Lightning
Lightning (第3/3页)
wedtoteachatthejunior-collegelevel.InArgentina——"
"Yourecrazy,baby,"Edwinasaid,pattinghimonthearm.
"Yes,"Connorssaid,"wouldyouliketogotoamovie?"
Themoviewas"MoscowDoesNotBelieveinTears,"aniftyitem.Connors,Edwinainhabitingboththerightandleftsidesofhisbrain,nextinterviewedamannamedStupplewhohadbeenstruckbylightninginApril1970andhadinconsequencejoinedtheAmericanNaziParty,specificallytheHorstWesselPost#66inNewark,whichhad(countingStupple)threemembers.Cantusehim,thoughtConnors,wastingtime,neverthelessfaithfullyinscribinginhisnotebookpagesofviciousnesshavingtodowiththeProtocolsofZionandtheallegedgicinferiorityofblacks.Marvelous,donttheseguysevercomeupwithanythingnew?Connorsrememberedhavingheardthesameroutine,almostwordforword,fromanAssistantGrandDragonoftheShreveport(La.)Klan,amansomewhatdumberthanabathtub,in1957attheDewDropInninShreveport,wheretheribsinredsaucewerenotbad.Stupple,whohadputonaNaziarmbandoverhischeckedflannelshirtfortheinterview,whichwasconductedinatwo-roomapartmentoverafailingfour-lanebowlingalleyinNewark,servedConnorsDanishaquavitfrozenintoablockoficewithaverygoodJapanesebeer,Kirin,asachaser."Wontyouneedapicture?"Stuppleaskedatlength,andConnorssaid,evasively,"Well,youknow,lotsofpeoplehavebeenstruckbylightning"
TelephoningEdwinafromaphoneboothoutsidethePortAuthorityTerminal,helearnedthatshewasnotavailablefordinner."Howdoyoufeel?"heaskedher,awarethatthequestionwasimprecise——hereallywantedtoknowwhetherhavingbeenstruckbylightningwasanongoingstateor,rather,aone-timeillumination——andvexedbyhisinabilitytogetahandleonthestory."Tired,"shesaid,"Zachsbeenyellingalot,callmetomorrow,maybewecandosomething"
Penfield,theFolkseditor,hadacallonConnorsservicewhenhegotbacktoLafayetteStreet."Howsitcoming?"Penfieldasked."Idontunderstandityet,"Connorssaid,"howitworks.Itchangespeople.""Whatstounderstand?"saidPenfield,"wham-bam-thankyoumaam,yougotanybodyIcanusefortheopening?Wevegottheseterrificshotsofindividualbolts,Iseeafour-waybleedwiththetextreversedoutofthissaturatedpurpleskyandthistinybutabsolutelywonderfulfacelookingupatthebolt——""Shesblack,"saidConnors,"youregoingtohavetroublewiththepurple,notenoughcontrast.""Soitllbesubtle,"saidPenfieldexcitedly,"richandsubtle.Theboltwillgiveitenoughsnap.Itllbenice."
Nice,thoughtConnors,whatawordforbeingstruckbylightning.
Connors,tryingtogetatthecoreoftheexperience——didbeingstruckexaltorexacerbatepre-existingtendencies,statesofmind,andwhatwastherelevanceofelectro-shocktherapy,ifitwasatherapy?——talkedtoaTrappistmonkwhohadbeenstruckbylightningin1975whileworkinginthefieldsattheordersPiffard,NewYork,abbey.HavingbeengivenpermissionbyhissuperiortospeaktoConnors,thesmall,baldmonkwaspositivelyloquacious.HetoldConnorsthattheonedeprivationhehadfeltkeenly,asamemberofamonasticorder,wastheabsenceofrockmusic."Why?"heaskedrhetorically."Imtoooldforthismusic,itsforkids,Iknowit,youknowit,makesnosenseatall.ButIloveit,Isimplyloveit.AndafterIwasstruckthecommunityboughtmethisSonyWalkman."ProudlyheshowedConnorsthesmalldevicewithitsdelicateearphones."Aspecialdispensation.IguesstheyfiguredIwasnear-to-dead,thereforeitwasallrighttobendtheRuleabit.Isimplyloveit.HaveyouheardtheCars?"Standinginabeetfieldwiththebrown-habitedmonkConnorsfeltthedepthofthemanshappinessandwonderedifhehimselfoughttore-thinkhisattitudetowardChristianity.ItwouldnotbesobadtospendonesdayspullingbeetsinthewarmsunwhilelisteningtotheCarsandthenretiretoonescellatnighttoreadSt.AugustineandcatchuponRodStewartandtheB-52s.
"Thethingis,"ConnorssaidtoEdwinathatnightatdinner,"Idontunderstandpreciselywhateffectsthechange.Isitpurefright?Gratitudeathavingsurvived?"TheyweresittinginanItalianrestaurantcalledDaSilvanoonSixthnearHouston,eatingtortelliniinawhitesauce.LittleZachary,agood-lookingtwo-year-old,satinahighchairandacceptedbitsofcut-uppasta.Edwinahadhadashootthatafternoonandwasnotinagoodmood."Thesamedamnthing,"shesaid,"meandthreewhitechicks,youdthinksomebodydturnitaroundjustonce."SheneededaVoguecoverandafragrancecampaign,shesaid,andthenshewouldbesittingpretty.ShehadbeenconsideredforHashishsometimebackbutdidntgetitandtherewasaquestioninhermindastowhetherheragency(JerryFrancisco)hadbeensolidlybehindher."Comealong,"saidEdwina,"Iwanttogiveyouabackrub,youlookatinybitpeaked."
Connorssubsequentlyinterviewedfivemorepeoplewhohadbeenstruckbylightning,uncoveringsomeunusualcases,includingafellowdumbfrombirthwho,uponbeingstruck,beganspeakingquiteadmirableFrench;hisgreat-grandfather,asithappened,hadalsobeenstruckbylightning,blastedfromtheseatofafarmwagoninBrittanyin1909.InhispieceConnorsdescribedtheexperienceas"ineffable,"usingawordhehadloathedanddespisedhiswholelifelong,spokeoflightning-as-graceandwentsofarastomentionthedescentoftheDove.Penfield,withoutamomentshesitation,cutthewholeparagraph,saying(correctly)thattheFolksreaderdidntlike"funnystuffandpointingoutthatthestorywasrunninglonganywaybecauseoftheextrapagegiventoEdwinasopeninglayout,inwhichsheworeaMaryMcFaddenpleatedtubeandlooked,inPenfieldsphrase,approximatelyfantastic.
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