Rain falling on all of the bystanders. Emma with kerchief to eyes. Julie standing with hands hiking up skirt.
Thank you, said the Dead Father. Thank you very much.
They came then to a large gap in the earth surrounded by hundreds and hundreds of people holding black umbrellas. Rain. The men laying down the cable.
And soon, with good black earth, said Julie. Sad necessary --
This large excavation? asked the Dead Father.
Who has dug this great hole in the ground? asked the Dead Father. What is to be builded here?
Im in the hole now, said the Dead Father.
No Fleece? asked the九_九_藏_书_网 Dead Father.
Its a hard thing to remember, said the Dead Father. I dont want to lie down in the hole.
Julie looking away.
Get in to the hole?
Youre not alive, Thomas said, remember?
The bulldozers are just over the hill, Thomas said, waiting.
Lie down in the hole.
No more after this?
Great wreaths of every kind of flower standing about on stands.
She has it?
What is it? asked the Dead Father.
It is lovely, said the Dead Father. I am covered with admiration.
Im in it now, said the Dead Father, resonantly.
Together they maneuvered the loop from the Dead Fatherｈｔtp://ｗwｗ.9９lｉb•nｅts torso.
After all this long and arduous and if I may say so rather ill-managed journey? Not to touch it? What am I to do?
Thats the best you can do?
Im not even to touch it?
How long it is, the Dead Father observed.
No.
She knelt and clasped a hand.
The Dead Father looked again at the hole.
My dear, she said, my dearest, lie down in the hole. Ill come and hold your hand.
This.
Quite golden, said the Dead Father. Quite ample.
You are to get into the hole, said Thomas.
Thomas placed his hand on the Fleece, outside the skirt.
Julie lifted her skirt.
They stragglwww.９９liｂ•ｎｅted up the edge of the excavation.
Of course I had hopes, said the Dead Father. Pale hopes.
Oh to be alive, the Dead Father said, for one moment more.
He moved to touch it.
Julie holding a hand.
Yes, she said, I never do less than the best I can do, Ill come and hold your hand.
This is it, said Thomas.
And these, he asked, indicating the mourners, are they hired or volunteers?
That we can arrange, said Thomas. Two, if you wish.
Dont believe so, said Thomas, can I help you off with the loop?
One moment more! said the Dead Father.
Long enough, said Thomas, I think.
What a voiwww.99lib.netce, said Julie, I wonder how he does it.
We knew that too.
Yes, she said, but Ill come and hold your hand.
Thomas looked at Julie.
All there is, Julie said. Unfortunately. But this much. This where life lives. A pretty problem. As mine as yours. Im sorry.
And then youll cover me up?
The Dead Father stretched his great length in the hole. Skittering of black earth upon the great carcass, from the edges.
No, said Thomas.
No, said Julie.
We knew you knew, said Thomas.
Yes.
Bulldozers.
Denied, said Thomas. Unseemly.
Yes it will, she said, but Ill come and hold your hand.
Julie moved to 九*九*藏*书*网the Dead Father, restoring her clothes.
Nothing, Thomas said.
Thats all? said the Dead Father. Thats the end?
Will it hurt?
Marvelously well, said Julie. Superbly. I will never see it done better.
Few do.
Intolerable, Thomas said. Grand. I wonder how he does it.
Wished to pay their respects, said Thomas.
Just once to place my hand on it? asked the Dead Father. Last request?
Oh, he said, I see.
Youll bury me alive?
Quite golden, said the Dead Father. Quite ample. Thats it?
Did I do it well? asked the Dead Father.
I wasnt really fooled, said the Dead Father. Not for a moment. I knew all along.