The hotel has a digital display, which flashes out the hours in a lurid red light. So i knew i was on (public) time. Yet there was no sign of the Kommune’s best friend. Then Mickey turned up, telling me that Auld Archie was at his place, sleeping off a two day bender.
– Come and see for yourself.
The flat was spartan and grimy, and there was only a single bulb, which hung from its flex, emitting a paltry light. Below the bulb was a familiar figure with his legs splayed at an unnatural angle like a broken insect. i rushed over and saw that Auld Archie was in a paralytic state. His face bore a big smile that was eerily fixed. i doubt that he registered my presence. i doubt that he was capable of registering anything at all. Shouting into face elicited an atavistic groan. i soon gave up trying to rouse him.
Mickey’s dad was similarly indisposed to the sentient world. Man, it must have been quite some session of hard drinking. Both men being seasoned boozers, immune to quantities of alcohol that would easily kill Mickey or myself.
Mickey’s dad was breathing stertorously, but his son said that there was no cause for concern.
The bulb blew, plunging everyone into darkness.
– Frack ’em,’ said Mickey… Let’s go…
– Aqua-tripping!
Meaning a tab of Whitman with some hydrotherapy thrown in.
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