some more than that with it’s but “Yeah, lame 278 worn piece of paper. The writing on it was blurred. It was the quote on it was blurred. It was the quote The writing worn piece of paper. he was killed and his before Vietnam, from Suskin, the soldier in The Junior held it up to the light corpse partially eaten by a tiger. him and read, “It is amazin, how coming through a window behind complete the deelusion that ever’thing beautiful is goodness.” being watched by a fuckin tiger. said that when we was in the jungle The see it. round us, but we couldn’t could hear the cat movin We Suskin was his name, was pretty fascinated with that tiger, ole boy, and he thought they was beautiful. he Well, got killed in a fire fight to his body before you know a tiger got and wouldn’t the next day, eyes were The rest of the table’s the army could get it out of there.” “I wrote down Vietnam. spoke about Junior rarely The open. very what he said on this piece a-paper the night before he died and been wasn’t what things beautiful of lots seen I since, cause ever it carryin goodness in my life, too. Hell, I think Jake is beautiful, even though a snake and sits up there singing those rattles a-his, got needles he’s thing’s gonna give soon, and I’m glad my mom isn’t around to see it around to see it mom isn’t gonna give soon, and I’m glad my thing’s when it came to gave me the look now and then if it does. My mom when I met her, that girl was something beautiful Leda, but goddamn, and she still is. I mean beautiful.” lately. I think she’s either tired of this town or tired of me. My mom me. My mom town or tired of either tired of this she’s I think lately. be trying.” always said I can Junior. F Galley Punky guess,” friends, I good They her. to look out for and he seems nerve to say. got up the - y r 279 to S ove L a

.” alf : H eckonings R Don’t you love her as she’s walking out the door you love her as she’s Don’t “I know. Leda is beautiful,” from Aubrey. “And I know she has she has “And I know Aubrey. is beautiful,” from Leda “I know. The Junior turned saying that.” ain’t We Aubrey. “Now hold on, the bar at the same time,” Punky said. leave “If they just wouldn’t a discussion of how things seem to offer Tried Chrome opined. “ He and Leda put it out there days later. He had felt strong enough enough He had felt strong He and Leda put it out there days later. not doing too well here, are we?” he said to her. “We’re a lot of goodness in her. I’ve seen it. Sounds like Arquette may have may have Arquette it. Sounds like I’ve seen in her. a lot of goodness what you guys are saying?” seen it, too. Is that have been and me You just look like that a little. to him. “Maybe it just being Arquette’s Maybe rodeos, you know. going to a lot of in here.” alone when she come polite, cause she’s The table went silent. but the table wouldn’t another, to be one thing when they really are They all scratched and lolled their heads around, uncom help him. in his mouth full a-poison kill you dead as George Washington, but but Washington, George kill you dead as full a-poison in his mouth he beautiful.” say didn’t Aubrey into the open. fortable that the subject had made it who was no fan of When they got up to leave, Punky, another word. “Jesus, ever’body seems to leave some Aubrey, said to Arquette’s, one of his Then he shoved they? ‘Specially me.” kinda trail, don’t hand, bent into its usual shape, Aubrey’s remodeled paper clips into for adultery. the triangle, and the famed geometry Galley Blind Spot Cathedral episode to do it for some time, after the last to him in the way of formative passed. He knew she brought much from each They both managed to glom the good stuff over the years. on his own But not so much he could discount who he became other. death, years before he ever met Leda. He was who after his father’s and he he was and was going to be when that happened to his father, she as face her on tell flippant that with now her of front in ready was again. West packed to go to Key - - - ? And isn’t she still your fantasy she still your fantasy And isn’t ? you want to do?” ine magazine, I have not. Isn’t your favorite fantasy girl your favorite fantasy girl magazine, I have not. Isn’t True V “Well, I like the movie, and, uh. . . ” I like the movie, and, uh. “Well, from the movie, because I “Then let me give you another line nick This woman he’d peeled. little A Aubrey stood there. “Guess not.” She shrugged. “Guess not.” wanna do?” “What you “What do but I with some people, in a land project to invest offer “I got an live the hell certainly get to You have to live my life. but I “Yes, Arquette?” going on with have something You “I know. higher. old friendship.” She lifted her chin “No. Just the same know if you play me for a fool, I’ll be very disappointed “You just say I had, even Arquette. But let’s “I have never slept with lame 280 named Strangleda to his male friends when he was mad at her named Strangleda to his male friends when he was mad at her liked it, too. How’s about this one your Lilith said to Mr. Beatty. Beatty. said to Mr. Lilith your about this one liked it, too. How’s ‘If you discovered your God loved others as much as he loved you, would you hate him for it?” girl, even though her character in that story was quite the nympho? that story was quite the nympho? girl, even though her character in You and I saw the movie together. And didn’t ‘If infidelity, she her about her confronted say Beatty, Warren in lover, her when the film I would a pen; if I were Caesar, I were Shakespeare, I would do it with So how and I do it with my body.’ do it with a sword; but I am Lilith, a crush on her? Even still have You do you feel about that from Lilith? though she sleeps with others?” Jean Seberg, from that movie Lilith Jean Seberg, can’t have an estranged wife or they won’t let me in.” or they won’t have an estranged wife can’t local businessman. rider, traveling rodeo Singer, out of yours, Mr. one? you go get Why don’t a great catch for a local girl. be You’d mar believe in that is no problem for me. I don’t Getting a divorce disap very be you’ll know I one, for me play you let I if and you, in though, F Galleyriage crap, anyway.” pointed in me.” - - - y r 281 to S ove L a alf : H only way to kill the rats. Her eckonings R . At first, it had a less severe meaning, a devotion to some She turned and walked to her car with a bag and put it in the with a bag and put it in the She turned and walked to her car I’ll bring it up.” Silence for a moment. “The monks taught “Okay, and narrow of it then, huh, “I guess you’d call that the straight to kill the rats.” “But you’re burning down the barn “Living in this town, that would be the trunk. Before she got in, she had one more thing to say. “I’m surprised “I’m surprised more thing to say. trunk. Before she got in, she had one bring up my drug habit in this conversation.” you didn’t sure we were all going to become us this at school, because they were The word addiction comes from Latin, drug addicts in the sixties. addictio and I’ve had enough stay straight living here, I can’t Well, Aubrey? of narrow in this small town.” had countered him in a way he had no answer. It was one reason It was one reason he had no answer. him in a way had countered he did ever telling her he could, without the best her, he loved short The on. insisted she what that’s because time, this all for a lady that “There’s about her once: he had written song line the lady that her psychological queen/ that’s lives inside of her/ was close, but it the go-between,” her/ she’s gives me half of because he was He only gave her half of him, also described him. Suiter Triple about her told never He do. could she what of afraid it he thought and states, mental his was, way he really the and mother and He wanted to love her like his dishonest of him. experienced with but his fear of loss, as other, father loved each And now look his fear of Leda, too, held him back. and his father, he blamed and in a way, what had happened. She was leaving, himself for some of that. it meant you owed someone money and thing. But in Roman society, it back, so you became their slave. I think you owe that pay couldn’t it.” and you’ve become a slave to of money, a lot stuff Galley Miami. Nice house you oin. I’m thinking about Casablanca, you know, arbitrage, provoca Then the woman who loved got here, Shallcross.” Aubrey part time—the woman tion, attention, and condescension, even ine V He left, too. Went out to the Z-Bar Up in Indiantown. Didn’t Indiantown. Didn’t the Z-Bar Up in out to Went too. He left, further descend Arquette began to gone, week after Leda was A very was Melinda state. dolorous this in much sleep not did He lame 282 quite know why, but knew he needed those pastures and woods. woods. and pastures those needed he knew but why, know quite been to see where he’d rode, trying a horse and just He tacked business, the years with the Goose bunch, the over the last few more than part his life with Leda. He loved her bareback broncs, walk away he knew it. He thought he could and time instinctively, one child, and but he was his mother and father’s with a big chest, plaintive slow that drink, of full rain the in home way his on night a like radio truck’s the of out itself pulling started Rose” “The song leaves the soul to bleed,” “Love is like a razor/ it long human hair. he blanked, Somehow, this endless aching need.” it said, “but it’s the road, and sideswiped a light pole. His head was skidded off Where was the glass crying. bleeding down his face and he was the from him separated that vitrines the now, Leda and him between wildlife in his head? He mannequins in his house and the dangerous how hard you no matter did know, and he did know love for her, it would bury its face in a ham bone and get hold pushed it away, of a wire. Lillycrop, his general manager into hell. He relied heavily on Sam watched Sam limp from he Every day, at work, to run the company. bul- years ago by the Nazi’s place to place on the hip joint destroyed generation of This man from another crippled man. This strong, let. pain thresholds, and this Arquette, in his own place of pain, at first failed him, the ass-end of it sat used it as inspiration, but when that the same soldier as he wasn’t down hard on his self-worth because Sam. supportive, but he was of the mind that he was experiencing a slow emasculation from the bad tooth in his pelvis, and also of a mind that F Galley gone. a potato thief, was a bandicooter, lady Reve called the gypsy

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alf bacterial prostatitis - : H eckonings R specific, non - “You, too, right?” “You, this medical problem, and “I will. I’ve been having this problem, Arquette?” the problem, “Oh. So what’s “I have what they call a non “Oh. Well, how’s that going? You are going to miss her some, You that going? how’s Well, “Oh. “Someone told me Leda was doing something in Miami.” “Someone told me Leda was doing Aubrey she wanted to get her masters in nursing,” “Yeah, Aubrey and Leda agreed to divorce. Leda insisted she didn’t want want didn’t she divorce. Leda insisted agreed to Aubrey and Leda “How long has this been going on? What did Leda tell you to What did Leda tell you to “How long has this been going on? “I’ve had it for months. She told me to go to Boston to a teaching she was good to talk to about the different doctors to see.” she was good to talk to about the different I bet.” a thing, more affirmation of herself as a nonbeliever in the institution institution the in nonbeliever a as herself of affirmation more thing, a in the first place, but Aubrey sneakedmoney into the separate bank car from the always kept, and he sent her a new account she had really to the Goose bunch that she When it became obvious business. What about his most upset. Arquette was the good, had left town for to mas “no touch”? He found it close to impossible therapy she called if you showed any weakness to a woman, she would leave you. The The would leave you. to a woman, she any weakness if you showed to all his life began he so sought of the sacred feminine pelvic ring as if he was a paralyzed and bad dreams, intractable pain represent The sexual make love. still walk and dreamed he could person who was out of it. tissue invader from New England, athlete, the great soft there in the robe. One night at turbate and fantasize unless she was do?” hospital and talk to them, and gave me the numbers to call. I mean, even want to do you-know-what, and haven’t man, I don’t Aubrey, that hurts like hell in the region, but I don’t seem to get any answers seem to get any answers I don’t that hurts like hell in the region, but causing it.” around here as to what’s ­white-lied. Galley who was eating alone in Aubrey, the Goose, he sat down with ­ disappeared. Maybe the conversations between them in the in the the conversations between them disappeared. Maybe ine V “Are you going to Boston?” “Are you going to “Monday.” three other General put him in a room with The hospital at Mass asked room the in patients other the of one morning, next The clogged up, you see. Had to “I got a bag,” the man said. “Got all “What bag?” first his saw and up sat Arquette back. sheets his flipped man The ate. Not enough roughage.” “They told me it was the soft diet I Arquette through something called the The doctors wanted to put Aubrey was surprised. Maybe Leda wasn’t sleeping with with sleeping Maybe Leda wasn’t was surprised. Aubrey lame 284 people. He was tired from the flight, and sitting dark, listening what he had. He lay there in the seemed to aggravate for long periods picked any other breathe and cough. It could have to the other patients been migraines, irritable bowel, body part, this curse. It could have his chi, as Melinda called it, the leg numbness, but no, it went after Wasfirst it chakra. fueling his anxiety or was his anxiety fueling it? sent him a voodoo doll in the He had a few enemies. Someone had from the head to the crotch and mail two months ago, wires running customer from his or was it a pissed off it an old lover, Was the heart. Maybe the voodoo doll rental company he had sued for nonpayment? worked a spell on him? No. Crazy. Arquette asked him the same. why he was there, and go to surgery.” brown and half-full. He lay back down. “What happened?” colostomy, The objective was to measure the pressure in the urodynamic study. If the prostatic urethra against the normal pressure in the bladder. then pressure in the urethra was higher than the one in the bladder, Goose were innocent when he was off at a rodeo. when he was off Goose were innocent ­artist that Arquette, even though he did believe she was sleeping with that that was sleeping with did believe she even though he Arquette, F Galley anything had ever You hell. as is painful thing This time. long a for like this?” - - y r 285 to S ove L a alf : H eckonings R That night, he dreamed about guilt. There was a manila file folder. folder. file manila a was There guilt. about dreamed he night, That in the The pressure difference The next day was disappointment. relaxers anyway and told him They gave him the smooth muscle He saw himself open it and find picture after picture of the women he had been with, women who were just ampules for his fluids and them he wanted immedi- All of warm ice. He was chronic anxiety. ately out of his bed after he had finished, like so many meals, and he was paying for it now with this crotch infirmity fate had one woman in his life that Since he had become broken, if he just senthim. cli one with time, happy the it all do to not so sexual—happy wasn’t two areas of his anatomy was not significant. One doctor told him he “the big squeeze” under general would like to do something he called anesthesia—reach up inside the colon with his whole hand like a fist the hell out it to break up any fuck, grab the prostate, then squeeze Arquette said he’d pass. stubborn congestion. to Jensen Beach, very down. to try them for a month. He went back his something in was there like it felt sometimes that He told Melinda anus, like a rough object, a stick, and he kept trying to put his finger that do to good felt it that added He elusive. was it but place, the on elec the with immobilizer animal her of dose light a if wondered and Galley relaxer a smooth muscle could prescribe their diagnosis and they had when these other time, he thought At the same the problem. to relieve them would lie to make his problem, he asked him about patients for an a man with a bag How do you tell more serious. think it was that you have a another bed with his throat cut out anus and a man in pain in your crotch? then that might work. He max for her and one for him, occasionally, so sexually but she was so horny, knew Melinda probably loved him, think she would ever give up the three times-a- buckshot, he didn’t week stuff. tric pulse would give him some relief, so they tried and made it worse. Arquette threw the apparatus against a wall. - - ine V “I remember you said that immobilizer affected some big nerve in big nerve in some immobilizer affected you said that “I remember “The pudendal nerve. It innervates the whole pelvic floor,” she touch” to to talk him up with a version of “no Melinda was able Aubrey about the whole experience. he told nights later, Two medicine. So what are you “Jesus, that sounds like 16th century “I’m going to Mayo’s next. Fuck this shit. American medicine! told Arquette later, week A number. Leda’s him gave Aubrey lame 286 animals. What was it called?” What was animals. about they were talking at the time that but no one knew answered, anatomical injury condition actual culprit, because the Arquette’s discovered by medicine yet. itself had not been Noth- When he came, nothing came out. her own. climax by having some messed “They him. comfort to tried Melinda panicked. He ing. Aubrey asked. going to do now?” Medusa! M.E.D.U.S.A. Do you have a phone number for Leda? I to it owe I like feel I happened. what her tell to like would I mean, those guys at Mass General, even her for getting me hooked up with incompetents. Stick their whole though I think they were a bunch of for my prostate a big squeeze. Not me. Run hand up my ass and give your life! What are they, crazy?” Triple Suiter was scooting around head after the story about the Boston doctors, singing, Aubrey’s in Show me the money.” “Show me the money. left town and told He was in charge. he Lillycrop Sam his manager parents his to home went then house his in live could she Melinda the victim of anxiety and and the farm in Massachusetts. Became the edge after a trip to the Mayo depression and sort of went off Only in the mid-nineteen nine Clinic had no answers for him, either. F Galley up. I’ll with that tube, I tell you. Messed something thing up in Boston Just watch me.” and their experimental shit. sue those motherfuckers ties would the condition known as “pudendal nerve entrapment,” or Roger carpal tunnel of the pelvis, be discovered in France by a Dr. Robert, when some of the gymnast and champion cyclists began to y r 287 to S ove L a alf : H eckonings R

Galley of pedaling, the repetitive action intense splits, or because of suffer pains the women, the in their bodies. For the big nerve that frayed were prejudicially the condition, before they discovered from this, not true. All of it, hysteria. as female written off Galley 289 inger S aloon writing more songs than ever. What they than ever. writing more songs Chapter 23 Chapter S were he T The two man. And he knows what you mean by gettin down, by mean you what And he knows Brown. Dr. and wantin, off Takin junkie high, All messed up in the of your grip Pegasus, for legs Spread your fly. to love you On white horse small a to trucked Junior The and he Saturday, a on Days later, He wrote a fictional song he didn’t want to sing in front of the a bleedin cake.Somewhere there’s in the world, a bleedin rape.Somewhere there’s in the world, hus-band, with sleep your go to One night you with the monkey up, you’re wake And when you for a demo. Aubrey and Frank Clark went to Tampa to record a soundtrack record to Tampa Clark went to and Frank Aubrey rodeo, and when they got back to the Z-Bar Up, they went gator went Up, they Z-Bar the to back got they when and rodeo, band or people who knew Leda. In Tampa, he took a sound booth, just Tampa, who knew Leda. In band or people for while the rest of the band went down the street him and his guitar, a sofa in his house, the very one lunch. He had written the ballad on Arquette. the naked Leda would lie naked on, talking to Galleypeople to make seemed that of rock and rock ballads mix was a farmed some blisters, but was sort of Aubrey had of clubs. line up at the door around He guessed he always kept an easement okay after Leda left. day from working every came of sleep only lack The that. for his heart snorted their share of nights with the band, who still and singing late Brown. called Dr. coke and the heroin ine V “These goddamn blow boats make a lot of noise.” blow boats “These goddamn answered. Aubrey John boat,” little a with more killed I and “You are Alligators engine. the cut pond and open an up into slid They Boom! The water boiled. They paddled over to the spot and with nose and The distance between the was passed on. The next target hide, the salted gator, one the out skinned they Sunday morning, On the beach with Chrome. religion with me today?” Chrome feel like doing a little “You “Been awhile. Maybe.” “I’ve got some good MDA, if you’d rather.” Davis Miles the try Might sounds better. acid the “No, I think close to the surf break a certain at themselves stationed They lame 290 hunting. There was a little too much moon, but they took Mr. Zarnitz’s Zarnitz’s but they took Mr. too much moon, was a little There ­hunting. with them. that was crawling part of the ranch airboat to show very curious. If you come up and just sit quiet, they will always it. stand can’t what you are doing, because they to the surface to see a he made while water and splashed hand in the Aubrey stuck his half a He waited in any language. hard to spell sound in his throat saw he until pond the scanned and on his headlamp, switched minute, count three a only had eye gray Junior’s The meant That eye. red the to pull the trigger. still they found the creature, until the bottom pole hooks searched cane moving like a snake. feet was ten gator the meant and that inches, eyes was about ten the “button hide,” A worth anything. long, too big for the thick hide to be it was called. went to they night, That to cure. custom as is the it, tied rolled and and The Junior won some money arm wrestling, the Johnny Jumper Inn. family from a powerful Cuban Valdez Cane Sugar named and a hot girl the next morning. Aubrey and left that did just that went home with asked. another time. Got all ganglioned-up in a movie the last time I did it.” F Galley - 291 inger S aloon S he T your visual tank.” “How ’bout I tell you I have an Eiffel Tower in my head, and I head, and my in Tower have an Eiffel you I I tell “How ’bout on the recorder.” Turn “Oh, here we go now. Suiter. Triple and the Ball jar, Aubrey told him about the tower, So Punky was there, and so wasThey went to the Goose to drink. “Yours, either, school teacher.” school either, “Yours, Strangler.” West “So, man, tell me about the Key heard from her.” “Strangleda. Haven’t when, as you of carburetion, feats your latest about me tell “Then “Pretty good out here,” Chrome said. “Are you seeing some cool seeing some cool said. “Are you out here,” Chrome “Pretty good mine.” it’s “I am. I just hope “Meaning?” this what we see on Do you think mine. Normally mine. “Really is anything there think I don’t Normal? up for me. it fuck “Don’t mony behind one of their songs, and then asked him to sing one of hisof one sing to him asked then and songs, their of one behind mony own, just him and an acoustic guitar while they took a break. He started this fast half-rap rendition of a word salad, acapella, and the whole bar room watched as he pranced around the stage, still high on the acid. talk to a little man dressed in a three-piece suit that sometimes lives man dressed in a three-piece talk to a little in my armpit.” does and said, “Not only him at looked Chrome At the end of it all, fiction.” called prose out whacked that writes he folks, songs, write he know if Chrome believed any of what he revealed. Aubrey didn’t to come up and sing the high har Aubrey The band asked another band. say, ‘your whittle monster gets loose.’” say, shit?” stuff is better than some of the new films we’ve seen? I mean, lately, getting isn’t film if wondering I’m technology, and effects special with has hijacked our religion.” better than acid and normal about Galley they where dune the grew on pines Australian power plant. nuclear on the an hour least they surfed for at After out of the sun. could get trees. sat up under the acid, they ine V Aw, hey, that cowboy puts me away. that cowboy hey, Aw, is a crab-shapedThe world . . Ball jar. Aw, hey, those ants put me away. hey, Aw, those ants put me away. hey, Aw, the aging cowboy; to Here’s all been blessed. His coins have DigestThe Reader’s in braille comes give his eyes a rest. To is a definite sign food your Oh, chewing Of being alive fine. and feeling me sings to Gene Autry Yes, philosophy. And feeds his horse Harness all your jargon, Harness all your the birds of prey, to In words with flesh claws, eagle Rip your And the Sioux will laugh all day. you; put steel for Shot is a clock do. rides are things to Carnival feet, and sit on your Ants will come sleep. while you softly Bite you lame 292 F Galley - - 293 inger S aloon S he T fishing for blue crabs old - year - Chrome, Punky, and some other guy rushed the stage and dragged and dragged the stage rushed other guy some and Punky, Chrome, Now it was a life without her, and one of occasional female com female of occasional one and her, without life was a Now it did He fishermen. and hunters by sought taxidermist a was Henry What the biggest gator you ever seen?” Punky: “The Junior! “What in name of quantum doo-lang and relativity was that line of quantum doo-lang and relativity “What in name Head man his into turned then and look a Aubrey staggered him back to his seat, while the barroom laughed and booed them for for them and booed the barroom laughed to his seat, while him back because Aubrey, at pointing back, came band regular The it. doing that Sonny said like Shallcross, and Aubrey in town knew everybody all the taxidermy in Aubrey’s house. The house Henry lived in was house Henry lived The house. Aubrey’s in taxidermy the all coffee wheel room was a big wagon living of his work, and in the full Susan, and a lazy could be turned like The table with a glass top. table Dickel shots of George the lines, the coke came on the glass tonight bourbon, the joints, and the stories from the men. nity, he said, ‘Imagine, son, there is a sixteen-pound shot put inside a a inside put shot sixteen-pound a is son, there ‘Imagine, said, he nity, case, an ant appears inside the case, and once a year, vacuum sealed until hole the in back goes then and once, just put, shot the over walks down put shot wear the to ant that takes it long However year. next the of eternity.’” only the beginning to nothing but a tiny grain of sand is “Feenished.” Then he winked at Chrome and said, his home, his fact, In Arquette. into turn to going wasn’t he but pany, business, surfing, and music meant more to him than sex, though sex Friday night, he went out to Indi- was nice when it came along. On a Henry’s by his friend stopped Inn, then the Johnny Jumper and antown and a The Junior, friends, Punky, place to drink with some cowboy couple of tough looking girls from Okeechobee. about ‘shot put steel is a clock for you’?” Chrome said. about ‘shot put steel Wound. “When I asked this Benedictine monk once to define eter on the sewer pipe downtown and talking intensely with someone that someone with intensely downtown and talking pipe sewer on the not right.” there, “That boy’s wasn’t Galleyday years ago, when he saw the eight - - foot gator was the head. Some - never saw.” ine V “I bet that Arquette had a little dick tween his legs, anybody talk legs, his tween dick little a had Arquette that bet “I Punky was talking, he must have been loading a The whole time The crowd moved back to the male talk again. One man who rode Aubrey: “Hey, Henry, you ever see a hoop snake? The one that ever see a hoop snake? you Henry, Aubrey: “Hey, hoop snakes. as them thing no such a ain’t Henry: “No, there the police, the began to fail and bloodstreams As the night settled The Junior: “I seen one, one night, that looked about fifteen inches inches fifteen about looked that night, one one, seen “I Junior: The lame that much about bangin beaver. He’s guys of them who probably one He’s that much about bangin beaver. after him. why all them women were was just tongue hung, and that’s me. tell what size shoe he wore, and he wouldn’t I asked him one time Rich motherfucker.” When he stood and let it go, coffee. can be like morning fart. Cocaine he shouted, “Arquette!” Everyone scattered and made another drink. Paso said he was in El Junior The Aubrey and with rodeo circuit the thin had come up and bit him off right behind the neck. So that other right behind the neck. So that and bit him off thin had come up gator I one was the biggest nose, sat back, his and wrinkled but drink. He shook his head thing Arquette. about in started up and shut wouldn’t he Then waited. and Arquette with him, he was sure Not only had he always had a problem town, no matter somewhere in another up with Leda met and ran off Aubrey told him he was back home in Massachusetts. how often grabs its tail in its mouth and rolls like a tire to chase you or get away mouth and rolls like a tire to chase grabs its tail in its from an enemy?” up those stories.” Black people from the islands made conversation and bragging got more swollen. Someone finally talked Punky into doing his first line of cocaine. see it. Punky never touched any leaned forward from their seats to The Junior and Aubrey 294 he was, all that was left of my fifteen from nose to the eyes, fifteenthat’s feet, you Iknow. shot him like a I then and on him hook triple my I got so rollin, to went he and fool, see what him, but I couldn’t comin towards big wave like, seen this, where to up I got When ever’thingThen quiet. went wave. the made F Galley - - - - 295 inger S ­big-chested aloon S he T Another guy said when he was growing up his father caught his caught when he was growing up his father Another guy said better’nPunky interrupted. “I got one for you that. Me and my Aubrey said their drink. That blew up the room. Somebody spilled liv the off room a in cheering and was laughter there later, An hour big brother screwing a huge teddy bear he won when the Future Farm a huge teddy bear he won when big brother screwing and water that farmed vegetables, brother grew up next to this family ‘Punky knows how to bring Arquette used to say, “Like The Junior, to out the ick factor.’” for a big rodeo, and his friends took him over the border into Juarez the border into took him over rodeo, and his friends for a big to “get bred,” as they put They it. went to gotthe ladies,first and bar, saw a con stopped when he he until the back rooms, went toward dom machine. He was fishing for change to buy one when he noticed “So I turned and machine next to the condom machine. a penicillin table cheered. The crowd around the ran!” dish- rubber a taken had brother his said He Fair. State the to went ers of what size the about of it out fashioned a tube and washing glove it and made in it he put baby oil Then should be. he thought a vagina slapped father The iron. soldering round big father’s his with warm then and humping his creation, him around when he walked in on him showed it to his buddies and VFW to the took the teddy bear with him for a laugh. They had two boys older’nmelon was their biggest crop. us, and we to get shipped up north on their trucks. watermelon got jobs loadin used to cut a round hole the size Do you know those two assholes was hot when it and melons, big them in through get could dicks their about one in the afternoon, they’d fuck one or two of those as hell, the cut-out from perfect the put They’d d’you think? And what things. tell they’d been in there, then they’d load hole back in, so you couldn’t City. York goin to New are melons said, ‘These They truck. on the ’em never Man, I ain’t one.’ get a mouth full a-that Yankees those Wait’ll one.” even touch Won’t ate watermelon since. Galley the was one of Aubrey went in to see, and there ing room. ine V Aubrey left after Hands Up. He drove the back roads late through late Up. He drove the back roads Aubrey left after Hands my of God, Angel guardian dear, hold me near, you love whom God’s To be at my side, Ever this day guide. and to rule, guard, to light, to To Amen lame 296 the ranch country. At his gate, he looked down the lane towards At his gate, he looked down his the ranch country. time the like Not shape. dark a on. Just no lights were house, and there the to home came and Trip, and him just cemetery, the in been he’d snorted he after as Punky was tonight up as bright it had lit house Leda That song of radio again. Then it started on the truck’s the cocaine. said love was When it got to the part that “The Rose.” Bette Middler’s, Triple cry. to began Aubrey seed, only its are we that and flower, a like Amper They let the mortal drain. Amper Sand stayed quiet. Suiter and chest. Trip’s Sand typed the angel prayer on F Galley “Next!” said, Someone off. top her with knees her on girls Okeechobee of front down in knelt old, years twenty maybe kid, country this and nodded, and she The young man honey?” ready, “You She said, her. breast under the and the other under one arm, breast large pushed one put his nose on man kneeling the there while them and held arm, other She up!” “Hands yelled, someone Then quiet. was There sternum. her smacked and armpits her from out flew breasts the and arms her raised of his face. the kid on either side 297

Galley Galley - 299 good without her. Maybe the worry Maybe the worry her. good without

lone A Chapter: 24 Chapter: Lately, he felt Lately,

with Leda.

He tried so hard at the business, even slept there on the couch in the business, even slept there on He tried so hard at every kind of citizen. that mixed There were parties at his place on high very Aubrey party an at and Rose showed up Chrome ten years He was alone, but He was alone, and with space beatitudes. certain It had been his office, and when he had free time, took to flying to cities, moun- spots. He often to surf the famous in California tains, deserts, beaches the car business was him and paid for the ticket; brought Chrome with Junior into The had talked past, he the in Sometimes, money. making flying to prize fights: Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Hagler, Roberto thrilled even the most lost. Duran. It was a kind of freedom that people went home, he and his other friends would After the stuffy - their antics, run out to the late night bars or the Goose. Some practice Alex or Johnny Little would come off All the clothes in costume. times girl A them. wear would he and house, his in displays the from Yuma acid one night. Chrome had just seen a movie called Starman with it to Rose as he handed out single Bridges and tried to explain Jeff Galleyher make to day ego took every her cloy the behavior, of her jumpy Life with a blind of watching her smoke and brood. feel good, instead yet he knew he had it in him, too. and exalter, friend made him a sandhill crane outfit for Halloween, and he liked to walk in the woods around his farm as the giant bird; the normal birds were terrified when they saw him. The eighties were working taught mother your things The everyone. straining through, way their or you’d “wear often too Johnny’s at night the spending not you about When your wear it out anyway. out your welcome,” had turned into it now, not polite”; it’s of people, advantage take said, “Don’t mother was “Get up in their face!” - - so she could see for herself Starman so she could ine V A week later, Rose rented later, week A Along the way to Arizona, there were many challenges for the were many challenges Arizona, there Along the way to After seeing the movie, Rose, who was pretty much out of any The young widow was terrified at first, but the Bridges Jeff clone lame 300 F told everyone Chrome talking. drinking and to people of MDA pills friend, if they had a crippled or immortal, make them the pills would Junior The would walk again. and they to them a pill should give they talk and pool, the by him house, put of the out Chrome haul to had him down. star man and the young widow, but the little steel balls managed to get but the little star man and the young widow, them out of every crisis. They finally made it to the crater, thanks to who made love to the star man in a railway car the the young widow, and was now pregnant with his night before the spaceship was to come but would human, he told her, would look completely child The child. anti Punky’s Jesus on named man the like powers, supernatural have drug use, inveterate of because abilities serotonin re-uptake normal She decision. drug-assisted a made Brown and of Dr. line a snorted nating at Aubrey’s party, got the idea the MDA pills were the same pills were the the MDA got the idea party, Aubrey’s at nating star man had, until the acid Chrome took balls the little miraculous wore off. abortion bumper sticker that said: He too, was once a fetus. managed to calm her and talk her into driving him to Arizona, where where Arizona, to him driving into her talk and her calm to managed again. home him to take ship from his planet space a would meet he of steel balls the size of marbles, The clone had with him a number so gone and halluci where Chrome, that’s used to perform miracles; Galleywith home at sat they Together, about. was talking Chromie her what land star ship damaged a watched and dinner him feeding Aubrey after of the lake on a out light came alien glowing A lake. Wisconsin in a young woman lived. widowed lawn, where a recently summer cabin husband with a in the cabin of her handsome late There was a picture from the hair into the light cloned itself and the alien lock of his hair, Bridges. to be Jeff image of the husband, which happened 301 lone A her. No one hears from Rose anymore. bunch sat a corner table: At the Goose, the men from the old a buncha Junior said. “What The us,” look at “Oh, would y’all My squeeze is home with the “Speak for yourself, god damn it. Aubrey asked. Chrome?” Mr. okay, “You and and an alien, to a movie “I think so. I did lose my old lady “You go first,” said Aubrey. go first,” said “You “I need Chrome hollered. “Another drink, though, if you please,” Aubrey, The Junior, Punky, and Chrome; Arquette is still in the north, and Chrome; Punky, The Junior, Aubrey, around much farm, and Melinda never came holed up on the family Aubrey without Leda, Chrome is without Rose, left. Arquette after The Junior has been from her. and it has been months since he heard her brother after for thumping Taylor, Thimble kicked out by his girl, Donna is home with the kids. and Punky’s an argument, cowboy lonely-lookin fuckers.” kids where she belongs,” said Punky. for counselors from around advice of lot a is there believe don’t I the of memory in Yeahs’ ‘Oh, of round a try to ought we Think that. now believed the star man, even though it’s just a movie, was still just a movie, it’s man, even though the star now believed Bridges. he was Arizona where Jeff picked up as the site in watching young up above for the real and waiting the star man was Rose thought were real, to come Rose also thought who the new baby, widow and would swoop down man star the was convinced She crater. the to back She left Chrome Rose with them. maybe take and and get the widow, had to get she but felt him, this, said she loved all explaining a note she night, that late as possible, and Jensen Beach as far away from for the widow movie the with wait to Arizona in crater for the headed was what Rose had in mind, to Another planet space ship to return. Dead. Book of the South Florida The and from heroin herself distance there for the star man had a friend up She thought that maybe Galley­disappeared?” - - - Oh, yeah!” femme fatales. ine V They went home from the Goose half drunk. In the dark, their the drunk. In Goose half home from the went They “Before our ‘Oh, yeahs,’ I’d like to ask Mr. Chrome, our Master of I’d like to ask Mr. “Before our ‘Oh, yeahs,’ say to Freud tried riddle. oldest the is it believe “I stood. Chrome thin-lipped with love in world the in men those all “For Chrome: Aubrey: “For all those in love with and you some strange just go git oughta Y’all to that. “Oh, yeah for hypo cure ancient as the stripe “Same Chrome. “Ah,” yelled The Junior: “For them what kisses swamp angels that turn into what kisses swamp angels that The Junior: “For them know was don’t they watermelon a on eats what “For them Punky: ‘If a man is also an old cliché. said. “There Chrome know,” “You lame 302 empty bedrooms became space where they reached for something in for something space where they reached bedrooms became empty Aubrey for the neon The Junior for ozone, absent lovers: of their place smoke instead of chlo made that for safe candles Chrome switch, light chondria: get more interested in someone else’s body than your own.” in someone else’s chondria: get more interested Fine Arts, to give us an overview on the man-woman thing,” Aubrey thing,” man-woman Arts, to give us an overview on the Fine Chrome, please.” said. “Mr. so there is too much sexist, was a nineteenth-century something, but he but one could I can only see it as forever debatable, there. umbrage said of things others have and say pieces approach the humorous take is a whore. that Every man secretly wants a virgin that I remember: The kind rapist. Finished.” Every woman secretly wants a handsome, table applauded. women. Oh, yeah!” them others,” Punky said. about forget F ‘Oh, with some decent posture to come up look to my an orthograde tonic; Sapphire and Chrome, a Bombay So they ordered: yeahs.’” Dickel of George a shot Junior, The and Punky a sidecar; Aubrey, bourbon. ing the star man tonight—Mr. Jeff Bridges, you can have her.” Jeff ing the star man tonight—Mr. Galleymosquitos. Oh, yeah!” Oh, yeah!” fucked by a country boy. So I’m tell is to let him have her.’ steals your woman, the best revenge 303 lone A The next night, the men tried the cure Punky had suggested at the the at suggested had Punky cure the tried men the night, next The Aubrey would flash on Leda when things like this happened with Goose for loneliness. Chrome made love to a beach bunny the surfer the bunny beach to a love made Chrome Goose for loneliness. house. Aubrey’s of deck top “Outrageous” on the nicknamed boys had 8” 170 lbs. Punky 5’ went about a ranch girl that The Junior found to mess too drunk lately he was getting because went home to Donna country girl that a religious Aubrey kept climbing And around on her. and ask, in his bathroom bidet and the his house, him, would look at She said he was the devil, to “Why do you have two toilets in there?” about the sex, he guessed, make her feel overpowered and guiltless number 666 when for the tattooed and she searched through his scalp he was trying to sleep. pure Vermont and say to himself, “I think I’ve gone from other women she job, time full was a Leda though Even Aunt Jemima.” to maple was pure maple. Galley oxide, while for his nitrous reached Arquette New England, roform. In and watched another cigarette out tapped in Miami, Leda somewhere the streetlights as the gas from Winston Salem filled her lungs. And lay edge of town, Sonny wide at the the creek in his double down by he wondered Aubrey, of Freon, and like bottle on a bed with a small for redemption get he was, how would there if god, and was a there if committed. those murders he Galley 305

Galley Galley - 307 onny S Chapter 25 Chapter going bowlegged blind. It was the Freon he’d huffed Freon he’d huffed was going bowlegged blind. It was the The psychosis child is two people. One kicks his side of the seesawThe psychosis child is two people. One Sonny refrig stood the last trash-pile up on the lawn of his place Lined up and makes the normal child in him go down on the other side until thatup and makes the normal child in him the psychotic child and appearsnormal child kicks his side higher than appearance back and forth, untilnormal again. On and on, they trade this awful. Maybe something good.something happens. Maybe something the normal child in him kickedThis was what Sonny was like, and when he felt guilt and hate for what he’d done to those people his side higher, he killed. It was harder on him, this guilt, now that his other faculties saidyard his in icebox old the me,” to “Come Freon. the from going were “My door works fine. Climb inside. Hear the latch go ‘click’!” all day. erator, snatched from country road dumps. It talked to him. “Come to to him. “Come country road dumps. It talked from snatched erator, All okay. all It’s it. and close inside, get door, said. “Open my it me,” if you do this for the others you put in here.” is forgiven all these years. The small amounts added up. The medicine book said The medicine The small amounts added up. all these years. sight problems, memory loss, chronic it would, and now he suffered that damage and nerve arrhythmia, heart and esophagus pain, throat made flame vines in his body. went bowlegged blind.” It’s sort of their way of referring to Sisyphus sort of their It’s went bowlegged blind.” when smile folk, and they country the amuses it stone, yet the rolling your Same as “Work bowlegs, not Sisyphus. they think about it—the fingers to the bone/ and what do you get?/ Bony fingers.” Nietzsche get through life, but Sisyphus happy so we can said we should imagine “If lines like, knew things Nietzsche didn’t—song the country people then the rich would live money could buy/ something were religion die/ all my trials, Lord/ soon be over.” and the poor would Galley he did that until people. “He among the country is a saying There - - containment in the in containment ­ headaches. - long enough to born in long enough his masks, and ligature before he had

ine V Inside his place he huffed on a bottle he was saving for his death was saving he bottle on a huffed he his place Inside and wrong-strong, he dug a hole in the yard Feeling high, crazy, Two large tanks of the gas were in a corner of his double wide. tanks of the gas were in a corner of his double large Two He had closed the bookstore years ago. Every day lately was spentbookstore years ago. Every day lately He had closed the In and out of lucid, he was trying to stay of lucid, he was In and out lame trip, his trip to the north, over to the east, and then west to the City of trip, his trip to the north, over to the Freddie Junior and The to explained man Seminole Dead, as the the that day. Tommie snips, ropes, his tin box with the loaded and units old for one of the What to do with them? The creek by his house. Sink them. One at a One at a house. Sink them. The creek by his What to do with them? in row; a on logs, three Turtles cylinders. big he dragged the time, wings; and marsh hens bitch seven-foot gator; anhinga drying their what was left of the high school all watched ing about his appearance deep into the hero from 1950 roll and push the containers football water so they could swim away creek, sending those creatures into the them. from the crazy man swimming towards 308 dizziness and blood in his toilet, the insomnia, and dizziness and blood in his toilet, the appear? Who would bury him where Our Lady of White Appliances White him where Our Lady of Who would bury appear? needs special the would, Track Half forever? him over watch could man from the Harris Ranch. he’d Yes, figure out how he could stay struggle The on. still door the with one found finally He buried. himself his throat from frostbite scars theto get it in his truck bed, the pain in went up and down, theFreon had made, the days his body temperature on dirt roads, looking for one more abandoned refrigerator in a dumpsiteon dirt roads, looking for one more abandoned so he could bury his murder gear, straight enough to become one final creation of self of creation final one become to enough straight piece. His last he thought. ending, beautiful A of his Coolerators. last get left in him, it couldn’t was any evil In case there Ship in a Bottle. else as he decayed. out and hurt someone a plan. It was over, and he wasn’t going to jail or something like a like something or jail going to he wasn’t and was over, a plan. It on ground the but in going anywhere He wasn’t again. leprosarium dis who would help him those boxes. But inside one of his property F Galley - 309 onny S dollar bill on the closed door - dollar bill he had taped to the outside of the door, bury the box In the box he had placed some of his favorite things—pictures of things—pictures of his favorite some had placed box he In the He went to the Goose one final time and drank a sidecar, even on its back in the hole he shoved the last refrigerator The next day, There would be more of these burials, while Sonny got weirder of these burials, while Sonny There would be more - handcuffs, and any other evidence someone might find. The next day, and any handcuffs, other evidence someone Themight nextfind. day, and ground, in the refrigerator to the Sonny pointed came. Track Half him, Aubrey, and The Junior in front of the book store when they were and Aubrey, him, younger and one of Nell with her aunt. He put just one ship in a bottle the in made ever had he one first the whaler, Morgan W. Charles the in, blanket his in put he And last, Carville. at leprosarium the of shop craft he kept all these years from when he was a little boy. five disappear. without looking inside, and let Sonny though it hurt his throat. Annie the waitress, who always took care of who always took care waitress, the Annie hurt his throat. though it he was going in his raspy voice him, gave him a hug when he told her the As he leaned in and put his arms around her, away for a long time. her nose, Annie through to good slipper that lived inside him slipped he could never help Sonny and as it did, looked back and regretted Sonny went home, mind. in his lived that the bad slipper with again who was as destructive as Sonny. just him and the bad slipper, satisfied was He coffin’s. a as easy upward, opened door the so dug, he the Take job. his do to able be would Track, Half neighbor, ranch his tions, throat ablaze, nose and anus bleeding over his sheets, and a nose and anus bleeding ablaze, tions, throat fierce compunction for the mutilations in his past, though he thought most of those grown-ups had it coming. and weirder at night from his pain and huffing—wakinghallucina with a piece of Scotch tape. The day after, he had Half Track bury bury Track Half he had The day after, tape. of Scotch with a piece Track Half and placed money on them. some more things for practice ground, with dirt, level the cover the stuff the money, would retrieve the spot with a hose. Sonny plants on top, and water some small plant “Shhh.” his finger up to his mouth and go, taught him to put Galleytold him to bury it after placing a five - ! click . click ine V Sonny heard, but most just end like another day in your life or Sonny heard, but most just end like Some stories end with a noise, one louder than the sound of that Some stories end with a noise, one down Aubrey was at work, and later sank The day Sonny died, any film.” Aubrey, “Pick a film, I want to see Nell.” , from 1960. I want to see Seberg. “Breathless said. the voices Aubrey,” “Yes, Sonny took one of his last huffs standing by the creek, walked walked creek, by the standing huffs of his last one Sonny took Inside and outside every town, there are marginal people. Morri people. marginal are there town, every and outside Inside lame your death, not remarkable, as your heart stops, or the other car hits car other stops, or the as your heart remarkable, not your death, It might have a anything. side before you can register your driver’s single sound to it, like that 310 click in the dark outside his house. to the big owls calling in bed listening the called lately he what his sleep, of anteroom the to went Soon he The voices came. Quaalude Lounge. over to the hole, climbed down in the box, and curled himself in the himself box, and curled down in the climbed hole, over to the only position that will let a body fit in there. He rolled his childhood the edges, and rubbed his palm rings of concentric made so it blanket back suck his tongue him made that came the sensation on it until of Freon, Sonny’s bottle small on a huffs take Mort and could so he of He saw a hallucination a way. bottle, and his own kind of Ball jar in Mortimer Snerd, and she carried his mother coming towards him with buckteeth. for seashells and eyes with made had she head coconut the the out holding stick the Sonny knocked there, she could get Before latch go refrigerator door open and heard the son said there’s “danger at the edge of town,” and Sonny was and took and was Sonny and town,” of edge the at “danger there’s son said us? How many in graves around are How many grave. his strange to it boy was a he Sonny when to up looked Aubrey limits? a city circle Aubrey guitar. played books and cool those all read Sonny because Sonny looked down from that his mother and father. was lucky to have what it was house and wondered Aubrey’s next to corner apartment and have that kind of home life. like to live like that F Galley - 311 onny S ~ Aubrey was brushing his teeth in front of his bathroom mirror in front of his bathroom Aubrey was brushing his teeth Four years have passed. Aubrey has not heard anything from Leda has not heard anything Aubrey have passed. Four years Char a guy named Charlie. Punky sold his lawn mower shop to “Mansion,” he whispered and slipped away. he whispered and “Mansion,” after work one night, and of all things, thought of Sonny’s mother, the mother, thought of Sonny’s after work one night, and of all things, when he was eight years old and dental lady who used to pinch him named Mortimer a man him, she told or, warn him to brush correctly river the on drink a for later town into drove He him. get would Snerd based bar a of Jensen Beach, shrine rum great Goose, the Blue the at on the short-sleeved shirt. lie’s wife Janet now works at the Randolph Diner, or as Trip calls it, Trip or as works at the Randolph Diner, wife Janet now lie’s Aubrey every morning. John Chrome Café, and waits on The Catheter is at the high school, and Nell Kitching teaching is a single man still still in the Palm Beach Home for Rest. Galley sold the Aubrey the Goose bunch. a lot has happened to Arquette; or on his own. is still when he turned forty-two, and he car dealership to decided whose new members band, the with occasion He sings on original the loves still he but fresh start, a for name group’s the change quit the The Junior and Punky for personal reasons. name, Cricket Jar, Aubrey agreed. “Got to be a pain in the ass,” they moonshine business. for prescription new a taking is and left Leda drugs after street quit instead of Quaalude, and thinks it is a better Trazadone, sleep called visits from the Slim Hand have usher for coloration in his dreams. His slowed down to next to nothing, and so did finding his terrified self the big room in his Trip shown He hasn’t in the Blind Spot Cathedral. and that night in the cemetery, head to date, only described it to him Corpus Columbus, host from his past, Dr. his old explained hasn’t Trip so to speak. He is holding that out for a trade later, either. Aubrey, to magazine, mostly. mostly. magazine, True story. And because this story. ~ ine V Finished All that I have written in this book is in the All that These friends of mine, these good slippers, all of whom I have whom I of all good slippers, these mine, of friends These One evening, I sat in Aubrey’s brain around a campfire with six lame I’m Triple Suiter. I’m Triple I have been with Aubrey since he was a small child, I know how his I know how child, small Aubrey since he was a I have been with as Time,” it will one day end, to be told “Another life began, and how the song so him open that day he and Leda were said that split blazed on the drug called MDA. spoken to over the years, told me about their lives with their hosts, and with their lives years, told me about their spoken to over the in others stories of the know the is how I that of my friends, slippers from the minds of Leda, Arquette, The Junior, The Junior, Arquette, the minds of Leda, slippers from of my friends, about people and talked laughed We Chrome, and Sonny. John Punky, to talk they yet crazy, are voice another who hear those who think and say these gods talk to them. Tanka Wakan and Krishna, Yahweh, 312 F Galley 313

? Flame Vine a Horse Sport USA,

Interview And Charles Porter , published in 2015. Shallcross Conversation With Ken Braddick With Conversation Shallcross, the first novel simply having your main character’s your main character’s Shallcross, the first novel simply having last name for the title. They don’t Aubrey is forty-two. The other book starts when have to be read in order though. liked the questions you asked about the first novel. liked the questions you asked about It’s Aubrey’s life from 8 yrs. old until he’s in his early forties. until he’s life from 8 yrs. old Aubrey’s It’s Yeah, you and I could always talk about this kind of stuff. I you and I could always talk about this kind of stuff. Yeah, How would you describe the feel of it? What do you have to say about this new book, This is the second novel about your protagonist, Aubrey protagonist, This is the second novel about your So, Charlie, here we are again.

KB: CP: KB: CP: Kenneth J. Braddick, the original creator of creator the original Kenneth J. Braddick, KB: Galleyover all jumping dressage and on high-performance focused magazine news correspondent and has covered major the world, is also a veteran globe. Braddick is the owner of events and several wars around the epicenters of the one Florida, Wellington, in Dressage News.com based Charles interviewed Braddick Mr. sport horses in the winter. for elite Porter for the novel, ou tell me who or Henry or Henry Jones Tom , and the Greek one , and the Do the God’s Exist? Or Do the God’s A kind of bildungsroman, the big the big kind of bildungsroman, A ine talking about the head trope of a schizophrenic man, Aubrey man, talking about the head trope of a schizophrenic who’s Suiter, Triple Shallcross, and his schizophrenic slipper, Amper Sand, and I’m not sure who other voice is named, Amper Sand talks to, all on the back of the infinite regression you see in a three way mirror or the old picture of the Quaker Oat man on the Quaker Oat box when I was a kid. I mean, how can you track that exactly? Maybe look for the footprints what you wrote? short on the recollection. those voices are people hear in their head, those so-called those voices are people hear in their schizophrenics. friend. word for a young man’s life story like, life a young man’s word for . Also a drop of that famous old that famous old Also a drop of Cancer. of Tropic Miller’s the Family A Death in play, Broadway before Christ, Aristophenes, by something like that. Well I remember the storytelling parts of the book. But you’re I remember the storytelling Well It’s free indirect style—drifty sometimes. I might be a little free indirect style—drifty sometimes. I might be a little It’s Him, and the rest of the whittle monsters. Y Him, and the rest of the whittle monsters. I don’t think so. Just sort of comes around for me and my think so. Just sort of I don’t Historical, hallucinatory. hallucinatory. Historical, Explain. I don’t know the answer to that. Do you remember a lot of know I don’t You mean, Triple Suiter? Triple mean, You You planned it that way? planned You V

lame KB: CP: KB: KB: KB: 314 CP: CP: CP: F GalleyCP: ew i 315 The nterv I Don Quixote book. . But it’s his other voice, Triple Triple voice, his other . But it’s Aubrey Shallcross, is a Quixote and Aubrey Shallcross, is a Quixote and erasure, fear, and attacking hallucinations, and the joys in erasure, fear, is afraid when he dies he will get smaller Aubrey between. And he is afraid in and smaller until he disappears forever. from the tenebrific terror the meantime he will he’ll go insane to him after he passes of the Blind Spot Cathedral that comes little A after he dies. out when he thinks about disappearing Milan Kundera, like that famous take on existence from The book opens with a man, Quixote, reading a story about a a man, Quixote, reading a story The book opens with reading a story reading a story about a man, who’s man who’s abyss. about himself in a book, on out to the of infinite regression? has a fear of disappearing by the means Unbearable Lightness of Being about all this. that makes him feel better Suiter, software code for infinity. Also Cervantes presented that type Also Cervantes infinity. software code for he wrote the second of regression when of the lady inside the Tin Snip Killer’s refrigerator in the story, story, in the refrigerator Snip Killer’s Tin inside the of the lady of herself in the holding a picture picture of herself holding a on the infinity Oat man, her eyes like the Quaker refrigerator and smaller image getting smaller her code HTML:∞, so slim she picture of herself until she’s in the picture of the disappears. Haven’t you ever wondered who you really are and what you ever wondered who you really are Haven’t Yes it is one of the main themes of the book, that, self- Yes I didn’t. The Greeks did. And that HTML thing is Microsoft’s thing is Microsoft’s And that HTML The Greeks did. I didn’t. But why so afraid of that? Ah, your main character, Ah, your main character, That’s a thicket. How did you assemble that? a thicket. How did you assemble That’s

KB: KB: CP: KB: CP: GalleyCP: , a bad voice. I novel. An unencumbered novel. Shallcross You can’t really treat it. I always quit the really treat it. I always quit can’t You ine normal life experiences, and the other part of him is the man best described in the first free-baser that bears down on his red means run senses every and an day; a connoissuer of the psycho-generated souvenir, ­medicine. write this to accentuate Aubrey’s good voice, Triple Suiter, Suiter, Triple good voice, Aubrey’s write this to accentuate voice, just like it helps and that helps me attenuate my bad Triple Suiter. he has Aubrey muffle his bad voice when can write about where they’re from forever. can write about where Reluctantly. Reluctantly. normal man with a few talents and a few A half breed. A I wish I did. But no, at least not yet. I have a Slim Hand inside of me, like Aubrey I have a Slim Hand inside of me, like Good. You can suffer with the rest of us. with the rest can suffer You Good. as Kerouac about it. But I think anybody I’m as hopped-up happens after this? Do you completely disappear? Haven’t Haven’t completely disappear? after this? Do you happens insane about that? had a fear of going you ever Describe Aubrey, here in this interview. Aubrey, Describe Do you have a good voice, other than in the stories you write? Do you have a good voice, other than Ever get treated for that. But why do you write this particular story? But why do you write So you like that South Florida landscape . . . that setting. So you like that South You’ve got me thinking about it. got me thinking You’ve V

lame KB: KB: 316 CP: KB: CP: CP: KB: CP: CP: CP: KB: KB: F Galley ew i 317 ou put nterv I on Ertfelda. She is a special on Ertfelda. She is Love in the Time , is Love in the Time Flame Vine Naked Lunch. , you talked about the third eye Shallcross . of Lyrica of Lunch, Love in the Time took it for a while for nerve pain after a horse accident. Then took it for a while for nerve pain after a horse accident. I found it helpful for the other part, the part that calms you pain. Well I mean Aubrey doesn’t take it in this story, he takes take it in this story, Aubrey doesn’t I mean Well pain. take him down to the Qualuudes at night to sleep, and they him to pick a film. lounge where the voices come and tell of film. I feel like I write film. drawings in the first book at the beginning of the chapters. drawings in the first consider her drawings land on a lot of what I kind of artist and in the book. the mental imagery auteur of the third eye pie; so with carburetion like that, you so with carburetion the third eye pie; auteur of doors of your chased through the be unhorsed and can easily disappear. and once again, own rectum Getting close to my air puck aren’t you? But yes I have. I Getting close to my air puck aren’t I did? Oh well then, this book, for nerve an anti-seizure drug actually that works it’s Yeah So is some of this story. I like drawings in books. Reminds me So is some of this story. These are drawings by Kathy V by Kathy These are drawings pie and you even mention Do you take Lyrica? Lyrica? That drug on TV all the time. TV That drug on Lyrica? In your other book, Some are very bizarre. Some are very bizarre. I wanted to ask you about the drawings in the book. Y about the drawings in the book. I wanted to ask you

KB: KB: KB: KB: CP: KB: CP: CP: CP: GalleyCP: s. . Some visual . . . tap root question. Do you have old Greek quote in Flame Vine that goes: that Vine Flame old Greek quote in “First secure an independent income, then practice virtue.” “First secure an independent The 80’s were that The 80’s The 60’s were idealism vs. realism. The 60’s to the 80’ were a long boring transition The 70’s ine hallucinations? admit to that when I I wouldn’t sometimes, but very few. If it gets really loud, was younger or in the other interviews. an anti-psychotic Seroquel, and yes, it’s a drug called there’s cheaters lately drug. But I’ve been in good shape without because I hate it. It’s and I can never do it more than a week Those drugs, do anything. been a couple of years that I had to especially Seroquel, will turn you into an eggplant. Like Aubergine “The fog rolls in.” Eggplant fog. Kesey used to say, I used to do mushrooms to open doors when I fog. Funny, was young, now I do a prescription if I need it to keep them was doing hallucinogenic drugs. But of course Aubrey had his of course was doing hallucinogenic drugs. But because of the way his own hallucinations without any drugs, mind was. 70’s, and 80’s. 70’s, More as I get older. Mostly auditory More as I get older. Well, it’s accounted for in the story. The Blue Goose Bunch The Blue Goose Bunch for in the story. accounted it’s Well, Briefly: down when something is trying to chase you through the to chase you something is trying down when your own rectum. doors of Another personal question. A Another personal question. What about the hallucinatory part of this book. What about the hallucinatory part of So tell me about the historical part of the book—the 60’s, 60’s, part of the book—the about the historical So tell me V

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KB: F Galley ew i 319 nterv I Flame Vine and Flame Vine oices Network that you always that you always oices Network 20,000 Leagues Under the I have to ask it—what is this book about, other than the I have to ask it—what is this book about, storytelling parts? voice hearers in those meetings. Some aren’t too happy, but a too happy, meetings. Some aren’t voice hearers in those even good voices they listen to or deal with, lot of others have of like an kind It’s old bad voices linger. though some of their them, where they support each other. for AA dedicate your books to? dedicate . The books are like the contrast between Jules The books . Shallcross The “righty-tighty” and Rimbaud, the French poet. Verne Verne’s is the perfect enclosure of Vine expression in Flame safe place, the Nautilus, in Drunken loose” expression is Rimbaud’s The “lefty- Sea. The rest is the Slim Hand Boat—open chaos—Camus stuff. throat. Jim Morrison was cramming one or the other down our and wanting everyone chaos, raising hell about everything lunch. It reminds me to get their life down to their naked can cage a “You of the word palindrome in Shallcrosss: swallow a cage, can you.” you, but you can’t swallow can’t so he might want us to swallow any shit, Morrison didn’t have swallowed it for us in that Paris bathtub his last night on think he really knew either. and I don’t know, earth. I don’t Aubrey Shallcross had relief from all this, it was More chaos. closed. But I always heard that other voice stuff, even as a kid. that other voice stuff, I always heard closed. But Here’s the way I see it in both books, Here’s Up to you. I don’t. But I think it’s a great thing. There are all kinds of There are all a great thing. But I think it’s I don’t. What else should we discuss. What else should of cliché journalism, I hate this question, but in the name Do you belong to the Hearing V to the Hearing Do you belong

CP: KB: CP: KB: KB: GalleyCP: book, to Shallcross ine presume there will be a sequel to the first presume there will complete the trilogy. Yes. when he was running with the Blue Goose Bunch, sitting on a sitting on a the Blue Goose Bunch, was running with when he with John of his band, or surfing singing in front good horse, he was a roseate he would pretend And it was when Chrome. and go under of the Indian River, in the mangroves spoonbill else can you do? What his wing to dream. Yeah mansion, finished. Thanks. Oh! One more thing. I Thanks. Oh! One more thing. finished. mansion, Yeah V

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KB: F Galley - - 321 ceiling? ­ —Triple Suiter

There are two worlds! There are two worlds! throat, when he blacks out and goes to the Blind Spot his throat, Questions and Topics for Discussions and Topics Questions lic cathedral and looked up at the high domed ceiling from the from ceiling domed high the at up looked and cathedral lic basilica area, would you see a blind spot? God? Just the area, would you see a blind basilica After reading Flame Vine, if you were standing in an old Catho if you were standing Vine, After reading Flame Do the Slim Hands actions in the story represent religion being Do the Slim Hands actions in the story Aubrey thinks objects down our throats like the large crammed are in Cathedral? ducing us to the bicameral mind of the schizophrenic? Do you mind of the schizophrenic? ducing us to the bicameral is the land of spirits, and think Porter is saying the brain itself world that in souls who live are Suiter’s Triple voices like that fact, an Is this world, in slippers? form of what he calls in the unknown segment of existence? Do you think Charles Porter is suggesting there is another world Do you think Charles Porter is suggesting heaven, like everything explains that head human the inside land, by intro shadow universe, or Plato’s Hades, a parallel

3. 2. 1. Galley be explained by Plato, only schizophrenia. But they cannot - ine What does one learn over the course of this novel about a per about the course of this novel over does one learn What When Aubrey and Triple Suiter were in the cemetery talking, cemetery the in were Suiter Triple and Aubrey When that Trip, Aubrey by to to the idea proffered were you attracted idea of why we are here, each of us should try to braid our own we want to believe to us, and whether what the universe means in a force or higher power of our choosing? in unnoticed and well function can yet son who hears voices the about more out finding in interested be you Would society? Movement to which this book is dedicated? Voices Hearing Who do you think is the real narrator of Flame Vine: Charles Vine: of Flame narrator you think is the real Who do Suiter? Triple Porter or wrote Suiter Triple end, that the in suggestion the Do you buy go book suddenly of the paragraphs three last The book? this from the third person to the first person narrative,says, “I Trip and sat in Aubrey’s brain around a campfire with sixThe Arquette, of from the minds of Leda, my friends—slippers These slippers told me Chrome, and Sonny. John Punky, Junior, could Trip us how their hosts.” Does this tell about everything write their know to take their points of view, them well enough in the and give us his own thoughts thoughts, conversations, narrative? V

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