Riddley Walker полностью

He said, “O yes thats what it says in Eusa 31 youve learnt it off all right. Wel what about it then? Youve seen stoans and wood and water. Have you seen that Littl Shyning Man?”

I said, “How dyou mean that?”

He said, “I mean it like I say it. With your eyes. Have you seen that Littl Shyning Man in the wood or on the water or in the stoan?”

I said, “No.”

He said, “Ben looking for him have you?”

I said, “No.”

He said, “Why not? Wunt you be interstit to see him? See if hes in 1 peace or 2 or what ever?”

I said, “I dont know how youre asking that.”

He said, “Im asking strait.”

I said, “The Littl Shyning Man aint nothing Iwd look for. Not with my eyes any how.”

Goodparley said, “You dont think hes nothing real do you. You dont think hes nothing only a idear.”

I said, “Do you?”

He said, “Riddley what if I tol you Im looking for that Littl Shyning Man. Looking for him to put him to gether. Wud you call that good or bad?”

I said, “Good.”

Goodparley said to Orfing, “You see what I mean Erny? Every body wants it put to gether. You ask any 1 theywl say the same thing its the naturel way to feal.”

Orfing said, “He aint talking on the same Littl Shyning Man as you and wel you know it.”

Goodparley said, “Theres jus only the 1 Littl Shyning Man and wel you know it Erny. It dont matter what you think youre talking on he is what he is. His self he never claimt he wer the knowing of it he jus only said he wer the showing of it.”

“Which is blip,” said Orfing. “Like Ive all ways said.”

“Which is blip and moren that its realness and all,” said Goodparley.

Orfing said, “Hes realness right a nuff but he wont never be your kynd of realness Abel. He aint nothing you can dig up like old iron he wernt never meant to be that.”

Goodparley said, “Now weare coming to the curse roads of it Erny now weare getting down to terpitation. Youre the man for that are you. Youre the man for what it all means.”

Orfing said, “Yes Im the man for what it all means any body is as looks at whats there nor dont look at what aint there. What the Littl Shyning Man is hes jus what ever cant never be put to gether. There aint no moren that to it nor you cant make it be mor. Any thing as can be put to gether aint the Littl Shyning Man its some thing else.” The hash musve had him perwel lucent up I never heard him say that much befor.

Goodparley said, “Erny youre such a downer youre going to down your self right in to the groun 1 day. You can say what you like Im saying wewl get it put to gether weve got it all in front of us and going to make it happen. Youre looking sideways but Im looking frontways and going to get every body moving that way form and fents boath. I dint come Big 2 to stan in the mud and sing for boats in the air. Weare going to do things here weare going to get things moving.”

It soundit to me like the 2 of them wer each 1 talking to his self not to the other I dint realy want to get mixt in with it. I jus kep shut.

Goodparley looking over to me then he said, “Riddley dyou think Im stupid?”

I said, “Why wud I think that?”

He said, “I dont know. Becaws Ive got littl eyes and I smyl too much. Becaws youre yung. Wel never mynd. You mus be getting perwel tiret of us 2 sitting here and moufing Mincery binses back and forth you mus be boart to death with it. Persoon you wont even want to be no connexion man you wont want no part of all that foolishness.”

I said, “O yes I wil Im on for it.”

He said, “You want that scar do you. Want to be connexion man and foller on your dad.”

I said, “I myt as wel keap it going down the line.”

He said, “Why keap it going? You think its some thing good?”

I said, “I dont know I never thot on that part of it. Its what my dad done and Iwl do it and all.”

He said, “Yes why not. Riddley wud you tel me if you thot I wer stupid?”

I said, “If you askit me.”

He said, “Yes I beleave you wud. Wel all right les put that scar on you and get you startit doing your connexions.”

We gone to the divvy roof then for the scar take. Torches berning and the woal crowd there. Befor we done it Goodparley & Orfing fittit up for the show what theywd be doing right after. The show Iwd be watching with a new scar on my belly and thinking on my 1st connexion.

Lorna Elswint up front with us for letting the blood and cutting in the scar. Goodparley and me stript off down to our trowsers and stood facing each other with all the crowd looking on. I had to stan on some fire wood so my belly wud be hy a nuff. Orfing stanning nex to me to tel me what to say.

I said to Goodparley, “Wheres Eusa?”

He said, “In my belly. Fear belly and brave belly. Hot and col. Emty and ful.”

I said, “Wheres his mark?”

He said, “On me from a nother on him from a nother. You asking for that mark?”

I said, “Im asking for that mark.”

He said, “How wil they know it when its on you?”

I said, “Its on me to make it knowt.”

Lorna Elswint took her neadl and let some blood out of Goodparleys right arm and smeart it on his scar.