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The sky had only just cleared for a few days when the rain, irritatingly persistent, returned.
Rain in the depths of winter could be considered a form of punishment. If you went outdoors, the droplets would find every possible opening and worm their way through the seams of your clothes. If you were indoors, the damp chill seeping created the illusion that you had already moved into a coffin ahead of schedule.
Karon sat near the entrance to the parlor, holding a book he was flipping through. It was a gift from Eunice, titled Diary of Delirium. The author was named Robert, and the protagonist was also named Robert.
The Robert in the book was an exhibitionist who enjoyed going on night runs completely naked. Completely, as in nothing at all. The author mentioned more than once that as the protagonist ran, the swinging between his thighs made him feel as though he were enduring a kind of “whipping.”
The story was divided into dated diary entries, recording the absurd and bizarre experiences the protagonist encountered during his nocturnal runs across many nights.
For example, one night he ran past a night market stall and saw an elderly couple boiling their own heads in a pot. Bubbles rose from the pot as the old couple’s voices drifted out, inviting him to try their stall’s newest flavor.
On another night, he ran across a small bridge. To the west of the bridge flowed molten lava, while to the east lay a river that had frozen solid.
On yet another night, he ran past a post office and saw a group of postal workers, crazed and stuffing piles of letters into their own mouths until their bellies bulged like small hills. Then, with the combined effort...
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