Riddley Walker by Russell Hoban Read Free Book Online Page A

luce all on a suddn."
    Goodparley said to Orfing, "Hes all right Erny he jus gets easy stoand." Then he said to me, "I dont mynd taking a littl time with some 1 if I think theyve got the mynd for it. Riddley youre going to be taking the scar you mus know your Eusa. Dyou have _Eusa 31_ in memberment?"
    I said it off the same:
    _31_. Eusa sed, Is this a dream? The Littl Man sed, No. Eusa sed, Wuz the uther a dream then? Wen I had a wyf & childer? The Littl Man sed, No Eusa that wuzn no dream nor this ain no dream. Its aul 1 thing nor you cant wayk up owt uv it. Eusa sed, I can dy owt uv it tho cant I. The Littl Man sed, Eusa yu dy owt uv this plays & yul jus fyn me in a nuther plays. Yul fyn me in the wud yul fyn me on the water lyk yu foun me in the stoan. Yu luk enne wayr & Iwl be thayr.
    Goodparley said, "Wel said Riddley. Now tel me this. If Eusa cant wake up out of it then whats he got to do?"
    I said, "Wake up in to it."
    He said, "Thats it. And if Eusa cant dy out of it then whats he got to do?"
    I said, "Live in to it."
    He said, "Very good. And wheres he going to fynd that Littl Shyning Man?"
    I said, "In the wood or on the water or in the stoan."
    He said, "O yes thats what it says in _Eusa 31_ youve learnt it off all right. Wel what about it then? Youve seen stoans and wood and water. Have you seen that Littl Shyning Man?"
    I said, "How dyou mean that?"
    He said, "I mean it like I say it. With your eyes. Have you seen that Littl Shyning Man in the wood or on the water or in the stoan?"
    I said, "No."
    He said, "Ben looking for him have you?"
    I said, "No."
    He said, "Why not? Wunt you be interstit to see him? See if hes in 1 peace or 2 or what ever?"
    I said, "I dont know how youre asking that."
    He said, "Im asking strait."
    I said, "The Littl Shyning Man aint nothing Iwd look for. Not with my eyes any how."
    Goodparley said, "You dont think hes nothing real do you. You dont think hes nothing only a idear."
    I said, "Do you?"
    He said, "Riddley what if I tol you Im looking for that Littl Shyning Man. Looking for him to put him to gether. Wud you call that good or bad?"
    I said, "Good."
    Goodparley said to Orfing, "You see what I mean Erny? Every body wants it put to gether. You ask any 1 theywl say the same thing its the naturel way to feal."
    Orfing said, "He aint talking on the same Littl Shyning Man as you and wel you know it."
    Goodparley said, "Theres jus only the 1 Littl Shyning Man and wel _you_ know it Erny. It dont matter what you think youre talking on he is what he is. His self he never claimt he wer the knowing of it he jus only said he wer the showing of it."
    "Which is blip," said Orfing. "Like Ive all ways said."
    "Which is blip and moren that its realness and all," said Goodparley.
    Orfing said, "Hes realness right a nuff but he wont never be your kynd of realness Abel. He aint nothing you can dig up like old iron he wernt never meant to be that."
    Goodparley said, "Now weare coming to the curse roads of it Erny now weare getting down to terpitation. Youre the man for that are you. Youre the man for what it all means."
    Orfing said, "Yes Im the man for what it all means any body is as looks at whats there nor dont look at what aint there. What the Littl Shyning Man is hes jus what ever cant never be put to gether. There aint no moren that to it nor you cant make it be mor. Any thing as _can_ be put to gether aint the Littl Shyning Man its some thing else." The hash musve had him perwel lucent up I never heard him say that much befor.
    Goodparley said, "Erny youre such a downer youre going to down your self right in to the groun 1 day. You can say what you like Im saying wewl get it put to gether weve got it all in front of us and going to make it happen. Youre looking sideways but Im looking frontways and going to get every body moving that way form and fents boath. I dint come Big 2 to stan in the mud and sing for boats in the air. Weare going to do things here weare going to get things moving."
    It