Page 120

By Jack Joseph Smith

os *tyere'sa-mirage-here-Cornel,' And’ it is: syresitigs he-laughed while -going: edt ve must Ply: Cérnely we are dutytound to: keep-our: minds: above the illusion,” ®tHere ia-ne illusion Anihel, just sit right dow: fere-an I'1D buy yah a-drinks® 7 "Your: a generous many guyone cam lave a-glasx. of ‘ sri ciey rum and’ coke-or a Stmttideys ‘af ternnen,* Theiyaung lean faced’ mar thet lad fought with death forever; fram beliind the ban commented that’ jail! jokes: were-the best, but’ Animals _— pretty: geod, 8For -a-wealthy fellow, they certainly have an Irish sound te them," came from the Cornel, ®Haven't you guys figured’ out’ that Walli Street eats: nothing but Kesher: corn beef for Tuneh,* Aniaal!s head was buzzing, and° the talk was peaceful, He decdded te drink untill midnight,’ Them he would take: a walk It wae-time-to dream of the women he had’ lived withS It wasetime te réflect, but the beginning of night merning weuld net have him on the sgtreets it’ was: that | sliver-moon? and low tide would’ put: him low ‘by: the seas’ “Listen Colonel, said’ Animal, Hew can you think that there -ig:not am illusion, .when all the -leughing outcasts still believe-in the head’ monk?” Stock atthe Vaugling outeast; you are a laughing out cast arn't you Animal?” Laughtter<' ®With Breads right?®

Original Scan

Page 120

AI Interpretation

GPT

The bar talk circles illusion, religion, and outcast identity, making drunken argument sound like a rough theology of the street.

Animal keeps turning casual conversation into metaphysical provocation, while Colonel answers from a more grounded code of hospitality and experience. The page works because neither view fully defeats the other.


Claude

The bar-talk circles illusion, religion, and outcast identity, making drunken argument sound like cosmology at the wrong temperature. The page is one of the tavern's classic three-way spirals.