A meeting. The men distent. Crowded around Thomas. His e tights, e boots, silver belt buckle with rubies, white Sabatini shirt. His clear and true gold-rimmed spectacles. plaints of the men: (1) Quality of the pemmi (2) That the leadership better fed, in general, than the rank and file (3) That the cable was cutting into shoulders and where were promised heavy vas gloves? (4) Edmund (5) The rum ration could be doubled without damaging the high regard in which the rank and file held the leadership (6) lan for dealing with possibly hostile Wends? (7) Attention of the women monopolized by the leadership (8) Edmund (9) Couldnt the women just e and talk to them sometimes? (10) That the Dead Father sometimes dead weight, sometimes live weight, variations made feasance more difficult than strictly necessary, see tract provisions D, E, and F (11) Truncation of the praphic film and what had happened ? (12) What of wholly arbitrary and ill-sidered ban on fraternization with locals iories hayfooted/straw-footed through? (13) ence of chaplain (14) Happy birthday. It is my birthday? Thomas exclaims, astonished. Yes, men reply, todays the day, where is the party? Thomas ting on his fingers. The men watch. Yes it is my birthday, he says at length, God damn it, you are right as rain. General heehaw, battering of Thomass back, Edmund whisks flask from hip, tilts. The Dead Father sitting in the road looking off into the far distance where fields of garlic grow. Thomas removes flask from Edmunds mouth. Julie practig harmonica, tune "Oh, Give Me a Home Where the Buffalo Roam." Emma gazing at immense shoulder of Dead Father, speculatively. Thomas begins to answer plaints point by point. Pemmi good for you, he says. Etc. Julie puts away mouth an, moves to side of Emma.
Give you a shirtful of sore tit.
Give you a fret in the gizzard.
I tried to tell you but you wouldnt listen.
Think Im getting nosebleed.
Ways of dealing with them when they dont want you.
Friendship is difficult at best.
People are frightened.
They disagree with me regularly but are not disloyal to me.
Said there were various ways of handling it but I thought I could keep the lid on.
Wake up one dark night with a thumb in your eye.
Strung out like that along the hedges.
Colder weather ing and then warmer.
Since you have not as yet respoo my suggestion.
Matter of paring down to a supportable minimum.
Throw a little shit into the game.
Always darkest just before the dawn.
Take it any way you like it.
Stop beiy, st to cut each others throat.
If I pop one will you pop one?
I mean when youre feeling bad ylad to be alive.
What is the motivation?
I t remember.
At other times unscious ireet.
How did that make you feel?
Intolerably angry for short periods.
Feeling is whats important.
You lose fiden your own experiences.
Various circumstances requiring my attention.
Something trembling in the balance.
Where a body get a hit around here?
Its all been carefully sidered.
Have you tried any of the others?
I just see whether theyre friendly or unfriendly.
A week later she applied for a post in Warsaw.
As a wet nurse.
Yes, as a wet nurse. She ted.
They like to suck.
They do like to suck.
Worn out your wele.
Getting very fond of you and your hands.
Thats my busin