Summary

In “Ghoul,” Brian lives below ground. Every day, he and his fellow people practice their assigned roles and positions. Brian is a Squatting Ghoul. They are anticipating visitors, for whom they plan to perform. One day, Brian meets “Rolph Spengler, Flying Spear Launcher Three,” with whom he becomes friends after Rolph tells him he writes letters to his son Edgar (141).

Brian catches Tom Frame “mating with Gwen,” although Tom is married (142). Worried what Brian thinks, Tom makes a comment about his wife obsessively practicing her part for Visitors who will never come (143). Because Tom has uttered a Regrettable Falsehood, Brian is compelled to turn him in. If he does not follow the rules, he risks being kicked to death. On his way to Monitoring & Reporting Services, however, Brian decides not to report Tom. The next morning, he finds a letter from...