Page 209

By Jack Joseph Smith

175- wipes Anel pedupwr. df rer Barby hy More tat -an) early morning ram by the-seas-The light was coping out over the-city, and bending shadows $rém build ING S across the-last streets before the OcwaNe Snjeal’ 4 ; 5 a : gone-t0 him asking where-Montreal was. headed Ais i 9ae Mork! MWe Now they strolled along Lincolm Bulvd, walking south, Montreal was headéd‘on, througl the -sear townssof Southern Californias Venices around the Marinay down through the-smiling violence of Man= hatter Beach, Rodondé and’ the Carnival feeling all the-way to Orange: Coynty, where the-plastia state of mind: withers: life into excepting: fresh: bills: off the presa as:a-middle aged faces "Where -are-you headed," asked’ Animal, "Mexies for nowy" Montreal replied’ showing his: teeth with a emile, and'then locking dowm Lineolir Bulvd. was a long polished’ junkyeards The shack businesses -were-the exerior paint of oranges yellow, blue, with attempts at golds A pale-face opening an oetasional cafe! peered a slightiy sidéway glance, He would’ have-thick bl4ck pa Dp spreading back off a-low forehead, His eyes would be-squinted, ,and ‘his women wouldn't be up yet. The Yesterday's: paper turned’ to trash: . crossed the street sailing in its: thin oblivion \

Original Scan

Page 209

AI Interpretation

GPT

The next morning breaks the ritual apart into travel again, as Animal walks with Montreal and the California coast reappears as a corridor of painted junk, migration, and soft commercial violence.

The scene does not close with insight so much as motion. Montreal heads toward Mexico, Animal keeps drifting southward through the beach towns, and the landscape itself resumes its role as both setting and diagnosis.


Claude

Morning breaks the ritual apart into travel again, as Animal walks with Montreal and the Canadian contingent. The page resets the cast for the next movement.