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Lee Klein: Jrzdvlz

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Lee Klein Jrzdvlz
  • Название:
    Jrzdvlz
  • Автор:
  • Издательство:
    Sagging Meniscus Press
  • Жанр:
  • Год:
    2017
  • Город:
    Montclair
  • Язык:
    Английский
  • ISBN:
    978-1-944697-32-7
  • Рейтинг книги:
    3 / 5
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Jrzdvlz: краткое содержание, описание и аннотация

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JRZDVLZ (pronounced “Jersey Devils”) is the autobiography of a sympathetic monster on a centuries-spanning quest for redemption. Based on long-suffering legend and historical fact, it’s about the sacrifice, civility, endurance, and humility required to transform a monster into a man.

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An impossible fact before their eyes, indubitable, unbelievable. Perhaps the water of this New World caused collective psychosis. That was the only sane possibility: everyone was mad.

Pastor Dade of Estellville appeared grim, prideful, straight-backed. Crossing the clearing in front of Daniel Leeds’s home, he was armed with an aura of righteousness, a rectitude that might compel even the most industrious and upright, such as Titan, to relinquish benevolence in pursuit of sin.

“He comes,” Titan said as he rested in the shadow of an oak.

Japhet emerged from the printing quarters as though he had sensed Dade’s appearance from far off. “Dade,” he said. The surname alone carried the sting of an epithet.

“Dade,” Titan said, and he spat.

With each step, Dade seemed to need to pull each foot from some deep penetration in the ground. Titan would not sit in shadowed grass if Dade occupied the same yard. He stood to meet this intruder, and with each step he became stronger, confronted by this moral leader who cursed his family for sheltering the enemy.

“Dade,” said Titan. “An honor.”

“Titan Leeds, a pleasure, as always, to greet one of the country’s most renowned printers of almanacs. I see you still haven’t fallen dead per Poor Richard’s predictions.”

“Alive, if not well, as you are here now, but not welcome.”

“Very good, very good. As fluent as ever when it comes to wasteful words. A master articulator of insult,” said Dade with exaggerated smugness.

“Let’s be done with you,” said Titan.

I had been napping in my new home, cradled in the crown of the royal oak, after a night flight in search of sustenance to the barrier islands, unpopulated dunes along the coast where gulls and the occasional pelican succumbed to the velocity of my hunger. The batting white eyelash of the surf reflected the moon, and this calmed me, made me believe that life was possible alone, but then curiosity surged and before dawn I returned to visit those who hunted me.

Usually the tree rang with hundreds of birds, but now it was silent thanks to my presence. From my vantage, I saw my cousin Titan confront a man dressed all in black.

“You have amassed men and arms, I see,” said Dade, “but such force cannot contain supernatural energies.”

“Do you come with another curse? Your last was a success.”

“Blame the beast, not me.”

“Did you not curse poor Mowas?”

“I cursed her actions, not the woman.”

“Leave this land before I turn the men against you.”

“I am a man of peace.”

“Wielding terror.”

Japhet joined Titan and stared as though his eyes alone might end Dade’s life.

“A terrible thing you witnessed,” Dade said, “the most terrible tragedy I have lived through in this country.”

“I don’t remember your presence that night,” said Japhet. “It is a shame you could not replace any of my brothers and sisters. Even Odd William.”

“Such tongues in this family,” said Dade. “Worthy allies, if only you might direct your scorn at the beast, the devil child, the monster.”

“What then do you offer us?” said Titan. “It seems neither arms nor comfort.”

“I wield a power uncommon among men.”

“We are familiar with it.”

“If you let me, perhaps I can help in some small measure.”

Securing Dade’s promise that he would not disturb them, Titan and Japhet returned to work while Dade stood like a bulwark against the imperfections of arms.


Dade appeared each morning, standing among them and yet apart. He was as regular a presence as the sun that daily lost strength. Winds swept trees clean as the pages of Titan Leeds’s final publication were blown by messengers across the territory. An image of me appeared on one page with arrows leading from descriptions of my disparate features. A complete transcript of Japhet’s account followed, supported by Dr. Thorpe, that recounted the horrors they’d encountered, news much of the territory had heard by word of mouth and thereafter used to explain the disappearance of livestock, strange sights, eccentric behavior, sickness, fires.

Once upon a dark time, if lightning struck a house it burned freely as those with water watched. Such were the Lord’s wishes: the owners of the house deserved punishment. But now they blamed this devil of Leeds Point, which they believed controlled the land before even the Indians settled it, this beast that sought to reclaim its territories from indulgent Englishmen. Atop the oak, I heard that some were calling for all settlers to return to the Crown, to leave this land to its dragon. Others hoped to slay the beast and savor a hero’s spoils (hoarded maidens and piles of gold). The two months of sea travel that separated the colonies from Europe had sent these men thousands of years back in time. Thanks to my birth, they now seemed to live in a legendary era.

Every word I heard referred to me and separated me from my fellow men. The supernatural presence of horns and wings, tail and hooves, disrupted commonalities of feeling and thought. But now, as its leaves fell, the oak was less able to shield me from view. I saw my breath as though it streamed with smoke. Scales and wings kept me warm, but when it rained I longed for warmth. I hid in outhouses most nights as the weather turned, sleeping with an ear out for sleep-dazed wanderers in need of relief. Accentuation of scent seemed an essential aspect of my penance.


Leaves all down, spending nights in outhouses, I wished to prove my worth and redeem myself to those who met at my family’s home, armed themselves there, and then investigated claims, footprints, slaughtered animals, disappeared children. I could attain such an exceptional height that someone on the ground might think me an eagle, but uncontrollable curiosity and a nascent taste for risk compelled another appearance.

Guards on duty either slept or occupied themselves in endless chatter. Such a waste of speech. Blessed with half their ability I would set myself right with everyone and protect the territory from every threat. Oh how I would help them if only they compre-hended my speech. This elder Daniel to whom they defer, perhaps he might have some patience with me.

His house seemed identical to that of my birth. I slipped down the chimney. I climbed the steps in silence. I heard snoring, the loudest from a room with door ajar. I poked it open with the end of my snout. I feared my steady beating heart would wake them. Whatever life I had, better it end than not attempt this.

Daniel slept alone, still on his side of the small bed, preserving his late wife’s impression in the mattress. Beside the bed a sheet had fallen. I cut two slits in it with a fingernail and let the rest fall over my body. Wings packed tight behind me, tail coiled best I could, all the words I wanted to say gathered in my lungs. I shut my mouth so not to lose my words and disturb the sleeper. I allowed the least bit of breath to escape through my teeth.

“Pssst,” I said. “Pssst.”

The sleeper stirred but did not wake.

I tried again, this time nudging the bed with my body. “Pssst.”

“What? What?” said Daniel, his eyes opening. Confronted with a standing bedsheet, he seemed to think he was still asleep.

“Shhh,” I said. “I come in peace.”

“Are you not some dream?”

“Do not alert the others. Let them sleep and awake tomorrow safe.”

“If I am asleep,” Daniel said, “let this nightmare end.”

“You understand me.”

“Your voice is unlike any I’ve heard, though I have never heard a bedsheet speak. Perhaps my pillow would speak in tones more soothing than your disturbed rasps.”

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