The Hawkline Monster: A Gothic Western by Richard Brautigan Page B
Authors: Richard Brautigan
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Foot Umbrella Stand •
As they walked down the hall, they passed the elephant foot umbrella stand and Cameron could not but count the umbrellas in the stand.
… 7, 8, 9 .
Nine umbrellas.
Miss Hawkline paused beside the stand. There was something very familiar about it but she could not figure out what it was. There was just something very familiar. She wondered what it was.
“What is it?” Greer said.
Miss Hawkline was standing there staring at the umbrella stand. She thought that she had paused there for just a few seconds but it was longer than that and she did not realize it because she was lost in total curiosity.
She was holding up the possible demise of the Hawkline Monster.
“This elephant foot umbrella stand is very familiar,” she said, addressing her sister. “Is it familiar to you?”
Her sister, who was also Miss Hawkline, took a look at it. Her gaze was suddenly equally intent. “Yes, it is familiar but I don’t know what it is about it that is familiar. It almost reminds me of a person but I can’t quite figure out who it is. It’s somebody I’ve met, though.”
Greer and Cameron looked at each other and then carefully around the hall. They were looking for the monster but they didn’t see it. This conversation about the elephant foot umbrella stand had all the markings of the kind of stuff the monster would pull off.
But the monster was nowhere in sight, so they mentally put aside this Hawkline sister concentration as mere eccentricity.
“It certainly does remind me of somebody,” Miss Hawkline said.
“Why don’t you think about it later after we’ve finished off the monster? There’ll be plenty of time for you to figure out who it is, then,” Cameron said.
• The Hawkline Monster in 4/4 Beat •
The Hawkline Monster backed down the stairs to the laboratory, causing a shimmering flow of light like an ungodly waterfall. It also caused a confused inept shadow to bungle along in front of it.
The Hawkline Monster was now very confident. It knew how to handle things and looked forward in anticipation to the results of its power.
The Hawkline Monster had conceived of a diabolical fate for Greer, Cameron and the Hawkline women. It considered the plan one of the best things that it had ever come up with. It was the true amalgamation of mischief and evil.
The Hawkline Monster almost laughed as it strategically retreated down into the laboratory with its shadow scrambling awkwardly, tumbling goofily and carrying on in a demeaning, laughable manner as it tried to perform the perfunctory tasks of a shadow.
The Hawkline Monster was basking in confidence as it drifted and flowed down the stairs. What did it need to worry about because after all, did it not have the power to change objects and thoughts into whatever form amused it?
• Daddy •
Miss Hawkline opened the iron door to the laboratory. She pulled back the two bolts and took the key from her pocket which soon released the huge padlock. All the time that she was opening the door, her mind was fixed on the elephant foot umbrella stand trying to figure out what person it reminded her of. The recognition of that person hovered right on the edge of her mind.
She pulled back the first bolt on the door. It was a little hard to get back, so she had to give it a good tug.
That umbrella stand was so familiar.
Who was it?
She pulled back the second bolt. It came back much easier than the first one did. She barely had to pull on it.
I’ve seen that umbrella stand thousands of times before but not as an umbrella stand , she thought, but as somebody I know .
She took a large key from the pocket of her dress and inserted the key into the huge padlock on the door and she turned the key and the lock fell open like a clenched fist and she took the lock off the door and hung it on the hasp.
Then she yelled, “DADDY!” and turned and ran down the hall to the elephant foot umbrella stand.
• A Harem of Shadows •
The Hawkline
As they walked down the hall, they passed the elephant foot umbrella stand and Cameron could not but count the umbrellas in the stand.
… 7, 8, 9 .
Nine umbrellas.
Miss Hawkline paused beside the stand. There was something very familiar about it but she could not figure out what it was. There was just something very familiar. She wondered what it was.
“What is it?” Greer said.
Miss Hawkline was standing there staring at the umbrella stand. She thought that she had paused there for just a few seconds but it was longer than that and she did not realize it because she was lost in total curiosity.
She was holding up the possible demise of the Hawkline Monster.
“This elephant foot umbrella stand is very familiar,” she said, addressing her sister. “Is it familiar to you?”
Her sister, who was also Miss Hawkline, took a look at it. Her gaze was suddenly equally intent. “Yes, it is familiar but I don’t know what it is about it that is familiar. It almost reminds me of a person but I can’t quite figure out who it is. It’s somebody I’ve met, though.”
Greer and Cameron looked at each other and then carefully around the hall. They were looking for the monster but they didn’t see it. This conversation about the elephant foot umbrella stand had all the markings of the kind of stuff the monster would pull off.
But the monster was nowhere in sight, so they mentally put aside this Hawkline sister concentration as mere eccentricity.
“It certainly does remind me of somebody,” Miss Hawkline said.
“Why don’t you think about it later after we’ve finished off the monster? There’ll be plenty of time for you to figure out who it is, then,” Cameron said.
• The Hawkline Monster in 4/4 Beat •
The Hawkline Monster backed down the stairs to the laboratory, causing a shimmering flow of light like an ungodly waterfall. It also caused a confused inept shadow to bungle along in front of it.
The Hawkline Monster was now very confident. It knew how to handle things and looked forward in anticipation to the results of its power.
The Hawkline Monster had conceived of a diabolical fate for Greer, Cameron and the Hawkline women. It considered the plan one of the best things that it had ever come up with. It was the true amalgamation of mischief and evil.
The Hawkline Monster almost laughed as it strategically retreated down into the laboratory with its shadow scrambling awkwardly, tumbling goofily and carrying on in a demeaning, laughable manner as it tried to perform the perfunctory tasks of a shadow.
The Hawkline Monster was basking in confidence as it drifted and flowed down the stairs. What did it need to worry about because after all, did it not have the power to change objects and thoughts into whatever form amused it?
• Daddy •
Miss Hawkline opened the iron door to the laboratory. She pulled back the two bolts and took the key from her pocket which soon released the huge padlock. All the time that she was opening the door, her mind was fixed on the elephant foot umbrella stand trying to figure out what person it reminded her of. The recognition of that person hovered right on the edge of her mind.
She pulled back the first bolt on the door. It was a little hard to get back, so she had to give it a good tug.
That umbrella stand was so familiar.
Who was it?
She pulled back the second bolt. It came back much easier than the first one did. She barely had to pull on it.
I’ve seen that umbrella stand thousands of times before but not as an umbrella stand , she thought, but as somebody I know .
She took a large key from the pocket of her dress and inserted the key into the huge padlock on the door and she turned the key and the lock fell open like a clenched fist and she took the lock off the door and hung it on the hasp.
Then she yelled, “DADDY!” and turned and ran down the hall to the elephant foot umbrella stand.
• A Harem of Shadows •
The Hawkline
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