The Poison Pie Publishing House presents:

February 1, 2026
Last and least among the party was an elderly man. Bundled in a blanket, he sat in a chair and did not move from it. Mostly bald of pate, several unruly, white wisps jutted out at odd angles. He said little that first morning. Within a wrinkled face, his eyes darted from speaker to speaker, the only indication that he was alert. After breakfast, Papa Krokodeilos carried him like a child back into a tent. Mama Chloë affectionately called him Grandpa Dumpling. Andromache surmised his nickname bluntly reflected the infirmity of old age.

written while listening to:  Giacomo Papetti, Emanuele Maniscalco & Gabriele Rubino - Small Choices (Aut Records, AUT006, 2013, Italy, cd, discogs.com)

February 2, 2026
After these introductions, Mama Chloë asked, "And what do we call you?" Andromache hesitated to reply. She had been consigned to a life sentence in the prison of King Minos. It seemed entirely plausible that should her escape become known, he might well seek to return her to the labyrinth. Because of this fear, she balked at providing her real name. Not only her anxiety but her status as fugitive could be seen by all in her expression and reluctance to reply. Mama Chloë smiled sympathetically and let the matter drop.

written while listening to:  Guillaume Gargaud - Here (Kvist Records, KVIST 005, 2009, United States, cd, discogs.com)

February 3, 2026
They broke camp. Tents were rolled up and loaded on a two-wheeled cart, to which Hektor hitched the donkeys. The departure of the group from the woods startled Andromache. Of course, they did not live permanently in the forest but she had only just arrived. She felt as if her refuge was lost so soon after she had found it. The bout of panic subsided when Mama Chloë paused her preparations to give Andromache a quick squeeze and to reassure her, "Don't worry, darling. You're coming with us until we get you sorted out."

written while listening to:  Das B - Love (Thanatosis Produktion/Corbett vs. Dempsey, THT40/CvsDLP12, 2025, Sweden/United States, lp, discogs.com)

February 4, 2026
Only Grandpa Dumpling rode in the cart. Everyone else hiked in front of the donkeys. Curiously, the old man withdrew a pair of wooden clappers with which he tapped the beat of their walking pace. Hektor's bad leg would have slowed their progress but he expended considerable energy to keep up with them. No one said anything of his obvious exertion. Andromache did not know yet that any attempt to give the man special consideration would be met with a sharp rebuke. Like a duckling trailing her mother, she kept close to Mama Chloë.

written while listening to:  Derek Bailey & Anthony Braxton - Moment Précieux (Les Disques Victo, VICTOcd02, 1993 (orig. 1987), Canada, cd, discogs.com)

February 5, 2026
Not ten minutes passed before Triballos removed the aulos from his pack and added a fluid accompaniment to Grandpa Dumpling's rhythm. To Andromache's surprise, he was soon joined by Hektor on a pan flute. Impressively, the man modulated his breathing as he blew over the pipes to hide the labor of his walking. Looking over her shoulder, Andromache said, "You play too." Megaera released a low chuckle and explained, "We all play." In this way, Andromache understood that she had fallen in with a troupe of traveling musicians.

written while listening to:  Keiji Haino & Shuta Hasunuma - U       TA (windandwindows/Universal Music, W&WC-0003/POCS-23063, 2025, Japan, cd, discogs.com)