Lincoln in the Bardo(43)
hans vollman
Upon a signal from Lieutenant Stone, the patrol now drove forward, pinning the black contingent against the dreaded iron fence.
the reverend everly thomas
(Which was not particularly dreadful to them.
As it only exerted its noxious effects on those of us who resided within its limits.) hans vollman
Hence a standoff resulted: Lieutenant Stone and patrol, from nausea, could not advance close enough to drive the black contingent over the fence, and those individuals, having reached the limit of their willingness to submit to such depredations, continued to hold their position on this side.
the reverend everly thomas
Meanwhile, dozens of (white) supplicants rushed opportunistically into the space thus cleared before the white stone home, bellowing their stories into the doorway, until it was impossible to discern any individual voice amid the desperate chorus.
hans vollman
LXVII.
Mr. Lincoln heard none of this, of course.
To him it was just a silent crypt in the dead of night.
the reverend everly thomas Now came the critical moment.
roger bevins iii Boy and father must interact.
hans vollman This interaction must enlighten the boy; must permit or encourage him to go.
roger bevins iii Or all was lost.
the reverend everly thomas Why do you delay? Mr. Vollman said to the boy.
roger bevins iii The lad drew a deep breath, prepared, it seemed, to enter, finally, and be instructed.
hans vollman
LXVIII.
Only, then: bad luck.
roger bevins iii
A lantern-light appeared in the darkness.
hans vollman
Mr. Manders.
The nightwatchman.
roger bevins iii
Who approached looking as he always looks when among us: timorous, somewhat bemused by his own timorousness, eager to return to the guardhouse.
the reverend everly thomas
We were fond of Manders, who kept his courage up on these rounds by calling out to us congenially, assuring us that things “out there” were as they had been; i.e., eating, loving, brawling, births, binges, grudges, all still proceeded apace. Some nights he would mention his children— roger bevins iii
Philip, Mary, Jack.
hans vollman
And tell us how they were doing.
roger bevins iii
We appreciated these reports rather more than might be expected, given the facetious spirit in which they were delivered.
hans vollman
As he came tonight, he called for a “Mr. Lincoln,” now and then amending that form of address to “Mr. President.”
the reverend everly thomas
Though we were fond of Manders— hans vollman
His timing was terrible.
the reverend everly thomas
Awful.
roger bevins iii
The worst.
hans vollman
He calls for my father, said the boy, who still stood weakly against the doorside wall.
Your father is President? the Reverend inquired wryly.
He is, the boy said.
Of? the Reverend asked.
The United States, the boy said.
It is true, I said to the Reverend. He is President. Much time has passed. There is a state called Minnesota.
We are at war, said Mr. Vollman. At war with ourselves. The cannons are greatly improved.
Soldiers bivouac within the Capitol, I said.
We saw it all, said Mr. Vollman.
When we were there within him, I said.
roger bevins iii
Mr. Manders stepped through the doorway, lantern blazing in that confined space.
hans vollman
What had been dark was now brightly lit; we could discern the nicks and divots in the stone walls and the wrinkles in Mr. Lincoln’s coat.
roger bevins iii
The pale sunken features of the lad’s sick-form.
hans vollman
As it lay there within the— the reverend everly thomas
Sick-box.
hans vollman
Ah, Manders said. Here you are. Sir.
Yes, Mr. Lincoln said.
Terribly sorry to intrude, Manders said. I thought—I thought you might require a light. For the walk back.
Getting rather lengthily to his feet, Mr. Lincoln shook Manders’s hand.
roger bevins iii
Seeming ill at ease.
hans vollman
Embarrassed, perhaps, to be found here.
the reverend everly thomas
Kneeling in front of his son’s sick-box.
hans vollman
Open sick-box.
the reverend everly thomas
Mr. Manders’s eyes involuntarily drifted past Mr. Lincoln, to the contents.
hans vollman
Mr. Lincoln inquired as to how, without his light, Mr. Manders would find his way back. Mr. Manders said that, though he preferred the light, being somewhat squeamish, still, he knew this place like the back of his hand. Mr. Lincoln offered that, if Mr. Manders would give him just a moment more, they might return together. Mr. Manders acceded, and stepped outside.
roger bevins iii
A catastrophe.
the reverend everly thomas
They had not interacted at all.
hans vollman
Nothing had yet occurred, that might benefit the boy.
roger bevins iii
Still the lad did not come forward.
hans vollman
But only continued to lean against the wall, frozen by fear.