We caught a line and I remember brandy.
Into the cradle endlessly rocking I spit, pacing. Insomnia tonightand left shoulder sore again, so let it rain on me--they can curerheumatism. Stupid as hell. What I said. In blankets and shivering.She: "Carl, I can't say it." Me: "Then call it square for that nightin Govino, Miss Luharich. Huh?" She: nothing. Me: "Any more of thatbrandy?" She: "Give me another, too." Me: sounds of sipping. It hadonly lasted three months. No alimony. Many $ on both sides. Notsure whether they were happy or not. Wine-dark Aegean. Good fishing.Maybe he should have spent more time on shore. Or perhaps sheshouldn't have. Good swimmer, though. Dragged him all the way toVido to wring out his lungs. Corfu should have brought them closer.Didn't. I think that mental cruelty was a trout. He wanted to go toCanada. She: "Go to hell if you want!" He: "Will you go along?"She: "No." But she did, anyhow. Many hells. Expensive. He lost amonster or two. She inherited a couple. Lot of lightning tonight.Stupid as hell. Civility's the coffin of a conned soul. By whom?--Sounds like a bloody neo-ex....But I hate you, Anderson, with yourglass full of teeth and her new eyes....Can't keep this pipe lit, keepsucking tobacco. Spit again!
Seven days out and the scope showed Ikky.
Bells jangled, feet pounded, and some optimist set the thermostat inthe Hopkins. Malvern wanted me to sit it out, but I slipped into my harnessand waited for whatever came. The bruise looked worse than it felt. I hadexercised every day and the shoulder hadn't stiffened on me.
A thousand meters ahead and thirty fathoms deep, it tunneled our path.Nothing showed on the surface.
"Will we chase him?" asked an excited crewman.
"Not unless she feels like using money for fuel." I shrugged.