roger bevins iii
Bevins, I’ll piss a line of toxic in yr wretched twin wristcuts Gropping you by yr clubdick, Vollman, I’ll slang you into the blackfence.
flanders quinn
I, for one, was afraid of him.
roger bevins iii
I was not afraid of him.
Exactly.
But we had urgent business. Must not linger.
hans vollman
And trot-skimmed off along the swamp-margin, Quinn cursing us, then reversing himself and supplicating us to return, as he was frightened to stay in that place, and yet more frightened to leave it (and go), since what must become of a sinner who had slit the throats of a merchant and his daughter beside a broken-wheeled Fredericksburg cariole (plucked the pearls from her very neck and wiped them blood-free with her own silk wrap)?
roger bevins iii
Regaining higher ground we put on the speed, passed through the leaning toolshed, crossed the gravel road, and made good time along the old carriage path, which still retained, to my nostrils, some faint mysterious scent of newsprint.
hans vollman
XL.
Just ahead now, past the slightly left-leaning Cafferty obelisk, a crowd had gathered around a freshly filled sick-hole.
hans vollman
Mr. Vollman approached the group.
Is the new arrival still…with us? he delicately inquired.
He is, yes, replied Tobin “Badger” Muller, bent, as always, nearly double with toil.
Shut your traps, so I can hear ’im, barked Mrs. Sparks, on all fours, ear to the ground.
roger bevins iii
XLI.
Wife of my heart laura laura I take up my pen in a state of such great exhaustion that only my deep love for all of you could so compel me after a day of such Unholy slaughter and fear. And must tel you frankly that Tom Gilman did not make it through the terrible fite. Our position being located in a copse. Much firing during which I heard a cry. Tom is hit & fallen. Our Brave & Noble frend laying upon his Face upon the Ground. I directed the Boys that we would avenge even if it meant stepping through the very gates of Hell.
Such is the state of my Mind that tho I know we set off in that direction & with that Intent, what happened next I cannot recall. Only that all is Well and I embrace my faithful pen to inform you I am at present safe and hope these lines find my Dear little family enjoying the same great Blessing.
I arrived here at this place by Distant journey. And confin’d all the while. It was a terrible fite as I believe I rote you. Tom Gilman is ded as I believe I rote you. But He who preserves or destroys by his Whim saw fit to preserve me to rite these lines to you. To say that although confin’d, I count my Blessings. I am Weary to the point I can scarcely tell where I am or how I got here.
I await the nurse.
Trees hang down. Breece blows. I am somewhat blue & afrade.
O my dear I have a foreboding. And feel I must not linger. In this place of great sadness. He who preserves and Loves us scarcely present. And since we must endeavor always to walk beside Him, I feel I must not linger. But am Confin’d, in Mind & Body, and unable, as if manacled, to leave at this time, dear Wife.
I must seek & seek: What is it that keeps me in this abismal Sad place?
captain william prince
A figure now burst up from the mounded earth, like some wild creature sprung from a cage, and began pacing about, anxiously gazing into the faces of Mr. Muller, Mrs. Sparks, and the others.
roger bevins iii
A soldier.
In uniform.
hans vollman
Don’t be afraid, someone drawled from the crowd. You was in that old place, and now you is in this new place here.
roger bevins iii
The soldier became translucent to the point of invisibility, as sometimes happens with us during intense cogitation, and, head first, re-entered the sick-hole.
Then of the instant was out again, look of bleak wonderment upon his face.
hans vollman
Dear wife of my Heart O Laura-Bunny, Inside my Confin’men is my trapings. I have just now looked. My cheek mole & hareline exact. It is uncomfortable to behold. With a sad look on the (burned!) face. And the torso marred by a grave wound difficult to I am here, am trapped here and I see of this instant what I must do to get free.
Which is tell the TRUTH & all shall be O I cant tel shal I tell shall I tell all?
I feel I must or
stay forever
In this drear & awful