He lies on the Jester's cart
Hello stranger. You may have come to the right place
He lies on the Jester's cart - Intro
This rain soaks my feet, my ankles, my legs. By capillarity, it rises through my veins and floods my belly. I float in this sea. Beyond a hand’s breadth from my eyes, all I see are gray, blurred shadows. The umbrella is snatched from my hand, like a bird trapped, wanting to fly away, stuck between my chin and shoulder. I could let it go, I could let it …
He lies on the Jester's cart - 3
The music is one of those overused jingles for phone hold lines, identical to that of twelve hundred other switchboards, which irritates him even more.
He lies on the Jester's cart - 4
I grip the coffee maker, then take a cloth, wrap it around, and squeeze it again, turning it a little more. Then it’s the turn of a napkin. I dampen it with some water and wrap it around the joint of the moka. I turn on the stove and place it on top.
He lies on the Jester's cart - 5
Cardona enters the room. The desks are empty, the window closed, and the neon lights are on. The light coming in is so dim it seems the sun has already set. He moves toward his desk, searching through the scattered papers.
He lies on the Jester's cart - 6
The shower water makes me feel safe, falling on me like a gentle caress. I need to renew myself. Regenerate. Act. That’s what you say, isn’t it, my love? I look at myself, I observe my body. I’ve lost so much weight. I feel like a walking skeleton.
He lies on the Jester's cart - 8
The wrought iron gate opens silently, and before me stretches a large garden, with patches of English lawn occasionally dotted with flowerbeds. The flowers are colorful but fragile, some petals scattered on the grass, slowly dying.
He lies on the Jester's cart - 9
The commissioner places the papers on the round table. A thin wisp of smoke rises from the hexagon-shaped plastic ashtray. He pulls his hands from his pockets, takes a cigarette from the pack, and brings it to his lips, lighting it. There are only a few left in the pack.
He lies on the Jester's cart - 10
I realize my hands are aching. I clench them into fists, and the sore muscles respond by squeezing less tightly than they could. The pain is dull, and I focus on it until it becomes almost pleasant. I modulate the pressure of my fingers against my palms, exhaling softly through my lips, my eyes half-closed.
He lies on the Jester's cart - 12
Isabella insisted the entire drive that I stay with her for dinner and the night. It’s raining heavily now, and I don’t feel up to riding the scooter all the way home.
He lies on the Jester's cart - 13
The machine hums and vibrates, and the blonde man pulls out the key that activates it. The cup drops into place, and the cycle begins.
He lies on the Jester's cart - 14
The bed is cold. I’m tucked under the sheets and a thick white blanket. Darkness surrounds me; the shutters are closed, not letting a single sliver of light through.
He lies on the Jester's cart - 15
It’s dawn. He notices from the light seeping through the windows. The shutters are wide open. Cardona’s head rests against the pillow, propped almost vertically against the wall. On the floor are crumpled greasy papers, an empty beer bottle, and a pair of inside-out dark socks.
He lies on the Jester's cart - 16
I stand outside my front door. The helmet is brushing against my right leg, held by its strap. I can hardly remember how I got here. I don’t recall whether I took the stairs or the elevator. I don’t remember the traffic; I don’t remember if I was cold during the trip. I pat the left pocket of my jeans but can’t find the keys. What if I left them at Isab…
He lies on the Jester's cart - 17
Cardona has the car keys in hand, playing with them, spinning them, gripping them, and tapping them on the bar counter. The bartender approaches.
He lies on the Jester's cart - 21
The beer mug is empty, with just a bit of foam clinging to the inside of the glass. The waiter has just cleared away the pizza plate. The restaurant is slowly starting to fill up. Cardona takes out his notebook and flips through it, retracing the key points in reverse order. The will, the Golden Share, the car, the movements.
He lies on the Jester's cart - 22
The phone vibrates on the table. He flips through a page of the newspaper, skimming over the local news section. No crime stories today. He picks up the phone. The number isn’t saved in his contacts, but he knows it.
He lies on the Jester's cart - 23
I’ve been watching him for a while. He asked me who I am. He’s wearing a long, worn black coat. His expression is tired, his eyes small but deep. They scrutinize me carefully. I don’t really know if I should respond or leave. Coming here suddenly no longer feels like a smart idea. This person who just got off the elevator and came here for a reason—who …
He lies on the Jester's cart - 25
The door opens. A narrow, dark hallway stretches out in front of us. He walks in and switches on the light. The white walls are dotted with stains and peeling paint. The floor is covered in gray terrazzo tiles, giving me a feeling of melancholy. The door on the right leads to the corridor. It has two brown wooden panels with frosted glass in the middle …
He lies on the Jester's cart - 27
The phone rings. He’s in bed, his eyes have been open for a while. The wrinkled sheet is on his knees, his gaze fixed on the ceiling.
He lies on the Jester's cart - 28
He’s ready, wearing a light blue shirt and the same dark raincoat he wore last night. I’ve washed my face, neck, and armpits. I feel refreshed, but I don’t like the smell of the soap. The clothes I’m wearing are old, but it doesn’t matter. It’s fine.
He lies on the Jester's cart - 29
Ventriglia enters the guardhouse, accompanied by a gust of wind that flips the umbrella in his hand. He closes the door and greets the others.
Copyright © The MaDMan, 2013. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form without permission.
I think I did come to the right place. This looks like one cool, dark series. I love all of the illustrations and the previews. I'm about to dive into the first part. What great work, Madman.