mule factory by steve goerger

8/14/2019 Mule Factory by Steve Goerger

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I S S N # 1 9 4 8 - 1 2 1 7

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"Mule Factory"2009 Steve Goerger

t y p e f a c e s : M a g e l l a n , A c c o l a d e , F r i z Q u a d r a t a , a n d A d o b e C a s l o n

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MULE FACTORYBY STEVE GOERGER

Dan has come out of a terrible relationship, yes, and thereis drinking, even drugs. He's never been all that popularwith anyone and has just graduated from college, but hedoesnt see any possibility in his life.

On their first walk around the dry, stale grounds,Rudolpho tells Dan and the others: The production ofmules is very simplea female horse and a male donkeyare mated. You may wonder why we call this production,not breeding. Well, the word breeding implies that twoanimals of the same species are mated to further

propagate the species. In fact, we do no such thing: mulesare completely asexual beings, incapable of reproducingthemselves. So we do the dirty work for them. Thank youfriends!and welcome. Spontaneous applause burstsout, with Dan leading the way, cheering the romancefinding him here in Mexico.

As the German standing next to Dan asks aboutterminology, the mood in the room is strained generosity.At the back of their group a tall dark-haired girl sobsloudly. The next morning Rudolpho teaches Dan and aJapanese boy how to operate a twelve-thousand dollarinsemination probe.


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There are six of them, interns, at the Mule Factory thatsummer. Dan. Florian, the German, who is fair, tall, andintelligent. Rico, a Mexican. Inez, the Portuguese crier,whom everyone assumes is Mexican. Shaito, who hascome from Japanese business school to learn Spanish.And Don, the other American, who on the very firstmorning of work, while Dan and Shaito learn the probe,beds Inez in the bunkhouse and steals a carton ofRudolphos pre-rolled cigarettes.

Rico and Florian work with the donkeys. Mornings,the donkeys are fed and cleaned; in the early afternoonthere is exercise, walking in circles, powering the mill;then comes siesta. Both the Mexican and the Germanhave been around equine beasts all their lives. Over thefirst weeks they find they have much in common. Ricospeaks fluent German. They discuss philosophy as theyrecline on haystacks in the dusty corral.

Marx yes, Lenin noI think we can agree to this!Rico says, but Florian just chews some grass awhile.

I have no interest in politics; my thought is purely

existential, says Florian. Through the office window heobserves the mascara streaking from Inezs eyesaNietzschean Mona Lisa, he thinksand considers the longchain of cause and effect which has led them here. Werwar die erste Ursache? he asks. It is a difficult problem,but these things take time, is all.

In bed at night, Dan wonders who, or what, could havehurt Inez so; wonders exactly how Don helps; what hemight be able to do to cool the fever that melts her.Mentally he sends soft bay breezes and a lapping, licking

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shoreline her way. Recollections of a surfer girl he onceknew wash over him: blonde, buoyant in the water. Withsudden guilt he shakes his head and tries to refocus onInez. But only a word comes to mindDon!

Just then Inez cries Don! into the blackness of thebunkhouse. It is her first English word.

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Don! Shaito whispers to himself the next morning. Heconsiders what the word could mean. He has beenlistening to the Mexicans, Rudolpho, Rico, and Inez, speakSpanish, and this is the only word he has heard them allsay. Both Americans are named Don, he believes,assuming this is only a coincidence. Don is a verycommon American name, after all: Rumsfeld, Rickles,Knotts. But in Spanish it must be a word of great andsecret importance. So secret they leave it out of thedictionaries and it gathers full power only at night.

Clandestinely he whispers it to the sun. He smiles at theDon he works with.

One of their jennies gives birth to the first mule ofthe season. Rudolpho demonstrates standard operatingprocedure, his arm streaked bloody up to the elbow. Thelittle thing lies silent a few minutes and then suddenlylooses a strange almost-bray, an odd throaty littlewhisper.

Back in the office Rudolpho washes up, then splits aspliff with Don. Don smokes with one hand, kneads Inezsback with the other. Inez files and shuffles and

straightens.

The girls are in good hands this year, Rudolphosays. Soft handsDan is a fine, dedicated worker. Notlike you, eh, Don, making your girl do all the work!

Don smokes.

The phone rings under Inezs waiting hand. Shepicks it up and says: Estou! Rudolpho wonders whatkind of regional dialect she speaks. Her voice is rapid. 7


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Water rushing over rock. He hopes the local touch willhelp sell mules in her area.

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failures of God are his great successes. Do youunderstand?

Consensus is reachedall the heads at the table nod

yes. Dan agrees with Rudolpho; Rudolpho bobs along thebuoyant sea of alcohol in his belly. Florian and Rico havegiven up on Shaito; they only agree politely as he manglestheir lessons. Inez reacts to Don fingering her under thetable. Don hums a happy tune, nods along.

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A fax comes through on the machineInez retrieves itand takes it out to Rudolpho, who looks it over. Prices ofmules are plummeting, he says. Not good, notgoodmaybe I will have to cut labor, let one of you go.He rubs the small bumps of her spine. Maybe your Don?

Inez pours hot tears like coffee.

No, no, not you guys, Inez, Rudolpho says. I wasonly joking. Ill get rid of the uglies firstmaybe Rico.

With nothing left to say, Inez walks away briskly.Rudolpho watches.

Dan and Shaito help birth thirty mules inJunesome tan, some spotted, some speckled pepper andsalt. Never two the same. Shaito whispers his word overeach of them, blessing infancy with its mighty magic. Dan

always thinks Shaito is talking to him. He turns his headtoward the pastel sky and pretends not to hear.

Florian plans a week in the mountains, to accost theponderous questions that fill his soul. In the office he asksRudolpho to lend him a pack mule and some marijuana.

Maybe I should have brought more women in,Rudolpho is saying to Don. Even I myself am lonely.From now on I will arrange pairings ahead of time. One-to-one ratios. Harmonies of scale. He notices Florian.

And what about you, Florian? Wouldnt you like to

have a nice romantic fling with a Mexican girl, take yourmind off some things?

Florian considers his rhetorical pose. Off some1 1


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things, on some others. If you know what I mean, hesays. Rudolpho and Don look at him like he is mad, butsuddenly explode with violent laughter; they clapFlorians back so hard it hurts. His wit wins Florian twoweeks vacation, two mules, peyote, and marijuana.

But hey, take that Shaito with you, Rudolpho says,still weak with laughter. Seriouslyget that Jap out of myhair!

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Florian invites Shaito into the desert by pointing: first intothe distance, then at himself and Shaito, then back intothe distance. He makes a walking motion with twofingers, points again, and smiles. Shaito grins, enlightened.

That night, with Don drunk and passed out in hisbed, Shaito steals over to Inez. He puts his face very closeto hers and whispers the word he feels they share. Inezlooks at him like hes gone crazy. Urgently: Don! The

donkeys quit braying, Rico quits snoring, and everythingis soft and silent. Shaitos face is creased with tension, asif he will burst unless relieved. Inez swirls a cool digitaround his foreheada hot sweat is forming therebutShaito takes her hand and presses it hard to his lips.Never has Inez considered Shaito, but this makes his boldfirst impression all the better. She would cry, but Shaitosardor has strength for the both of them, too much toallow it. Her eyes search this surprise, until finally theyrest upon hisand then they kiss. Their passion carries onwordlessly until the sun rises and they fall asleep. An hourlater Florian rouses Shaito and they head off into the coolfoothills of morning.

Inez stays in to watch American television while theboys tie one on at the Chuito Gentlemans Club. By nowthe sun has given Dan a deep tan and dug a purple sweatring in his black cowboy hat; all the girls coo at him, atrue-blue vaquero. Any girl in here belongs to you!Rudolpho shouts. But just as Dan considers a sweet-faced,flat-chested, tall young thing, Don slips her a fifty. Sheleads him to the storage room. Dan follows after a fewminutes and peers inside: the shadows tumble in heavybreathing. Envy rises. When finally Don reemerges into

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the bar, Dan lands a strong left and knocks hiscountryman into the stage. Rudolpho and Rico comerunning over. Rico considers starting a full-out brawl,maybe getting at Rudolpho in the confusion of it. But hedoesnt, for Mexicos sake.

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It is in the highlands that Shaito proves his real worth toFlorian. Handy with both fire and water, Shaito keepscamp while Florian explores his mind with Rudolpho'sgifted drugs. Florian lays the pills and pot on the ground.He points to them, then to his eyes, then to the sky. Hehooks his thumbs and flaps his hands like birds wings.Points to the drugs againShaito seems confused. Don?Florian asks; Shaito needs no further explanation. He goesabout gathering scrub brush for heat, drilling cacti forwater.

Dan and Don wordlessly declare a truce, thoughDan is hopeful Don has told Inez it was he who punchedhim, so Inez might wonder. Any press being good press.But Don never says anything to Inez. Only hums.

The birthing season hits stride and Dan midwives,

alone, flawlessly. A large inventory accrues. Dan and Ricowonder why Rudolpho doesn't sell any. The economy isin such shape that probably no one can even afford amule anymore, Rico says, keeping to himself suspicionsthat Rudolpho is simply incompetent. Meanwhile, thecorral nearly overflows with sexless animals, standing

around, just staring at one another.

Inez answers the phone. Sometimes she tries toexplain herself fully, in Portuguese. But she can only try.

Hello, Inez, a voice says. I love you. I wish youdstop crying.

Que?

Of course, things wont stay the same forever.1 5


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Someday youll stop crying. I wonder if Ill still love youthen.

Papa?

However, Rico says what we are we will always be.Somehow, you will cry, and I will love you forever.

Don?

Dan! Do you understand? Dan. See, Ive been hurtso much. I dont know much else. I had a girl I called Joey,Inez, but her real name was Joan.

Shaito?

Don! Florian screams, waking Shaito from a

comfortable sleep near the fire. Ich weiss jetzt! Er i st Don!

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With two more births, the holding pen bursts at theseams. And there are six more births scheduled for thefirst half of August. Rudolpho sees that he needs to selland orders Inez to put ads in all of Mexico's majornewspapers. Well undersell even the steepestcompetition! he says. Even those guys in Mexico City!Sell, sell, sell! Two-for-one, free coffee, a juggling clown!

In the desert, in a hallucinogenic trance, Florianattempts to climb the flat face of a small mountain, to be

closer to God. Halfway up he loses his grip and falls fiftyfeet. Shaito, who has trailed Florian without hisknowledge, catches his hand and pulls him back to therocks.

Don, Florian says to him, and they begin to climbagain. A while later some shadows play tricks on Shaitos

eyes, and he slips and falls into the deep canyon below.Florian summits, beats his strong breast, wails deep andsad and true.

Rudolpho takes Rico aside. Friend: I must let yougo, he says. Business is bad. I know you understand.

How do you know that? Rico asks. He is offended;he thinks again about taking a swing at his already-tipsyboss.

Listenwe are both Mexicans! Rudolpho says.Brotherhood is all we have. Can you juggle? Do you

mime?

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The reason Inez cries: shortly before leaving for Mexicoher father died. They were very close. To make mattersworse, her father was a great lover of horses. EverySaturday morning he would take his only daughter ridingwith him, through gold fields, wild forests, light blanketsof shiny snow. Being near horses is terrible but Inezknows being away from them would probably be worsestill. There is no solution to the problem, so she cries. Butthe feeling of the hot tears on her skin is the least of herconcerns: First she would like to know how people live

life in a brain full of dead memories!

In the late evenings, after the phones have stoppedringing, after making love to Don, she walks along thecountry road and thinks about the great loves of her life.Manu, the boy from school, who brought her wildflowersand kissed her cheek raw before he ever kissed her lips.Fun and flighty Pepe during high school. Geraldo, mucholder, a man clinging to limitless passion in limited years.Lately Shaito has been added to the list, but she has notquite figured out why. She cant even picture him orremember the sound of his voice. But he looked at her theway her father didthe same green-flecked brown eyes

which bathed her in warmth every time they shined herway. She wonders how long Shaito will look at her thatway; wonders if this one familiar thing would be enoughto fly her to Japan and live among the aliens.

Rudolpho goes into town and buys streamers. Hesees a man about a big top tent abandoned by a travelingcircus. As they negotiate he envisions the carnival, theshoppers, the free food on the hot grill, Ricopantomiming, maybe atop a unicycle. The farmers willsurely bring their entire families to such a festival. Maybe

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Don walks a few miles out to meet Florian as he comesback to town. Florian rides only one nag; the other he haslet run free. When he sees that it is Don who has comeout to meet him, he jumps from the steed, falls to hisknees. Don grabs him by the arm and hauls him back up.

No, Don says, it isnt me. This is your problem:you think too much. Do you suppose God really thinksabout any of this?

Your logic seems false, Florian says.

Exactly, Don says. But look at it this way: Godmust surely be alone. I have never been alone. Who wouldwant to be so godly?

Florian sees his point and rises. They walk back into

town together. Florian begins to cry, tells Don about thefate of Shaito.

Don nods his head, hums his tune. He lights a spliffand they share it on the way back to the factory.

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inspect the restless, fenced animals.

I guess no one reads newspapers anymore,Rudolpho says. With that, he lets go of a few loose

dreams.

That night they throw a party for themselves underthe big top. Everyone gets intoxicated. Rudolpho offersRico a full-time position. Rico tells Florian of his truestfeelings for him, opening a wide, empty chasm between

them. Inez cries; Dan grins crookedly under his low-pulled brim. Don walks off into the sunset, thinkingmaybe Italy

They fall asleep outside, huddled together forwarmth underneath the big top. In the early morning themules voices wake Dan. Ee-haa! they say to each other.

Ee-haa! they scream to the sky. Dan gets up andstumbles over to the pen. In the middle many of theanimals are huddled; there seems to be some kind ofcommotion. Dan climbs up on the highest rung of thefence to look in. He wipes his brow, whistles low, tugs thebrim of his hat. In the midst of the animals there is a small

calf of some kind, some newborn. A small, light, whiteanimal. To Dans eyes, it appears winged. Hopefully it iswinged.

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S t e v e G o e r g e r h o l d s a n M F A f r o m

t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f A l a s k a - F a i r b a n k s .

H e h a s w o r k e d a s a w r i t e r , t e a c h e r ,

a n d l i b r a r i a n . H e n o w m a k e s h i s

h o m e i n S a l e m , O R . H i s w r i t i n g h a s

r e c e n t l y a p p e a r e d i n t h e

Ampersand Review, t h e S o u t h

D a k o t a Review , a n d t h e P o r t l a n d Review

.

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We do not want a world in which the guarantee that we will not die of starvation is

bought by accepting the riskof dying of boredom.-Raoul Vaneigem

seealso: al icebluereview
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mule factory by steve goerger

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