There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there. -- Psalm 104.26 "Call me Ishmael." These are the famous words that open Moby-Dick . The words that scholars highlight and readers remember. The words that actually open the book are all but ignored. *** I said, "I need to rent a boat," and the air in the store changed, like I'd committed some major social blunder. I could see it in the cashier's eyes. She looked at me over her glasses, one eyebrow raised, her lips pursed, and her head cocked. "I'm from New Castle." I felt the customers behind me. They were no longer shopping. I waited for her to help me, but she didn't reply. I was hostage to her scrutiny until I talked. "Do you have boats to rent?" I knew they did. From where we stood, I could see the colorful sides of blue and red rowboats hanging on a rack that spanned the length of the store outside. The cashier's mou...
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