Chapter 3

           MartinCunningham,first,pokedhissilkhattedheadintothecreakingcarriageand,enteringdeftly,seatedhimself.MrPowersteppedinafterhim,curvinghisheightwithcare.

           —Comeon,Simon.

           —Afteryou,MrBloomsaid.

           MrDedaluscoveredhimselfquicklyandgotin,saying:

           —Yes,yes.

           —Areweallherenow?MartinCunninghamasked.Comealong,Bloom.

           MrBloomenteredandsatinthevacantplace.Hepulledthedoortoafterhimandslammedittwicetillitshuttight.Hepassedanarmthroughthearmstrapandlookedseriouslyfromtheopencarriagewindowattheloweredblindsoftheavenue.Onedraggedaside:anoldwomanpeeping.Nosewhiteflattenedagainstthepane.Thankingherstarsshewaspassedover.Extraordinarytheinteresttheytakeinacorpse.Gladtoseeusgowegivethemsuchtroublecoming.Jobseemstosuitthem.Huggermuggerincorners.Slopaboutinslipperslappersforfearhe’dwake.Thengettingitready.Layingitout.MollyandMrsFlemingmakingthebed.Pullitmoretoyourside.Ourwindingsheet.Neverknowwhowilltouchyoudead.Washandshampoo.Ibelievetheyclipthenailsandthehair.Keepabitinanenvelope.Growsallthesameafter.Uncleanjob.

           Allwaited.Nothingwassaid.Stowinginthewreathsprobably.Iamsittingonsomethinghard.Ah,thatsoap:inmyhippocket.Bettershiftitoutofthat.Waitforanopportunity.

           Allwaited.Thenwheelswereheardfrominfront,turning:thennearer:thenhorses’hoofs.Ajolt.Theircarriagebegantomove,creakingandswaying.Otherhoofsandcreakingwheelsstartedbehind.