@@@@@Soon I would be placed under a microscope
@@@@@Soon I
would be placed under a microscope and studiedIn
the other room, the message endedWireman cursed
and played it againThe
time I'd spent on the beach before Wireman came
along was missingThat part of my memory was as
blank as my early hospital stay after my accident
I took a final handful of cereal, crammed it into
my mouth, and swallowedIt stuck in my throat,
and that was goodI hoped it would
choke me
I went shuffle-limping back into the living room
Wireman was standing beside the answering machine,
wide-eyedwhat in God's name - ?"
914
"One of the paintings," I said, and kept on
shufflingNow that I had something in my stomach,
I wanted some more oblivionIf only for a little
whileOnly it was more than wanting, actually; it
was needingI had broken the broomhandlethen
Wireman came alongWhat was in the ellipsis? I
didn't know
I decided I didn't want to know?"
"Mary Ire bought oneI'm sure it was one from the
Girl and Ship seriesAnd she took it with herWe
should have knownWireman, I
need to lie downTwo hours, okay?
Then wake me and we'll go to the south endI don't expect you to
a