eGad: Pynchon excerpt from new novel (fwd)

[Steve Maas]

I like it, myself.
Steve Maas

-----------------------

The new Penguin Press catalog has an excerpt from Pynchon's "Against the 
Day,"
which I thought I'd transcribe for you:

Back in 1899, not long after the terrible cyclone that year which devastated 
the
town, Young Willis Turnstone, freshly credentialed from the American School 
of
Osteopathy, had set out westward from Kirksville, Missouri, with a small 
grip
holding a change of personal linen, an extra shirt, a note of encouragement 
from
Dr. A. T. Still, and an antiquated Colt in whose use he was far from 
practiced,
arriving at length in Colorado, where one day riding across the Uncompahgre
plateau he was set upon by a small band of pistoleros. "Hold it right there,
Miss, let's have a look at what's in that attractive valise o'yours."
    "Not much," said Willis.
    "Hey, what's this? Packing some iron here! Well, well, never let it be 
said
Jimmy Drop and his gang denied a tender soul a fair shake now, little lady, 
you
just grab ahold of your great big pistol and we'll get to it, shall we." The
others had cleared a space which Willis and Jimmy now found themselves alone 
at
either end of, in classic throwdown posture. "Go on ahead, don't be shy, 
I'll
give you ten seconds gratis, 'fore I draw. Promise." Too dazed to share 
entirely
the gang's spirit of innocent fun, Willis slowly and inexpertly raised his
revolver, trying to aim it as straight as a shaking pair of hands would 
allow.
After a fair count of ten, true to his word and fast as a snake, Jimmy went 
for
his own weapon, had it halfway up to working level before abruptly coming to 
a
dead stop, frozen into an ungainly crouch. "Oh, pshaw!" the badman screamed, 
or
words to that effect.
    "Ay! Jefe, jefe," cried his lieutenant Alfonsito, "tell us it ain' your 
back
again."
    "Damned idiot, o' course it's my back. Oh mother of all misfortune--and
worst than last time too."
    "I can fix that," offered Willis.
    "Beg your pardon, what in hell business of any got-damn pinkinroller'd 
this
be, again?"
    "I know how to loosen that up for you. Trust me, I'm an osteopath."
    "It's O.K., we're open-minded, couple boys in the outfit are 
evangelicals,
just watch where you're putting them lilywhites now--yaaagghh--I mean, huh?"
    "Feel better?"
    "Holy Toledo," straightening up, carefully but pain-free.
    "Why, it's a miracle."
    "Gracias a Dios!" screamed the dutiful Alfonsito.
    "Obliged," Jimmy guessed, sliding his pistol back in its holster.