roger bevins iii Cawing out a nightmarish version of that tune.
hans vollman Flailing at us whenever we drew too near, with one human arm and that tremendous black wing.
the reverend everly thomas We had not done enough.
hans vollman Being rather newly arrived back then.
roger bevins iii And much preoccupied with the challenges of staying.
hans vollman Which were not inconsiderable.
roger bevins iii And have not lessened in the meantime.
the reverend everly thomas My opinion of myself fell somewhat on that occasion.
hans vollman Yes.
roger bevins iii
The chapel bell now tolled three.
hans vollman Jolting us back to the present, producing its usual strange, discordant aftertone.
the reverend everly thomas Selfish, selfish, selfish.
roger bevins iii The chief two of Mr. Bevins’s eyes widened, as if to say: Gentlemen, it is time to go.
the reverend everly thomas And yet we lingered.
Brushing away such tendrils as appeared.
roger bevins iii The lad had fallen silent.
hans vollman Turned inward.
the reverend everly thomas Fading in and out of consciousness.
hans vollman
Mumbling and tossing, apparently lost in some delirious dream.
roger bevins iii Mother, he whispered.
the reverend everly thomas
XXXIII.
Mother says I may taste of the candy city Once I am up and about She has saved me a chocolate fish and a bee of honey Says I will someday command a regiment Live in a grand old house Marry some sweet & pretty thing Have little ones of my own Ha ha I like that All of us will meet in my grand old house and have a fine I will make the jolliest old lady, Mother says You boys will bring me cakes Round the clock While I just sit How fat I will be You boys must buy a cart and take turns wheeling me around ha ha Mother has such a nice way of laughing We are on the third stairstep Stairstep Number 3 That has three white roses on it Here is how it goes from Stairstep Number 1 to Stairstep Number 5 in number of white roses: 2, 3, 5, 2, 6
Mother comes in close Touches her nose to mine This is called “nee-nee” Which I find babyish But still I allow it from time to Father comes along, says, Say, can I get in on this pile-up He can If Father puts his knees on Stairstep Number 2 and stretches he can reach with his fingers to Stairstep Number 12 He is that long Has done it Many times No more pile-ups Unless I am strong Therefore I know what I must Must stay Is not easy But I know honor Fix bayonets How to be brave Is not easy Remember Col. Ellis Killed by Rebs For bravely tearing down the Reb flag from a private I must stay If I wish to get Home When will I When may I Never if weak Maybe if strong.
willie lincoln
XXXIV.
The boy’s eyes flew open.
roger bevins iii Strange here, he said.
Not strange, said Mr. Bevins. Not really.
One gets used to it, said the Reverend.
If one belongs here, said Mr. Bevins.
Which you don’t, said the Reverend.
hans vollman
Just then three gelatinous orbs floated past, as if seeking someone.
the reverend everly thomas And we realized that Mrs. Ellis had been the third of us to succumb.
roger bevins iii The orbs were now empty; i.e., contained no daughters.
hans vollman
They paraded sourly by, seemed to glare at us, drifted away down the steep incline to the creek, became dimmer, finally vanished entirely.
the reverend everly thomas Not strange at all, said Mr. Bevins, blushing slightly.
hans vollman
XXXV.
And there came down upon us a rain of hats.
the reverend everly thomas Of all types.
roger bevins iii
Hats, laughter, crude jests, the sound of fart-noises made by mouths, from on high: these were the harbingers of the approach of the Three Bachelors.
the reverend everly thomas Though only they among us could fly, we did not envy them.
hans vollman
Having never loved or been loved in that previous place, they were frozen here in a youthful state of perpetual emotional vacuity; interested only in freedom, profligacy, and high-jinks, railing against any limitation or commitment whatsoever.
the reverend everly thomas Were all for fun and jollity; distrusted anything serious; lived only for their rollicks.
roger bevins iii
Their boisterous cries often resounding above our premises.
the reverend everly thomas
Some days it was just a steady rain of hats.
roger bevins iii
Of all types.
hans vollman
Of which they seemed to have an inexhaustible supply.
roger bevins iii
A derby, a tinsel-edged cocked, four nice feathered Scotch-caps dropped now in rapid succession, followed by the Bachelors themselves, who touched down gallantly on the roof of the white stone home, each tipping his own hat or cap as he did so.
By your leave, said Mr. Lippert. We seek a Respite.
Flying tires us, said Mr. Kane.
Though we love it, said Mr. Fuller.
Ye Gods, said Mr. Kane, catching sight of the boy.
He don’t look so pert, said Mr. Fuller.
I have been somewhat ill, the lad said, rousing himself.