I
Chapter 1
Stately,plumpBuckMulligancamefromthestairhead,bearingabowloflatheronwhichamirrorandarazorlaycrossed.Ayellowdressinggown,ungirdled,wassustainedgentlybehindhimonthemildmorningair.Heheldthebowlaloftandintoned:
—IntroiboadaltareDei.
Halted,hepeereddownthedarkwindingstairsandcalledoutcoarsely:
—Comeup,Kinch!Comeup,youfearfuljesuit!
Solemnlyhecameforwardandmountedtheroundgunrest.Hefacedaboutandblessedgravelythricethetower,thesurroundinglandandtheawakingmountains.Then,catchingsightofStephenDedalus,hebenttowardshimandmaderapidcrossesintheair,gurglinginhisthroatandshakinghishead.StephenDedalus,displeasedandsleepy,leanedhisarmsonthetopofthestaircaseandlookedcoldlyattheshakinggurglingfacethatblessedhim,equineinitslength,andatthelightuntonsuredhair,grainedandhuedlikepaleoak.
BuckMulliganpeepedaninstantunderthemirrorandthencoveredthebowlsmartly.
—Backtobarracks!hesaidsternly.
Headdedinapreacher’stone:
—Forthis,Odearlybeloved,isthegenuineChristine:bodyandsoulandbloodandouns.Slowmusic,please.Shutyoureyes,gents.Onemoment.Alittletroubleaboutthosewhitecorpuscles.Silence,all.
Hepeeredsidewaysupandgavealongslowwhistleofcall,thenpausedawhileinraptattention,hisevenwhiteteethglisteninghereandtherewithgoldpoints.Chrysostomos.Twostrongshrillwhistlesansweredthroughthecalm.
—Thanks,oldchap,hecriedbriskly.Thatwilldonicely.