Lincoln in the Bardo(8)

It was all very Then Mother would send Annie to come get me.

I was too early departed. From that party, from that Brite promise of nights and nights of that, culminating in a choise, and the choise being made, it would be rite, and would become Love, and Love would become baby, and that is all I ask I want ed so much to hold a dear Babe.

I know very wel I do not look as prety as I onseh. And over time, I admit, I have come to know serten words I did not formerly Fuk cok shit reem ravage assfuk And to know, in my mind, serten untoward kwarters where such things Dim rum swoggling plases off bakalleys Kome to love them Crave them plases. And feel such anger.

I did not get any. Thing.





Was gone too soon





To get

Only forteen.





Yrs of aje Plese do come again sir it has been a pleasure to make your But fuk yr anshient frends (do not bring them agin) who kome to ogle and mok me and ask me to swindle no that is not the werd slender slander that wich I am doing. Wich is no more than what they are doing. Is it not so? What I am doing, if I only cary on fathefully, will, I am sure, bring about that longed-for return to Green grass kind looks.

elise traynor





XIV.

Leaving that place the lad went quiet.

That will happen to me? he said.

It most certainly will, Mr. Vollman said.

It is—it is somewhat happening already, the Reverend added delicately.

roger bevins iii We had reached the place where the dirt path drops down.

the reverend everly thomas Near Freeley. Near Stevens. Near the four infant Nesbitts and their head-bent Angel.

roger bevins iii Near Masterton. Near Ambusti. Near the obelisk and the three benches and the high-mounted bust of arrogant Merridale.

hans vollman

I believe, then, that I must do as you say, the boy said.

Good lad, said Mr. Vollman.

roger bevins iii





XV.

We embraced the boy at the door of his white stone home.

hans vollman He gave us a shy smile, not untouched by trepidation at what was to come.

the reverend everly thomas Go on, Mr. Bevins said gently. It is for the best.

hans vollman Off you go, Mr. Vollman said. Nothing left for you here.

roger bevins iii Goodbye then, the lad said.

Nothing scary about it, Mr. Bevins said. Perfectly natural.

hans vollman Then it happened.

roger bevins iii An extraordinary occurrence.

hans vollman Unprecedented, really.

the reverend everly thomas The boy’s gaze moved past us.

hans vollman

He seemed to catch sight of something beyond.

roger bevins iii His face lit up with joy.

hans vollman Father, he said.

the reverend everly thomas





XVI.

An exceedingly tall and unkempt fellow was making his way toward us through the darkness.

hans vollman

This was highly irregular. It was after hours; the front gate would be locked.

the reverend everly thomas

The boy had been delivered only that day. That is to say, the man had most likely been here— roger bevins iii

Quite recently.

hans vollman

That afternoon.

roger bevins iii

Highly irregular.

the reverend everly thomas

The gentleman seemed lost. Several times he stopped, looked about, retraced his steps, reversed course.

hans vollman

He was softly sobbing.

roger bevins iii

He was not sobbing. My friend remembers incorrectly. He was winded. He did not sob.

hans vollman

He was softly sobbing, his sadness aggravated by his mounting frustration at being lost.

roger bevins iii

He moved stiffly, all elbows and knees.

the reverend everly thomas

Bursting out of the doorway, the lad took off running toward the man, look of joy on his face.

roger bevins iii

Which turned to consternation when the man failed to sweep him up in his arms as, one gathered, must have been their custom.

the reverend everly thomas

The boy instead passing through the man, as the man continued to walk toward the white stone home, sobbing.

roger bevins iii

He was not sobbing. He was very much under control and moved with great dignity and certainty of— hans vollman

He was fifteen yards away now, headed directly toward us.

roger bevins iii

The Reverend suggested we yield the path.

hans vollman

The Reverend having strong feelings about the impropriety of allowing oneself to be passed through.

roger bevins iii

The man reached the white stone home and let himself in with a key, the lad then following him in.

hans vollman

Mr. Bevins, Mr. Vollman, and I, concerned for the boy’s welfare, moved into the doorway.

the reverend everly thomas

The man then did something—I do not quite know how to— hans vollman

He was a large fellow. Quite strong, apparently. Strong enough to be able to slide the boy’s— the reverend everly thomas

Sick-box.

hans vollman

The man slid the box out of the slot in the wall, and set it down upon the floor.