CACTUS LAND
A Novel
By
Robert Bonomo
December 2004
Madrid
For Maite
‘This is the dead land
This is the cactus land
Here the stone images
Are raised, here they receive
The supplication of a dead man’s hand
Under the twinkle of a fading star.’
T.S. Eliot, ‘The Hollow Men’
Copyright 2009 Robert Bonomo
Smashwords Edition
Cover image Soundrack to the Apocalypse by David DeFigueredo Copyright © David DeFiguerdo
2005
CHAPTER 1
The train snaked its way slowly through the stunningly tall buildings, across wide pedestrian
streets lined with fashionable shops and gently came to a stop on the raised platform of the
shiny clean station of Zephyr Park. A light mist fell on the fading light of the overcast day.
Alex skipped down the wide crowded ramps through the stampede of wet shoes and the
ruffling sounds of raincoats and opening umbrellas.
His eyes jumped in thought, pleasantly anticipating the Thursday evening and planning for the
weekend. He was well tucked into his raincoat below the now-lit pedestrian street, the
moisture not yet able to soak into his hair. He jumped up the step of the store full of the
energy and single-mindedness that comes with the planning of pleasure. He carefully
maneuvered the bouncy rubber gangplank, on each side large screens with consoles
demonstrating new games. A fashionable immigrant salesgirl sullenly asked what he wanted.
“Part III of Fabian’s Journey please.” It was payday, the world was fresh and full, the card
slid majestically through the computer. Behind her stood a large black curtain with a sign,
“ADULTS ONLY”. He took the bag and walked through the curtain, her glance warmer.
Through the curtain stood a row of mannequins fitted into a kind of wetsuit, with bulges
around the genital areas and remote controls in the hands. Behind them flashed the erotic
films that were programmable to coincide with the impulses emitted by the suit; the large
screens had menus of fantasies. At...