Short story about a deaf man, who cuts people tongues
I'm searching for a short story I read a long ago in a different language. It was listed as a story by Ray Bradbury, but I can't find it in his bibliography. I've checked every title, that is even remotely related to the plot, and couldn't find it. And the style is not exactly like his. It's very weirdly written, basically two pages story, divided to several very short chapters. The writing is very simple - short sentences, simple words.
It's about a man, who starts with thoughts about how words are useless, and music is one true thing, when it's without words. And how he wants to remove words from the world. He's a soloist, who works alone. With a knife. He removes words, tongues and keeps them in jars. He writes his confession to the police, because he's deaf. He put a metal wire through his ears, to stop the words and just listen to the music in his head.
I have it in different language, but I want to find the author and read the original.
The language I have it in is Bulgarian. The title is Instrumentalist. There's few translated "chapters"
DREAMWALKING
I have not slept for years. When I go to bed - never before dawn - I remain awake, listening to the city's fuss.
The city has sound and rhythm. The city is music.
But the words are whining, which confuses the music. They should be removed. The music must be pure. The truth must be pure.
GO, DO NOT RUN
I am the instrument of purity and truth. I'm a solist. I play alone.
My tool is the knife.
I live in the city. Therefore, I work in the city. Alone.
I was not captured because I'm cautious. I work on them one by one. At night. ALone.
I take away their words. One by one. With my instrument, with my knife. Everyone I met in the city. From anyone who is alone.
I cut off their tongues.
GANGSTER
How many tongues? A pointless question because it is composed of words. I will answer with equally meaningless words: dozens, hundreds, thousands. Who counts them? Numbers are not words.
I cut the tongues and keep them up beside my bed. In jars. The tongues are trophies. I'm a fighter on the side of the truth.
The jars were seized when they took me away.
story-identification short-stories
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add a comment |
I'm searching for a short story I read a long ago in a different language. It was listed as a story by Ray Bradbury, but I can't find it in his bibliography. I've checked every title, that is even remotely related to the plot, and couldn't find it. And the style is not exactly like his. It's very weirdly written, basically two pages story, divided to several very short chapters. The writing is very simple - short sentences, simple words.
It's about a man, who starts with thoughts about how words are useless, and music is one true thing, when it's without words. And how he wants to remove words from the world. He's a soloist, who works alone. With a knife. He removes words, tongues and keeps them in jars. He writes his confession to the police, because he's deaf. He put a metal wire through his ears, to stop the words and just listen to the music in his head.
I have it in different language, but I want to find the author and read the original.
The language I have it in is Bulgarian. The title is Instrumentalist. There's few translated "chapters"
DREAMWALKING
I have not slept for years. When I go to bed - never before dawn - I remain awake, listening to the city's fuss.
The city has sound and rhythm. The city is music.
But the words are whining, which confuses the music. They should be removed. The music must be pure. The truth must be pure.
GO, DO NOT RUN
I am the instrument of purity and truth. I'm a solist. I play alone.
My tool is the knife.
I live in the city. Therefore, I work in the city. Alone.
I was not captured because I'm cautious. I work on them one by one. At night. ALone.
I take away their words. One by one. With my instrument, with my knife. Everyone I met in the city. From anyone who is alone.
I cut off their tongues.
GANGSTER
How many tongues? A pointless question because it is composed of words. I will answer with equally meaningless words: dozens, hundreds, thousands. Who counts them? Numbers are not words.
I cut the tongues and keep them up beside my bed. In jars. The tongues are trophies. I'm a fighter on the side of the truth.
The jars were seized when they took me away.
story-identification short-stories
New contributor
1
What's the title in Bulgarian?
– Laurel
5 hours ago
add a comment |
I'm searching for a short story I read a long ago in a different language. It was listed as a story by Ray Bradbury, but I can't find it in his bibliography. I've checked every title, that is even remotely related to the plot, and couldn't find it. And the style is not exactly like his. It's very weirdly written, basically two pages story, divided to several very short chapters. The writing is very simple - short sentences, simple words.
It's about a man, who starts with thoughts about how words are useless, and music is one true thing, when it's without words. And how he wants to remove words from the world. He's a soloist, who works alone. With a knife. He removes words, tongues and keeps them in jars. He writes his confession to the police, because he's deaf. He put a metal wire through his ears, to stop the words and just listen to the music in his head.
I have it in different language, but I want to find the author and read the original.
The language I have it in is Bulgarian. The title is Instrumentalist. There's few translated "chapters"
DREAMWALKING
I have not slept for years. When I go to bed - never before dawn - I remain awake, listening to the city's fuss.
The city has sound and rhythm. The city is music.
But the words are whining, which confuses the music. They should be removed. The music must be pure. The truth must be pure.
GO, DO NOT RUN
I am the instrument of purity and truth. I'm a solist. I play alone.
My tool is the knife.
I live in the city. Therefore, I work in the city. Alone.
I was not captured because I'm cautious. I work on them one by one. At night. ALone.
I take away their words. One by one. With my instrument, with my knife. Everyone I met in the city. From anyone who is alone.
I cut off their tongues.
GANGSTER
How many tongues? A pointless question because it is composed of words. I will answer with equally meaningless words: dozens, hundreds, thousands. Who counts them? Numbers are not words.
I cut the tongues and keep them up beside my bed. In jars. The tongues are trophies. I'm a fighter on the side of the truth.
The jars were seized when they took me away.
story-identification short-stories
New contributor
I'm searching for a short story I read a long ago in a different language. It was listed as a story by Ray Bradbury, but I can't find it in his bibliography. I've checked every title, that is even remotely related to the plot, and couldn't find it. And the style is not exactly like his. It's very weirdly written, basically two pages story, divided to several very short chapters. The writing is very simple - short sentences, simple words.
It's about a man, who starts with thoughts about how words are useless, and music is one true thing, when it's without words. And how he wants to remove words from the world. He's a soloist, who works alone. With a knife. He removes words, tongues and keeps them in jars. He writes his confession to the police, because he's deaf. He put a metal wire through his ears, to stop the words and just listen to the music in his head.
I have it in different language, but I want to find the author and read the original.
The language I have it in is Bulgarian. The title is Instrumentalist. There's few translated "chapters"
DREAMWALKING
I have not slept for years. When I go to bed - never before dawn - I remain awake, listening to the city's fuss.
The city has sound and rhythm. The city is music.
But the words are whining, which confuses the music. They should be removed. The music must be pure. The truth must be pure.
GO, DO NOT RUN
I am the instrument of purity and truth. I'm a solist. I play alone.
My tool is the knife.
I live in the city. Therefore, I work in the city. Alone.
I was not captured because I'm cautious. I work on them one by one. At night. ALone.
I take away their words. One by one. With my instrument, with my knife. Everyone I met in the city. From anyone who is alone.
I cut off their tongues.
GANGSTER
How many tongues? A pointless question because it is composed of words. I will answer with equally meaningless words: dozens, hundreds, thousands. Who counts them? Numbers are not words.
I cut the tongues and keep them up beside my bed. In jars. The tongues are trophies. I'm a fighter on the side of the truth.
The jars were seized when they took me away.
story-identification short-stories
story-identification short-stories
New contributor
New contributor
edited 5 hours ago
Akasha
New contributor
asked 5 hours ago
AkashaAkasha
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1
What's the title in Bulgarian?
– Laurel
5 hours ago
add a comment |
1
What's the title in Bulgarian?
– Laurel
5 hours ago
1
1
What's the title in Bulgarian?
– Laurel
5 hours ago
What's the title in Bulgarian?
– Laurel
5 hours ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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This is a quite a long shot because I can’t find much information on this but could this be...
“The Instrumentalist” (1996) by William Relling, Jr.
It was published in the anthology Night Screams in which Ray Bradbury does have a story in. The only information I can really find on it is from this review on Goodreads.
· 318 • The Instrumentalist • William Relling, Jr.
Short piece from the point of view of a hospitalized psycho. Not too impressive.
add a comment |
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
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active
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active
oldest
votes
This is a quite a long shot because I can’t find much information on this but could this be...
“The Instrumentalist” (1996) by William Relling, Jr.
It was published in the anthology Night Screams in which Ray Bradbury does have a story in. The only information I can really find on it is from this review on Goodreads.
· 318 • The Instrumentalist • William Relling, Jr.
Short piece from the point of view of a hospitalized psycho. Not too impressive.
add a comment |
This is a quite a long shot because I can’t find much information on this but could this be...
“The Instrumentalist” (1996) by William Relling, Jr.
It was published in the anthology Night Screams in which Ray Bradbury does have a story in. The only information I can really find on it is from this review on Goodreads.
· 318 • The Instrumentalist • William Relling, Jr.
Short piece from the point of view of a hospitalized psycho. Not too impressive.
add a comment |
This is a quite a long shot because I can’t find much information on this but could this be...
“The Instrumentalist” (1996) by William Relling, Jr.
It was published in the anthology Night Screams in which Ray Bradbury does have a story in. The only information I can really find on it is from this review on Goodreads.
· 318 • The Instrumentalist • William Relling, Jr.
Short piece from the point of view of a hospitalized psycho. Not too impressive.
This is a quite a long shot because I can’t find much information on this but could this be...
“The Instrumentalist” (1996) by William Relling, Jr.
It was published in the anthology Night Screams in which Ray Bradbury does have a story in. The only information I can really find on it is from this review on Goodreads.
· 318 • The Instrumentalist • William Relling, Jr.
Short piece from the point of view of a hospitalized psycho. Not too impressive.
edited 5 hours ago
answered 5 hours ago
TheLethalCarrotTheLethalCarrot
47.7k17253302
47.7k17253302
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add a comment |
Akasha is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Akasha is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Akasha is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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1
What's the title in Bulgarian?
– Laurel
5 hours ago