I wouldnt mind a drink right now, said the Dead Father. Some little something.
I could stand a drink, said Julie.
Remember the last time you had a drink, Thomas said to her.
Oh boy, she said. Yep. Sure do.
Cobwebs in my throat, said Emma.
The men look like they need a drink, said the Dead Father, shading his eyes with one hand and peering up the road.
Well, God damn it, I guess wed better have a drink, then, said Thomas.
He sighe men to halt. The cable loose in the road.
Julie broke out the whiskey.
What is it today? asked the Dead Father.
Aquavit with a beer chaser, she said.
Wow, said Emma, tasting her glass. o.
Yes, Julie said. Its giggles in the sphinxeries.
Quite good, said Thomas, the beer helps.
I like this drink, Emma said, this is good stuff, I have two more?
One more, said Thomas, we have many a league to cover yet this day.
You are being stuffy. I find that quite extraordinary. You of all people.
What does that mean? Thomas asked. Me of all people?
Why are you always telling everybody what to do?
I like telling everybody what to do, Thomas said. It is a great pleasure, being boss. One of the greatest. Wouldnt you agree? he said to the Dead Father.
It is one of the best pleasures, the Dead Father said. No doubt about it. It is bang-up, but mostly we do people know. Mostly we downplay the pleasure. Mostly we stress the anguish. We keep the pleasure to ourselves, in our hearts. Occasionally we may show a bit of it to someone -- lift a er of the veil, as it were. But we only do that in order to certify the pleasure to ourselves. Full disclosure is almost unheard of. Thomas is being criminally frank, in my opinion.
Emma threw down a guzzle of beer, then a guzzle of aquavit.
Okay Fat Daddy, she said, show me how to dance.
What? said the Dead Father. ;
Emma wearing blue velvet pants buro silver where she sits.
Do you know the Hucklebuck?
I do not.
Emma begins to demonstrate. Parts of Emma huckle-bug in various dires.
Amazing, said the Dead Father. I remember.
Julie and Thomas watg.
It is obvious that but for a twist of fate I would be his and not yours, Julie said. Had I lived within his domains at a time when he was administering them with full heaviness of hand --
He was a goat, Thomas said, thats well known.
Goatish still. Cops a feel whenever he .
Ive noticed.
Prefers the bum, she said, a great grab hes got there.
Ive observed.
And in terms of verbal rather than physical attentions, he has proposed variously a shake of the sheets, a dive in the dark, a leap up the ladder, and a goose-and-duck.
And you replied?
With harrowing sweetness, as usual. Still he has something.
Oh yes, Thomas said, he has something. I would not dream of denying it.
Authority. Fragile, yet present. He is like a bubble you do not wish to burst.
But remember there was a time when he was slig peoples ears off with a wood chisel. Two-inch blade. And remember there was a time when his voice, his plain unamplified voice, could turn your head i.
Hunkwash, she said, you are perpetuating myths.
The hell I am, Thomas said. It happened.
You dont appear to me to be overly hurt or damaged.
There are some times when you are not tht, said Thomas.
Times when I am not too what?
Bright, said