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- Path: sparky!uunet!haven.umd.edu!darwin.sura.net!gatech!concert!rutgers!cmcl2!panix!mtaranto
- From: mtaranto@panix.com (Mark Taranto)
- Newsgroups: rec.arts.books
- Subject: The Whitehorse Odyssey
- Keywords: Joyce, ale, soap, secret handshakes, puns
- Message-ID: <1992Dec24.151527.8666@panix.com>
- Date: 24 Dec 92 15:15:27 GMT
- Organization: The Inner Clique
- Lines: 246
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- Stately, bald Mark Taranto came through the door of the Whitehorse
- Tavern, bearing a satchel with books. Moments later, he held a
- Bass Ale aloft, and intoned:
-
- -- *Introibo ad altere liber*.
-
- Halted, he peered into the next room, and called up:
-
- -- I have reserved a room for 10-15 people.
-
- -- I'm afraid, sir, that we have double booked the room. But we can
- make room for you in the back.
-
- -- That will be fine.
-
- An empty table, too small for all, but good enough for now. Seated,
- he noticed the bar of soap in his coat pocket, and shifted it to his
- satchel.
-
- ***
-
- Ineluctable modality of the visible: at least that i no more thought
- through my eyes. Signatures of all things here I am thought to read.
- Signatures, and telephone numbers, signs telling the help to wash,
- promises of sexual favour. Mark closed his eyes, and listened to his
- stream splash upon the ice. A very short space of time through short
- times of space.
-
- Now, no handkerchief. Did I not take it up? The door opened. He laid
- the dry snot picked from his nostril on the ledge of the urinal,
- carefully. For the rest, let look who will.
-
- Behind, perhaps there is someone.
-
- ***
-
- The superior, and very intelligent, Gordon Fitch reset his smooth watch
- on his left wrist as he entered the tavern door. Ten minutes after seven.
- Seeing no one he knew, he asked some drinking men if they were the book
- people. They laughed, and he left, walking down Hudson Street, only to
- return in ten minutes.
-
- ---------
-
- Mark Taranto closed the Men's room door, looked around the tavern, and
- returned to his table to await the others. A look at his pocket watch.
- Twelve after seven. He looked, anxiously at each new arrivant, and sipped
- his pint of ale.
-
- ---------
-
- Thick haired Howard Gershen walked across eleventh street from the
- East Village, past the street musicians, past the kissing men. As
- he entered the Whitehorse, he noticed the lonely figure of Gordon
- Fitch walking away. The waitress directed him to Mark Taranto.
-
- ---------
-
-
-
- A yellow taxi driven by a crazed Iranian, containing the fair-haired,
- blue-eyed Mike Godwin came careening up Hudson Street, past the
- walking Gordon Fitch. Throwing money at the cab-driver, he threw
- himself violently out the cab door and into the Whitehorse. Upon
- seeing Mark Taranto, he screamed:
-
- -- Ale, I need an Ale.
-
- ---------
-
- Two carfuls of tourists passed slowly, their women sitting fore,
- grasping frankly the handrests. Kate and Don Zirilli waited, and
- then followed into the Holland Tunnel. The electronic clock on the
- dashboard flashed 7:20.
-
- ---------
-
- Steve NY, carrying pamphlets about poetry readings, reached the front
- door of the Whitehorse as Gordon Fitch returned. Together, they came
- in as Mark Taranto was moving the gathering to the larger table.
-
- ---------
-
- Jim Kasprzak, with friend Maureen, made their way from an Indian
- restaurant to the Whitehorse. As they entered the Whitehorse, a
- small car carrying the Zirillis passed.
-
- ***
-
-
-
- IN THE HEART OF THE NORTH AMERICAN METROPOLIS
-
- North of the financial district, west of the village, south of the
- mountains of midtown, the rabble called for beer and menus.
-
-
- THE ALE AND THE PEN
-
- A picture of Dylan Thomas, beer in hand, at the bar of the White horse.
-
- -- The shot that killed Dylan Thomas.
- -- He went not gentle into that good night.
-
-
- ONLY ONCE MORE THAT SOAP
-
- He reached into the satchel to retrieve a book containing pictures.
- The soap, had he forgotten it? Never mind, move it aside.
-
-
- ENTER POSTHUMOUS
-
- Don Zirilli entered the room. He looked incisively at their faces
- for a moment.
-
- -- Ah, good that you are here. I'll get Kate.
-
-
- GODWIN'S PUN
-
- -- And it said that lesbians should use a dental dam. For Christ's
- sake, lesbians are the lowest risk group that there is. Besides,
- you don't need a dam when you've got a dyke.
-
-
-
- CLEVER, VERY
-
- -- Clever, Taranto said, Very.
-
-
- ***
-
- Gordon Fitch ate with relish his sandwich. Mike Godwin spoke of
- exploding mustard gas, demonstrating as he spoke. Did someone say
- that the Swiss Burghers will catch up?
-
- A MacIntosh sat in the corner, observed by no one. The earliest
- trademarked symbol, he thought as he gazed upon the red triangle of Bass.
-
- ***
-
-
- What parallel courses did Jim and Taranto follow?
-
- Each drank with the other, ale for ale. Each had french fries.
-
-
- Of what did the duumvirate deliberate during their itinerary?
-
- Books, ale, New York, Troy, friendship (net and otherwise).
-
-
- Did Taranto discover common factors of similarity between their
- respective like and unlike reaction to experience?
-
- Both preferred an ale with flavor, a liberal education and a
- skepticism of the Roman Church.
-
-
- Were their views on some points divergent?
-
- Jim was more interested in science fiction, while Taranto preferred
- early twentieth classics. Taranto preferred English ales, while Jim
- saw the advantage to the local brew.
-
-
- Had Taranto discussed such subjects during nocturnal meetings
- in the past?
-
- In May with Joe Green, and in late June with Annette Bergmann
- and her fiancee.
-
-
- Did Taranto ask Godwin to show the secret rabble handshake?
-
- Yes.
-
-
- Did Godwin show this handshake?
-
- Yes
-
-
- Did Taranto ask out of scorn or a feeling of superiority?
-
- No.
-
-
- Why did he ask?
-
- As a self-deprecating form of humor, intended to impart a sense
- of oneness and community.
-
-
- Did this succeed?
-
- Yes.
-
- How did the evening end?
-
-
- Mike Godwin left money, and left the tavern. The others talked about
- him for a few minutes, finished their ales and left.
-
-
- How was the bill rectified?
-
- Each person left cash for what he had consumed.
-
-
- Was there cash left over?
-
- Yes, a generous tip was left for the help.
-
- Who was the first of the remaining group to leave?
-
- Mark Taranto, who grabbed the first cab that he saw.
-
-
- Were there others in the party?
-
- Yes.
-
- ***
-
- Yes the evening went well I particularly liked the people who came
- interesting conversation what is this yes yes the black sheep
- baaaa baaaa most romantic evening it was it was there that I told her
- I loved her but now we are on west street west is best the air shafts
- to the Holland Tunnell always fascinate me this cab driver is going
- quickly but they are always like that Jamaican he is yes yes I like
- the music almost home I shall remember this evening always
- yes I said yes I will yes.
-
-
-
-
- Mark Taranto December 1992 and
- James Joyce 1914-1921
-