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de-loused in the comatorium....... - xivilization

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........<strong>de</strong>-<strong>loused</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>comatorium</strong>.......


........<strong>de</strong>-<strong>loused</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>comatorium</strong>.......<br />

Cerp<strong>in</strong> taxt stood high above <strong>the</strong> wobbl<strong>in</strong>g miscarriage of oncom<strong>in</strong>g traffic, he was weak <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

knees. Blackened out of synch knew his time here would soon end with an <strong>in</strong>ternal hemorrhag<strong>in</strong>g ma<strong>de</strong><br />

aware by <strong>the</strong> animonstrosity of his frankenstatue presence. No longer would he carry on his shoul<strong>de</strong>rs<br />

<strong>the</strong> weight of passion. No where were his next of k<strong>in</strong> to be found. Automotive surges spilled through <strong>the</strong><br />

ve<strong>in</strong>s below him. Was this <strong>the</strong> only passage that he could f<strong>in</strong>d? Sweat adorned <strong>the</strong> unmoped of his brow,<br />

he couldn’t possibly turn back. His jaws j<strong>in</strong>gled with cold stud<strong>de</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g, his stomach bulged midmetamorphosis,<br />

grumbl<strong>in</strong>g knot belches,too nervous to look down <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>vit<strong>in</strong>g concrete collision.<br />

He served himself no o<strong>the</strong>r choice.<br />

Between two mounta<strong>in</strong>s that claimed some half assed biblical truth, Cerp<strong>in</strong> knew better, as it had<br />

been etcha-sketched with <strong>the</strong> brand<strong>in</strong>g of a caveat emptor,scarlett with with rheumatic shakes. Cashed...<br />

beyond mock<strong>in</strong>g belief, this one last hit would sp<strong>in</strong> him and r<strong>in</strong>g him through <strong>the</strong> mud. He’d always been<br />

<strong>de</strong>nied, but this time he didn’t want to wait outsi<strong>de</strong> while <strong>the</strong> party raged on without him.<br />

The rail that adorned <strong>the</strong> top of <strong>the</strong> bridge pulsated a cape of w<strong>in</strong>ced shut on look<strong>in</strong>g. Cars drove<br />

past <strong>in</strong> amazement....“who <strong>the</strong> fuck was that w<strong>in</strong>g nut, do<strong>in</strong>g his trapeze act?” thought one commuter as<br />

he shot by. “ama... mira el muchacho va br<strong>in</strong>car!” screamed a thirteen year old girl try<strong>in</strong>g to flag her<br />

parents’ attention, rac<strong>in</strong>g by <strong>in</strong> a beat up truck filled br<strong>in</strong>k wise with landscape tools. A few miles up <strong>the</strong><br />

street, <strong>the</strong> band played on. Spr<strong>in</strong>gs coiled tightly <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> tendons of his legs......<strong>the</strong>y were ready. His tears<br />

smol<strong>de</strong>red <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> afternoon air, no one could stop this now. He won<strong>de</strong>red <strong>in</strong> flashback stanzas, omitted<br />

from this reality, his body took form...half-moon die cast on a February dive....an emblem for all to<br />

see....unamused compound of fractures, brittely await<strong>in</strong>g for <strong>the</strong> portal to open...plummet<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

pupil,crav<strong>in</strong>g a mute resolve.” I’ll fuck<strong>in</strong>g show <strong>the</strong>m" ga<strong>the</strong>red a light w<strong>in</strong>d past his face, <strong>de</strong>fecat<strong>in</strong>g a<br />

verse that sang “yo ya me voy, y nadien me recordara.” he smiled from his chan<strong>de</strong>lier vantage po<strong>in</strong>t,<br />

<strong>in</strong>audible to <strong>the</strong> ribbon mic ten<strong>de</strong>rness of his naked iris hear<strong>in</strong>g <strong>de</strong>vice. Wait<strong>in</strong>g for <strong>the</strong> opportunity,<br />

wilt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> s<strong>in</strong>...<strong>the</strong> cat among <strong>the</strong> pigeons could now pounce back <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> arms of his true family. Slic<strong>in</strong>g<br />

of one last breath, spark<strong>in</strong>g diamonds <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> headlights, forever sta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong> maroon stamps.<br />

Cerp<strong>in</strong> had always been a little overly possessed by his chimerical scribbl<strong>in</strong>gs. Between lunch<br />

breaks and dur<strong>in</strong>g class, maybe even <strong>in</strong> his sleep you would f<strong>in</strong>d him draw<strong>in</strong>g neo-cultures, diseased and<br />

grotesque. That was <strong>the</strong> portal he created, gett<strong>in</strong>g dirty <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> nails, small hairs yanked always a canvas<br />

moment wait<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> w<strong>in</strong>gs.This served its purpose well, as he was malnourished without <strong>the</strong> outlet.<br />

So vividly <strong>the</strong>y spoke to him, committed to its paper. He never noticed if anyone else could hear <strong>the</strong>m<br />

too..... no matter really, because it's what <strong>the</strong>y said...and how <strong>the</strong>y said it. <strong>the</strong>y were <strong>in</strong>fatuated with each<br />

2 3


o<strong>the</strong>r from <strong>the</strong> get of <strong>the</strong>ir disturbance. He knocked on doors that everyone else knew had no exsistence.<br />

Spiral notebooks lend<strong>in</strong>g variety <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> medium. Ouija boar<strong>de</strong>d <strong>in</strong>ch by gasp, slow notion <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir claps,<br />

center psalm lesions of gran<strong>de</strong>ur... imbred pett<strong>in</strong>g with<strong>in</strong> bald of po<strong>in</strong>t conceived <strong>in</strong>fatuation, clad <strong>in</strong> flat<br />

ash wait<strong>in</strong>g to be rejected, always wait<strong>in</strong>g to be <strong>de</strong>fective. un juramento s<strong>in</strong> forma,....me escape <strong>de</strong> las<br />

montanias, salte veneno...scalpula failed to release. You could say he was whipped by <strong>the</strong> argot of his<br />

outlet. Cerp<strong>in</strong> taxt, ever <strong>the</strong> ar<strong>de</strong>nt un<strong>de</strong>rdog...and of this was born a pig stye pavilion of dribbl<strong>in</strong>g<br />

hieroglyphics. He nee<strong>de</strong>d to be nee<strong>de</strong>d. Long<strong>in</strong>g for scores, unzipped face <strong>de</strong>formed expatriate. They<br />

were meant for each o<strong>the</strong>r. They <strong>de</strong>f<strong>in</strong>ed one ano<strong>the</strong>r, and soon <strong>the</strong>y would be one.<br />

Wait now....hadn’t this all happened before? Traced back <strong>in</strong> years. Recall<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> events, <strong>the</strong>re was<br />

a venom <strong>in</strong> numerical tries. An autocrat <strong>in</strong> waitng,unknown to himself even....he started los<strong>in</strong>g grip.<br />

The sangfroid hunchback that was held toge<strong>the</strong>r by electric ligature, was always f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g it har<strong>de</strong>r and<br />

har<strong>de</strong>r to stay alive, let alone make amends <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> eye of his storms. This had happened before.<br />

On an opaque afternoon, fend<strong>in</strong>g for himself, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> wake of a mistake, Cerp<strong>in</strong> was caught on guard<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e of quarrell<strong>in</strong>g fire. A closed can of <strong>in</strong>ebriation had found its way between his own crosshairs<br />

strik<strong>in</strong>g him <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> cranium. A class of migra<strong>in</strong>e unto itself. Maybe he had asked for it? Maybe it was <strong>the</strong><br />

excuse he nee<strong>de</strong>d to traverse <strong>the</strong> bor<strong>de</strong>rland of clairaudient dwell<strong>in</strong>gs. Through aneurysm vespers, <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> cab<strong>in</strong>et were <strong>the</strong> means.To smi<strong>the</strong>reens of an ach<strong>in</strong>g argument, he left <strong>the</strong> po<strong>in</strong>t of impact, yeah he<br />

left it for broke to medicate his wounds. Maybe he had ma<strong>de</strong> a mistake, but mistakes are what his dreams<br />

were ma<strong>de</strong> of.<br />

Supple and warm, came <strong>the</strong> covers over his body. That handful of morph<strong>in</strong>e his mo<strong>the</strong>r left beh<strong>in</strong>d<br />

when she died sure came <strong>in</strong> handy. This was <strong>the</strong> hit that marked <strong>the</strong> beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g. In and out of reality for<br />

one week on end, his resi<strong>de</strong>ncy would live <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>famy. It was here that <strong>the</strong>y would first make contact with<br />

him, <strong>the</strong> autocrat <strong>in</strong> wait<strong>in</strong>g, fight<strong>in</strong>g to stay alive.<br />

He had been nom<strong>in</strong>ated.....tagged and placed with<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> high water flood of twisted necks, bang<strong>in</strong>g<br />

ma<strong>in</strong>l<strong>in</strong>e swandives\cold gizzard to <strong>the</strong> eas<strong>in</strong>g of his confusion. we had studied his sli<strong>the</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g new fangled<br />

strut from abroad. True pr<strong>in</strong>ce among <strong>the</strong> liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>de</strong>ad. A wicker at wits end, swelter<strong>in</strong>g an oracle of muse,<br />

stuck upon <strong>in</strong>operable amputechture, whose flesh wounds felt him thud <strong>the</strong> ground each time gangs of<br />

obstacle contusions buried him zealot <strong>de</strong>ep <strong>in</strong> stupor. with his armor of broken sk<strong>in</strong>, he had now become<br />

a carcass of caricature immune to <strong>the</strong> slash<strong>in</strong>g on his right fretted arm, mend<strong>in</strong>g a hand me down<br />

impression dressed <strong>in</strong> revenant shar<strong>de</strong>s. One who had drunk with <strong>the</strong> owls, with neuce <strong>in</strong> left hand,<br />

showered by lacerations that poured as loud and quick as sand. Magnet for <strong>the</strong> wield<strong>in</strong>g of knives, with<br />

a handless <strong>de</strong>sert of lapw<strong>in</strong>g practic<strong>in</strong>g on his punch<strong>in</strong>g bag heart. stacked aga<strong>in</strong>st a tidal wave of<br />

formative droves, mak<strong>in</strong>g all his advances imperially morose. Bodies can only take so much wear and<br />

tear before <strong>the</strong>y collapse.<br />

Now <strong>the</strong> hurdles, <strong>the</strong>y stood <strong>in</strong> q’s dwarf<strong>in</strong>g one ano<strong>the</strong>r <strong>in</strong> size and shape. They seemed to throw<br />

<strong>the</strong>mselves at his body, punctur<strong>in</strong>g with cesspools,<strong>in</strong>sem<strong>in</strong>ate<strong>in</strong>g a passive aggressive whiteout that lit<br />

his hair on rooted nerve end<strong>in</strong>g. Mala suerte that reduced him to a ruble of <strong>in</strong>coherent belligerence. So<br />

as not to add to <strong>the</strong> <strong>de</strong>mons that leached un<strong>de</strong>r his socket of eyes, people would walk <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r way when<br />

<strong>the</strong>y saw him hypnotized. His tongue became a cluster of stolen h<strong>in</strong>ges unable to close sentences. To<br />

<strong>de</strong>cipher riddles imbe<strong>de</strong> <strong>in</strong> mud. Hunted by a bullet<strong>in</strong> of languistics, play<strong>in</strong>g <strong>de</strong>ad for keeps, and its sick<br />

to all who couldn’t see, how he could float to <strong>the</strong> br<strong>in</strong>k with pa<strong>in</strong> by his si<strong>de</strong>, flirt<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>somnia<br />

of daft parasites. You could hear him s<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> his sleep,"con cada cuerpo que estranes mas, este varco se<br />

olvido como a nadar." He had been salvaged almost every o<strong>the</strong>r time, but this one would brake <strong>the</strong><br />

foundation that he built from <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>si<strong>de</strong>.Unconventional and un<strong>de</strong>niable. A Tremulant megaphone<br />

calls….<br />

That is until we brimmed <strong>the</strong> ballots with <strong>the</strong> gr<strong>in</strong>s of bloodlet nom<strong>in</strong>ations, punctual and factual.<br />

After all he created us. What would we be without our beloved bull legged hex of a lea<strong>de</strong>r. An empty throne<br />

for <strong>the</strong> Tremulant regime was an unfitt<strong>in</strong>g glove left with pistol grip persuasion. and so our plan<br />

unfol<strong>de</strong>d- born of hatchet faced sp<strong>in</strong><strong>de</strong>ls, a conspiracy that reared its mug shot at <strong>the</strong> shores of nedra<br />

queret. A p<strong>in</strong>ched swerve found at <strong>the</strong> bottom of a manma<strong>de</strong> throat, that was carved <strong>in</strong>to stalactite teeth,<br />

and bandaged with <strong>the</strong> charm of taffeta webs. To some it was known as <strong>the</strong> orifice of <strong>the</strong><br />

un<strong>de</strong>rworld;stuffed with loons that helped bat Cerp<strong>in</strong>s eyes, where endorph<strong>in</strong>s ma<strong>de</strong> carnage from an<br />

<strong>in</strong>sulant pri<strong>de</strong>. Through out <strong>the</strong> years it had become a lair ma<strong>de</strong> of murals that drifted out of tar and th<strong>in</strong><br />

air. Belched of lab coated meat hooks caught on sp<strong>in</strong>al column thorns.... found with<strong>in</strong> a planet<br />

surroun<strong>de</strong>d by <strong>the</strong> grave r<strong>in</strong>gs of nervosa, with its mote float<strong>in</strong>g on an axis suspen<strong>de</strong>d <strong>in</strong> time. Filled<br />

with <strong>the</strong> remnants of an earth bound portal triangular <strong>in</strong> scope..........where <strong>de</strong>feated, Cerp<strong>in</strong> lay grow<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>in</strong> some tattered pit of stomach; a convalescent home of croak<strong>in</strong>g entrails, mangled by <strong>the</strong> pett<strong>in</strong>ess of<br />

<strong>in</strong>significant o<strong>the</strong>rs. On this black and white planet roared boils upon its shores, nest<strong>in</strong>g bedwett<strong>in</strong>g for<br />

our heir to <strong>the</strong> throne.<br />

Many a sun did pass before <strong>the</strong> house of Tremula Metacarpi was to <strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong> upon a new lea<strong>de</strong>r, and<br />

who better than <strong>the</strong> afore mentioned neo<strong>in</strong>fi<strong>de</strong>l known as Cerp<strong>in</strong> taxt. probably <strong>the</strong> loneliest hull of a<br />

man that we tremulants had ever layed eyes on. He resi<strong>de</strong>d <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> manacle sect of mundy, one of many<br />

small caves that overlooked <strong>the</strong> shanty town of rezjua, engrossed <strong>in</strong> shadows of curdled bla<strong>de</strong>s flash<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>the</strong>mselves <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> broad daylight piss of k<strong>in</strong>etic cleans<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

With immense fever we handpicked <strong>the</strong> irradi excerpts from <strong>the</strong> guilty library of half-truths. A book<br />

of suspen<strong>de</strong>d impact. How-to manual that taught seduction through <strong>the</strong> art of suici<strong>de</strong>. Chapterless void<br />

of crass ultimatums, liberally adopt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> monthly blood of human conversions. It was with <strong>the</strong> aid of<br />

this manual that set <strong>the</strong> snails <strong>in</strong>to a marmoset of momentum. Each page wrapped itself around Cerp<strong>in</strong>,<br />

rap<strong>in</strong>g its way <strong>in</strong>to his body. For it was by his hand that that we were damned to live <strong>in</strong> motion sick stills<br />

of bone colored paper. By his <strong>in</strong>k cult of prods that begot him his only children. Yet <strong>the</strong> ragman of mundy<br />

knew noth<strong>in</strong>g of his next to k<strong>in</strong>. <strong>the</strong> ones he abandoned <strong>in</strong> a stationary of un<strong>de</strong>rwater flu. So it had begun<br />

with a blunt caress of affection from <strong>the</strong> Cerphim Neuralgia, who summoned him with a warrant towards<br />

<strong>the</strong> canvas of his face.......thus adm<strong>in</strong>ister<strong>in</strong>g a morph<strong>in</strong>ed carriage of admission. The gates of thanos<br />

were now spread eagle wi<strong>de</strong>.<br />

{Cerp<strong>in</strong> mumbles a costpital riddle}<br />

They had imag<strong>in</strong>ed me as catastrophic....felt an anxious excrement scath<strong>in</strong>g directions from <strong>in</strong>si<strong>de</strong><br />

my rib cage. slouched over po<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g Gums at porcela<strong>in</strong>, ach<strong>in</strong>g max occupancy, mock<strong>in</strong>g efficiency. I’m<br />

start<strong>in</strong>g not to feel <strong>the</strong> left si<strong>de</strong> of my face, star<strong>in</strong>g at a field of numb quilted walkers. Mangled around an<br />

ectopic horse feed on mute. I’ve pa<strong>in</strong>ted my limbs with <strong>the</strong> black of my own ashes. Can’t see <strong>the</strong><br />

lightswitch when <strong>the</strong> lights were torn off, from its canal of wrist cuts. Can’t feel my way past <strong>the</strong><br />

obvious....must make neck ten<strong>de</strong>r......adorn it with perforation.......<strong>the</strong>y had imag<strong>in</strong>ed me as beaten and<br />

disfigured, across a stretched carpet of p<strong>in</strong>kslip <strong>de</strong>adl<strong>in</strong>es. <strong>the</strong>y beckon from a stomach wall l<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g, hung<br />

by jurors, gaffels at attention.<br />

“You have been brought here by way of your own <strong>de</strong>vice. you stand <strong>the</strong>re drenched <strong>in</strong> guilt, a<br />

sentence you can not <strong>de</strong>ny. To <strong>the</strong> outer reaches you will f<strong>in</strong>d f<strong>in</strong>d bipolar chance. You are here by<br />

banished for <strong>the</strong> crime of attempt. Aboard <strong>the</strong> televator hi<strong>de</strong>s, <strong>the</strong> ESP will take you by <strong>the</strong> serv<strong>in</strong>g of<br />

your time,” spoke <strong>the</strong> gentle <strong>in</strong>fant voice of unhydriate.....purgatory strategist. Perpetual lepers who<br />

protected <strong>the</strong> check mates.“To draw bedpost sight from <strong>de</strong>athbed dirt,” chanted <strong>the</strong> lepers with <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

map fresh out of wr<strong>in</strong>kles, fallen face penance first. Mosaic <strong>in</strong>tervals jones<strong>in</strong>g imm<strong>in</strong>ent<br />

mistakes,“followed by <strong>the</strong> stilt<strong>in</strong>g of glass candle lights”, <strong>the</strong>y wept.“For tunnels will lend you a route of<br />

repent<strong>in</strong>g escape” <strong>the</strong>y kept chant<strong>in</strong>g, repeat<strong>in</strong>g hymns <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> esp impure...........“three cuts <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong><br />

slattern conscience lurks <strong>the</strong> altan sarsen elections” <strong>in</strong>tervened <strong>the</strong> Tremulants <strong>in</strong> a whisper<strong>in</strong>g of<br />

thought, observ<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> trials from <strong>the</strong>ir maddox oracle “dragg<strong>in</strong>g a fire un<strong>de</strong>r <strong>the</strong> sheets of sadav<br />

commania” rebutted <strong>the</strong> Tremulants unseen to <strong>the</strong> lepers........“where you will reach a fear,” cont<strong>in</strong>ued<br />

<strong>the</strong> lepers, “that mirrors a view that is closer than it appears, <strong>in</strong> your sleep where you will f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong><br />

greatest of all lies..........<strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>significance of o<strong>the</strong>rs....”<br />

And such was <strong>the</strong>ir sentence. Prescription unfilled left clench<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> my hand. What was it that i<br />

had done ? I could not remember. Where was i go<strong>in</strong>g ? The lepers had said <strong>the</strong>ir piece and all across <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> council of unhydriate, <strong>the</strong> eyes had it. They prepared my craft <strong>in</strong> which i was to travel <strong>in</strong>. Adorned it<br />

with amoebas as a means of autopilot automation, for it was reapers who would man <strong>the</strong> ship. fastened<br />

on a seat of arachnids that swarmed my face and penetrated my mouth so as to gut me of cab<strong>in</strong> pressure.<br />

By <strong>the</strong> time <strong>the</strong> spi<strong>de</strong>rs had tied my body down I began to feel my eyes secret steam and blood. I felt my<br />

equilibrium tra<strong>de</strong> places with my lungs. My feet became walls my back ruptured open with choirs of<br />

latitu<strong>de</strong>, flapp<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>in</strong>gs that had spread an ephemeral rush that began to convert my <strong>in</strong>to a hibernat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

jet propelled larvae. I squirmed <strong>in</strong>to position, vomit<strong>in</strong>g rigor mortis settl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>, and <strong>the</strong>n it happened. A<br />

grapnel of thick neon quagmire shot open and sank me through <strong>the</strong> cont<strong>in</strong>uum of time and space itself.<br />

4 5


The lepers had successfully accomplished <strong>the</strong>ir task, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir punish<strong>in</strong>g of my wayward act. From <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

lodges of sweat sang <strong>the</strong> gallows birds of unhydriate. S<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g songs of excommunication <strong>in</strong>to a scape of<br />

<strong>in</strong>fra recon spectra probation. Lunged <strong>in</strong>to nightmare <strong>in</strong>si<strong>de</strong> <strong>the</strong> ESP impure. It was <strong>the</strong> attempt that fell<br />

victim to <strong>the</strong> shackles <strong>in</strong> this limitless soar, voic<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> stark plea of,“let us nurse this viper <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> bosom<br />

of your sewers.” “impeso en la sala <strong>de</strong> tivrones, un pais escrito con el noche. from <strong>the</strong> prickpatch of poppy<br />

fields exhumed un<strong>de</strong>r <strong>the</strong> tremble of lock and key. on this <strong>de</strong>af night of crossed eyes...don<strong>de</strong> me per<strong>de</strong>. My<br />

first attempt will cripple at <strong>the</strong> door of atrophy, ests son las viajes antes que me fui...”-Cerp<strong>in</strong> taxt<br />

son et lumiere;<br />

clipsi<strong>de</strong> of <strong>the</strong> p<strong>in</strong>k eye flight I’m not <strong>the</strong> percent you th<strong>in</strong>k survives. I need sanctuary <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> pages of this book. Gestat<strong>in</strong>g with<br />

all <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r rats, nurse said that my sk<strong>in</strong> will need a graft, I am of pock marked shapes, <strong>the</strong> verm<strong>in</strong> you need to loa<strong>the</strong>…<br />

<strong>in</strong>ertiatic esp;<br />

Now I’m lost…now I am lost. Last night i heard lepors, fl<strong>in</strong>ch like birth <strong>de</strong>fects, it’s musk was fecal <strong>in</strong> orig<strong>in</strong> as <strong>the</strong> words dribbled<br />

off of its ch<strong>in</strong>, it said, “I’m lost........now i am lost......,” Dolls wreck <strong>the</strong> m<strong>in</strong>ced meat of pupils, cast <strong>in</strong> oblong arms length. The hooks<br />

have been pick<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir scabs, where wolves hi<strong>de</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> company of men. It said, “I’m lost.....now i am lost.......” Are you peak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

red ?<br />

Perforated at <strong>the</strong> neck. What of this mongrel architect, a broken arm of sewers set, past present and future tense; clip si<strong>de</strong> of<br />

<strong>the</strong> p<strong>in</strong>k eyed founta<strong>in</strong>......“Now I’m lost......now I am lost,” it’s been said, long time ago you’ll be <strong>the</strong> first and last to know....you’ll never<br />

know….you’ll never know.<br />

{fetal positioned <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> stalk<strong>in</strong>gyard}<br />

His pupils twitched lightly, subtle panic aroused <strong>in</strong> his crystal eyes. Found himself <strong>in</strong> a sore of<br />

molastic putrescence that covered him entirely. It appeared to be a placenta like cocoon, that tore itself<br />

out of a pore <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> cement. Procured by a heat lamp of dry heaves, misplaced <strong>in</strong> an oil slick of coat<br />

hangers, that lanced off <strong>the</strong> beggars torso slityard, with its rusted cars, barrel fires and vagrant argot.<br />

“I too haven’t eaten for days,” said <strong>the</strong> bum clutch<strong>in</strong>g warmth by <strong>the</strong> barrel outsi<strong>de</strong>. They had seen<br />

brighter days, m<strong>in</strong>us cutty sark pauses, <strong>in</strong> and out of cells <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir empty slit pocket. “What of <strong>the</strong><br />

quarters that house <strong>the</strong> weary bones of tranquil fatigue, where might I f<strong>in</strong>d a bed of sand to stake my<br />

keep” Cerp<strong>in</strong> asked, unable to get a response....long pause cont<strong>in</strong>ued....f<strong>in</strong>gers unable to commit to <strong>the</strong><br />

po<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g. Seasonal w<strong>in</strong>ds ma<strong>de</strong> amends with <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>quiry, dra<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g a draft that turned his attention to a<br />

dilapidated boxcar sway<strong>in</strong>g, shutter<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> dark and empty slityard. The silence grew <strong>de</strong>afen<strong>in</strong>g, eye<br />

contact impaled on a nail of <strong>de</strong>nial. "Pull up a rail. It rumbles with <strong>the</strong> girth of early bird squeals," said one<br />

vagrant, “ponte trucha”, said <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r.<br />

The jettisoned grounds seemed damp with lethargy, crisp with eggshell walks. Careful not to<br />

graze <strong>the</strong> taste that grew restless, mouth<strong>in</strong>g off this sleep<strong>in</strong>g leviathan. Without question, adorned by <strong>the</strong><br />

heckl<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>in</strong>ks of <strong>the</strong> vagrants, Cerp<strong>in</strong> ma<strong>de</strong> his way to <strong>the</strong> jaundiced colored boxcar. It looked like a<br />

prescription bottle filled with tablets of multi colored seagulls. Trapped <strong>in</strong>si<strong>de</strong> were <strong>the</strong> shrieks of lap<br />

steel cackles, half hearse, half tree stump unear<strong>the</strong>d were heard. It sat <strong>the</strong>re maliciously wait<strong>in</strong>g with<br />

spl<strong>in</strong>ter<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>ner jokes. “si no te importa me duermo aqui,” coughed Cerp<strong>in</strong>, ready to close shop,<br />

shr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g his styes. “Three corneas, two feet, septic sk<strong>in</strong> and gimp swagger” crooned one vagrant. “Que<br />

ch<strong>in</strong>gaos quere <strong>de</strong>ser eso?” snapped Cerp<strong>in</strong>. “You’ll see,” he sneered back centrifugally hoarse <strong>in</strong><br />

premonition. “It is <strong>the</strong> lepers who s<strong>in</strong>g out <strong>the</strong> sentenc<strong>in</strong>g that brought you here, as you harbor rabid<br />

saunces, swimm<strong>in</strong>g up <strong>the</strong> portal of tomorrow’s <strong>de</strong>ad tongues” claimed that thick scented homeless<br />

gravel, trembl<strong>in</strong>g b<strong>in</strong>ge tremors.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> distance ......someth<strong>in</strong>g drew closer and closer to <strong>the</strong> slityard, circl<strong>in</strong>g around <strong>the</strong> bed<br />

where Cerp<strong>in</strong> taxt laid. It replicated prowl cars clos<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> kill, eye brows perked <strong>in</strong> won<strong>de</strong>r, yet<br />

unconscious and <strong>de</strong>ceitful. “I need to sleep off <strong>the</strong> unease that queses this howl<strong>in</strong>g metal buffalo”........and<br />

as sleep crept <strong>in</strong>, <strong>the</strong> doors choked closed with a card sharpened crack, awaken by shivers and millipe<strong>de</strong><br />

tacks. Strobelight<strong>in</strong>g manic submission, where mur<strong>de</strong>r premeditated as conversation, ran on a lynch<strong>in</strong>g<br />

of phonetic hur<strong>de</strong>s. Trampolened by empty streets “Que hermoso eres s<strong>in</strong> tu cara,” fisseld <strong>the</strong> virulent<br />

poison. Panic fetched to a writh<strong>in</strong>g......walls and ceil<strong>in</strong>gs ma<strong>de</strong> canyons out of my body. Jagged wood<br />

sculpted cuts <strong>in</strong> all <strong>the</strong> right places, smil<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> flesh water burials, <strong>de</strong>capitated shrugs <strong>in</strong> headless lust<br />

isles. “How could this happen, I’m <strong>in</strong> a trunk welted by pencors planted as <strong>de</strong>coys, sticky syphillistic up<br />

<strong>the</strong> neck of cranes and night<strong>in</strong>gale files...where I’d sooner dr<strong>in</strong>k <strong>the</strong> poison”...paced <strong>the</strong> voice <strong>in</strong> his head,<br />

neckbroken of grunts, from roller coasted rattles unkept <strong>in</strong> this new found hostel. “What sort of tra<strong>in</strong><br />

have i slept <strong>in</strong> tonight?”....his mo<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>n held him and said, “you have arrived.” “Stumbled upon a<br />

slipstream of stubble and rash ur<strong>in</strong>e sta<strong>in</strong>s, where <strong>the</strong> warm<strong>in</strong>g of marrow drew comfort from this<br />

blanketless tra<strong>in</strong>. An <strong>in</strong>sul<strong>in</strong> coma, bar<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> mark of Tremula Metacarpi; an executrix at play <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

cargo of Thanos”-anonymous<br />

roulette dares{ <strong>the</strong> haunt of...};<br />

Transient jet lag ecto mimed bison, this is <strong>the</strong> haunt of roulette dares. Ruse of metacarpi, caveat emptor....to all that enter here.<br />

Open wrist talk back aga<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> woun<strong>de</strong>d of its sk<strong>in</strong>, <strong>the</strong>y’ll p<strong>in</strong>prick <strong>the</strong> witness <strong>in</strong> ritual contrition. The am tr<strong>in</strong>ity fell upon asphyxia<strong>de</strong>railed,<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> rattles of…. ma<strong>de</strong> its way through <strong>the</strong> tracks of a snail slouch<strong>in</strong>g whisper, a half ass commute through umbilical blisters.<br />

Specter will lurk, radar has ga<strong>the</strong>red....midnight neuces from boxcar cadavers. Exoskeletal junction at <strong>the</strong> railroad, <strong>de</strong>layed. It’s<br />

because this is......cranial bleed<strong>in</strong>g, leaches tra<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> liv<strong>in</strong>g - cursed are <strong>the</strong>y who speak its name. Ruse of metacarpi,caveat emptor to<br />

all that enter here. Exoskeletal junction at <strong>the</strong> railroad <strong>de</strong>layed, it’s because this is…..rattl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> laughter h<strong>in</strong>ges spl<strong>in</strong>ter<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>si<strong>de</strong>..<br />

bludgeoned to a saddle, rang <strong>the</strong> cloister bell <strong>in</strong>si<strong>de</strong>…<strong>in</strong>si<strong>de</strong>….Exoskeletal junction at <strong>the</strong> railroad <strong>de</strong>layed…Exoskeletal junction at<br />

<strong>the</strong> railroad <strong>de</strong>layed.. it’s because this is…<br />

{<strong>in</strong>to a graveyard of slattern mobilization}<br />

Pneumonia mosque breath, capsiz<strong>in</strong>g ditches on a plank, epileptic with seizures. Broke <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong><br />

cyl<strong>in</strong><strong>de</strong>r r<strong>in</strong>gs, now nervosa was set catatonic and spent....“Tira me a las aranas! rompe me el osico! di<br />

me....di me ....vete ala ch<strong>in</strong>gada!” I screamed sud<strong>de</strong>nly awakened skidd<strong>in</strong>g hollow disorientation, left<br />

squirm<strong>in</strong>g with puls<strong>in</strong>g rust barter, raised <strong>the</strong> dice of entrails as a white flag.....yet i had been stapled to<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>de</strong>ck of a refuse barge, gagg<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> fumes of embalm<strong>in</strong>g fluids. Lost <strong>in</strong> shallow mote. P<strong>in</strong>ned down<br />

by whom it may concern, and <strong>the</strong>re were o<strong>the</strong>rs. Squeals for help need not apply, for not a soul was heard<br />

for miles. But how was I too to feel <strong>the</strong> la<strong>the</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g of conversations past, teeth<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>in</strong>fantile pants, clawed<br />

f<strong>in</strong>gers scraped aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> hush of broken craft.......un<strong>de</strong>r <strong>the</strong>ir breath <strong>the</strong> length of waves<br />

untuned...scattered helm of safeties perception. My ear canals did not lie, <strong>the</strong>re was someth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>re,<br />

bait<strong>in</strong>g me for <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>stance. my <strong>de</strong>signated means kept slamm<strong>in</strong>g up aga<strong>in</strong>st what i ma<strong>de</strong> out to be o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

ships, but I really couldn’t tell from my position. All i knew was that <strong>the</strong> impacts occurred every three<br />

m<strong>in</strong>utes or so. I was shut down by <strong>in</strong>halants float<strong>in</strong>g about, when i thought to myself, “This is fait<br />

accompli by <strong>the</strong> even<strong>in</strong>g.” Form<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>scisional tunnel vision, where I could only see upwards , I began to<br />

try to toss and turn, so that I could break free from <strong>the</strong> grip of <strong>the</strong> staples.....three <strong>in</strong>ches <strong>de</strong>ep and three<br />

<strong>in</strong>ches wi<strong>de</strong>. I wasn’t go<strong>in</strong>g anywhere.<br />

That night as it was permanent night, I feel asleep to <strong>the</strong> rumble hunger unseated <strong>in</strong> my works.<br />

Passed out from <strong>the</strong> heat and began hear<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> voices aga<strong>in</strong>. Only this time <strong>the</strong>y were left of center <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> distance, almost talk<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir sleep. Jerked from slumber, one of <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r ships had rammed my<br />

barge, tear<strong>in</strong>g my back from <strong>the</strong> hold of <strong>the</strong> staples, as <strong>the</strong> small of my back, sh<strong>in</strong>ed popped blisters filled<br />

of raw p<strong>in</strong>k sk<strong>in</strong>. With my right arm free, I ga<strong>in</strong>ed strength and pulled my upper body from <strong>the</strong> clench<br />

bitten of staples. The night breeze scorched <strong>the</strong> sk<strong>in</strong> of its virg<strong>in</strong> paper, and broke it <strong>in</strong>to a scab colored<br />

brand<strong>in</strong>g, birthmarked to <strong>the</strong> bone. I looked around <strong>in</strong> utter silence.<br />

Down below me i could see a black and white sphere....sullen and unnerv<strong>in</strong>g. Float<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a<br />

graveyard of abandoned submar<strong>in</strong>es that circled <strong>the</strong> magnificent dot as a r<strong>in</strong>ged mote. Had I been here<br />

before? What sort of <strong>de</strong>ja vu was it trick<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> my scalp?....Like a picture that I had d....r....a...............all<br />

this and still not a s<strong>in</strong>gle person <strong>in</strong> sight. I didn’t know how much longer to take it. Every breath I took<br />

taxed me. I slayed meager to <strong>the</strong> second. Only had <strong>the</strong> salt water of <strong>the</strong> r<strong>in</strong>gs to fill my tired body with.<br />

Then I heard <strong>the</strong>m aga<strong>in</strong>. Footsteps belittled by laughter. I jumped onto ano<strong>the</strong>r sub, and followed my<br />

concrete sense of radar, but couldn’t p<strong>in</strong> po<strong>in</strong>t where it was com<strong>in</strong>g from. From vessel to vessel, until I<br />

fell on a APL K19 Russian sub. It was riddled with pagan alphabet graffiti....empty. The water began to<br />

shiver <strong>in</strong> a frenzy, and before I knew it, <strong>the</strong> whole mote was awash rapid; a convulsion storm. I hid <strong>in</strong>si<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> K19, while a hail outsi<strong>de</strong> began to fester. Thun<strong>de</strong>rous gaps of passages relieved itself from above,<br />

sl<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g itself at <strong>the</strong> water, hemorrhag<strong>in</strong>g epical proportions. A tell tale noise swore down level<strong>in</strong>g.......I<br />

saw <strong>the</strong>m all.........a thresher 593’s skylark<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> bellyflopped strolls.......widowmakers.....a uss<br />

6 7


waltzer.....every unliv<strong>in</strong>g k<strong>in</strong>d of sub possible. Through <strong>the</strong> scope of <strong>the</strong> K19, with fl<strong>in</strong>ches, it<br />

precipitated a monumental wreckage, lay<strong>in</strong>g waste to <strong>the</strong> landfill.. when <strong>the</strong> calamity had subsi<strong>de</strong>d, I<br />

ventured out si<strong>de</strong>. There it fuck<strong>in</strong>g was....vessel impaled upon vessel, scath<strong>in</strong>g a hue silhouette of rats<br />

birth<strong>in</strong>g through mouths, tail ribbed <strong>in</strong>sertion of ca<strong>the</strong>ter mounta<strong>in</strong>s left menstruat<strong>in</strong>g on vessel upon<br />

vessel, diuretic <strong>in</strong> conception.....phlegmed of scrap heap clumps. Overpopulated dysentery spills. Where<br />

had it all come from, soak<strong>in</strong>g up <strong>the</strong> water grow<strong>in</strong>g scarcely visible. I was able to construct pathways<br />

from <strong>the</strong> <strong>de</strong>bris that littered itself everywhere. Leapt onto a copper t<strong>in</strong>ted sub given <strong>the</strong> moniker ECTOS<br />

333. Plucked from seasi<strong>de</strong>, same as <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs....nobody home. Was i <strong>the</strong> only one <strong>the</strong>re ? I glanced to<br />

<strong>the</strong> left and spotted a slogan written on <strong>the</strong> si<strong>de</strong> of <strong>the</strong> boat. It was a bit un<strong>de</strong>cipherable, covered by years<br />

of <strong>de</strong>cay, wea<strong>the</strong>r worn wet and peel<strong>in</strong>g. I squatted down for a closer read...it said....“it is <strong>de</strong>ci<strong>de</strong>d that all<br />

gods must die.....so as to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong> social and cosmological or<strong>de</strong>r, moattilliatta rema<strong>in</strong>s merciful and<br />

vengeful.” I really hadn’t <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>in</strong>test i<strong>de</strong>a. I knew noth<strong>in</strong>g of this superstitious ramble tangent<br />

<strong>in</strong>consistency; perhaps of a populist consensus. No comprehension as to why I could even read it, see<strong>in</strong>g<br />

as how it was written <strong>in</strong> a language never seen or heard of before.<br />

Held my patience for <strong>the</strong> voices to bubble up aga<strong>in</strong>, but all grew quiet,all rema<strong>in</strong>ed calm.<br />

Strolled along <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r subs, <strong>in</strong> search of food, blankets anyth<strong>in</strong>g really. Must have traveled around <strong>in</strong><br />

leap years for what seemed like forever. The lonel<strong>in</strong>ess collected <strong>in</strong> res<strong>in</strong> filled corners, smeared up and<br />

down <strong>the</strong>se ghastly waters. A permanence of night can do won<strong>de</strong>rs for <strong>the</strong> imag<strong>in</strong>ation I and didn’t need<br />

more of it. Cramp laked <strong>the</strong> jostl<strong>in</strong>g and brittle coat<strong>in</strong>g of my bones, sank sicker to a stick, ma<strong>de</strong> up of<br />

mirage bruises. Clotted myself, chewed on my own sk<strong>in</strong>. drift<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> and out, fits of repetition. Fell drowsy<br />

frail and heavy....heavy on <strong>the</strong> eyes....heavy on <strong>the</strong> palms...heavy on <strong>the</strong> concrete........heavy towards <strong>the</strong><br />

light....plaster<strong>in</strong>g vagueness brush<strong>in</strong>g along sway<strong>in</strong>g.....immediately I came to, f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>g myself engulfed<br />

by <strong>the</strong> voices. Verse vacuum I had to make a brake for it. I began shovel<strong>in</strong>g across <strong>the</strong> mourners, crimp<strong>in</strong>g<br />

at <strong>the</strong> alarms, look<strong>in</strong>g for a safehouse. Frantic jibberish spurt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>conspiritly, swallow<strong>in</strong>g tongue, swept<br />

for shelter, gutted bloated and tired. Had to f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> K19 to hi<strong>de</strong> my hy<strong>de</strong> from <strong>the</strong> spare part fallout.<br />

Sure its frame could withstand such a pound<strong>in</strong>g....and from <strong>the</strong> heavens sliced open an entry, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

grimac<strong>in</strong>g downpour glistened of ha<strong>de</strong>s. Near its <strong>de</strong>fecation peak, I managed to see <strong>the</strong> w<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g from<br />

afar. Felt my arms torque forward <strong>the</strong> stealth of all appendages.....ran <strong>in</strong> formation towards primate<br />

arch<strong>in</strong>g, swallow<strong>in</strong>g terra<strong>in</strong> whole, mark<strong>in</strong>g my target. Hurd spr<strong>in</strong>t <strong>the</strong> photof<strong>in</strong>ish like a mo<strong>the</strong>rfuck.<br />

I’d be damned to get propellered....back of my skull spawned sirens at full tilt. Imm<strong>in</strong>ent 30 seconds of<br />

mote. only one more sub...and <strong>the</strong>re she was sight for <strong>the</strong> sorest of all eyes, elbowed out of pivots. Turned<br />

my cranium <strong>in</strong> a gaulk at <strong>the</strong> charcoal lit sky. Taken for granted were <strong>the</strong> jets summon<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>the</strong> skies,<br />

because not only was this place filled with submar<strong>in</strong>es,but also it layed of transportation scrimmaged of<br />

mileage, bow<strong>in</strong>g 747’s, s<strong>in</strong>gle eng<strong>in</strong>e cesna’s, a tow<strong>in</strong>g pelt that thwarted a vanished account of junk<br />

piles.......this is where <strong>the</strong>y all came to....crash<strong>in</strong>g all around me. Cramp struck <strong>in</strong> arm aga<strong>in</strong>, phoenix<br />

craft and carpel throbs, aloud snow lotion stalks......my last dash ma<strong>de</strong> from a leap of faith....lid shut<br />

tight at <strong>the</strong> soles of my feet. Would I make it this time? Eyes shut from terror, th<strong>in</strong>k I lost control of my<br />

function. Pigmented pearl at a harbor.....padd<strong>in</strong>g a cell of my own. Sat <strong>the</strong>re petrified overhead <strong>the</strong><br />

collisions, as it gashed open <strong>the</strong> siege of all miss<strong>in</strong>g ships.. safety <strong>in</strong> numbers, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>m where I hid. The<br />

<strong>in</strong>terface wreck sealed shut <strong>the</strong> entrance of my K19. Now <strong>the</strong> only fuck<strong>in</strong>g problem was open<strong>in</strong>g it. It<br />

ra<strong>in</strong>ed for three straight hours. Form<strong>in</strong>g overhead through <strong>the</strong> scope, I observed a layer of dry ice residue<br />

ma<strong>de</strong> from a <strong>de</strong>ad vessel collage.<br />

I ma<strong>de</strong> it....or had I really. Claustraphonic circumprison was I runn<strong>in</strong>g out of air? The K19 could<br />

no longer re-enter <strong>the</strong> atmosphere <strong>in</strong> question, and with choices guzzled on empty, I fell <strong>in</strong>to exhaustion<br />

throw<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> towel. “Ala verga!”...i whimperd.....“I’ll just sit here till <strong>the</strong>y rescue me”...I kid<strong>de</strong>d myself,<br />

sway<strong>in</strong>g mental patiently. “I’ll just keep tell<strong>in</strong> myself that I’m o.k.”....“someone ...will...come....” snaped<br />

<strong>in</strong>to sobs, followed by hysterics, maimed with laughter. This shit was endless. For <strong>the</strong> peck<strong>in</strong>g, I too<br />

became a voice <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> pond. Eyes rolled back solitary <strong>in</strong> conf<strong>in</strong>ement. Unglued <strong>in</strong> its eternal waltz, slowly<br />

my be<strong>in</strong>g transparent, clocked out. All that was left was a puddle ma<strong>de</strong> of spit. Heavy on <strong>the</strong> eyes... grew<br />

heavy on <strong>the</strong> eyes......“if you paddle away, you know we’ll f<strong>in</strong>d and put you back <strong>in</strong> this vesicle colony of<br />

mute vernacular. No dramatic means of fenc<strong>in</strong>g aga<strong>in</strong>st this solitary sickness. As it precipitates flare<br />

gun shots. Cough<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> armpit of a mecharest home because when it ra<strong>in</strong>s, you know it pours”<strong>the</strong><br />

mongrel tarants.<br />

tira me a las aranas;<br />

drunkship of lanterns;<br />

You’ve got <strong>the</strong> lot to burn. A shelve of pig smo<strong>the</strong>red cries. Is <strong>the</strong>re a spirit that spits upon <strong>the</strong> exit of signs? Is anybody <strong>the</strong>re?<br />

These steps keep on grow<strong>in</strong>g long. Bayonet trials rust propellers await…No…Nobody is heard, row<strong>in</strong>g sheep smiles for <strong>the</strong> <strong>de</strong>ad. Nobody<br />

is heard..an antiquated home. A float with eng<strong>in</strong>es on mute. Sui generis ship sp<strong>in</strong>ed around <strong>the</strong> yard. Is anybody <strong>the</strong>re ? These craft only<br />

multiply. At <strong>the</strong> nape of ru<strong>in</strong>s rust propellers await… No… Nobody is heard, compass wilt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> w<strong>in</strong>d. Nobody is heard. Row<strong>in</strong>g sheep<br />

smile for <strong>the</strong> <strong>de</strong>ad. Transoceanic <strong>de</strong>pth <strong>in</strong> this earth - <strong>in</strong> this cenotaph. Lash of one thousand eye brows click<strong>in</strong>g. Count<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> toll.<br />

Count<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> toll. You’ve got <strong>the</strong> lot to burn. A shelve of pig smo<strong>the</strong>red cries.Is <strong>the</strong>re a spirit that spits upon <strong>the</strong> exit of signs. Is anybody<br />

<strong>the</strong>re ? These steps keep on grow<strong>in</strong>g long. Bayonet trials rust propellers await..Nobody is heard, compass wilt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> w<strong>in</strong>d. Nobody<br />

is heard, row<strong>in</strong>g sheep smile for <strong>the</strong> <strong>de</strong>ad. Transoceanic <strong>de</strong>pth <strong>in</strong> this earth <strong>in</strong> this cenotaph.Carpel jets…Hit <strong>the</strong> ground. Carpel jets…Hit<br />

<strong>the</strong> ground..Lash of one thousand eyebrows click<strong>in</strong>g. Count<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> toll. Count<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> toll. Lash of one thousand eyebrows click<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

Count<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> toll. Count<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> toll.<br />

{scha<strong>de</strong>nfreu<strong>de</strong> are <strong>the</strong> grow<strong>in</strong>g pa<strong>in</strong>s}<br />

Civets from <strong>the</strong> recidivist gasped profusely..“Lacerated <strong>the</strong>ir tongues, I th<strong>in</strong>k <strong>the</strong>y speak too much,<br />

as it ransacked a clear<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> front of me. Vocal chords <strong>de</strong>nied breath, pallid with metric lick<strong>in</strong>g. In this<br />

fog, it provoked me a new name, by <strong>the</strong> sk<strong>in</strong> of ghemora hotel, I thought that I had escaped...key phrase<br />

be<strong>in</strong>g “I thought”. Snow<strong>in</strong>g gave way to fl<strong>in</strong>ches <strong>in</strong> this tube bolted screen. I had excelerated <strong>the</strong> growth<br />

of <strong>the</strong> esp cont<strong>in</strong>uum through fractur<strong>in</strong>g hecatomb washes scrap<strong>in</strong>g my fiber, with manual <strong>in</strong>centive.<br />

The esp had allowed me once aga<strong>in</strong> to transgress lateral <strong>de</strong>mentia, radarless chameleons beat<strong>in</strong>g a path<br />

for <strong>the</strong> bleep on this screen. Leav<strong>in</strong>g beh<strong>in</strong>d one body and pour<strong>in</strong>g back <strong>in</strong>to an exo<strong>the</strong>rmic version of<br />

ano<strong>the</strong>r. Found <strong>in</strong>si<strong>de</strong> out tap<strong>in</strong>g a transparency of hail everywhere. Viciously I swam through clear muk<br />

molten props <strong>in</strong> amelt<strong>in</strong>g fallout of noth<strong>in</strong>gness....humm<strong>in</strong>g germs....voluptuous <strong>in</strong>signia sewn out of<br />

thorough breds. Left a trail of memories to try and figure out how to get back. Felt dusted to <strong>the</strong> niles. A<br />

racket <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> chamber, smil<strong>in</strong>g to me an assurance of “You really needn’t breath anymore, look around<br />

you...it is <strong>de</strong>void of function.”<br />

Faith vanish<strong>in</strong>gs, hence <strong>the</strong> litter pass<strong>in</strong>g by mutter<strong>in</strong>g un<strong>de</strong>rbreath, and waterlike. I thought<br />

someone might still be able to spot me...testator nomadic. Trail<strong>in</strong>g a tail of trick mirrors,<br />

hyperventilat<strong>in</strong>g as I did past my own temple. The burn<strong>in</strong>g sank a fa<strong>de</strong> as I swam <strong>de</strong>eper <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong><br />

listen<strong>in</strong>g..."all of this time bedsore conta<strong>in</strong>ment, where am I now that <strong>the</strong> music has fa<strong>de</strong>d.” Enraptured<br />

<strong>in</strong> vico<strong>de</strong>n tucks, kennel swarms of cumulonimbus dogs ran through my <strong>de</strong>lusion, was I just mak<strong>in</strong>g it<br />

up or was <strong>the</strong>re a maelstrom of pets, impend<strong>in</strong>g a gush upon me? With wet warm towels <strong>in</strong> went blank<br />

ret<strong>in</strong>a awol, guess I’d gotten use to that. Narchromeleptic fever pictures unripe for <strong>the</strong> recon. Traveled<br />

on sick leave beds through out <strong>the</strong>se pages. Apparently a hustle and bustle wanked freely beneath my<br />

manupod, or was I on an operat<strong>in</strong>g table ? The smell of sterile gauze gave abscess dripp<strong>in</strong>g, dis<strong>in</strong>fectant<br />

for <strong>the</strong> ruckus below grunt<strong>in</strong>g of lap dance foam and limbless muts, scanned <strong>the</strong> floors below me h<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g<br />

pa<strong>in</strong>ted me immobile. A life support christened me helpless, with one surgeon stand<strong>in</strong>g over me. “You<br />

have <strong>the</strong> body of a mistake,” he said. “and you <strong>the</strong> clumsy hands of a novice,” I snapped, emaciated by <strong>the</strong><br />

confi<strong>de</strong>ntiality cas<strong>in</strong>g that choked me claustrophobe affection. “How long have I been un<strong>de</strong>r?”...hop<strong>in</strong>g<br />

for someth<strong>in</strong>g real....“Who ever said you woke up ?”<br />

Now I recognized where <strong>the</strong> voices came from. Found face to hound, leant <strong>in</strong> for an answer. “We<br />

had to lure you here somehow,” <strong>the</strong> doctor smirked. “These unruly abom<strong>in</strong>ations are <strong>the</strong> ones who gui<strong>de</strong>d<br />

you here. Not much <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> way of looks, yet plenty to gaulk at...<strong>the</strong>y speak beautifully, dont you agree?”<br />

Fuck<strong>in</strong>g monster had a cunn<strong>in</strong>g h<strong>in</strong>t about him, smol<strong>de</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g calm reserve, with rows of teeth up his<br />

sleeve. I nee<strong>de</strong>d to know how <strong>the</strong> animals spoke to me <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> r<strong>in</strong>gs. “Show me how you storm ventriloquiy<br />

at <strong>the</strong> w<strong>in</strong>d, fast<strong>in</strong>g particle past <strong>the</strong> mum of of past participles?” I grew stubborn and shitfaced of<br />

medic<strong>in</strong>e. Labotomized <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> frances ward, “What’s that smell?” carpet aroma sail<strong>in</strong>g of burnt crisp hair.<br />

“That would be you my fea<strong>the</strong>red friend.” Found my ve<strong>in</strong>s startl<strong>in</strong>g annoyed of form, ejected <strong>in</strong> an<br />

emulsion taxi<strong>de</strong>rmi still....drawn and quartered. “What have you done to my body”...“All for <strong>the</strong> better<br />

moattilliatta...you will fly aga<strong>in</strong>.” He spoke with such <strong>de</strong>term<strong>in</strong>ation. his speech seem to <strong>in</strong>toxify my<br />

adrenal<strong>in</strong> rush, dumb<strong>in</strong>g me <strong>de</strong>meral flash heat.<br />

Wolfram Tarant as i would read on his name tag <strong>in</strong> peripherals, was <strong>the</strong> name of <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>fectant<br />

8 9


MD, a quack<strong>in</strong>g malpractice advocate whose very name was synonymous with butchery. His offices,<br />

located on <strong>the</strong> fault l<strong>in</strong>es of <strong>the</strong> vocifur euphrates entangled itself <strong>in</strong> a splendorous sedative impunity as<br />

it was masked a camouflage of stiple teleferance. This worked to his advantage, with no outsi<strong>de</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>tervention. His services had been requested by <strong>the</strong> mentiads, which was an alias for <strong>the</strong> tremulants.<br />

Bounty hunters if you will. But without surgical skill <strong>the</strong>y could not perform <strong>the</strong> proper surgery nee<strong>de</strong>d<br />

on Cerp<strong>in</strong>. The task was simple- "by or<strong>de</strong>r of red tezcatlipoca- base tendon to <strong>the</strong> high or<strong>de</strong>r of tremula<br />

metacarpi- unleash <strong>the</strong> last of <strong>the</strong> great teraquetzals - spare no blood-fit like glove.”<br />

When duty called with bounty and receipt, <strong>the</strong> payment ma<strong>de</strong> a mockery as to <strong>the</strong> relevance of<br />

Cerp<strong>in</strong>s body. Wolfram chased around <strong>the</strong> room. Fantasies wired his eyes immense and unethical, as if<br />

consumed by a dictation of good posture and common <strong>de</strong>cency. “You will reach <strong>the</strong> highest peaks of jackal<br />

children sacrifice, ra<strong>in</strong> f<strong>in</strong>gers down, <strong>in</strong> a bath of blood.....” He shook with priapic vigor. I couldn’t fight<br />

it. Attached to mach<strong>in</strong>ery, cowardice became shock. The good doctor had a heal<strong>in</strong>g touch. His hands<br />

lapped at my wounds for f<strong>in</strong>gers he had none. Attached to his wrists were <strong>the</strong> heads of mongrels tear<strong>in</strong>g<br />

at my flesh. Nurs<strong>in</strong>g it to wealth. No silver scalpels, but filthy dogs that w<strong>in</strong>ked <strong>the</strong> stare of exlovers<br />

past, present and sutured tense. “Why have you done this to me?”...“You did this to yourself...besi<strong>de</strong>s it<br />

is merely an option,” creaked a slovenly gr<strong>in</strong> lip. “Once you taste it, <strong>the</strong>re’s no turn<strong>in</strong>g back” I didn’t<br />

un<strong>de</strong>rstand. The w<strong>in</strong>gspan of my speech began shriek<strong>in</strong>g cr<strong>in</strong>ges. “Tranquilo escraboso, tranquilo.”<br />

“What choices do you speak of!” i <strong>de</strong>man<strong>de</strong>d. “Observe restless one, observe.....on your cornea will appear<br />

<strong>the</strong> image of your sworn enemy. A bricktank <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>al <strong>in</strong>stallation of your discontent. An obese boar<br />

who goes by koral mataxia. This foul tempter, commissioned by <strong>the</strong> tremulants will f<strong>in</strong>d his holves<br />

enjoy<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> fruits of your en<strong>de</strong>avors. He is to steal your most beloved, and you are you are to allow him<br />

to do so with little opposition.” Wolfram seemed to stray. “If it wasn’t for him where would tremula be, I<br />

forsee with pleasure...<strong>the</strong>re must be organization <strong>in</strong> this chaos. do what thou wilt spreads very<br />

th<strong>in</strong>ly...our very existence <strong>de</strong>pends on your wrath” I didn't un<strong>de</strong>rstand. “Your greatest losses will fan<br />

this very flame.” Fermium waves of cancerous leaches sucked me dry of a fight. I did not believe him.<br />

Wolfram began shout<strong>in</strong>g, “Cursed are <strong>the</strong> genes of your cathartic existence! It was written and so shall<br />

it be. how perfect your prototype of nihilistic expenditure. A true pr<strong>in</strong>ce among <strong>the</strong> liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>de</strong>ad.” My<br />

doubts <strong>in</strong>creased with voltage. “You can’t turn back, you haven’t got <strong>the</strong> courage.” Wolfram <strong>in</strong>sisted,<br />

replac<strong>in</strong>g my arms with w<strong>in</strong>gs cast out <strong>in</strong> this orgy of uncut gordian knots. “floo<strong>de</strong>d you will grieve at an<br />

<strong>in</strong>stitutional romance, engulfed <strong>in</strong> a rage of jealous activity. she will evoke your self <strong>de</strong>struct only after<br />

you have struck,” he beamed <strong>in</strong> soapoperative legislation. “We will provi<strong>de</strong> you with <strong>the</strong> gate, it is you who<br />

has to make <strong>the</strong> choice, I trust my custom job will conv<strong>in</strong>ce you of your self worth...jo<strong>in</strong> us and leave <strong>the</strong>m<br />

all beh<strong>in</strong>d. can you <strong>de</strong>ny this crown, peasant rant<strong>in</strong>g for torture <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> fix<strong>in</strong>g of pure <strong>de</strong>ca<strong>de</strong>nce.”<br />

Back <strong>in</strong> Rezjua, semantics san<strong>de</strong>d down <strong>the</strong> morale at <strong>the</strong> ga<strong>the</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g sympathizers who rallied<br />

around Cerp<strong>in</strong>s body. The amount of morph<strong>in</strong>e that he <strong>in</strong>gested was enough to appropriate his state<br />

fur<strong>the</strong>r and fur<strong>the</strong>r, to <strong>the</strong> verge of permanent psychosis .The tremulants claimed a forfeiture of<br />

property......that of <strong>the</strong> temple of his body...start<strong>in</strong>g with his comprehension,....were <strong>the</strong>y conv<strong>in</strong>c<strong>in</strong>g<br />

him? Some prayed, some paced, some knew that <strong>the</strong> worst was yet to come. Messages kept scrawl<strong>in</strong>g out<br />

of his mouth......tempt<strong>in</strong>g a belief that everyth<strong>in</strong>g was alright. Those closest to him held <strong>the</strong>ir breath.....<br />

aA jewel like no o<strong>the</strong>r was about to be stolen, and of all <strong>the</strong> treasures <strong>the</strong>y had to pick from <strong>the</strong>irs.... It was<br />

enough to make you laugh at <strong>the</strong> <strong>de</strong>fil<strong>in</strong>g martyrdom of a petty catholic guilt. He had yet to live his<br />

slogan, mak<strong>in</strong>g his way through prune wr<strong>in</strong>keld omens...hibernat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> gums, rationed and chatter<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

As was his logic to box your own response. What was it that Wolfram was foam<strong>in</strong>g at <strong>the</strong> hands about?<br />

Cerp<strong>in</strong> came <strong>in</strong> and out of his sleep, his body sat up <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> emergency room found elbow <strong>de</strong>ep <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> clasp.<br />

More of his friends ga<strong>the</strong>red, ,fus<strong>in</strong>g a resi<strong>de</strong>ntial vigil, pray<strong>in</strong>g for his soul. He mutated double speak,<br />

an oar s<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g not know<strong>in</strong>g where it was. Everyone slouched torn of pale witness to an apparation. Please<br />

come back to us. just as he started mak<strong>in</strong>g out <strong>the</strong> images, he awoke back <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> arms of Wolfram<br />

Tarant, unable to break <strong>the</strong> morph<strong>in</strong>e tackle that found him <strong>de</strong>ad asleep. The dogs para<strong>de</strong>d back and<br />

forth un<strong>de</strong>rneath speak<strong>in</strong>g at his w<strong>in</strong>gs. Cerp<strong>in</strong>s body was now of normal cosmetics, no longer a butchers<br />

shop...trimmed of fat on <strong>the</strong> ground. No more prob<strong>in</strong>g or slic<strong>in</strong>g. He felt rested. He sat and smiled, “Where<br />

am I?”...unable to remember. The dogs began to speak <strong>in</strong> unison tones, sirens of shriveled mut<strong>in</strong>y. “When<br />

will you come convuls<strong>in</strong>g to my basement?”- Dr. Wolfram Tarant<br />

eriatarka;<br />

And <strong>the</strong>re are those who hadn’t found <strong>the</strong> speak<strong>in</strong>g so wrong,is it wrong? Of pavolov lore, <strong>the</strong>y ran rampant through <strong>the</strong> floors,<br />

is this wrong ? Feels so wrong…happened on a respirator <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> basements.Are <strong>the</strong>y gone? Are <strong>the</strong>y gone?... Stung <strong>the</strong> slang of a gallows<br />

bird.. rationed a <strong>de</strong>ad letter pure. Trackmarked amoeba lands craft ,cartwheel of scratches,dress <strong>the</strong> tapeworm as pets.Tenticles smirk<br />

please, fl<strong>in</strong>ched <strong>the</strong> cocooned meat, <strong>in</strong>fra-recon forgets. Now <strong>the</strong>re are those who f<strong>in</strong>d comfort <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> breath<strong>in</strong>g wrong, is it wrong ? It<br />

houses <strong>the</strong> watchful eyes, <strong>the</strong>y’re pant<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a pattern <strong>in</strong> droves, are <strong>the</strong>y gone? Happened on a respirator, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> basement is it gone ?<br />

Are <strong>the</strong>y gone? Stung <strong>the</strong> slang of a gallows bird. Sanctioned a <strong>de</strong>ad letter pure. Trackmarked amoeba lands craft. Cartwheel of<br />

scratches….dress <strong>the</strong> tape worm as pets. Tentacles smirk please fl<strong>in</strong>ch <strong>the</strong> cocooned meat <strong>in</strong>fra-recon forgets. Evaporated <strong>the</strong> fur,<br />

because it covers <strong>the</strong>m. If you only knew <strong>the</strong> plans <strong>the</strong>y had for us. Evaporated <strong>the</strong> fur, because it covers <strong>the</strong>m. If you only knew <strong>the</strong><br />

plans <strong>the</strong>y had for us.They used to have pulses <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>m, but impulse has ma<strong>de</strong> <strong>the</strong> strong.<br />

They used to have pulses <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>m, but impulse has ma<strong>de</strong> <strong>the</strong>m strong. Evaporated <strong>the</strong> fur…because it covers <strong>the</strong>m. If you only<br />

knew <strong>the</strong> plans <strong>the</strong>y had for us.Trackmarked amoeba lands craft, cartwheel of scratches dress <strong>the</strong> tapeworm as pets..Tentacles smirk<br />

please, fl<strong>in</strong>ch <strong>the</strong> cocooned meat.. Infra-reco forgets. Gotta be a way..of gett<strong>in</strong>g out. Are you just grow<strong>in</strong>g old? Trackmarked amoeba<br />

lands craft, cartwheel of scratches, dress <strong>the</strong> tapeworm as pets.<br />

{n<strong>in</strong>os <strong>de</strong> la tierra quemando-hijas <strong>de</strong> sangre llamando}<br />

Sowvietna, a barron <strong>de</strong>sert lumped on <strong>the</strong> caskett si<strong>de</strong> of Nedra Queret. The heat that rose from<br />

biege ashes kneeled many a victim over <strong>in</strong> a temperature purg<strong>in</strong>g quick to dismantle from evaporation.<br />

Where was it that Cerp<strong>in</strong> had found himself now? The <strong>de</strong>sert climate was an obvious given, but who was<br />

he. His m<strong>in</strong>d had been erased of all thoughts. To himself a series of clicks and guttural moans laced his<br />

speak<strong>in</strong>g patterns. What was happen<strong>in</strong>g to him? He looked down at his arms.... as <strong>the</strong>re were many. He<br />

tried scratch<strong>in</strong>g his head <strong>in</strong> disbelief, but his hands floated right through his body. The gell that<br />

<strong>in</strong>cased his body fell <strong>in</strong> drops of blue transparent t<strong>in</strong>gles that fell upwards to <strong>the</strong> sky <strong>the</strong>n disappeared.<br />

He felt an itch<strong>in</strong>g warmth on <strong>the</strong> roof of his mouth every time he tried to speak. He opted to ditch <strong>the</strong><br />

click<strong>in</strong>g grunts <strong>in</strong> favor of <strong>the</strong> long moans that drew <strong>in</strong>stant gratification. This form of communication<br />

resembled sounds of sea life; sonar catalyst breach<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> law un<strong>de</strong>rfoot. Beh<strong>in</strong>d him were <strong>the</strong> rema<strong>in</strong>s<br />

of disemboweled corpses. Two antlike creatures with human facial features carved <strong>in</strong> its back, where<br />

<strong>in</strong> pla<strong>in</strong> view of Cerp<strong>in</strong>....however Cerp<strong>in</strong> was no longer his name, and for that matter he was a she.<br />

Clavietika Tresojos as she was bran<strong>de</strong>d, commenced her float<strong>in</strong>g waltz across <strong>the</strong> dunes kill<strong>in</strong>g<br />

everyth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> her path, and with just reason. All that was Cerp<strong>in</strong> taxt could no longer be seen. She<br />

danced aimlessly on <strong>the</strong> sand towards sleep<strong>in</strong>g villages, with liberation on her lips and <strong>de</strong>ath <strong>in</strong> her<br />

pouch, grant<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> wish of lust everlast<strong>in</strong>g. The creatures left for <strong>de</strong>ad on <strong>the</strong> ground sank slowly<br />

<strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> sand, about eight feet wi<strong>de</strong> with antennas mounted on its head-piece. The faces on its back<br />

were charred with <strong>the</strong> sha<strong>de</strong> of struggle, while its legs were cranked backwards broken and<br />

dangl<strong>in</strong>g..and its eyes, yes its eyes had been cut from <strong>the</strong> sockets and found <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir mouths.... closed<br />

<strong>in</strong> a mouthful, daydreamt episo<strong>de</strong>s traumaligned-content. Not a warn<strong>in</strong>g but a realization for <strong>the</strong><br />

o<strong>the</strong>rs-as this was <strong>the</strong>ir future. Clavietika gli<strong>de</strong>d away without a s<strong>in</strong>gle drop of blood on her..forever<br />

clean with <strong>the</strong> power of pa<strong>in</strong>ted speech; sublim<strong>in</strong>al entity eth<strong>in</strong>ically cleans<strong>in</strong>g...three knocks on <strong>the</strong><br />

door for housekeep<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

“You’ll never know <strong>de</strong>hydration, <strong>the</strong> likes that shape <strong>in</strong>si<strong>de</strong> my nap, carriag<strong>in</strong>g from seven until<br />

never, posted on <strong>the</strong> dunes, has been with struggles. I’m hung and over, hunted ca<strong>in</strong>ed unable from<br />

histam<strong>in</strong>ed strokes, allergic to your larynx as you pull it from your throat. Conv<strong>in</strong>c<strong>in</strong>g a fluent spell,<br />

look upon my gaze, does this scribble portrait allure you to come and jo<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> heap? Splendid it is when<br />

you f<strong>in</strong>ally feel <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong> break<strong>in</strong>g. You are fitted follicles from scalp to blush; salutation blessed by land<strong>in</strong>g<br />

sleep. In <strong>the</strong> horizon, you’ll spill brethren to <strong>the</strong> voluntary, m<strong>in</strong>iscule <strong>in</strong>sectavation on <strong>the</strong> trunk of<br />

<strong>de</strong>serts. More than just a fathom flogg<strong>in</strong>g parlor, renovat<strong>in</strong>g guillorout<strong>in</strong>es,se<strong>de</strong>tiviat call<strong>in</strong>g mauled<br />

canvas. Pa<strong>in</strong>ted <strong>in</strong> impaliours, weak <strong>in</strong> comparison is <strong>the</strong> pa<strong>in</strong> that you seek. Brushed along paralyzion,<br />

I’ll make th<strong>in</strong>gs contrary to your opiated meat. I’ve got that impound<strong>in</strong>g sand quiver<strong>in</strong>g up <strong>the</strong><br />

wormholes, cause <strong>the</strong> phixias got b<strong>in</strong>ge of my scent; masticated un<strong>de</strong>r framed hunt. Wanted out of mostly<br />

eu<strong>the</strong>nci<strong>de</strong>. Gimme one look to <strong>the</strong> future, and I’ll crumble with slight of sigh. Confunstrukt-genusect<br />

w<strong>in</strong>dducts are spoiled and surren<strong>de</strong>red mutilacksation, now start with <strong>the</strong> pockets unbridled<br />

look<strong>in</strong>g.....be it everywhere for everyone. Cutt<strong>in</strong>g from your stations of <strong>the</strong> crossed, a creep<strong>in</strong>g mess is<br />

close to gaud<strong>in</strong>ess”<br />

10 11


{br<strong>in</strong>g me <strong>the</strong> head of Clavietika Tres Ojos}<br />

And this is what her pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g said, m<strong>in</strong>us rhetorical lapsus scaffold<strong>in</strong>g. Stunned by images, she’d<br />

aga<strong>in</strong>st ash <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> gambl<strong>in</strong>g sand. Hypnoquatic trance from <strong>the</strong> verberate<strong>in</strong>g look, submissive to <strong>the</strong><br />

sound of her pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g voice. This crippled my tips, receptor pick<strong>in</strong>g up jammed communicatios, but when<br />

it came to her slan<strong>de</strong>r we just had to implo<strong>de</strong>...eyes first of course. Flamed <strong>the</strong> palms shuttered at<br />

breakneck teases. That was <strong>the</strong> plan implemented, br<strong>in</strong>g her to me as recherche spoke. We took or<strong>de</strong>rs<br />

quite well, never questioned <strong>the</strong> pamphlets...maybe that’s why we gave <strong>in</strong> so easily,...just never had <strong>the</strong><br />

fight <strong>in</strong> us. Yet we were bred to fight amongst each o<strong>the</strong>r like narcs <strong>in</strong> tattle tale mo<strong>de</strong>. “Marxaniala-tecla<br />

illum<strong>in</strong>osa,soil qurac guard,” I shouted <strong>in</strong>to my talk back pore. This was <strong>the</strong> standard procedure that we<br />

followed when call<strong>in</strong>g for back up....like we really nee<strong>de</strong>d it. “There’ll be a phixia cadre on <strong>the</strong> horizontal<br />

prayer of <strong>the</strong> magnify<strong>in</strong>g glass <strong>in</strong> three <strong>de</strong>cibel <strong>in</strong>cl<strong>in</strong>es,” said hq back to me. “May recherche rest his<br />

tired bones,” i thought....spott<strong>in</strong>g this type of blasphemy always meant more phixias would die. We were<br />

on her fuck<strong>in</strong>g ass, heat sunk by <strong>in</strong>tuition. We were gonna sack her back to <strong>the</strong> quarac. They had ways<br />

of muzzl<strong>in</strong>g her down, but everytime <strong>the</strong> phixia quarant<strong>in</strong>e managed to get <strong>the</strong>ir antler pencors near her<br />

she, out of <strong>de</strong>ath, would duplicate <strong>in</strong>stantly. Clavietikas were always up for <strong>the</strong> fight ,and us phixias<br />

picked bones for a liv<strong>in</strong>g. Our encounters usually en<strong>de</strong>d <strong>in</strong> an abortive marriage of afterlife,that taunted<br />

a punish<strong>in</strong>g blow.<br />

Someth<strong>in</strong>g told us that this Clavietika was <strong>the</strong> mo<strong>the</strong>r hechicera. The one that sheltered Ojeno<br />

Valaso...fallen ceraphim and creator div<strong>in</strong>e of <strong>the</strong> oppos<strong>in</strong>g si<strong>de</strong>. His <strong>de</strong>sign was almost flawless. He ma<strong>de</strong><br />

her with just <strong>the</strong> right touch. She was a double hea<strong>de</strong>d muti-random shaped appendage with lateral<br />

appendix impervious to hurt <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> elastic form of an astral projected body. Translucent <strong>in</strong> her structure,<br />

<strong>de</strong>ceitful and impregnable with <strong>the</strong> power of <strong>de</strong>form<strong>in</strong>g, and <strong>the</strong> stare of <strong>de</strong>famation-court jester<strong>in</strong>g<br />

suggestive suici<strong>de</strong>...a page torn from irradi exerptas. One word and you were <strong>de</strong>ad. One drop that ma<strong>de</strong><br />

a conv<strong>in</strong>c<strong>in</strong>g argueless impression...and you would turn on yourself. Start<strong>in</strong>g with <strong>the</strong> eyes of course.<br />

Sowvietna held a counter <strong>in</strong>stitutionary liberator <strong>in</strong> her belly and <strong>the</strong> Clavietika knew she was sweep<strong>in</strong>g<br />

dirt <strong>in</strong> her eyes. It was a matter of seconds before we would catch her. Recherche had no schematics, only<br />

a starv<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>in</strong>dow pa<strong>in</strong>, that throbbed for an end to it all.<br />

Ojeno Valaso and Recherche Bellicose were at one time <strong>in</strong>separable. The pett<strong>in</strong>ess of gossip, <strong>the</strong><br />

competitive streaks, not even <strong>the</strong> shar<strong>in</strong>g of lovers could separate <strong>the</strong>m. There was a bond sewn toge<strong>the</strong>r<br />

by a phantasmagoric aes<strong>the</strong>tic; los tres ojos {to obta<strong>in</strong> enlightenment. Ignor<strong>in</strong>g temptations from <strong>the</strong><br />

left and <strong>the</strong> right... <strong>the</strong> middle eye focused illum<strong>in</strong>ously},ragman {hermit for <strong>the</strong> study<strong>in</strong>g of survival},<br />

and <strong>de</strong>ad doll stares {<strong>the</strong> pierc<strong>in</strong>g gaze with which to pa<strong>in</strong>t your enemy <strong>de</strong>ad}. Funny how history forgets<br />

to absolve its captors of <strong>the</strong>ir s<strong>in</strong>. The grop<strong>in</strong>g handle <strong>in</strong>fixed between a shank<strong>in</strong>g knife held by <strong>the</strong> both<br />

of <strong>the</strong>m forged <strong>the</strong> land. “From ru<strong>in</strong>s to anthills,” was heard, and with it came <strong>the</strong> new beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

Prosperity <strong>in</strong>ched its way over <strong>the</strong> sands of Sowvietna. But like all tell tales, <strong>the</strong> tranquility would come<br />

to a swift end. In <strong>the</strong> harvest month of krona, twenty years after <strong>the</strong> Sowvietna civil war, it all went<br />

terribly wrong. Pallbear<strong>in</strong>g a turn <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> sheen highlight<strong>in</strong>g Recherches’ twitch<strong>in</strong>g eye, Ojeno would be<br />

<strong>the</strong> first to stab a friend <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> back. Ojeno began notic<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> brevity with which he began <strong>de</strong>al<strong>in</strong>g with<br />

o<strong>the</strong>rs. He grew fat with power, and as drunk with leisure as any glutten would given <strong>the</strong> access of total<br />

ownership. But was sowvietna his? Ojeno didnt seem to th<strong>in</strong>k so. Members of his cab<strong>in</strong>et seemed to<br />

vanish <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> melted paper sand. People went miss<strong>in</strong>g at an all time high....and <strong>the</strong> streets fell <strong>de</strong>solate,<br />

tumbleweed populous unheard <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> gasp. It was said that to look Recherche <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> eye was punishable<br />

by hang<strong>in</strong>g. All holidays were omitted from <strong>the</strong> calendar. Uniforms became mandatory. Lo<strong>in</strong> cloths over<br />

black electric tape body suites, wrapped to a mummy shape. The mo<strong>the</strong>r tongue was banned, no one was<br />

to speak ectal, which naturally rolled off <strong>the</strong> antennas. A series of short germanic hand co<strong>de</strong>s, equipped<br />

with click-hiss<strong>in</strong>g, and emotionless bravado became mandatory by law. Vietnic as it was so bitterly<br />

<strong>in</strong>stalled, became <strong>the</strong> lisp that corrected our roots. Ectal was ten-thousand times more elegant <strong>in</strong> its long<br />

vowels, soar<strong>in</strong>g pronunciated- submerged tone that mimicked <strong>the</strong> ocean whales, a beauty now long and<br />

forgotten. It was rumored that Recherche with his medically corrected speech impediment, <strong>in</strong> asshole<br />

operandi, wanted a language that was marked of his <strong>in</strong>flection and muddy drawl. A co<strong>de</strong> of his own do<strong>in</strong>g<br />

square wheeled chew<strong>in</strong>g marbles <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> mouth. Sow vietna had ma<strong>de</strong> a term for <strong>the</strong> worst. This is why<br />

Ojeno vowed never aga<strong>in</strong> to follow <strong>the</strong> path <strong>the</strong>y never applied. What happened to <strong>the</strong>m? Recherche began<br />

public executions for those un will<strong>in</strong>g to commit to <strong>the</strong> diet of Sowvietna. Volunteers would be treated<br />

more Phixiately than those caught runn<strong>in</strong>g for <strong>the</strong> bor<strong>de</strong>rs. Impaleliours are what <strong>the</strong>y called <strong>the</strong>m. They<br />

were exactly what <strong>the</strong>y soun<strong>de</strong>d like. hoisted high onto <strong>the</strong> quarac totem pole, ever so sharply <strong>the</strong>y would<br />

sli<strong>de</strong> down until <strong>the</strong>ir <strong>in</strong>ner sanctions would jumble to a stop. On <strong>the</strong>se carved poles, spl<strong>in</strong>tered and<br />

congested, hooverd a glass eye immense <strong>in</strong> size. It emitted a ray of light on <strong>the</strong> impaliours below it. Ashes<br />

fell to <strong>the</strong> floor burnt by <strong>the</strong> glass magnified <strong>in</strong> captivity. With it came <strong>the</strong> pigment of <strong>the</strong> phixias dress.<br />

Face pa<strong>in</strong>ted by honour. These executions were one of <strong>the</strong> turn<strong>in</strong>g po<strong>in</strong>ts for Ojeno. In a matter of years<br />

he would <strong>de</strong>fect.<br />

“Only <strong>de</strong>vils might care, yet you run with with tales of fibb<strong>in</strong>g scrut<strong>in</strong>y, somnolent brea<strong>the</strong>r, now<br />

its time to let it crack. You only run from yourself,” laughed <strong>the</strong> Phixia with antennas glow<strong>in</strong>g. “I’m gonna<br />

get a bonus for this one”, he grunted back gargl<strong>in</strong>g his blow hole shut by stitches. The Phixias had been<br />

track<strong>in</strong>g this poor soul down for hours. They outnumbered <strong>the</strong> child three to one. He had been beaten like<br />

a bully sack on grated shreds, sitt<strong>in</strong>g hopeless and endangered. They walked away for a brea<strong>the</strong>r, lett<strong>in</strong>g<br />

him slightly recover from <strong>the</strong> pulp of disconnect<strong>in</strong>g bones, slagged off broken and open. In a matter of<br />

m<strong>in</strong>utes <strong>the</strong>y would strap him to <strong>the</strong> faces of <strong>the</strong>ir elongated backs, and take <strong>the</strong>m him back to <strong>the</strong><br />

Quarac. There he would be reconditioned <strong>in</strong> a re-education camp. Year zero taught properly, a volunteer<br />

for <strong>the</strong> impaliours. “Any sign of that Clavietika ?” asked one Phixia strapp<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> child <strong>in</strong> backpack<br />

configuration. “Radio <strong>in</strong>to HQ, see if she’s fly<strong>in</strong>g low enough to be caught on <strong>the</strong> radar, i could use <strong>the</strong><br />

extra pay.” Spoken like a true grunt. He had no clue as to <strong>the</strong> physical trauma that it took to hunt one of<br />

those th<strong>in</strong>gs down. “Let’s hurry up, <strong>the</strong> night icicles fall fast upon us. We needn’t set camp and set water<br />

on <strong>the</strong> bra<strong>in</strong>.” They hurried back to <strong>the</strong> prison Quarac, blast<strong>in</strong>g shifts <strong>in</strong> penance, cha<strong>in</strong>ed among gangs.<br />

Phixias crush everyth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir path, women and children first, no taboo was too much. This is how<br />

<strong>the</strong>y learned to live <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>se hugger mugger times. If you as much as hushed a s<strong>in</strong>gle unphixia like<br />

thought, you would be banished to <strong>the</strong> Quarac as an impaleliour. To run with <strong>the</strong> Phixias, one must th<strong>in</strong>k<br />

as a group never as a s<strong>in</strong>gle rhythm. “You will make a great impaleliour, just give it here, we need your<br />

corpse for fresh face pa<strong>in</strong>t”. Clobbered sensceisly, <strong>the</strong> young child gave <strong>the</strong>m not <strong>the</strong> satisfaction of <strong>de</strong>feat.<br />

“You didn’t knock me out, you neckless, fuck<strong>in</strong>g stump”. Gears jerked from <strong>the</strong> gully, <strong>in</strong>trepid and<br />

conniv<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>the</strong>y killed him on impulse alone. Sard<strong>in</strong>ed matches, as yet to be let out. They took commands<br />

from his ulcers, crop circle phenomena plastered propaganda, lubricant on <strong>the</strong> hi<strong>de</strong>s, compensation for<br />

<strong>the</strong> better of <strong>the</strong> land. On every shelter a warn<strong>in</strong>g- how to look, breath and eat. Narcs were escorted with<br />

encouragement, <strong>the</strong> Phixias were watch<strong>in</strong>g all <strong>the</strong> time.<br />

Clavietika used <strong>the</strong> ice of nightfall to rejuvenate herself. In <strong>the</strong> morn<strong>in</strong>g began her rampage<br />

amongst all th<strong>in</strong>gs Phixia. They could not f<strong>in</strong>d where she hid last night, unaware that <strong>the</strong>y were so close<br />

to each o<strong>the</strong>r. In a crevice saucer ma<strong>de</strong> of el<strong>de</strong>r ru<strong>in</strong>s, she emerged from a sound sleep. The Phixias had<br />

been track<strong>in</strong>g her that day, when <strong>the</strong>y ma<strong>de</strong> <strong>the</strong> realization that she was on <strong>the</strong> clipsi<strong>de</strong> of <strong>the</strong> p<strong>in</strong>keye<br />

founta<strong>in</strong>.<br />

Morn<strong>in</strong>g drew alarm on track<strong>in</strong>g <strong>de</strong>vices prick<strong>in</strong>g up <strong>the</strong>re ears. They seemed to be go<strong>in</strong>g through<br />

withdrawl systems, weakl<strong>in</strong>g criteria career<strong>in</strong>g through mephoscalpic ceremony. As she f<strong>in</strong>ished her<br />

ritual of morn<strong>in</strong>g magic passes, her jo<strong>in</strong>ts broke <strong>the</strong> barrier of sound blurt<strong>in</strong>g her whereabouts, puss<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>the</strong> ears of <strong>the</strong> phixias. Only a few could withstand <strong>the</strong> noise. Because it paralyzed <strong>the</strong>m yawn<strong>in</strong>g before<br />

<strong>the</strong> day could began. Her ancestry embarked on confrontation while <strong>the</strong> Phixias could do noth<strong>in</strong>g but<br />

watch and freeze at first sight of her. As she arose from slumber, her necks twisted round for a better<br />

view. Caught off guard by <strong>the</strong>ir presence as well, she began filter<strong>in</strong>g passages from <strong>the</strong> irradi exerptas,<br />

l<strong>in</strong>e by l<strong>in</strong>e as all phixias became her slave tantamount to medusa perve<strong>in</strong>g, lids unlocked, "behold your<br />

fate" she sang. Phixias....once proud and merciless, regressed slobber<strong>in</strong>g coitus <strong>in</strong>terrupts, blue balled<br />

at <strong>the</strong>ir core. Movement was not an option as she slung <strong>de</strong>ath from her poach, pendulum brush<strong>in</strong>g frantic<br />

strolls....<strong>the</strong> phixias began to disrobe <strong>the</strong>ir useless armor of alligator sk<strong>in</strong>. The use of <strong>the</strong>ir weapons<br />

seemed to work <strong>in</strong> her favor, cutlery weil<strong>de</strong>d by <strong>the</strong>mselves exact<strong>in</strong>g a blood clot potion that had <strong>the</strong>m<br />

dr<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>the</strong>ir palms. The eyes were ren<strong>de</strong>red useless as <strong>the</strong>y were <strong>the</strong> first to go. Held <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

pencors some impaled <strong>the</strong> pupils with great <strong>de</strong>light, some opened pockets <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir bellies for <strong>the</strong> morn<strong>in</strong>g<br />

of <strong>the</strong>ir sight. In <strong>the</strong>ir m<strong>in</strong>ds, chas<strong>in</strong>g dragon fumes of opium fields cough<strong>in</strong>g up a bliss so pure that<br />

<strong>de</strong>ath seemed not so imm<strong>in</strong>ent. Frolick<strong>in</strong>g and hold<strong>in</strong>g each o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y became objectified auditory<br />

halluc<strong>in</strong>ations, “Try <strong>the</strong> throat it legwarms well <strong>the</strong> comatose of sp<strong>in</strong>al cells....wish yourself <strong>the</strong> will to<br />

crawl...remove your feet for <strong>the</strong>y have no use.” These <strong>in</strong>structasketches seduced <strong>the</strong>m well...forever <strong>in</strong><br />

12 13


her grasp, <strong>in</strong> her dream like spell. The triumph of herself willed <strong>the</strong> kill<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong>mselves, as she pa<strong>in</strong>ted<br />

out <strong>the</strong> beauty for all of <strong>the</strong>m to see. As statues fall at <strong>the</strong> wea<strong>the</strong>r of time <strong>the</strong>ir corpse’s resembled a<br />

civilization long frail and lost. As she dripped upwards <strong>in</strong>to mur<strong>de</strong>rsome air, all Phixias had drawn <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

last sips of blood on Recherches sand. Slowly it all became disowned. When all <strong>the</strong> commotion had died<br />

down, she lowered herself down on <strong>the</strong> sand to make sure that everyone was <strong>de</strong>ad. Little did she know<br />

that one of <strong>the</strong> Phixias, Marxanalia, had left her talk back pore open so that <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs at <strong>the</strong> Quarac<br />

could f<strong>in</strong>d her and <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs. When Clavietika came upon Marxanalia she realized that Recherche had<br />

been watch<strong>in</strong>g.listen<strong>in</strong>g. Before she knew it she was surroun<strong>de</strong>d by a phalanx of Phixias, armed with<br />

headphonetic protective gear that also shiel<strong>de</strong>d <strong>the</strong>ir eyes from <strong>the</strong> ghost effect that she perpetrated at<br />

<strong>the</strong>m. A blue whaled siren shot through <strong>the</strong> <strong>de</strong>sert, mushroom cloud<strong>in</strong>g nails of sonic temper on <strong>the</strong>m.<br />

Phixias squirmed <strong>in</strong> disbelief, she was <strong>the</strong> one entity that ma<strong>de</strong> <strong>the</strong>m know fear. As her brute force<br />

explo<strong>de</strong>d, some of <strong>the</strong> Phixias protective gear fell victim to dis<strong>in</strong>tegration, enabl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m to take <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

own life as she floated spitt<strong>in</strong>g suici<strong>de</strong> at <strong>the</strong>ir beastial costumes. Paranormaly activated all around her,<br />

harpooned by some Phixias who rema<strong>in</strong>ed untouched by her, <strong>the</strong>y tried to strattle her down to mute<br />

position....yet <strong>the</strong>ir efforts seemed childish and unre<strong>de</strong>em<strong>in</strong>g. The power of her voice strung <strong>the</strong> Phixias<br />

round a lasso like force that killed <strong>the</strong>m on impact with <strong>the</strong> sand. Only but one of <strong>the</strong> brave Phixias<br />

managed to force himself <strong>in</strong>si<strong>de</strong> her...because that was <strong>the</strong> trick. In or<strong>de</strong>r to take her down, you had to<br />

go right through her projected physique. This one did penetrate her transparent case, plant<strong>in</strong>g a Quarac<br />

immobilization muzzle <strong>in</strong> her very center. He fortunately did not make it as it was impossible to withstand<br />

<strong>the</strong> radioactivity that ma<strong>de</strong> up <strong>the</strong> dna of her <strong>de</strong>sign. Once <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs saw that <strong>the</strong> implant had been<br />

<strong>in</strong>stalled, <strong>the</strong>y activated it with out any hesitation. As <strong>the</strong>y clicked <strong>the</strong> on button of <strong>the</strong>ir archaic<br />

contraption, Clavietika choked on an embalm<strong>in</strong>g fluid of arsenic pow<strong>de</strong>r crippl<strong>in</strong>g her astral projected<br />

body, reveal<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>si<strong>de</strong> compartment of cockpit seat<strong>in</strong>g where <strong>the</strong>y found none o<strong>the</strong>r than Ojeno<br />

Valaso. she did have her weakness, because she was <strong>the</strong> Mo<strong>the</strong>r Hechicera.<br />

Ojeno was hauled to <strong>the</strong> prison camp, dragg<strong>in</strong>g his body <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> cheers and <strong>de</strong>light of all <strong>the</strong><br />

o<strong>the</strong>r Phixias. The prisoners all bowed <strong>in</strong> his honour, for he was <strong>the</strong> epitome of <strong>the</strong>ir struggle...and now<br />

it seemed as though it was all over. They were proud of him for stand<strong>in</strong>g up to <strong>the</strong> war monger Recherche.<br />

He was <strong>the</strong> real crim<strong>in</strong>al. Their hope now sank eternal, lost, at least not with out a fight... as was much<br />

of <strong>the</strong>ir lives like his. Recherche stood impos<strong>in</strong>g as a figure of excess power, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> marble cut foot stool<br />

of his podium balcony. He gr<strong>in</strong>ned <strong>the</strong> “I told you so,” reassurance of an eight year old child hav<strong>in</strong>g gotten<br />

his way. This was a sad day for all Sowvietna. The cancer had lumped a greater strength <strong>in</strong> multiples of<br />

three.“I stand before you victorious”.The prisoners spat on <strong>the</strong> ground, curs<strong>in</strong>g his name. “Before you I<br />

br<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> body of Ojeno Valaso <strong>the</strong> Clavietika Tresojos”, <strong>the</strong> Phixias rallied beh<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong>ir gluttonous<br />

lea<strong>de</strong>r, <strong>in</strong> a roar of approval.“We will rid our land of <strong>the</strong> perverse <strong>in</strong>stability, start<strong>in</strong>g with him.” “Reeducation<br />

beg<strong>in</strong>s now!” bellowed his guttural flatulence. “What is <strong>the</strong> whole of <strong>the</strong> law?” He screamed,<br />

hypnotic and spastically. “Los Tres Ojos”...<strong>the</strong>y beamed back at him.“Ragman,” <strong>the</strong>y cont<strong>in</strong>ued,“and <strong>de</strong>ad<br />

doll stares” reached <strong>the</strong> frenzy to its all time low. “Ojeno will volunteer his mistakes as an<br />

impaliour...........we will sli<strong>de</strong> his body down to ash.....at dawn br<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>the</strong> promise of a new tommorow.”<br />

As dawn drew its first early squ<strong>in</strong>ts, <strong>the</strong> magnetic fortress of Ojeno Valaso’s body itched adorned,<br />

be<strong>in</strong> crudo from <strong>the</strong> poison <strong>in</strong>duced <strong>in</strong> his body. He knew today was his last day. No game plan really...it<br />

was all over. The radioactive costume that waged suici<strong>de</strong> on <strong>the</strong> Phixia populous was all but <strong>de</strong>stroyed.<br />

He knew that if he could get to it that he could gestate a new epi<strong>de</strong>mic <strong>in</strong> hearts of <strong>the</strong> Quarac.The<br />

Clavietika was left <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>de</strong>sert to be <strong>in</strong>habited by crackpot dust. It was useless, he was doomed for all<br />

to see. The tecla illum<strong>in</strong>osa rang gently <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> distant mil<strong>de</strong>u of his hold<strong>in</strong>g tank. Four notes that served<br />

as impend<strong>in</strong>g <strong>de</strong>ath call<strong>in</strong>g from <strong>the</strong> sharpness of <strong>the</strong> totem poles that waited for his body outsi<strong>de</strong>. The<br />

scenario relished by Recherche danced around <strong>the</strong> cranial sanctuty of Ojeno’s thoughts. The Phixias<br />

marched <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> cell, and unlocked <strong>the</strong> shackles round his wrists. They para<strong>de</strong>d him outsi<strong>de</strong> <strong>in</strong> front of<br />

<strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r prisoners. A crown of leaches was placed around his head, suck<strong>in</strong>g dry <strong>the</strong> nutritious<br />

<strong>in</strong>telligence that sweated blood from his droop<strong>in</strong>g head, lay<strong>in</strong>g waste to <strong>the</strong> knowledge he had<br />

accumulated from years of project<strong>in</strong>g suici<strong>de</strong> on <strong>the</strong> weak m<strong>in</strong><strong>de</strong>d phixias. This was his day <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> sun,<br />

burn<strong>in</strong>g crisp of bodily function. None of <strong>the</strong> magic passes he learnt from <strong>the</strong> ancestry of his Clavietikas<br />

could save him now. The guards placed him, stand<strong>in</strong>g over a hole <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ground that held <strong>the</strong> po<strong>in</strong>ted<br />

poles that would soon erect itself from <strong>the</strong> floor. Crowds ga<strong>the</strong>red round to catch a f<strong>in</strong>al glimpse of <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

fallen lea<strong>de</strong>r. Slowly <strong>the</strong> totem poles began <strong>the</strong>ir rise <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> blister<strong>in</strong>g scorch of <strong>the</strong>re sun. The tip of <strong>the</strong><br />

poles teased his body slid<strong>in</strong>g past his legs, rear<strong>in</strong>g its po<strong>in</strong>t slowly climb<strong>in</strong>g past his thighs until Ojeno<br />

felt <strong>the</strong> vic<strong>in</strong>ity of his lower region be<strong>in</strong>g probed.<br />

The sun threw a tarp over Ojeno’s body suffocat<strong>in</strong>g heat <strong>in</strong> a slouch<strong>in</strong>g <strong>de</strong>ath kiss. Ojeno began<br />

halluc<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g himself at <strong>the</strong> foot of a bridge about to jump off while strange mechanical beasts scurried<br />

along un<strong>de</strong>r him. His dream sequence found him hover<strong>in</strong>g over a lifeless body held toge<strong>the</strong>r by<br />

technicalities of mach<strong>in</strong>e,surroun<strong>de</strong>d by scuffl<strong>in</strong>g mourners. The pa<strong>in</strong> penetrated him to an exhaustion<br />

that stung <strong>the</strong> sp<strong>in</strong>al tail of <strong>de</strong>ep breath<strong>in</strong>g calluses.....he screamed <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> rays of light that illum<strong>in</strong>ated<br />

his body. The pole cut through him, saul<strong>de</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g pieces of digestion, mak<strong>in</strong>g it’s way past his lungs..<br />

cutt<strong>in</strong>g off circulation, unbread<strong>in</strong>g his throat, shoot<strong>in</strong>g right through <strong>the</strong> entrance of his mouth. Ojeno<br />

moaned welt<strong>in</strong>g, form<strong>in</strong>g a bruise on two legs, unable to go anywhere. Death did not set <strong>in</strong> right away,<br />

draw<strong>in</strong>g with it a lengthy <strong>de</strong>mise. The phixias roared <strong>in</strong><strong>de</strong>f<strong>in</strong>itely for hours, pelt<strong>in</strong>g him with rocks that<br />

bit his head thump<strong>in</strong>g it broken ways. A purple sha<strong>de</strong> of black grew all over him, shiver<strong>in</strong>g from heat.<br />

With his own hands, Recherche began crank<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> lever that connected a series ropes to a gigantic<br />

circular glass as it rose over Ojeno creat<strong>in</strong>g a dome overhead. Phixias overjoyed from miles around.<br />

“What of your maggot pr<strong>in</strong>ce now ?” scol<strong>de</strong>d one Phixia to an old woman sitt<strong>in</strong>g on her knees filled with<br />

anger. The dome glass magnified a beam of light onto Ojeno’s heat soaked body. The light eradicated his<br />

form <strong>in</strong>to ash upon first touch. The Phixias lunged un<strong>de</strong>r him celebrat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir victory by pa<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>the</strong>mselves <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> ashes. It was all over. Heat sunk <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>tuition.<br />

The beam of light obscured his perception, as a projection, he emerged aga<strong>in</strong>, but this time he was<br />

not a re-generation, he was Cerp<strong>in</strong> Taxt aga<strong>in</strong>. A harmonic force lifted his body from <strong>the</strong> Sowvietna<br />

<strong>de</strong>sert, and slowly he could see how small <strong>the</strong>y really were <strong>the</strong> far<strong>the</strong>r he got away. The far<strong>the</strong>r he got<br />

away, <strong>the</strong> more it dawned on him that he was but a germ <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> perspiration of a speaker, or<strong>de</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g people<br />

to dr<strong>in</strong>k. Dripped <strong>in</strong> sweat <strong>in</strong>to a vat of of kool aid, as it was be<strong>in</strong>g stirred by <strong>the</strong> hand of <strong>the</strong> speaker. His<br />

podium soapbox, seemed tank like, govern<strong>in</strong>g all <strong>in</strong> his scowl. His scowl was undistiguishable as it was<br />

hid<strong>de</strong>n beh<strong>in</strong>d dark sha<strong>de</strong>d sunglasses. The t<strong>in</strong>t masked his omnipotence, mask<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> enigma that was<br />

completely un<strong>de</strong>r his control. “Pastor jones will now speak,” rang <strong>the</strong> voice from <strong>the</strong> speaker of <strong>the</strong><br />

p.a."Please get some medication..Simple, it’s simple, we must die with dignity."<br />

“I’ve lost my way” - Tecla Illum<strong>in</strong>osa<br />

cicatriz esp;<br />

Do you recall its name ? As it suggested beck and call, this face and heel. Will drag your halo through <strong>the</strong> mud, ash of pompei.<br />

Erupt<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a statues dust, shrou<strong>de</strong>d <strong>in</strong> veils, because <strong>the</strong>se handcuffs hurt too much. Still scalp<strong>in</strong>g this ticketless applause. And when<br />

<strong>the</strong>y drag <strong>the</strong> lake <strong>the</strong>re’s noth<strong>in</strong>g left at all. Sutured, contusion..beyond <strong>the</strong> anthills of <strong>the</strong> dawn<strong>in</strong>g of this plague. I’ve lost my way.<br />

Even if this cul <strong>de</strong> sac would pay. To reach <strong>in</strong>si<strong>de</strong> a vault, whatever be <strong>the</strong> cost. Sterl<strong>in</strong>g clear blackened ice, and when <strong>the</strong>y drag <strong>the</strong><br />

lake <strong>the</strong>re’s noth<strong>in</strong>g left at all. I’ve <strong>de</strong>fected……..I’ve <strong>de</strong>fected…..I’ve <strong>de</strong>fected. This is my last <strong>in</strong>cision…<strong>the</strong> stitches have <strong>de</strong>fected.<br />

Beyond <strong>the</strong> anthills of <strong>the</strong> dawn<strong>in</strong>g of this plague. I’ve lost my way, even if this cul <strong>de</strong> sac did pay….beyond <strong>the</strong> anthills of..I’ve lost my<br />

way. Even if you reach <strong>in</strong>si<strong>de</strong> a vault, whatever be <strong>the</strong> cost. Sterl<strong>in</strong>g clear blackened ice. And when <strong>the</strong>y drag <strong>the</strong>y lake <strong>the</strong>re’s noth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

left at all. I’ve <strong>de</strong>fected….. I’ve <strong>de</strong>fected.…..<br />

{Ectopicshapeshift<strong>in</strong>g-Penancepropulsion}<br />

Spiked coals cushioned broken feet. I felt breath<strong>in</strong>g become irrelevant…aga<strong>in</strong>. Bronze-plated<br />

<strong>in</strong>quisitions marred my nightmare…<strong>the</strong>y were clos<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> on me. There was a television crew film<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong><br />

speech that I had spilled from. They focused steadily on Pastor Jones’ t<strong>in</strong>ted stam<strong>in</strong>a. Their <strong>in</strong>spection<br />

could mean a shit less to him, for it was he who focused on <strong>the</strong>m and <strong>the</strong>ir air-polluted tumbl<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong><br />

ankles…chatter<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> planks <strong>in</strong> front of <strong>the</strong>m. Focus<strong>in</strong>g vasel<strong>in</strong>ed hazes crusted around <strong>the</strong> shoul<strong>de</strong>rs,<br />

cl<strong>in</strong>ically shoot<strong>in</strong>g anatomical views of <strong>the</strong> event. Fallen from a forehead, I festered <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> fruit of <strong>the</strong><br />

punch, entitled to split by apples <strong>in</strong> throats, wait<strong>in</strong>g to be drunk. This vibrant teach<strong>in</strong>g was as ancient<br />

as time itself. I knew <strong>the</strong>y all had to die regardless of age, pigment, shape or size. Swallow it.Law…it<br />

won’t hurt a bit. I knew that I believed. The pastor ma<strong>de</strong> sure that no one would get out alive. I am<br />

exhumed as quench<strong>in</strong>g bullets, left str<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g court pestilence from a t<strong>in</strong>y viol<strong>in</strong>. Cameras put three and<br />

three toge<strong>the</strong>r and tried for <strong>the</strong> exit wounds to no avail. By <strong>the</strong> time <strong>the</strong> sermon had settled a past<strong>in</strong>g of<br />

run-on sentences, I had found my way. Seiz<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> prey, I unfol<strong>de</strong>d masses of full-tilted graves. Cat-<br />

14 15


scanned plateau, fanatically, news at eleven, we had <strong>de</strong>formed <strong>the</strong> gates of heaven.<br />

While cyani<strong>de</strong> remarks bur<strong>de</strong>ned <strong>the</strong> peek<strong>in</strong>g corpses all to a stump, this here poison sat<br />

pleasantly <strong>de</strong>bat<strong>in</strong>g sheep-count<strong>in</strong>g hor<strong>de</strong>s. Layers of bones hid me from recognition. No lepers could<br />

f<strong>in</strong>d me here. I found solace chambers, lock<strong>in</strong>g a much-nee<strong>de</strong>d captivity. Unprovoked, yet unconstra<strong>in</strong>ed.<br />

I found everyth<strong>in</strong>g always too good to be true. It stank…river-soaked mil<strong>de</strong>w fumes, just enough to pass<br />

out from. Embalmed by floods through my ice-parked zip co<strong>de</strong>, <strong>the</strong>y found me aga<strong>in</strong>, just when I was<br />

pull<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> plug. Televators gave <strong>the</strong>ir last crawl whistle, boiled to awaken my sloth from warm fuzz.<br />

Once aga<strong>in</strong> I would be extracted <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> E.S.P. impure. In a needled iris, huffed my gasol<strong>in</strong>e and lit it<br />

aflame, dropped back to Sowvietna….never end<strong>in</strong>g that never-m<strong>in</strong>d place.<br />

Tusks fell hand-shaped, macerated on <strong>the</strong> Sowvietnen sand. What was left of <strong>the</strong> Clavietika<br />

costume, now collected bleached whale sepulchers, curled fetal tomb, un<strong>de</strong>r grazes radiat<strong>in</strong>g from sun<br />

to sk<strong>in</strong>. Sc<strong>in</strong>tillat<strong>in</strong>g spare dignities from its trunk, fizzl<strong>in</strong>g clock unwound with gibberish coats,<br />

assaulted from an ass-kick<strong>in</strong>g, left sulk<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>de</strong>ath. Eyelids sank lazy shroud co<strong>in</strong>s. Thanatopsis, sweat<br />

<strong>the</strong> croak, activated no more. Silent perdition flagged white casca<strong>de</strong>, hoisted and blown to particular<br />

smi<strong>the</strong>reens. The <strong>in</strong>sectivores had had <strong>the</strong>ir say….enter <strong>the</strong> vultures. The ground bickered up and down<br />

with <strong>the</strong> jostl<strong>in</strong>g of gigantic footsteps. From mercurial distances came someth<strong>in</strong>g towards <strong>the</strong><br />

Clavietika’s spent body. Gargl<strong>in</strong>g squirms removed <strong>the</strong> clean air, as a girth of snorts splurged closer and<br />

closer. Horns soun<strong>de</strong>d, ma<strong>de</strong> of leftover animal parts, play<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> prayer of vicissitu<strong>de</strong>s, tumbl<strong>in</strong>g earth<br />

un<strong>de</strong>r a stampe<strong>de</strong> para<strong>de</strong> of scavengers on <strong>the</strong> make. They stomped on <strong>the</strong> litter<strong>in</strong>g of black rose petals<br />

that shot from a head-wrap of turban exhaust pipes. The hot sand was far too peasant-like for <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

convoy. From afar, <strong>the</strong>ir features spilled bulbous, plump,and muffled. Their lo<strong>in</strong>-cloths barely drew<br />

curta<strong>in</strong>s over <strong>the</strong>ir genitalia-stubble. Flatulence broke open thick, poll<strong>in</strong>at<strong>in</strong>g overweight and<br />

marsupial…feed<strong>in</strong>g off <strong>the</strong> un<strong>de</strong>sirable slabs of leftover rations. Their bellies shud<strong>de</strong>red, waken<strong>in</strong>g sand<br />

of whatever life it didn’t have. Between roman candle cliffs, sw<strong>in</strong>dled from stalk<strong>in</strong>g grounds where<br />

alum<strong>in</strong>um cans spooked <strong>the</strong> mounta<strong>in</strong> si<strong>de</strong>s of flesh impediments on stilted giraffe-necklace<br />

legs…<strong>de</strong>vour<strong>in</strong>g napalm showers on everyth<strong>in</strong>g ma<strong>de</strong> game, uncork<strong>in</strong>g w<strong>in</strong>e puddles <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> core of <strong>the</strong><br />

dunes. Comb<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> <strong>de</strong>sert, <strong>the</strong>y dropped jaws at <strong>the</strong> sight of <strong>the</strong> almost aqua-clear Clavietika as she<br />

enamored <strong>the</strong>ir attention span. She bl<strong>in</strong>ked fel<strong>in</strong>e <strong>in</strong> flashlit streams, ano<strong>the</strong>r bleep on <strong>the</strong> radar screen.<br />

To <strong>the</strong> colossus, she sh<strong>in</strong>ed from a shoul<strong>de</strong>r of jewelry, coveted by thieves, on a carpet coarse and brillopad<strong>de</strong>d,<br />

not just ano<strong>the</strong>r diamond <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> gruff. By this time <strong>the</strong> vultures, owl pierce <strong>in</strong> sight, swooped <strong>in</strong><br />

for a closer look. Beauty caught <strong>the</strong> beast; <strong>the</strong>se <strong>in</strong>stances are of <strong>the</strong> greatest monsters <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> world. They<br />

had never seen a more pa<strong>in</strong>fully beautiful sight. Even as she was unfilled, slouched over, out of or<strong>de</strong>r,<br />

left to rot, <strong>the</strong> giants found a place for her <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> stillbirth of <strong>the</strong>ir hearts. They nudged at her corpse,<br />

dirt un<strong>de</strong>r f<strong>in</strong>gernail shields from oversized hands. They smelled of <strong>de</strong>cayed animals, cloths dampened<br />

by journey through foreign land. She was not a meal by any means, enigma to <strong>the</strong>ir puzzle. Imbroglio<br />

unfol<strong>de</strong>d, worshipped by <strong>the</strong>se clumsy oxen.<br />

“Place her <strong>in</strong> your anecdote pouch…..remove it of <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r carcasses,” molted one of <strong>the</strong> giants,<br />

lava spill<strong>in</strong>g from his mouth. Slitted on his belly was storage, <strong>de</strong>signed for food, but at this time it was<br />

to be transformed <strong>in</strong>to a nurs<strong>in</strong>g home. He keeled over towards her, pick<strong>in</strong>g her up by both of her heads.<br />

As he removed her from <strong>the</strong> slump, she stretched out <strong>in</strong>to a toffee shape, droop<strong>in</strong>g lifeless expressions<br />

on her melt<strong>in</strong>g face. She blew <strong>in</strong> pieces, no longer dripp<strong>in</strong>g upwards at <strong>the</strong> sky. The giants, careful not<br />

to drop her, fell ill with silence. Never had <strong>the</strong>y feasted on such an alien sight. “What is it?” cried one of<br />

<strong>the</strong> giants. Aghast with nervousness, <strong>the</strong> giants trembled <strong>in</strong> gears. “She is <strong>the</strong> seed,” remarked ano<strong>the</strong>r.<br />

“We must br<strong>in</strong>g her to Adastra…. he will know what to do with her.” All at once <strong>the</strong>y agreed. Gang<br />

mentality overpowered by <strong>the</strong> herd. They began chant<strong>in</strong>g leper-psalms <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> E.S.P. impure. In or<strong>de</strong>r<br />

to transport <strong>the</strong>mselves to <strong>the</strong>ir place of orig<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>y had to chant <strong>the</strong>ir mantra-l<strong>in</strong>k. “Cuantas vidas me<br />

vas a pagar…<strong>de</strong> estos bosques susiou <strong>de</strong> sangre <strong>de</strong>l aere muerto cicatriz… quando llegara a la ciudad<br />

don<strong>de</strong> tropize…salte veneno en las montanias don<strong>de</strong> nasi….” And with <strong>the</strong>m, she left <strong>the</strong> <strong>de</strong>sert<br />

glands,ba<strong>the</strong>d by <strong>the</strong> sweat, thun<strong>de</strong>rous from <strong>the</strong> throat of conviction. The mantra worked,<br />

<strong>de</strong>materializ<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m back to <strong>the</strong>ir home.<br />

Home for <strong>the</strong>m was found headless by doorsteps, peeled of sk<strong>in</strong> on h<strong>in</strong>d legs <strong>in</strong> Nedra Queret.<br />

Lost cita<strong>de</strong>l….child hoo<strong>de</strong>d to sacrifice on a pyramid of offer<strong>in</strong>gs, ga<strong>the</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g to eviscerate handfuls of<br />

mortals. To ward off <strong>the</strong> onslaught of he who is only known as Moatilliatta. Afraid of <strong>the</strong> chalk <strong>in</strong> which<br />

he might use to outl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>the</strong> city, <strong>in</strong> a wrath-nest <strong>in</strong> which it was kept. This was <strong>the</strong> home of <strong>the</strong> giants. El<br />

Querrencia <strong>de</strong> Topiltz<strong>in</strong>…safe-haven to various Proteans who brought <strong>the</strong>mselves as unknow<strong>in</strong>g luck<br />

buried with charm…to sprout <strong>in</strong> an equ<strong>in</strong>ox gar<strong>de</strong>n shield<strong>in</strong>g all villagers from <strong>the</strong> last of <strong>the</strong> great.<br />

Every weekend brought <strong>the</strong> promise of a new litany. On this battered lecture came <strong>the</strong> names of children,<br />

read by El Mago Adastra. He be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> spirit-economist elect, brought superstition as a cloak and<br />

venereal epi<strong>de</strong>mics as a power source of repression. On his cerebral vortex banged <strong>the</strong> tarry stool image<br />

that banked bodies for a master, servants <strong>in</strong>laid, and concave to <strong>the</strong> bend<strong>in</strong>g of his f<strong>in</strong>gers. Who dared to<br />

call him out, topical <strong>in</strong> his plague? Shanked <strong>the</strong> liv<strong>in</strong>g shit out of <strong>the</strong> patrons ma<strong>de</strong> of sa<strong>in</strong>ts. Into <strong>the</strong> ear<br />

he dosed <strong>the</strong> conscience of Koral Mataxia…un<strong>de</strong>r his thumb; a tightened mob selected all <strong>the</strong> clouds. “Be<br />

it <strong>the</strong> law…Moatilliatta is merciful to all for <strong>the</strong> price of few…never a day will come…where he might let<br />

slip <strong>the</strong> flares of tongues.” Monitor<strong>in</strong>g all sanctivity, Koral had held <strong>the</strong>m captive for an eternity. If it was<br />

your child, you were meant to feel proud…because if you thought about it loosely, Koral would only cover<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir mouths. Pillowed to a smo<strong>the</strong>r, was his promise-cl<strong>in</strong>ic. Check <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> relatives for a blood-free reign.<br />

What most people <strong>in</strong> this har<strong>de</strong>ned community didn’t know was that much blood would be nee<strong>de</strong>d to keep<br />

<strong>the</strong> creature at bay. Where was this animal? Had <strong>the</strong>y ever really thought about it ever really exist<strong>in</strong>g?<br />

The particulars of this creature held high question marks <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> back of <strong>the</strong>ir m<strong>in</strong>ds…but only <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

backs of <strong>the</strong>ir m<strong>in</strong>ds, m<strong>in</strong>d you. They were so caught up <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>de</strong>lirium of <strong>the</strong> lore, <strong>the</strong>y forgot to check<br />

<strong>the</strong> ventriloquist hid<strong>in</strong>g un<strong>de</strong>rneath <strong>the</strong> floors. Some might even say that <strong>the</strong> polar opposite to Topiltz<strong>in</strong><br />

is found <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Eriatarka House of Facial and MuscularCorrections. Good old Doctor Tarant had<br />

implanted <strong>the</strong> exoskeleton well. Now all that was left was <strong>the</strong> fl<strong>in</strong>t to strike match.Koral must have known<br />

<strong>the</strong> cleans<strong>in</strong>g was com<strong>in</strong>g… <strong>the</strong>y say he gonna be here…lo vas a ver…<br />

Koral Mataxia issued many a warn<strong>in</strong>g to his people. When he said jump, <strong>the</strong>y asked how high.<br />

Wrapped around a f<strong>in</strong>ger of wands, he and <strong>the</strong> witch-doctor Adastra kept a tidy ship of fools <strong>in</strong> l<strong>in</strong>e.<br />

Curfew medications were issued at high noon, mak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>habitants drowsy and <strong>in</strong>audible. If you didn’t<br />

take <strong>the</strong> medic<strong>in</strong>e...it...would surely get to you. This kept <strong>the</strong>m from ever see<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> hungry footsteps,<br />

creep<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> neighbor<strong>in</strong>g grounds. It...was said to come un<strong>de</strong>r <strong>the</strong> belly of sound and light to feed on <strong>the</strong><br />

plague of hiss<strong>in</strong>g children… because if <strong>the</strong>y couldn’t see it, <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong>y would surely be un<strong>de</strong>r his spell. He<br />

snatched kids: candy from a baby, as easy as it ever could be. This city clo<strong>the</strong>d fl<strong>in</strong>ches, because <strong>the</strong>se<br />

handcuffs hurt too much. As he ma<strong>de</strong> his way to his gar<strong>de</strong>n, on a rout<strong>in</strong>e basis, Koral longed, lonely to<br />

<strong>the</strong> haul…wish<strong>in</strong>g <strong>de</strong>lusions of gran<strong>de</strong>ur, wet his appetite on <strong>the</strong> shoul<strong>de</strong>rs of <strong>the</strong> young…“must I feed<br />

myself to this live force alive?” Never<strong>the</strong>less it was this long<strong>in</strong>g that drove him to split-personality<br />

fences… unable to dig un<strong>de</strong>r or jump over <strong>the</strong>m, which doctor is it that would be call<strong>in</strong>g on this goaround?<br />

Jekyll or <strong>the</strong> Hy<strong>de</strong>? His putrid body flapped along <strong>the</strong> ground <strong>in</strong> dire need of a staple diet prison,<br />

gorg<strong>in</strong>g himself to a fat pig mitten, kiss<strong>in</strong>g babies was his M.O., but it only ma<strong>de</strong> families hi<strong>de</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

young…for even <strong>the</strong>y might f<strong>in</strong>d little mojo on <strong>the</strong> menu that night. “Koral doesn’t make mistakes,” he<br />

burped <strong>in</strong> tube sock meat shav<strong>in</strong>gs. The roll of flesh that had accumulated on his pork-ridged tummy<br />

steamed aga<strong>in</strong>st <strong>the</strong> tobacco stench of his porta-potty hygiene. His f<strong>in</strong>gers greased off sausage tra<strong>in</strong>s<br />

with <strong>the</strong> sta<strong>in</strong>s of nicot<strong>in</strong>e gravy plummet<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> floor. The smell would <strong>in</strong>fest <strong>the</strong> village to no end.<br />

Koral’s wit was someth<strong>in</strong>g to contend with as well. Sharper than razor unjagged on <strong>the</strong> tongue…to<br />

conv<strong>in</strong>ce you of your wrong-do<strong>in</strong>g was <strong>the</strong> soul of his pig heart. If ever <strong>the</strong>re was an abundance of sociopa<strong>the</strong>tic<br />

rambl<strong>in</strong>g it was he who gassed it out loud. D<strong>in</strong>ner time was everyth<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> journals that he<br />

violently carved. Koral’s true <strong>in</strong>tentions sh<strong>in</strong>ed like a new sex offen<strong>de</strong>r mov<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> next door. Lock your<br />

kiddies <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> basement, if you had <strong>the</strong> fight left <strong>in</strong> you. Between Adastra’s witch-doctor<strong>in</strong>g and Koral’s<br />

gluttonous appetite, <strong>the</strong> city of Toplitz<strong>in</strong> was <strong>in</strong> for a crumbl<strong>in</strong>g of blood-stroked extortions. “Un<strong>de</strong>r <strong>the</strong><br />

statues, I will implant <strong>the</strong> stolen body parts… this will grant me a gar<strong>de</strong>n of relief,” Koral said as he licked<br />

his lips clean of <strong>in</strong>fant scalps. “You see, what <strong>the</strong>y don’t know won’t hurt <strong>the</strong>m. So long as I have your<br />

advice by my si<strong>de</strong>, we can split <strong>the</strong> wickers burn<strong>in</strong>g by <strong>the</strong> moon of light,” he went on, and Adastra seemed<br />

to agree. It was his place to agree, if he wanted to keep his place by <strong>the</strong> bully’s si<strong>de</strong>. What he fed to him<br />

were wives tales of a centipe<strong>de</strong>d k<strong>in</strong>d. Many legs, <strong>the</strong>y came a-crawl<strong>in</strong>g as double-speak serpent<strong>in</strong>e. At<br />

every three pentagropes sailed a life <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> lifted frontal hatch of Koral’s prized clavietika statuettes.<br />

They curved <strong>in</strong> cathartic contortions, gargoyle to <strong>the</strong> Niles. Calf-gol<strong>de</strong>n genuflections engross<strong>in</strong>g a<br />

pr<strong>in</strong>ce among <strong>the</strong> liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>de</strong>ad. “To you…reek<strong>in</strong>g thumbnails to my hibernat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>somnia… a ti te parto<br />

por la p<strong>in</strong>chi madre…un<strong>de</strong>r blue plastic bags…<strong>in</strong>cubates <strong>the</strong> He Zero-Rouge…keep yourself from <strong>the</strong><br />

16 17


venison appendix of <strong>the</strong>se <strong>in</strong>fants without feet…for <strong>the</strong>y have nowhere but your mouth to crawl <strong>in</strong>.”<br />

However he could get it,all played well <strong>in</strong> Toplitz<strong>in</strong>. With its population calmly <strong>de</strong>fault<strong>in</strong>g un<strong>de</strong>r control,<br />

Koral was unaware of <strong>the</strong> summons that had ga<strong>the</strong>red as a pet to his salavace retrieval. The giants would<br />

br<strong>in</strong>g back to him fertilizer to his unhatched egg… scream<strong>in</strong>g and kick<strong>in</strong>g out <strong>the</strong> floodlights, throat<br />

throttle end to <strong>the</strong> ra<strong>in</strong>.<br />

Zxiat and Ghiest were men<strong>de</strong>d of <strong>the</strong> Gem<strong>in</strong>i mirror. You could spot <strong>the</strong>m <strong>in</strong> double-take mime,<br />

won<strong>de</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g. These children knew <strong>the</strong> hum lou<strong>de</strong>r and softer than any of <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs while it pied-piped<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir night-sight. In <strong>the</strong> mourn<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong>ir allotment is where you could hear <strong>the</strong>m smile. Two receptors<br />

pick<strong>in</strong>g up <strong>the</strong> messages <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> outfields, zon<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> on <strong>the</strong> atonements at hand. They knew when <strong>the</strong><br />

mayday distressed o<strong>the</strong>rs, but no one would ever believe a child. They scurried along <strong>the</strong> Pyram<strong>in</strong>es of<br />

Toplitz<strong>in</strong>, not a care on <strong>the</strong>ir m<strong>in</strong>d. Sometimes <strong>the</strong>y would even play <strong>in</strong> Koral’s gar<strong>de</strong>n with <strong>the</strong> dramagon<br />

statues. A prayer to <strong>the</strong>m meant <strong>the</strong> gift of life, or so <strong>the</strong>ir parents had w<strong>in</strong>ked. They hushed <strong>the</strong>m nightly<br />

with boogie man legends that drew <strong>the</strong> curta<strong>in</strong>s on <strong>the</strong>ir afternoon sight. Would <strong>the</strong>y ever see <strong>the</strong> black<br />

of night? This was <strong>the</strong>ir handicap, liv<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> hexile. On this occasion, while rummag<strong>in</strong>g through <strong>the</strong> grass<br />

bla<strong>de</strong>s of Koral’s gar<strong>de</strong>n, <strong>the</strong> tw<strong>in</strong>s were be<strong>in</strong>g watched by a third party. She stared at <strong>the</strong>ir presence with<br />

won<strong>de</strong>r: how could <strong>the</strong>y not know what <strong>the</strong>y were play<strong>in</strong>g with? Compass po<strong>in</strong>t studious behavior to her<br />

eye, <strong>the</strong> slobber from her viewpo<strong>in</strong>t couldn’t drool any faster. Neuralgia, who had seen it all before, was<br />

immersed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> children’s activities…how <strong>the</strong>y talked to <strong>the</strong> dramagon statues with effortless <strong>in</strong>terplay,<br />

how <strong>the</strong>y stared <strong>in</strong>to its’ eyes… even how <strong>the</strong>y only ever spoke to <strong>the</strong> one on <strong>the</strong> left; it meant someth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

to <strong>the</strong>m. It meant someth<strong>in</strong>g to her. It only lured her for curiosity’s sake. When <strong>the</strong> tw<strong>in</strong>s would stop<br />

play<strong>in</strong>g, she would rush over immediately to <strong>the</strong> one statue on <strong>the</strong> left, and with falsetto paper cuts she<br />

would hum out <strong>the</strong> hymn. It became a source of meditation for her, all while Koral would spy on her trance<br />

mesh lace. Between her and <strong>the</strong> tw<strong>in</strong>s <strong>the</strong>y had managed to contact <strong>the</strong> spirit of a distant relative who had<br />

been <strong>de</strong>ceased for ice-age lengths. It channeled its thoughts through <strong>the</strong>m <strong>in</strong> a div<strong>in</strong>ation nod. They<br />

seemed to naturally br<strong>in</strong>g it onto <strong>the</strong>mselves, and even more so this <strong>in</strong>trigued Koral Mataxia, peep<strong>in</strong>g<br />

from a vanish<strong>in</strong>g state. She was un<strong>de</strong>r <strong>the</strong> spell of this relative. It wanted to know where it was, and why<br />

was it <strong>the</strong>re….and why was <strong>the</strong>re so much suffer<strong>in</strong>g? Neuralgia could not bare all <strong>the</strong> truths, because<br />

<strong>the</strong> children might discover <strong>the</strong>ir own fate. On <strong>the</strong> day that she revealed <strong>the</strong> nature of <strong>the</strong> beast, she<br />

became ripe for <strong>the</strong> pick<strong>in</strong>g. She knew no o<strong>the</strong>r real love than that of <strong>the</strong> one she had <strong>de</strong>veloped to this<br />

stranger. So for Koral to strike when he did…it only <strong>de</strong>afend matters worse for Toplitien. (What have you<br />

brought from your salavace f<strong>in</strong>ds?)<br />

Just three days prior to a read<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> new litany, Koral was sent word that his herd of giant<br />

malnourishments was to be br<strong>in</strong>g<strong>in</strong>g someth<strong>in</strong>g of great value to <strong>the</strong> Cita<strong>de</strong>l, someth<strong>in</strong>g not found <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> eight-ball pond of <strong>the</strong> Toplitz<strong>in</strong> Pyram<strong>in</strong>es. Someth<strong>in</strong>g septic parted its hair this way. Koral couldn’t<br />

even be bo<strong>the</strong>red by such uneventful news, because of his earwhig obsession that festered <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> grime<br />

of seated teeth. He was too busy try<strong>in</strong>g to corrupt Neuralgia <strong>in</strong>to a ‘yes’ mo<strong>de</strong> of submission. She was<br />

unbreakable. She could give a fuck less who and or what he was about. It was just a shelter to her. She<br />

could always f<strong>in</strong>d someone better to take care of her. She feared him not. She merely wanted to spar with<br />

his feel<strong>in</strong>gs…who was really be<strong>in</strong>g had? As she waited for his appearance to be ma<strong>de</strong>, she felt <strong>the</strong> distant<br />

ask<strong>in</strong>g of a fact-check on what she had just said to <strong>the</strong> dramagon statuette. She wanted out, to converse<br />

with her subconscious, but Koral’s sleep<strong>in</strong>g quarters were heavily guar<strong>de</strong>d. Every door was locked, she<br />

had no escape route . . . until f<strong>in</strong>ally a hypnotic surren<strong>de</strong>r blew itself well beyond a doz<strong>in</strong>g portion. Their<br />

nightly mat<strong>in</strong>g rout<strong>in</strong>e did ever please her. After his impotent try failed to subdue her, he left to attend<br />

<strong>the</strong> welcome of <strong>the</strong> salavace, enabl<strong>in</strong>g Neuralgia to escape to <strong>the</strong> gar<strong>de</strong>ns. On her way past some of <strong>the</strong><br />

rooms she heard a pocket of hiss<strong>in</strong>g, flirt<strong>in</strong>g from a closed door. She whisked for a dropp<strong>in</strong>g of eaves,<br />

glass to ear to door. “What have you brought for me to see?” he fisted through his lockjaw. “What is all this<br />

end all-be all rhetoric?” he asked impatiently. The giants of his salavace recon-squadron stepped back as<br />

<strong>the</strong>y pushed forward on one of <strong>the</strong> giants. “Hectros, unflesh your forage womb, and show Koral what we<br />

have found.” Hectros quivered <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> hacksaw po<strong>in</strong>t of his cerebreal pattern. To beg<strong>in</strong>, he had to hold his<br />

breath while his f<strong>in</strong>gers sliced for <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>d from with<strong>in</strong> his bowels, c-sectioned, quite <strong>the</strong> apparition. If<br />

bricks could only sprout w<strong>in</strong>gs….“What is it?” Koral <strong>de</strong>man<strong>de</strong>d. Hectros fumbled, and said “she is <strong>the</strong><br />

seed that you have been look<strong>in</strong>g for, master.” Koral replied, “No, my son, <strong>the</strong> precious creature I have<br />

been bedd<strong>in</strong>g now holds <strong>the</strong> seed.” The Clavietika shot straight up….sp<strong>in</strong>es <strong>in</strong> a row….sp<strong>in</strong>e as an arrow.<br />

Both her mouths shot rays of light as everyth<strong>in</strong>g around <strong>the</strong>m shot out of focus. Everyone had<br />

disappeared as <strong>the</strong> two heads became one. Its face began shov<strong>in</strong>g seizures from a ray <strong>in</strong> its mouth. Crisis<br />

personality autopsy…ticks a time from a peel<strong>in</strong>g back of nails and sk<strong>in</strong>. The sp<strong>in</strong>s swung <strong>the</strong> room to a<br />

stop, and sud<strong>de</strong>nly Cerp<strong>in</strong> Taxt woke up. For a brief moment <strong>in</strong> time, he caught a glimpse from above <strong>the</strong><br />

circuits spill<strong>in</strong>g haywire. He was <strong>in</strong> a hospital. All his friends stood around him call<strong>in</strong>g him back, plead<strong>in</strong>g<br />

for a second com<strong>in</strong>g. To <strong>the</strong> dismay of Cerp<strong>in</strong>’s drown<strong>in</strong>g body, ice shocked <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> freez<strong>in</strong>g heat, he<br />

snapped back <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> drip of <strong>the</strong> IV, back to Koral Mataxia. “Did you see that,” w<strong>in</strong>ced Adastra, ears to <strong>the</strong><br />

ground, dimensions croak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> technique. “Ponte ojo,” laughed <strong>the</strong> witch doctor. “I want you to<br />

<strong>in</strong>c<strong>in</strong>erate it…whatever it is.”<br />

“Yes Koral, <strong>the</strong>n give me <strong>the</strong> ashes, to place <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> sackcloth.”<br />

“Very well.”<br />

The giants wept a thun<strong>de</strong>r that scattered across <strong>the</strong> skies. Was this all she was good for? “Her<br />

rema<strong>in</strong>s are <strong>the</strong> seed,” scol<strong>de</strong>d Adastra. “She will be of better use as <strong>the</strong> black of an ash” <strong>the</strong>y dragged<br />

her to <strong>the</strong> repitissue room, for <strong>the</strong> <strong>de</strong>ed. As <strong>the</strong>y locked <strong>the</strong> doors beh<strong>in</strong>d her, and set <strong>the</strong> oven controls<br />

to a melt<strong>in</strong>g rot, <strong>the</strong> Clavietika began hiss<strong>in</strong>g air, boil<strong>in</strong>g like a pot of hot water. This only disturbed <strong>the</strong><br />

ogres more. They couldn’t bear to stand by as <strong>the</strong>ir baby was cleaned to ash. Adastra walked <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong><br />

repitissue room to collect <strong>the</strong> f<strong>in</strong>al <strong>in</strong>gredients. When he was done, he ma<strong>de</strong> his way towards <strong>the</strong> gar<strong>de</strong>n<br />

of <strong>the</strong> dramagons. “sla`via-ce`est-eviria” he shouted at <strong>the</strong> statuettes, and with<strong>in</strong> seconds <strong>the</strong> statue on<br />

<strong>the</strong> left rose on a h<strong>in</strong>ge, reveal<strong>in</strong>g a grave pit of some sort. Adastra <strong>the</strong>n procee<strong>de</strong>d to dump all of <strong>the</strong><br />

Clavietika’s ashes <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> earth-colored safe. A potion had been set as a booby-trap offer<strong>in</strong>g. On <strong>the</strong><br />

follow<strong>in</strong>g morn<strong>in</strong>g, Zxiat and Ghiest would encounter a more <strong>de</strong>veloped contact po<strong>in</strong>t of reference.<br />

With Zxiat and Gheist only reach<strong>in</strong>g three years <strong>in</strong> age each, <strong>the</strong>y had always managed to steer<br />

clear of <strong>the</strong> litany. Call it luck…but <strong>the</strong>y were taught very well by <strong>the</strong>ir parents on when not to be seen or<br />

heard. For <strong>the</strong> tw<strong>in</strong>s <strong>the</strong> medication was never adm<strong>in</strong>istered, as it was with all children. Koral seemed to<br />

like <strong>the</strong> effect it had on <strong>the</strong> kids. When he entered <strong>the</strong>ir homes he wanted <strong>the</strong>m to have it <strong>in</strong>gra<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>in</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>ir sponge-like impression, <strong>the</strong> memory of Koral collect<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m while <strong>the</strong>ir parents slept. Their t<strong>in</strong>y<br />

little bodies collected more flavor if it was coerced with adrenal<strong>in</strong>…always work<strong>in</strong>g as a kill switch. The<br />

tw<strong>in</strong>s ma<strong>de</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir way towards <strong>the</strong> Dramagon Gar<strong>de</strong>n, to pay <strong>the</strong>ir relative a visit. They began see<strong>in</strong>g him<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> form of a grandfa<strong>the</strong>r. They were taught about <strong>the</strong> ways Koral stole <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs while <strong>the</strong>ir parents<br />

retreated obediently. They were taught that <strong>the</strong>y were <strong>the</strong> hunted, and that <strong>the</strong>y hadn’t very much longer<br />

to live. He consoled <strong>the</strong>m, parental as one unit. The statuette spoke to <strong>the</strong>m ever so gently. It told <strong>the</strong>m<br />

how good <strong>the</strong>y had been…and how proud he was of <strong>the</strong>m. The tw<strong>in</strong>s smiled peak<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> red. They<br />

would do anyth<strong>in</strong>g for him. He asked that before <strong>the</strong>y left, could <strong>the</strong>y lift <strong>the</strong> hatch at <strong>the</strong> bottom of his<br />

feet? He asked with <strong>the</strong> promise of a reward <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d…as it would ra<strong>in</strong> on <strong>the</strong>m as gifts <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>de</strong>ad of<br />

night. Zxiat never bo<strong>the</strong>red to ask if it had a name. It was Gheist who uttered <strong>the</strong> tag, certificate dangl<strong>in</strong>g<br />

off <strong>the</strong> toe to its i<strong>de</strong>ntity. "Moattilliatta…he is Moattilliatta…he promised me someth<strong>in</strong>g’s gonna shower<br />

drown <strong>the</strong> pallbearer plants"…Zxiat won<strong>de</strong>red if this person would clean <strong>the</strong> slate. Maybe he could make<br />

<strong>the</strong>m all wake up. Neuralgia, <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> meantime, had long been bra<strong>in</strong>washed <strong>in</strong>to forgett<strong>in</strong>g her daily<br />

visitations. She couldn’t even remember when <strong>the</strong> last time it was that she had prayed to <strong>the</strong> dramagon.<br />

Off <strong>the</strong> wagon <strong>in</strong> a fuck<strong>in</strong>g spree servitu<strong>de</strong>, she too forgot significance, and pushed it out of her way, just<br />

<strong>the</strong> way Koral had planned it all along. Koral <strong>in</strong>stead began appear<strong>in</strong>g at <strong>the</strong> gar<strong>de</strong>n, speak<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong><br />

dramagon on <strong>the</strong> left. It spoke with him at great lengths about a little bluepr<strong>in</strong>t he had been k<strong>in</strong>d of<br />

toy<strong>in</strong>g with. It was really quite simple. They would <strong>de</strong>bate for hours throw<strong>in</strong>g ve<strong>in</strong> branch telepathy at<br />

each o<strong>the</strong>r’s cranial entanglements. He presented Moattilliatta with a map of <strong>the</strong> air space that<br />

surroun<strong>de</strong>d many feet above <strong>the</strong>m. Whispers tra<strong>de</strong>d strong holds with cackles, as <strong>the</strong>ir brows arched,<br />

p<strong>in</strong>ched to no good.<br />

The litany had been read to soured snores of <strong>the</strong> Toplitz<strong>in</strong> City. It was only fair that he did it this<br />

way. Too many pigeons <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> oven. This is just how it was. On this read<strong>in</strong>g fell <strong>the</strong> droplets of Zxiat’s<br />

and Gheist’s names. It was a day that <strong>the</strong> tw<strong>in</strong>s feared would come. Moatilliatta knew noth<strong>in</strong>g of this as<br />

he was un<strong>de</strong>r Koral’s spell. That day marked <strong>the</strong> contractions at three m<strong>in</strong>utes apart. Crack<strong>in</strong>g yolk<br />

unsnapped <strong>the</strong> storm, Tremula Metacarpi was filter<strong>in</strong>g its scorn. On a woo<strong>de</strong>n horse table, chipped by<br />

previous bloodlust, Adastra set <strong>the</strong> utencils for sharper unravel<strong>in</strong>gs. These two will br<strong>in</strong>g me closer to<br />

him. Zxiat and Gheist felt distant from <strong>the</strong>ir physical costumes. That uniform wasn’t really gonna matter<br />

18 19


anymore. Where <strong>the</strong>y were go<strong>in</strong>g would br<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m closer to Moattilliatta too. They marched up to <strong>the</strong><br />

horses ma<strong>de</strong> of wood, and placed <strong>the</strong>ir bodies <strong>in</strong> full sacrificial pose. There <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir eyes was a lifeless<br />

staircase to <strong>the</strong> wake-mo<strong>de</strong> <strong>the</strong>y wanted to <strong>in</strong>herit. From <strong>the</strong> billfold of his backsi<strong>de</strong> Koral reached <strong>in</strong>,<br />

handle touch<strong>in</strong>g palm. He slowly read <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>scripture of brailed chapters : "I’ll reign blood on this city"<br />

read his f<strong>in</strong>gers on <strong>the</strong> machete handle that was about to <strong>de</strong>capitate <strong>the</strong> tw<strong>in</strong>s. Neuralgia felt no emotion<br />

<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> care she abandoned. She was preoccupy<strong>in</strong>g herself with chores that Koral or<strong>de</strong>red her to do. She<br />

sat <strong>the</strong>re fold<strong>in</strong>g lumps of fleshbatter for <strong>the</strong> nightly meal. Through gr<strong>in</strong><strong>de</strong>rs she <strong>de</strong>voured <strong>the</strong> mush<br />

<strong>in</strong>to a fertilizer mach<strong>in</strong>e, mak<strong>in</strong>g a batch of play dough nutrients for Koral to eat. Every time she laid<br />

<strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> blob, roll<strong>in</strong>g p<strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong> hand, Koral would slice <strong>the</strong> pacifier softness of <strong>the</strong> children’s’ faces. Blood lept<br />

onto his face as goggles. The smell of copper musk knocked <strong>the</strong> shit out of everyth<strong>in</strong>g. Koral’s frenzy<br />

smiled out a laugh<strong>in</strong>g fit, while <strong>the</strong> soaked parts of <strong>the</strong> children retired by his lap. The carnage dressed<br />

his possession couture quite nicely. Neuralgia slaved away <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> even<strong>in</strong>g, keep<strong>in</strong>g her end of <strong>the</strong><br />

barga<strong>in</strong>. After Koral reached climax, he unclo<strong>the</strong>d his porkframe from <strong>the</strong> robes that were common place<br />

<strong>in</strong> his Ceouniratta burial rites. They always required a burn<strong>in</strong>g, so that everyth<strong>in</strong>g would just blow away<br />

forgett<strong>in</strong>g what had just occurred. His caravan eyes breached full dress for a stabb<strong>in</strong>g growth from an<br />

unacci<strong>de</strong>ntal foothold-talon, peck<strong>in</strong>g fabrication. Moattilliatta could now commence his pull<strong>in</strong>g heads up<br />

out of <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>tra-exhaust. Territories targeted. Handpicked <strong>the</strong> noose from <strong>the</strong> camp of <strong>the</strong> riots. Adastra<br />

saw it com<strong>in</strong>g, before becom<strong>in</strong>g Koral Mataxia, <strong>the</strong> alternate personality that dueled only with himself.<br />

By <strong>the</strong> right dramagon, soil had implo<strong>de</strong>d, dirt beneath <strong>the</strong> statuette laid <strong>in</strong> pieces on <strong>the</strong> ground<br />

corrosion. Smoke trailed toward <strong>the</strong> skies, swirl<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>in</strong>gested to oversize pills. Someth<strong>in</strong>g had hatched an<br />

<strong>in</strong>sult, <strong>de</strong>flower<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> hips of clou<strong>de</strong>d mud…hunt<strong>in</strong>g for Koral of one thousand or more. Moattilliatta<br />

adorned <strong>the</strong> pillow lips that floated through his si<strong>de</strong>s. He was slic<strong>in</strong>g right by <strong>the</strong> w<strong>in</strong>d, break<strong>in</strong>g sound<br />

and tast<strong>in</strong>g light. Such a magnificient specimen. Tremula had constructed a f<strong>in</strong>ely tuned weapon, with one<br />

taste on his m<strong>in</strong>d. Let it spell holes <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> grip. He reached a w<strong>in</strong>g span that covered three arenas full of<br />

fetus stock. Completely ma<strong>de</strong> of raw cartilage and marrow pole switchbla<strong>de</strong>s, he wore <strong>the</strong> epi<strong>de</strong>rmis w<strong>in</strong>gs<br />

of Zxiat’s and Gheist’s sk<strong>in</strong>ned torsos. He had no flesh masquera<strong>de</strong> to hi<strong>de</strong> his anonymity, just <strong>the</strong><br />

exoskeleton ma<strong>de</strong> by scribble-<strong>in</strong>fected tremulants, courtesy of Wolfram Tarant. That day marked <strong>the</strong><br />

twist<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> new Hex Zero-Rouge…he’d hibernate no more. From cell to cell, build<strong>in</strong>g after build<strong>in</strong>g he<br />

toppled <strong>the</strong> pyram<strong>in</strong>es, expos<strong>in</strong>g fire hydrant fires of pale neck w<strong>in</strong>e. Neuralgia tried to repent yet<br />

Moattilliatta could not forgive her. With one of his legs he held her body down while carv<strong>in</strong>g out her trachea<br />

with his left claw. Her scream became muted on <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>stant that it happened. Her body kept mov<strong>in</strong>g. She sat<br />

up and walked <strong>in</strong> a circle skipp<strong>in</strong>g to <strong>the</strong> scratches on <strong>the</strong> record before her aftershock collapsed. Her front<br />

row seat served its punishment <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> eyes of Moattilliatta. Koral would feel <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>in</strong> his old factory nap,<br />

as his scent slept right through most of it. When he f<strong>in</strong>ally caught scent of <strong>the</strong> bodies he rushed over to his<br />

w<strong>in</strong>dow for a better look. Moattilliatta had piled up <strong>the</strong> cadavers of all of Toplitz<strong>in</strong>’s population <strong>in</strong> front of<br />

Koral’s home…<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> midst of high noon. Koral could see no one <strong>in</strong> front of his home except for <strong>the</strong> pile of<br />

people. Moattilliatta perched itself on <strong>the</strong> roof of his house wait<strong>in</strong>g for just <strong>the</strong> right second…Koral felt <strong>the</strong><br />

knock<strong>in</strong>g of his breath beh<strong>in</strong>d him and he froze. Moattilliatta arched back his enormous head and opened<br />

his perforated jaws. The blood of all <strong>the</strong> people fell from his guilty mouth. Adastra could see Bird, as he lived<br />

on as <strong>the</strong> eyes on <strong>the</strong> back of Koral’s head…and with one jolt downwards Moattilliatta clipped <strong>the</strong> duet <strong>in</strong><br />

half, leav<strong>in</strong>g two pieces squirm<strong>in</strong>g and try<strong>in</strong>g to hi<strong>de</strong>. As Moattilliatta served himself for ano<strong>the</strong>r his entire<br />

body began to regenerate <strong>in</strong>to a bubbl<strong>in</strong>g stretch of molecules. He pulsated light reflection, dawn<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong><br />

birth back <strong>in</strong>to home…he clobbered at <strong>the</strong> noth<strong>in</strong>g air, like a roach trapped on its back…he mutated with<br />

shapes of elbows and legs kick<strong>in</strong>g and contort<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>si<strong>de</strong> of his body. He came to, submerg<strong>in</strong>g from<br />

a full-bodied river that lead him to <strong>the</strong> footsteps of a bridge. At <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r end of it was a row of steps that<br />

immersed itself <strong>in</strong>to ano<strong>the</strong>r body of water. He walked slow, pok<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> romrse<strong>in</strong>g silence. As he walked<br />

across <strong>the</strong> bridge all he could th<strong>in</strong>k was about gett<strong>in</strong>g over only so that he could come back and f<strong>in</strong>ish his<br />

bus<strong>in</strong>ess. At <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r end he held his breath and walked down <strong>in</strong>to <strong>the</strong> water below him, for now it was<br />

Cerp<strong>in</strong> Taxt’s turn to go home. Around <strong>the</strong> hospital Cerp<strong>in</strong>’s friends caught <strong>the</strong>ir breath and lashed out a<br />

sigh of relief; he had f<strong>in</strong>ally ma<strong>de</strong> it through. Ectoplasm spit from his nose, ears and mouth….he smiled for<br />

miles around. He knew what it all meant. To <strong>the</strong> friends who l<strong>in</strong>ed up to greet him, <strong>the</strong> worst was over. He<br />

spent <strong>the</strong> next three days gett<strong>in</strong>g oriented, with simple speech patterns and physical <strong>the</strong>rapy. It would be<br />

a while before th<strong>in</strong>gs got back to normal. Shotgunned to reality, wait<strong>in</strong>g to go back.<br />

This Apparatus Must Be Unear<strong>the</strong>d;<br />

I’ve been wait<strong>in</strong>g for so long, for someone to mend all <strong>the</strong> blame. I’ve been search<strong>in</strong>g for so long,for someth<strong>in</strong>g<br />

to..Anonymous..avenge my name. Anonymous…avenge my name. You came here on time, I hope that it’s not to late.<br />

I’ve seen you at night, bit<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> frost of silence. Can you cure us of this fate? Mock <strong>the</strong> litany <strong>in</strong> its face. Is that you<br />

moatilliatta?? I’ve been wait<strong>in</strong>g for so long.. for someone to mend all <strong>the</strong> blame. I’ve been search<strong>in</strong>g for so long for someth<strong>in</strong>g to.<br />

Anonymous….avenge my name…anonymous….avenge my name hex zero rouge...He’ll hybernate no more. The altars run dry<br />

prefect dictate your f<strong>in</strong>al words, does it st<strong>in</strong>g of augur truth? Was your temple left <strong>in</strong> ru<strong>in</strong>s ? is that you moatilliatta??<br />

I’ve been wait<strong>in</strong>g for so long, for someone to mend all <strong>the</strong> blame. I’ve been search<strong>in</strong>g for so long for someth<strong>in</strong>g to. Anonymous…<br />

avenge my name…anonymous…avenge my name. This is <strong>the</strong> altar, <strong>the</strong> one that you let me die <strong>in</strong>. On your knees...how you wept….much<br />

like omertta, quiet has shiel<strong>de</strong>d all <strong>in</strong>tent, on <strong>the</strong> ground it appears, like wrath. Aveng<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> lamb as bait… In a bed of nails you<br />

ma<strong>de</strong>….who ma<strong>de</strong> this effigy? Is <strong>the</strong>re straw dressed <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>se fields? and now it won’t be long... I’ve been wait<strong>in</strong>g for so long… for<br />

someone to mend all <strong>the</strong> blame. I’ve been search<strong>in</strong>g for so long…for someth<strong>in</strong>g to. Anonymous...avenge my name.<br />

{through an oubliette he awakes}<br />

Cerp<strong>in</strong> began spend<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> next couple of years of his life pack<strong>in</strong>g up and say<strong>in</strong>g his goodbyes. All<br />

<strong>the</strong> times he had told his friends that he was leav<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>the</strong>y never picked up on <strong>the</strong> slang fast enough, or<br />

maybe some of <strong>the</strong>m dismissed it <strong>the</strong> way you ignore a beggar. He managed to slip through <strong>the</strong>ir f<strong>in</strong>gers<br />

every time,look<strong>in</strong>g everyone <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> eye when <strong>in</strong>form<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m of this. All of his attempts shrugged an<br />

apathy from his shoul<strong>de</strong>rs. His luck had run its course <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> run-on sentence of his life. He knew <strong>the</strong><br />

images well. He didn’t need a rem<strong>in</strong><strong>de</strong>r. He knew he did not belong. The cord grew shorter and shorter<br />

by <strong>the</strong> years, until he was paid a visit by <strong>the</strong> <strong>in</strong>k he dispersed <strong>in</strong>to sculpt<strong>in</strong>g holds. Tremula Metacarpi was<br />

<strong>in</strong>ches away from victory. Through <strong>the</strong> curta<strong>in</strong>s of his room came a glid<strong>in</strong>g entrance….a mist of verm<strong>in</strong><br />

dandruff settled on him <strong>de</strong>let<strong>in</strong>g all <strong>the</strong> pretext. He tossed and turned on that abbreviated night. The<br />

tremulants sent word to him that he had not f<strong>in</strong>ished <strong>the</strong> job well enough. They felt immensely<br />

disappo<strong>in</strong>ted by his half-assed tries. They wanted more from him. “It seems you’ve gotten away scottfree,<br />

Cerp<strong>in</strong>,” aroused <strong>the</strong> voices of his visions. “Did you really th<strong>in</strong>k you could get away that easily? Do<br />

you take us for imbeciles <strong>in</strong> your rapid eye movement? Was it ectopic for you? Shift all sort of pretty<br />

shapes, did we…….propel yourself far and long?” Cerp<strong>in</strong> clutched his eyes closed <strong>in</strong> a tenant-versuslandlord<br />

<strong>de</strong>bate : “You…you’re <strong>the</strong> one who left us here….what will we do without you. If you th<strong>in</strong>k you’ve<br />

passed all <strong>the</strong> tests, <strong>the</strong>n come collect what is rightfully yours.” All <strong>the</strong> banter roared at Cerp<strong>in</strong> without<br />

so much as a face to put beh<strong>in</strong>d it, assaulted by <strong>the</strong> collective chatter of drawn false teeth. “I know…I<br />

know,” Cerp<strong>in</strong> whimpered. “All of this time…bedsore conta<strong>in</strong>ment…how am I to know that <strong>the</strong> music has<br />

fa<strong>de</strong>d?” “That is for you to come and figure out now isn’t it?” gr<strong>in</strong>ned <strong>the</strong> wh<strong>in</strong>y solution, Metacarpi, at<br />

every turn. “You have but one more chance….” Cerp<strong>in</strong> had pissed himself by <strong>the</strong> bucket-load. “What is<br />

it….anyth<strong>in</strong>g, I’ll do anyth<strong>in</strong>g!” he cried. His arms crippled a contortion of sublim<strong>in</strong>al surren<strong>de</strong>r. He<br />

would do anyth<strong>in</strong>g now just to please his children. He knew what awaited him, and it suited him f<strong>in</strong>e.<br />

This world had become grey and monotonous. The world as he knew it wasted away miserably with no<br />

<strong>in</strong>terest for his k<strong>in</strong>d. Why beat <strong>the</strong>m when you could jo<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>m? In <strong>the</strong> realm of Tremula Metacarpi, a<br />

throne was just itch<strong>in</strong>g for an occupant. An appo<strong>in</strong>ted location, just beneath a bridge <strong>in</strong> Rezjua, by a<br />

network of commuters, would appear an entrance to <strong>the</strong> e.s.p.-impure. They gave him a date for <strong>the</strong> new<br />

portal. Would he accept? Could he commit? Was it <strong>in</strong> his blood? Did he have to get rid of it… <strong>the</strong> body. The<br />

sickness badgered him endlessly, pull<strong>in</strong>g at his soul. The tremulants ma<strong>de</strong> martyrs out of his sentence<br />

attempts. The Lepers of Unhydriat were nowhere to be found alive. Tremulants had ceased <strong>the</strong>m with<br />

brief bouts of Muzzles and asthma. Dom<strong>in</strong>oes couldn’t have hit it any har<strong>de</strong>r on <strong>the</strong> nail. Cerp<strong>in</strong> Taxt had<br />

given up <strong>in</strong> or<strong>de</strong>r to be with his beloved. They had it <strong>in</strong> for each o<strong>the</strong>r, cross<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> picket l<strong>in</strong>e, smear<strong>in</strong>g<br />

blood all over <strong>the</strong> tracks, all over <strong>the</strong> concrete, all over his face. “Ya me voy.”<br />

Cerp<strong>in</strong> Taxt stood high above <strong>the</strong> wobbl<strong>in</strong>g miscarriage of oncom<strong>in</strong>g traffic. The rail that adorned<br />

<strong>the</strong> top of <strong>the</strong> bridge pulsed a cape of w<strong>in</strong>ced-shut onlook<strong>in</strong>g. He had managed to get this far, without<br />

hesitation. He didn’t stretch his arms <strong>in</strong> some lame Christ pose. He had more class than that. Stand<strong>in</strong>g<br />

perfectly still, he disassembled his flag, blew his nose <strong>in</strong>to it and shoved it back <strong>in</strong> his front left pocket.<br />

He wore a pair of black slip-on w<strong>in</strong>os. His jeans, sta<strong>in</strong>ed by a sweat<strong>in</strong>g reaction to his mission, fell <strong>in</strong><br />

normal rotation around his waist. They were black. His sk<strong>in</strong> parted to a smear of candle wax<br />

20 21


abandonment. Cerp<strong>in</strong>’s head became <strong>in</strong>terchangeable….sometimes monk-shaven, o<strong>the</strong>r times a long<br />

black shoe-polish sh<strong>in</strong>e. The nostrils on his grill flared ape-ways. His lips had a cleft wound that had been<br />

tapered by a lacerat<strong>in</strong>g tailor. What room was <strong>the</strong>re for such a creature? In his m<strong>in</strong>d he thought it would<br />

be a good i<strong>de</strong>a if he burned all of his ID bracelets and cards, so that when <strong>the</strong>y blew away <strong>the</strong>y would end<br />

up <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> landfill on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r si<strong>de</strong> of town. Surely Neuralgia would f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong>re <strong>in</strong> a projected state<br />

of astral won<strong>de</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g. No money <strong>in</strong> his pockets, no letter of reckon<strong>in</strong>g. All <strong>the</strong> plans had accumulated <strong>in</strong> a<br />

warp round of loose-change th<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g. He had wished to teach more to his friends about <strong>the</strong> mean<strong>in</strong>g of<br />

it all…yet with all three of his eyes constantly bl<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g…who could ever tell if he could see at all…his<br />

body hadn’t really expected much less, but this one paved <strong>the</strong> way for a last meal. He began walk<strong>in</strong>g it like<br />

a tightrope. From <strong>the</strong> coma came a limp strut not too familiar to his body before <strong>the</strong> acci<strong>de</strong>nt. His arms<br />

carved to a rat-poisoned shrivel, parked <strong>the</strong>mselves neatly to his si<strong>de</strong>s. In <strong>the</strong> distance came <strong>the</strong> grunt<strong>in</strong>g<br />

of a vehicle semi-seismic <strong>in</strong> its size. The driver slowly brought his truck to a halt. Cerp<strong>in</strong> just stared<br />

marble-eyed, hold<strong>in</strong>g on to noth<strong>in</strong>g. The driver looked up at him, hop<strong>in</strong>g he wouldn’t do it. Noth<strong>in</strong>g could<br />

rewrite <strong>the</strong> previous pages, quietly stand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>re. With<strong>in</strong> seconds Cerp<strong>in</strong> would make up his m<strong>in</strong>d.<br />

A light breeze simmered around <strong>the</strong> balance of his stance. Each clos<strong>in</strong>g second opened up a dilation<br />

to <strong>the</strong> bl<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g that only he could see. Everyone froze, collaps<strong>in</strong>g, lungs full of sighs. An application had<br />

been turned <strong>in</strong> while o<strong>the</strong>rs turned away. Like <strong>the</strong> hands of a clock seep<strong>in</strong>g forward his body began to<br />

sli<strong>de</strong> <strong>in</strong>to a centrifugal force. He knew <strong>the</strong> rout<strong>in</strong>e….no panic had its way, just a calm throbb<strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong><br />

door knob. He had ma<strong>de</strong> a skeleton key ma<strong>de</strong> of cobwebs and hair, and from up on <strong>the</strong> roof of his mouth<br />

did he pull it out, hairballed to <strong>the</strong> gag. Swiftly mov<strong>in</strong>g now, as his body ga<strong>in</strong>ed momentum, he held <strong>the</strong><br />

pick-lock with a vengeance, fists po<strong>in</strong>t<strong>in</strong>g at a sea of mayday handl<strong>in</strong>g. He promised to come fight<strong>in</strong>g<br />

with a silence most <strong>de</strong>afen<strong>in</strong>g…no loose muscles, no more <strong>de</strong>nts…a torpedo ga<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g on <strong>the</strong>m…Tremula<br />

had not <strong>the</strong> fa<strong>in</strong>test i<strong>de</strong>a what was <strong>in</strong> store for <strong>the</strong>m. Faster he sank towards <strong>the</strong> medium exit of <strong>the</strong><br />

concrete. He bared no thoughts <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d. He had erased himself from <strong>the</strong> directory with amnesia as an<br />

asthmatic anes<strong>the</strong>tic, while <strong>the</strong> portal craved a gap<strong>in</strong>g penetration cough<strong>in</strong>g right before his remorse<br />

struck gold. With<strong>in</strong> one gulp Cerp<strong>in</strong> Taxt had hit <strong>the</strong> ground. The crack<strong>in</strong>g of <strong>the</strong> marrow. The boils<br />

roar<strong>in</strong>g up on <strong>the</strong> shores. One si<strong>de</strong> of his face had collapsed <strong>in</strong>wards, while <strong>the</strong> rest of his body rema<strong>in</strong>ed<br />

<strong>in</strong>tact. His limbs slightly mumbled an escape act…and <strong>the</strong> puppet str<strong>in</strong>gs fell beh<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> ragman of<br />

Mundy, tangled and <strong>de</strong>faced. People turned away <strong>in</strong> disgust. The driver of <strong>the</strong> truck that had stopped to<br />

watch him came over to his si<strong>de</strong>. He whispered <strong>in</strong> his ears, "Dios mio que esistes?" to no response. Cerp<strong>in</strong>’s<br />

right eye was left open, not a murmur, now without bl<strong>in</strong>ks. All that was left was a uniform, which he had<br />

no use for keep<strong>in</strong>g. His essence unglued itself from <strong>the</strong> asphalt, leav<strong>in</strong>g beh<strong>in</strong>d a syrup of red, for his<br />

body was <strong>the</strong> feast, served on beds of ancestral curses. Now, that feared chalk outl<strong>in</strong>e would close <strong>in</strong><br />

circumference only around <strong>the</strong> temple of his ru<strong>in</strong>s. On <strong>the</strong> un<strong>de</strong>rpass <strong>in</strong> downtown Rezjua, Cerp<strong>in</strong> left a<br />

tale, as it forever sta<strong>in</strong>ed <strong>the</strong> ground he hit on that jealous cold leach afternoon. No one knew what hit<br />

<strong>the</strong>m. The accusations flew from angles far and <strong>de</strong>prived. Who was to blame for <strong>the</strong> <strong>de</strong>ath of Cerp<strong>in</strong> Taxt?<br />

Had he really jumped to his <strong>de</strong>ath, while our backs were bath<strong>in</strong>g just east of <strong>the</strong> river Enial.<br />

On <strong>the</strong> day of his funeral, a march of convicted <strong>de</strong>votees brought <strong>the</strong> ashes of Cerp<strong>in</strong>’s body to a<br />

pauper’s grave. The ghetto Tramonta<strong>in</strong>e that <strong>the</strong>y scaled lead to <strong>the</strong> outhouse of dumpster waste. There<br />

were no street signs, just <strong>the</strong> mud of unpaved roads. In <strong>the</strong> distance surveyed <strong>the</strong> watchful eyes of some<br />

keystone bor<strong>de</strong>r patrol. He had always warned of not litter<strong>in</strong>g away foolishly because it would end up<br />

here. Funny how unwanted trash accumulates away from <strong>the</strong> safety of urban <strong>de</strong>cay…on <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r si<strong>de</strong><br />

of <strong>the</strong> river nestled just beh<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> graves, separated a reality subpoena ask<strong>in</strong>g who would choose si<strong>de</strong>s?<br />

Cerp<strong>in</strong> had choosen his path. Was it everybody else who hadalready died? Aga<strong>in</strong>st a sandpapered kiss,<br />

bidd<strong>in</strong>g for <strong>the</strong> farewell bet, was lost <strong>the</strong> soul of Cerp<strong>in</strong> Taxt.<br />

Televators;<br />

Just as he hit <strong>the</strong> ground, <strong>the</strong>y lowered a tow that stuck <strong>in</strong> his neck to <strong>the</strong> gills. fragments of sobriquets..riddle me this..three<br />

half eaten cornias, who hit <strong>the</strong> aureole…stalk <strong>the</strong> ground…stalk <strong>the</strong> ground. You should have seen <strong>the</strong> curse that flew right by you. Page<br />

of concrete,sta<strong>in</strong>ed walks crutch <strong>in</strong> hobbled sway. Autodafe..a capulary h<strong>in</strong>t of red.. Only this manupod crescent <strong>in</strong> shape has escaped.<br />

The house half <strong>the</strong> way..fell empty with teeth that split both his lips, mark <strong>the</strong>se words. One day this chalk outl<strong>in</strong>e will circle this city.<br />

Was he robbed of <strong>the</strong> asphalt that cushioned his face? A room colored charlatan hid <strong>in</strong> a safe…stalk <strong>the</strong> ground…stalk <strong>the</strong> ground. You<br />

should have seen <strong>the</strong> curse that flew right by you. Page of concrete, sta<strong>in</strong> walks crutch <strong>in</strong> hobbled sway. Autodafe…a capulary h<strong>in</strong>t of<br />

red. Only this manupod crescent <strong>in</strong> shape has escaped. Pull <strong>the</strong> p<strong>in</strong>s…save your grace…mark <strong>the</strong>se words on his grave.<br />

Pull <strong>the</strong> p<strong>in</strong>s…save your grace…mark <strong>the</strong>se words on his grave. You should have seen <strong>the</strong> curse that flew right by you. Page of<br />

concrete, sta<strong>in</strong> walks crutch <strong>in</strong> hobbled sway<br />

Autodafe..a capulary h<strong>in</strong>t of red. Everyone knows <strong>the</strong> last toes are always <strong>the</strong> col<strong>de</strong>st to go.<br />

Take <strong>the</strong> veil Cerp<strong>in</strong> Taxt;<br />

You must have been phlegmatic <strong>in</strong> stature. The gates of thanos are a spread eagle wi<strong>de</strong>. You let <strong>the</strong> shutters make sackcloth and<br />

ashes out of a bl<strong>in</strong>d mans picaresque heart. You take <strong>the</strong> veil..you’ll take <strong>the</strong> dive..you take <strong>the</strong> veil. It’s not over till <strong>the</strong> tremulant<br />

s<strong>in</strong>gs. These i<strong>de</strong>as of march are <strong>the</strong>y so make believe ? How tempts <strong>the</strong> revenant…slice up and not across. You take <strong>the</strong> veil..you’ll take<br />

<strong>the</strong> dive.. you take <strong>the</strong> veil. A mass of gallon sloth, as flys have walls for feet. A rapturous verbatim, someone said but who is to know.<br />

And when you f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> fr<strong>in</strong>ge, <strong>the</strong> one last hit that spent you, you’ll f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> ossuary spill<strong>in</strong>g by <strong>the</strong> day. Iconoclastic had it com<strong>in</strong>g for<br />

years, <strong>the</strong>y know <strong>the</strong> prisons that you have yet to fear…where thumbs hi<strong>de</strong> <strong>in</strong>si<strong>de</strong> of sleep<strong>in</strong>gbag mouths, adlib your memoires by cast<strong>in</strong>g<br />

a drought. You take <strong>the</strong> veil…you’ll take <strong>the</strong> dive..you take <strong>the</strong> veil. A mass of gallon sloth..as flys have walls for feet. A rapturous<br />

verbatim-someone said but who is to know.<br />

And when you f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> fr<strong>in</strong>ge, <strong>the</strong> one last hit that spent you, you’ll f<strong>in</strong>d <strong>the</strong> ossuary spill<strong>in</strong>g by <strong>the</strong> day. Knife me<br />

<strong>in</strong>….hobbl<strong>in</strong>g….talk<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> it’s sleep aga<strong>in</strong><br />

Knife me <strong>in</strong>….hobbl<strong>in</strong>g….talk<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> it’s sleep aga<strong>in</strong>. Knife me <strong>in</strong>… hobbl<strong>in</strong>g…talk<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> it’s sleep aga<strong>in</strong>. Knife me <strong>in</strong>…<br />

hobbl<strong>in</strong>g…talk<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> It’s sleep aga<strong>in</strong>. Virulent hives…of bedpost piles…virulent hives…Who brought me here, forsaken,<strong>de</strong>praved and<br />

wrought with fear…who turned it off? The last th<strong>in</strong>g I remember now…who brought me here?<br />

Forsaken,<strong>de</strong>praved and wrought with fear..who turned it off? The last th<strong>in</strong>g I remember now. Who brought me here?<br />

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