82.

“Who are you?” “I am Dream-eater.”
“What is your fantasy?” “Finding myself”
What is your boast? “Growing in spirit”
“How will you see it come to pass?”

“Have a rotten fruit. Eat these perfumed
lies you have spouted. In this labyrinth
you will see illusions. Perhaps you will
live to see another maze, foolish daughter.”

83.

“Who are you?” “I am Bee-stinger.”
“What is your fantasy?” “Finding a clover”
What is your boast? “To be enlightened”
“How will you see it come to pass?”

“Have a rotten fruit. Eat these perfumed
lies you have spouted. In this labyrinth
you will see illusions. Perhaps you will
live to see another maze, foolish sister.”

84.

“Who are you?” “I am Key-holder.”
“What is your fantasy?” “Finding a lover”
What is your boast? “Rescuing a damsel”
“How will you see it come to pass?”

“Have a rotten fruit. Eat these perfumed
lies you have spouted. In this labyrinth
you will see illusions. Perhaps you will
live to see another maze, foolish brother.”

85.

“Who are you?” “I am Marco Querini.”
“What is your fantasy?” “Getting rich”
What is your boast? “Confronting my father”
“How will you see it come to pass?”

“Have a rotten fruit. Eat these perfumed
lies you have spouted. In this labyrinth
you will see illusions. Perhaps you will
live to see another maze, foolish son.”

80.

“In these tunnels, each one of you
Has told a fine lie. In this underworld,
Each of you boasted a fantasy feat.
But I am a prophet, I am an oracle.”

“These wilted flowers are for you,
Sister, brother, daughter, son. You
carry the weight of that malicious lie.
I offer you these twice-rotten fruits.”

81.

“I have tagged every wall of this city
with my broken poetry. From alley to
mountain, my words have danced
with half-rhyme and inane reason.”

“Time must be held back. Each one of
you will turn the wheel and reel in
these worst instincts. I give you this
chance to make amends with God.”

one: ‘old on.

too: Let me speak.

one: carry on, then.

too: Let me first begin with a list of things that you ought to consider.

one: ‘ang on. why should you speak first? […] are you some sort of wizard?

too: This is how it begins. You’re alone by the brook listening to a skylark.

one: a wo’…?

too: A sky-lark.

one: you’re balmy. goin’ on about a wo’…?

too: I am not a wizard. But I want you […] to listen carefully. See it – in your inner mind – you’re not listening.

one: i’m cross, that’s what i am. I — am annoyed. I’m furious. And you’re going on […]

too: That is forbidden. You can be cross, but no ennui, s’il te plait.

one: what’s that thing you said about a skylark? What’s a skylark?

too: That’s a bird. Singing soothing tunes into your seeping brains. Now.

one: I honestly think you should stop talking. My head ‘urts. And the frog-speak??

too: Hello? Are you there at all? If you’re hurting, look up at the skies.

one: I am hurting. Hang on, are you really a wizard? Can you help me? Why didn’t you let me speak?

too: Too late now, your time is up.

one: I’m cold. I thought you’d help me.

too: Then again, you are not cold anymore, are you?

one: Yes, I bloody am.

too: Always quibbling, always were, always will.