2 You don't need a plot at all,
3 Or a story at all,
4 aBecause everybody already knows what it is.
5 And besides, if we're all basically on our own,
6 bThat is, alone in an insane godless universe,
7 Then who are you writing for anyway?
8 cIn fact, you may as well write something just for yourself,
9 With allusions that only mean something to you,
10 And who cares if nobody understands one word of it,
11 dSince the writer can't be sure that anybody else even exists,
12 And so what if they do,
13 eBecause everyone with half an education knows what the story is about already,
14 Even if it's not a story but a vignette,
15 fAnd even if it's not a narrative but a random gush of nonsense,
16 Which it doesn't matter if nobody understands,
17 gAs long as it sounds literary,
18 Meaning there's no way to figure it out for sure and you just have to come to terms with it somehow,
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19 No matter how depressing it gets,
20 Or how awful,
21 Or how hpointless,
22 iJust like life.
CHAPTER 161 And when the bullet had said these and other things,
2 jIncluding naming a lot of names,
3 kAnd even some specific titles,
4 Frankie & Johnny felt a lot better,
5 About everything,
6 Except life, of course,
7 Which the bullet finally mentioned in passing,
8 On its way out through the window,
9 Saying, "Believe it or not,
10 l"A great prophet will come,
11 "And explain everything,
12 "Someday,
13 m"But not in time to hurt your royalties."
14 And then Frankie & Johnny lit up a ngiant cigar,
15 And sat back to think up new literature for the ages.
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