MaudandAud.

ANovelaboutTraffic ByGunsteinBakke
ForlagetOktober,2011

Sampletranslationby:AgnesScottLangeland
AschehougAgency,2012

Pp719
QUIETLYSLIPPINGINTOFIFTHGEAR:thehumoftheenginesubsides,thefossilfuelburnsatapeep. 100isasclosetonothingyoullget. Asthetownapproaches,theroadexpandsandbecomeswider.Andsincethereishardlyany trafficworthmentioning,thecarcanmovefreelyonthestripofasphaltthatwindsroundthe landscape,cuttingintoit,asifthegroundbulgesoveritsbelt.Earlierintheeveningcarshavebeen drivinginandoutofthetowninnottooheavystreams;fewpeoplearegoinganywherenow.Hardly anyonehasanywheretogoatthistime.Allsurveillanceofthetraffichasceased,apartfromtheroad cameras,whosebleakprofiles,withredeyesthatcansuddenlyflareup,arestationedroundabout. Ithasbeengrowingdark,ithasbecomedark.But,oncloserstudy,thedarknessconsistsof variousshadesthedarkness,whenexamined,isnotentirelydark.Thetopsofthepinetreesforma jaggedborderagainstthealmostblue,no,thebluishblacknightsky.Underneaththevegetationit looksasthoughthechalkwhiteroadcuttingstillrestsintheshadowofanotherage.Whichthe presentage,withitschanging,nervouslightconditions,cantdealwith. Thecarglidesalongthestrip,throughthecountry. Theevenhumisreminiscentofsleep,ofotherengines,refrigeratorsandquiethours, unknownhours.Itisasoundthatgraduallyisforgotten,butifitweretovanish,likeatableclothcan bepulledaway,itwillopenanothergreaterquietness. Itisimportant,ifitistobeoverlooked,thatthehumisevenandsoundsthesameasusual; thattheevenhumfillsthecompartment,vibratingthroughyourspineanddissolvinginthedarkness ofsofttissue.Thenthehumseemsasnaturalas,indeedevenconnectedto,yourbreathasitenters andleavesthisotherinnerdarkness,whichitisntpossibletoobservewithoutitdissolvingtoo. Betweenthesedarkareas,bothslightlymoist,thereisadryzonewhichisthecarsownclimate. Alreadyalmostanhourhaspassedsincethecarsetoff,andconditionsformakingheadway haveimprovedontheway.Duringthefirstunsteadyminutes,therewasonlyaconeoflightwhich sweptupthegravelroadwhilethebodyshook;fromtimetotimeastonewasthrownup 1

underneath,makingthekindofnoiseyouutterwhenawildthoughtwakesyouupinthemiddleof thenight.Theconeoflightmanoeuvredbetweenthelargestpotholesintheroad,butstoppedforan elkthatwasstandinglikeahistoricalelement,anoldpicturethatwanderedroundinthewoods here,beforeitslowlyapproachedandsniffedatthebonnet; alargegreyhead,greylightinitseyes.Adifferentorganisationoftheworld.Aspaceship. Also,fortheanimal,thecarbelongstoanotherorder.Theyrepresentadangerthatthe geneticsystemhasnotyetmanagedtoregisterorencodeinthelargerintelligenceofthespecies. Thosethatlearndie.Thosethatsurvivehavenotunderstood. Adisturbance,amovementinsleep. Theneverythingisthesameasbefore. Afterthis,theroadimproved,putonacoatofasphalt,concealeditsworstshortcomingsand wantedtominglewithpeople,sotospeak.Andsoonclustersofhousesappearunderthenightsky, arrangedinlittlepatterns,decoratingthebrowsofhill,onslopesandsouthsides.Thecloseryouare tothetown,thelargertheseconglomerationsbecome,asifthetownhuffsandpuffsitselfup.And insidethetwoandfourfamilyhomesinmatchingcoloursinsmallstreetsnamedafterflowersand treesthatblossomandproduceburstingbuds,everysinglemiraculousspring,betweenthehouses andinthewoodsbehind;insidethesehouseholdstherearestable,sensibleroomswithfunctions andsolutionsthatmakelifepossible,formedbytheinhabitantsandthewaytheyareconstructed. Everyneed,everyfunctionhasitsownroom,itispracticalthatway,andhygienic;wateranddrains buildupthehostorganism,sensorsexpandtheirpresence.Lightsgoon,electricstovesturn themselvesoff.Thetemperaturefallsfivedegreesduringthenight.Yourhomeisutilitarianand tunedtoyourlife. Ofalltherooms,thecaralonehasitsownroom,acarport. Thecarroomgatherswhatthehousesplitsup.Thecargivesthebodyawayoutofthebody. Thecarisbothanatmosphereandavehiclewhichcanjourneyinthisatmosphere. Jumpinside,saysthecar. Travelinme. Seenfromaboveyoumightthinkthishouseholdwaslikeanearthbound,perhapsslightly squaresignofthezodiac(crab,clawmarks,swastika).Butfrominsidetheroomtheworldlooks different,viewedfromherethetownisnotanincreasingconcentrationoflights,withthissignlying rightontheperiphery.No,fromherethetownisnotaconstellationofstars,butacertaindistance,a practicalsize,aquestionoftrafficandtime.Halfanhourbackandforth,toorfrom,inadaythatcan bedifficulttopackinto24hours.Herepeoplelivetheirlives,heretheyarenowroundingofftheday, eventheoldestdaughterhasprobablyfallenasleeplongago,butperhapstheyoungesthaswoken upagain,lieslookingoutofthewindowfromthetopbunk,andcatchessightofthecaronthemain road,thepairofheadlightsthatpassby,lightingup,yetemptierthanthesurroundingevening,so trapped,asitwere,intheirownlight? Shedoesntwritedowncoloursandcarnumbersanymore.Thatwaslastsummer,nowshe istoooldforthat,andatthistimeofdayitwouldnthavebeenpossible.Somethinghappensin parentswhenchildrenchangetheirways. Thecarcutsacrosstheroad,whichdividesandescortsthecarouttotheside.Thecarendsuponan open,desertedspotwithneonlights,haltsontopoffour20,000litretanksoffuelsuckedupfrom undertheseabed,outthereinroughseasfromoilfieldsnamedafterNorsegods;uptodate,stone deadgods,fleetinggods,liketheyoungstersyoufindatothermannedpetrolstations,puttowork 2

ontopofareservoirofmillionyearoldorganicmaterial,brokendownovertimetotheliquidwhich, refinedandprocessed,isnowbeingpumpedupforthelasttimefromunderneaththeearthscrust byanautomaticpumpontheoutskirtsofOslo,overtoacarthatneedssuppliesinordertoturnand drivebacktowhereitcamefrom.AblackMercedes. Nowwithafulltank. Theenginecanstartupagain. Withthesamequietcombustion. ITISANEWLYLAIDASPHALTROAD,ormoreaccurately:itisanewlylaidstripofasphaltthat constituteshalfoftheroad.Theotherhalfisoldandgreyandliesseveralcentimetreslowerinthe terrain.Onthisthecarsdriveinsmallconvoysafterformingqueuesattheprovisionaltrafficlights. Theroadworkershavegonehome,buttheasphaltisnewandsticky.Theviscousmassisstill warmonthesolesofthegirlwhohaswalkedoutontotheblackstripandnowleaveslighttracks behindher.Foreverystepthetackystuffsubsidesandclings,subsidesandclings.Itremindsherof eatingstickyalmondbiscuits.Shewantstoeattheroad. Whensheliesdownandwantstomakeanangelwithherarmsandlegs,theareaistoo large.Thesurfacedoesntregistertheimprintofherbodythebeatingwingsdontgriptheroad. Itsonlyaftershehasstoodupagainthatalittlehollowappearsunderherbottom.Andamongthe threadsandpiecesofherdresswhichhasbeentorndowntheback,ifyoulookyoucandiscern, beneaththetracesthatrevealthenewroadhasexperienceditsfirstaccident,thatithasalso receivedthepatternofflowers. RUTHMERETEBOREISDEAD,itsays. Shoulditreallybecalledanannouncement,adeathannouncement.Isntthatwordrather overused,someonemightthink. RuthBore,RuthBore.Therathershybrunette,inthecanteenqueue,someoneelsemight thinkandpictureapersoninathin,greywoollenjumper,withspectacles;abackleaningslightlyover thewatertap,carefullyadjustingthejet.Onthecontrary,correction:thewaterhitstheglasswith force.Tinydropshanglikedewonthestrandsofwool. ThatwastheaccidentIheardabout,onewomanthinkswithafaintlyelatedreactionshe canthelpfeeling,whichcomesfrombeingthefirstpersontoknowsomethingthatwillonlynowbe passedontoothers. Someoneremembersanightwithtwobodieslyingbesideeachother,twonakedbodieswho felteachotherswarmthwithoutbecomingveryintimate,andwhenheseesthecrossoverRuths name,theunbrokensealandcertaintyfromthatnightreturntohim: thisisntthelifeIwanttohave Oh,butshemustbetheonewhobuysabagofTwistsweetseverySaturday,whatisit today? Shedidntchangehernametohis.Alwayssomethingsheheldbacksotospeak. 3

Shewhomeasuredhowmuchtheseabedsankbeneathoilplatforms. Fourthfloor,thenorthwing,thirddoorontheleft.Bluemap.Greencarpet.Centimetres

yearly. AndtheywereontheirwaytoDenmark,seemsprettyawfultothinkaboutthatthough,asif thatwastheworstpart,theholidaytripthatcametonothing.Butthenthegirlshadreallylooked forwardtoit.Firstcartripasafamily,saidJon. ThegirlwhoIplayedwith,wasntthathername,fortwoorthreesummers,frecklesand plaits,thedecayingplanksofwoodthatbroke,thequietnessofthefallandthen,whenImusthave wokenup,thecoldnessinmyspine,therottensmellanddampnessandherscaredvoiceentangled inherownechohighupthereRuthorwasitKristine? Itisher,theoneatPhilipsPetroleum,thequietgeologist,butwhatatemperamentshehad, thattime,whatwasitagain,thatmeeting,atanyrate,shestoodup,herfaceflushedred,wasit becauseofareportthathadnotbeenincludedinthematerial,shefeltdisregarded,itwas somethinglikethat. Iliftedyourbodyoutofthecarwreck,Ididntknowyou,butIlaidyouonthegroundand gatheredyourlimbs.Ihelpedtogetoutyourgirls,andIhopethatonedaytheywillexperience somethingthatisasgoodasthiswasbad.Justasrightasthiswaswrong. Nonicknamestucktoher;shecouldntbeanythingbutRuth.Shewastoostiffforsofter names. Herhusbandanddaughtersarelyinginthehospital,hangingonthinthreadsoflife,hanging onthinthreadsofdeath.Somebreakandothersareentwined.Allthreadsareblack. ItwasherhusbandIsawinthenewspaperlastyear,wasntit,thenewstretchofroadthat wascompleted.Jon,thatswhoitwas. Shecouldntpossiblyhavebeenready.Nobodyknowsthehour,thatstrue.Buthertimehad notcome. Soyoung,1981minus1949,butImuststopreadingthis,stopturningthesepagesandstop gettingtearsinmyeyesforpeopleIveneverknown.Itsundignified. Hehasobviouslymanaged,forthetimebeing,whowasitthatsaidthatheprobably wouldnt?Droverightofftheroad,rightintotherockface.Andthedaughters,thetwins,whatkind oflifeawaitsthemnow? Bore,didntImeetsomeonecalledthatonce.WhohadanimportfirminLillestrm?Who ownedathirdofSlogumTor?Slightlynervousbloke.Bighands.Strangehowwellyouareableto remembersomepeople.Methimonlyonce.Wouldhaveknownhimagainanywhere,anytime. Cutoffinherprime,iswhattheymightwrite,butpartingtakestime.Youhavetogetusedto thethoughtsthatdontreceiveanyanswer,waituntiltheydwindleawayonaccountofloss. Shewastheoneatthevolleyballtraining,soclosetothenet,andneverabsent.Hergaze thatnever,asitwere,sawmethereontheotherside.Asifthenetreallydividedus.Goodat blocking. Ishedmyshell Iliberatemyshellfromautomobiles Castoffshellaftershell, automobileafterautomobile. ButwhileIsheditIfeel 4

thatIalsocastoffmyownfleshandblood. MuchofhumanityIcastoff. Peopleandtheirautomobilesaccompanyeachother. Oftenpeopledieintheirarmour. Oftenoneremembersthem onlyastheywereintheirarmour withtheautomobilearoundthem. HARRYMARTINSONTheAutomobile THEROADEXPANDS,THEROADGROWSWIDERandslantsatthesametime,JonBerreisbreathing: hisbreathisinsidehim,breathisabodywithinthebody,yourbreathbreathes.JonBerreopenshis eyesandstaresattherock,throughthewindow,butthere,hangingonthepaneofglass,isRuths eye,inherglasses.Throughtwolayersofglass.Sheislookingatthesamerockasheis,hecansee hergaze,shecantseehis.Thestoneisimpenetrable,greyishwhiteandgnarled.Thewindscreen andthespectacleswillfollowtheroadwhereitgrowswider,thensightisimpossibleandtheroad overturns.Glasssplinters.Bloodcirculatesoutsidethebody.Someonescreams,inaquestioningway, inordertoremembertoscream.No,thewayachildscreamswhenitdoesntrecallwhatelseitcan do,afterthepainhasfadedaway.Thebloodloopscarelesslyandhasgrownoutofhim,hecansee thearteriesclearly,fromwhichhehangslikeaprotuberance.Ahandcomesoutofhisabdomen holdingsomethingthatslidesaway,thrashingwithatailasitvanishes.Hecanbothseeandhear,but henolongerdarestofeelcertain,soheforceshiseyesopen,andhisearsopen:theroomheislying indisintegratesandanothercomesintoview,heislyingdownheretoo,butthemonotonescreamis comingfromyetanotherroom.Heopenshismouthandscreamsbuthearsnothing.Perhapshe didntopenanythingatall,andthatwaswhatheheard.Henolongerstartsandendsatthesame placesasbefore,thatisclearenough,sinceanoutercirculatorysystemhasconnecteditselftohim withallthisblood,depotsofplasmadammedupinplastic,andhergazeisattachedtoeverysplinter ofglassanddoesntletthestoneoutofsight.Thesplinterscirculateintheblood,carryinghergaze throughhim.Thebloodfeelshardasifitwasabouttogetstuckinaburstnetofarteries.Timeafter timehewantstograspthesteeringwheelandtearawaythetubesthatleadthesharpfluidintohim, buthecantgrabholdofthem.Theygivehimanotherinjectionanywayandsaythatforhisown goodhemustkeepstill.Thatthereisnowayhecanmanagewithouttheexternalapparatusesnow. AUDOGMAUDARESITTINGINTHEBACKSEATwhenthemaintenancemanagerloseshisgrip,when thefamilyistornoutofitsdailyroutineandofftheroad,andoneofthem,RuthBore,fromone secondtothenextisattheendofeverythingthathasbeenher.Therockplayednopartinit,the rocklaywhereitlayandstoppedthefastmovingflesh,thedecayingflesh,stoppedtheprecipitation oftheboldflesh,andalmostallthatremainedintactofwhathadbeenRuthwasherface,aquivering

sliceontopofamovingmassofsliversandsplinters,themouthhalfopen,asifshehadintendedto presentherselfforsomethingfartoounknownanddaunting.Toobleaktobetrue.Toohard. Aboutfiveminutesearlier,butalreadyfarintoanothertime,thegirlsseetheirmotheralive onelasttime,thisfacewhichistheirlivingmother.Fiveminutesintoanothertimetheirmother turnstowardthemsothatherfacedoesntseemtohaveenoughspace,themouthistherefore twistedwhensheopensitandsayssomething,andherglasseshaveendedupsquintonhernose,so thatshehastoputupherhandtostraightenthem.Thesemovements,thisexpression,arewhatare borneoverintoanewtime,afterwhatlittleshehadtosayhasdissolvedorbeenregistered,likeyou registerapressureof1atm,theairyoubreathe,theperfectlyordinarythings.Theconditionsoflife asweknowit. Theirfatherjustbarelymanagestocarryonliving,withtheleastpossiblemarginandonone leg.Forallthat,amiraclehasalsohappened,orsotheyhear,whileinthethickofit; themiracleisthattheymanagetountangletwofairlywhole,onehundredpercentliving littlegirlsfromthecrushedpieceofmetal,themoltenplastic,thesmellofburntfleshandrubber. OneofthesurvivorsisAud,onehundredpercent,sherealisesthatisalot.Despitefractures,sheis stillalittlegirl;herarmsstillgrowoutofhershoulders,herlegsstillstartatherhips,evenifthey insertsomeboltsandsplintsthatwillhelphergrowbacktowhatshewasandontowhatshewas meanttobe.Dailysheisadjustedandcaredforandregistered,andherbloodismeasured. SometimestheymeasureMaudsbloodtoseeifitisstillthesame. Fromherheadshehasaviewofallthis.Itisonlythedeepcutfromhertempletothecorner ofhermouthontherightsideofherfacethatshecantsee,butshecanfeelherthrobbingcheek, thatthebloodisworkingunderhighpressureshecanfeel,andthatherfingerslongtopickthescabs whichareformingunderthebandages,shecanfeelthattoo.Inherfingersaresevensummers,scab summers,husksummers,grasssummerswithgreenandred.Sevenpickandloosensummers. Mauddoesnthaveanycutsonherface,Maudhasjustaslightheadacheandapartfromthatno injuries.Maudstillresemblesherself,andinanycaseshelookslikeAud,thewayAudusedtolook, butnolongerdoes. HerfaceiswithMaudnow.Theirface. WhenAudrunsherfingersoverthebandages,Maudscratchesherselfonthesamecheek, andthathelps.WhenMaudturnswithherbacktotheradiatoroveratthewindow,Audalsofeelsit startingtoburnthroughthethinmaterial,andmovesoverinthebed. ButwhenMaudstandsatthemirrorbesidethewashbasin,Audcloseshereyes. Theadultsarentquitecertaineitheraboutwhattheysee,andgazeinanewway.Hjalmar andKarrydothat,theteacherswhocometovisitthemdothat,notjustbecauseAudlooksdifferent, butbecausethegirlsaresomethingtheyhaveneverbeenbefore,notinthatway.Beforetheywere alive,nowtheyhavesurvived.Nowtheyare,suddenly,amongtheliving. OntheTVontheTVbench,anewlymarriedcouplewavetoAudandMaud.ItisTjalsandDainn, princeandprincessofeils,orisitVeils?Theysmileandwave,smileandwave,fromacarwithouta roof. And it is quite marvellous how slowly the car moves. It makes you wonder what the point is of having a car if it doesnt have a roof and has to drive so slowly. A lot of people are standing round it and want to see, pressing forward. Maud and Aud sit closer together on the bed. The car gives some protection from all the people. It crawls forward, almost as if it isnt a real car. If it speeds up only a little,perhapspeoplewillsurgeforwardandoverturnit. 6

 But the car flows through the crowd, the newlyweds smile on the screen and at thousands ofrollsoffilm,driveintothelenses,thehomes,theeyes.Driveintotheirbodies. Itisamiracle,anuttermiracle.Thisgirlsoshy,whoworksinakindergarten.Hereshecomes now. See how she shines. So modest, so knowing, and at the same time so inexperienced. With the nameofagoddesswhich willmake thegreatleapsimpler.Hersurnameready toopenandloosen,a releasedcompartment.Spenser.Likealibertybodice.Nowitcanletgo. Fresh and grownup the princess sits there, trustingly facing the unknown; secure in the face ofwhatwillnowmeetherwithaforceshehasneverexperienced.

Pp3740
Aboutabodyabodycancatch CAPETOWN, 3DECEMBER 1967.Thekindofactivity thatgetsdefinedaslife nolongertakes placein the young body (which even after life has ceased can still be called young). But since life is first and foremost a communication and a connection between different organs, a cooperation and a rhythm, both work and a song for work well anyway, they open the young body which belonged to a girl the young body which no longer belongs to someone they take it and open up what once, before thecaraccident,wasandstillisagirl,andliftherheart,theyoung,butnotparticularlygirlish,heart, out of the work which is over and the song which no one sings any longer, in order to put it in a new body and a new communication, start up a new, similar rhythm so that this will awaken knowledge ormemory(whichperhapsallinallisdesire:tobeat,throb,go). It is to be sure a team which does this, but Christiaan Barnard is the master builder; his eye discerns what he must take a look at from what he must overlook, his vision lays the foundation for the movements that will build one life out of two, connect two broken chains together. A word and an object in his commando chain, a word is an instrument in a hand, and an instrument is a predetermined action. Word for word the heart takes over from a heart. Its true Louis Washkansky soon dies (for the first time) and with him Denise Ann Darvalls heart (for a second time), but the technologysurvives.Andnowthatithasprovedtobeviable,thetrafficensuresthatthereareplenty in need and plentiful supplies, the communication, the connection and the song; organ seeks circulation, circulation seeks organ. Fresh or recently thawed they are carried into operation theatres, experienced, but unfamiliar with what is about to happen. Moving pieces in a game. One andthesamepersoncanbelivinganddying,thepieceswilldecide. Dying:onthewaytodeath. Living:onthewaytolife. Inthecaseofroaddeaths,thecircumstancesaresuchthattheycanneverbemeasuredwiththe outcome;thecontraryisratherthecase,thatfatesuffersafinaldefeatovertrivialities.Deniseand hermotherweregoingtocrossthestreettobuyacake,andconcerningthefinaldetailsthere emergesasetofmelancholymathematics:ifherunclehadnothadanutallergy,iftheyhadchosena differentbakersshop,whataboutorangefilling,hadtheynotencounteredadiversiondueto roadworks,ifsignpostingwasstillarequirement,oratoppingofmeringuekissesandblackberries?If theradiohadbeenplayingadifferentmelody,wouldshehavelistenedtotheend?Thebanallossof lifehasnotiming,nodramaturgy,nothingiscompleted,madereadyorprepared;forallthata definitedoubtisattachedtothelastmoments:didsheliftherheadwhenshesteppedoutofthe car?Wastheskyorabillboardthelastthingshesaw,orwasitthefaceofthemanwhomowedher down?Andevenifyoucansaythatdeathwasimmediate,therearetwosmallmomentsthatare difficulttoescape,firstbetweentheaccident,whichismostcertainlygoingtohappen,andwhenit actuallyhappens,andnextbetweentheaccidentwhichhasalreadyhappenedanditsoutcome,

whichisalreadyunderstood.Whatexiststhere,inthosetinyairbornemoments?Fear,resignation, irritation?Surprise?Intoxication? Or,already,nothing? With them into the grave, traffic victims only bring their lack of secrets. Speed explains it all, forces are laid bare. The circumstances, the small factors and events at play, are commented on and enlarged, not the way they are in the police laboratory in order to reveal something, but like an ornament about to collapse, grotesque qualities with nothing to attach to them. It wasnt a cream cake,butavanillaslice.AtriptoBloubergstrandtogetherwithsomegirlfriendshadbeenplannedfor thenextweekend.Shewaswearingthatbluepleatedskirt. Denisewastheidealuniversaldonor:bloodtypeOnegative.Takeherheart,saidherfather, andcertainlyyoumaynoticeintheformulationsusedbytheHeartofCapeTownMuseumthatitis noteasytosaywhowasreallythegiver:acolossallygenerousaction,itstatestactfully,astheheart requests.Washkanskysbody,incontrasttoWashkanskysconsciousness,rejectsthegiftanyway, withaforcethatisdifficulttowithstandintheend.Abodywouldratherdiethanlivewithaforeign force;abodyisinimicaltoanotherbodywhentheotherwantstoenterinsideit.Reallywantsto enterit,andmorethanthat,wantstobecomeapartofit.Forsomeonewhoisconsciousthematter ismorecomplicated.Wherethebodyduetoinstinctisbroughtintoalargerbody,likeanantora bee,thenconsciousnesswillhappilyreplacethepartofthebodythatisrequiredtoremainintact. Consciousnessbelievesthatalittleadaptationmustbepossibleandthatselfdestructionisself destructive,andconsequently,itletsthenewbodybestuffedfullofImoranandcortisoneand radiatedwithgammarays.Consciousnessfightsitsownbattleandrefusestoallowthebodyto followitsfirst,itsprimevalreaction; thebodywhichiswillingtokillsothatitwontdie,butunwillingtoreceivelifesothatitwill live. Amethodforthepresenthasbeendeveloped.Anoldbodygivesin.InDecember1967,thedesireto overcomeallboundariestriumphs. Alsowithinapartheid:tenyearold,colouredJonathanreceivesthekidneysofwhiteDenise. Aboutabodyabodycanbe.

 Pp8083
ANACCIDENTISLIKEASPECIMENofanewspecies.Nooneknowswhenorwherethenextonewill cropup,evenifstatisticscanprovidesomeclues.Teamsofexpertstravelfromplacetoplaceto investigateaccidentsinordertoreachadeeperunderstandingofwhytheyhaveoccurred,thekind ofconditionsthatfosterthem.Andsometimesinthewakeofanaccidentnewgrowthfactorsmay emerge,astheydoforinstanceafterforestfires,whereitturnsoutthatburiedintheground, somethinglieswaitingfortheseapocalypticconditions;thatdevastationanddestructionbear,soto speak,theseedsoftheirownoffspringlongbeforetheevent. Whatiscertainisthatwhenaroadaccidenttakesplace,organicandinorganicmaterialcome veryclosetoeachother.Organicmatterhasadifferentraisondetrefrominorganic.Theraison detrefororganicmaterialisinvolvedinopeningsandtransitions,deathandsex,everythingthatJon Berreoncefoundhimselfexposedto.Inorganicmatterbelongstoadifferentformofexistence, desiresweknownothingabout,toolargeandtooold.Weadheretowhatwearedeliveredto.We adheretothelawsthatgovernus,andtowhattheymeaninourcase.Forexample,asplinterof bonesticksoutoftheflesh.Orletsputitlikethis,thefleshhasrippedalongthebone.Itwillno longerflexitself,onlygrowcoldandgraduallyturnintoearth;thisisknowledgethatexistswithin everyonewithoutanyoneowningit,whichthereforedoesnotgetforgottenordisavowed,andwhich thusdeservestobecalledalaw.Astomachisnolongerastomach,butthebatterythathas penetratedtheabdomencavityisstillabattery,andtheacidsleakingoutofboth,stilletch.Asmall, acetylenegreenflameisstillpresentandplaysalittle,anelfinchildinthedusk,gone,thenback again.Thereisasmellofburntnitriderubber.Someshardshavebelongedtoaskull,anurn,an interval,anattitude.Steamrisesfromthemetal.Fluorplastichasmeltedintotheskin.Glasshas enteredtheflesh,foundboneandbittenit.Functionsarepulverizedintopowder.Angleswhich demandthatlifeceaseshavearisen. Twomenandawoman,togetherthreewholeandseparatebodies,standstaringatthewreck. Theresnothingtodobutwait,saysoneofthemen,theonewhohascalled113,theemergency number.Mm,saystheother.Theyllbeheresoon,thethirdpersonthinks.CanIhaveone,saysthe secondpersonwhenthethirdonelightsacigarette.Thefirstpersonalsotakesonewhenitis offered,althoughhegaveituptwoyearsago.Theflamefromthelighter,thecravinginthelungs,a circleismade,aconnection.Overthere,soundsarestillcomingfromthewreck,substancesmelt, breakorcool.Noneofthemknowanyofthepeoplewhoaresittinginthetwocarsthathave crashed.Atleast,theydontthinktheydosincetheydontrecognisethecars.Itcouldbejust anybody,liketheythemselvesarejustanybody.Forpreciselythatreason,theirbodiessharean understandingoftheotherbodies,thoseinthecarsandthosebesidethem,becausetheintelligence ofthespeciesrisesoverandabovetheparticularindividuals.Theirbodiesareuneasy,whole,but scared:theyarealive,othersarenot.Foranindividualanaccidentisaboutallornothing,lifeor death;butforthespeciesthisisaninjury.Thereforethethreearebothsurvivorsandwitnesses, evenifstrictlyspeakingtheyhavenotbeeninvolvedintheaccident; theheartbeatsfaster,thelungsinhalesubstancesthatareabsorbedintothebloodresulting inaslightlycrawlysensationintheskin.Tinyparticlesofglassintobaccomakeabsorptioninthe bloodmoreeffective,thegumshurt,breathingbecomesdeepandhard.Warningtrianglesareset 10

up.Inashorttimetherewillbeburners,luminousvests,weldersmasks,cranes,pliersandhydraulic scissors.Buttheywillnotwanttowatch,notforlong.Theywillreporttheirnames,telephone numbers,nodwithcompressedlipswhentheyhearthattheywillbecontacted.Thewomanandone ofthemenwillsleeptogether.Thesameimpulsemakesafruittreeproducemorefruitifitisharshly treated,ifsomeoneinjuresit,cutsit,breaksoffabranch.Strangershavingsexisasignofa catastrophe,ahealthysign.Lifegoeson.Lifewillcontinue. Breathrushesbackwardsandforwardsbetweenbodiesandthecold.Theelfinchilddances overthemarshes. Oneofthethreethrowsup. Laterothercarsarriveandcrawlpastinthelanewhichisstillopen.Somestop,peopleclimboutand standoutsidethetapedoffareaandwatchforawhile,butareshoutedatandwavedaway,andtold todriveon;theytoowanttogetawayfast,forwhatelsecanthecalmnessoftherescueworkers meanexceptthatthereisnohope.Thewhiteflamescutthroughtheday:alightthatcomesfrom withinthestone,notfromthesun.Throughthecrackling,thudsandclinksresoundontheasphalt. Piecesofbodiesareplacedondifferentgroundsheetsandmarked;themostundamagedpartsland inreplantationbags.Theworkingbodieshavebeentrainedtotacklethis;nonethelesstheircognitive trainingbreaksdown,andwavesofnauseadoublethemupoverthegroundaswell.Butthey straightenupagain. TheyaremenwhogoonholidaytoGermany,theyarecalm,distressedandprofessional.All ofthemaredismayedatthestandardoftheroads.Thebitternesstheyfeelisnotpersonalandthey putupwithwhatotherswouldnotstandfirm.Theywantpetroldutiesremoved.Thesmellofburnt bodieswillremainintheirbodiesforatleastaweek,atleastalife;nonetheless,orperhapsforthat veryreason,theyeatsirloinsteakthesameevening.Itisaquestionofdifferentkindsofknowledge inthebody.Itisaquestionofcoping.Thesearerobustmen,menoffleshandblood,withabypass comingupandasenseofwhatisright.Whenduskfalls,theirshapesgrowdarkbesidetheflames.In theiropinionthestatekillscardrivers.TheywouldliketohaveJonBerreandhiskindinactivity.The caristheirlife.Thecaristheirhome,bureaucratsaretheplague.Theyarethesaltoftheearth, thesemen,theylikesingingandguitarsandchatting,knownothingworsethanIslamandtax regulations,andtheydontlowertheirvoicesexceptwhentheyrocktheirnewbornchildtosleepor cutlooseallthatremainsonthisearthoftheirfellowroadusers.Buttheycursefromtimetotime throughouttheevening,andinthelightfromafiftyinchscreenonthewalltheytelltheirwivesthat nobodyshouldhavetocomeacropperintheirownhome.Nobloodydevilonthisearth

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