Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman - US Jonathan Cape he is desperately trying to

he is desperately trying to become the family breadwinner and has taken on his late father's job - celebrated jester

presumably

The new tattoos on his face they held him down in the nick and did them for him - make Stone look like a scary individual

Hanging on to his tenure in literature at Bannockburn college by the slimmest of threads

he is driven by an unquenchable desire to free his people from the European invaders of his homeland

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman - US Jonathan Cape he is desperately trying toA young man accompanies his cousin to the hospital to check an unusual hearing complaint and recalls a story of a woman put to sleep by tiny flies crawling inside her ear; a mirror appears out of nowhere and a nightwatchman is unnerved as his reflection tries to take control of him; a couple's relationship is unbalanced after dining exclusively on exquisite crab while on holiday; a man follows instructions on the back of a postcard to apply for a job,