— Thought I closed the God damned door, Bast? Anybody here? What’s her, Rhoda…? He got it closed, in over mail to the sofa where he dropped a paper bag — get right back to this before I, get it done Christ published it ten years ago it would have where the hell is that light… he got the punctured lampshade, yanked, dug in the paper bag for cigarettes, — now. Where the, where was I tripods of Hephaestus no back at, millions here those God damned millions here. And while those millions saw where they were marching much as Mark Twain saw them through a glass eye, darkly, the, what, what the God damn it… He reached to shake the lamp, the light came on again, — much as Mark Twain saw them through a glass eye, darkly, the one, the good that’s it yes the good the good eye could now peer into hell’s that pencil, the good what damn it God damn it! Must have loosened the God damned plug when I, well Christ! Just look at the God damned thing and it comes on again what was I, get through one sentence get through one God damned word this way… The longer hand lapped the shorter, the arc went dark — could have cleared up the whole God damned thing tonight first God damned peaceful no, can’t be no middle of the… he was up, — might be no she might be back…
He was through to QUICK QUAKER — yes hello? to who…? Bast look God damn it Mister Bast isn’t here what do you… what? from Mister Bast? I’ll accept it yes operator where… Bast? Where the… look no Akron’s in Ohio not Indiana middle of the night what the hell are you doing in… No no it’s all right damned good thing you called I’ve been… what? Yes I’m listening what… nobody named Crawley no but I’ve had… wait you forgot to tell who what…? Want the tape sent right down to him when it’s finished fine, what tape… All right I will yes be sure to, listen I’ve had this Pis… no no this Piscator of yours had him on and off the phone here all day says your company’s stock’s being hurt by pressure on some big loans they’ve got out against some government R and D contracts with this Ray-X division rumor there’s a… Whole point look I don’t know somebody called this morning sold them the whole inven… No I, Grynszpan yes Grynszpan stopped by just helping out said he’d sold their whole outdated inventory to… what I’m trying to tell you no idea what it is just said inventory, Piscator says may take some pressure off this Ray-X some Senate subcommittee starting a feasibility study looking into cost overruns on these contracts has your boss trying to head off rumors these lenders may force his stock into a voting trust protect their old loans and these new ones he just… Well damn it Bast I don’t know that’s what I’m asking, maybe trying to get in under the wire with this Erebus deal pick up their tax loss offset rumors some textile mill losing its loss carryover if it goes out of production town takes over for a park and speed… Eagle yes said there was some class suit shaping up over the way your boss converted his preferred to common to get control look Bast if you can just tell me… hasn’t called here at all no Piscator says he’s been calling the press reading them statements on these oil and gas leases you’re securing on some Indian res… Well damn it Bast I wouldn’t have either thought you were just sitting up here writing music can you tell me what the hell is… explain it all someday fine meanwhile how the hell shall I… Bast damn it look how the hell can I use my own judgment if I don’t even know the… I’m not angry at you no damn it look you’re welcome but can you… my work? Been on it up here all day yes going fine going pretty well I… of plastic what? Hardly hear you… wait get to whose funeral at noon, Bast…? She’s not here no wait get to whose… I will yes but damn it wait she… what? Wait wait what bus is leaving, Bast? Bast…? Good, Christ! He came down, a film can followed to crack open on the floor and send the roll merrily unfurling before him, came to grief at H-O where he sank for a moment — get it done Christ could have cleared up that whole first part tonight… and he reached under the dark of the punctured shade, made the sofa and pulled the blanket up, crooked an arm over his head against the torrents beyond and, nearer, the trickle of
— treasured heirlooms, many were from the finest…
Light came finally separating the blind as though cautious what it might disturb, broadened as though emboldened where nothing moved but the second hand spanning the arc alone till the long hand rose from NO DEPOSIT and, after repeated tries, came up dragging the short behind.
— to let earnings on your idle cash go down the drain when you can convert it to…
He came up on one elbow — who the, who is it!
— Got a delivery…
— Just wait a minute… he came fighting the blanket, got the door opened — stuff from downtown? Just bring it in and, here close the tub cover just pile it here.
— What you talking about pile it there.
