Зима тревоги нашей

           Dew-eyedDonaldRandolph—wonderfulonthenextbarstool,abarroomgentlemanwhosemannerspenetrateddeepintohisdrunkenness,butuselessunlessyouwantedtokeephouseonabarstool.

           HaroldLuce—itwassaidthathewasrelatedtothepublisherofTimemagazinebutwhosaidit,himself?Aflintymanwhohadareputationforwisdombasedonhislackofthepowerofspeech.

           EdWantoner—aliar,acheat,andathief.Supposedtobeloadedandhiswifewasdying,butEdtrustednoone.Hedidn’teventrusthisdognottorunaway.Keptittiedupandhowling.

           PaulStrait—apowerintheRepublicanparty.HiswifewasnamedButterfly—notanickname.ButterflyStrait,christenedButterfly,andthat’sthetruth.PauldidwellifNewYorkStatehadaRepublicangovernor.Heownedthecitydump,whereitcostaquartertodumpaloadofgarbage.Itwastoldthatwhentheratsgotsobadandbigastobedangerous,Paulsoldticketsfortheprivilegeofshootingthem,rentedflashlightsandrifles—stocked.22-calibercartridgestoshootthemwith.HelookedsolikeapresidentthatmanypeoplecalledhimIke.ButDannyTaylorwhilequietlydrunkhadreferredtohimastheNoblestPaulofthemAul,andthatstuck.NoblePaulbecamehisnamewhenhewasn’tpresent.

           Marullo—he’ssickerthanhewas.He’sgraysick.Marullo’seyeswerethoseofamanshotinthestomachwitha.45.Hehadwalkedpastthedoorwayofhisownstorewithoutgoingin.Margieenteredthestore,bouncingherneatbuttocks.