My dear, she said, my dearest, lie down in the hole. Ill come and hold your hand.

How long it is, the Dead Father observed.

Intolerable, Thomas said. Grand. I wonder how he does it.

Its a hard thing to remember, said the Dead Father. I dont want to lie down in the hole.

Yes it will, she said, but Ill come and hold your hand.

No, said Julie.

Rain falling on all of the bystanders. Emma with kerchief to eyes. Julie standing with hands hiking up skirt.

And then youll cover me up?

No, said Thomas.

Thats the best you can do?

The bulldozers are just over the hill, Thomas said, wa九*九*藏*書iting.

They straggled up the edge of the excavation.

You are to get into the hole, said Thomas.

Julie lifted her skirt.

Denied, said Thomas. Unseemly.

Yes.

She knelt and clasped a hand.

Who has dug this great hole in the ground? asked the Dead Father. What is to be builded here?

What is it? asked the Dead Father.

Will it hurt?

Youll bury me alive?

Thank you, said the Dead Father. Thank you very much.

Bulldozers.

No.

It is lovely, said the Dead Father. I am covered with admiration.

They came then to a large gap in the earth surrounded by hundreds and hundreds ofread.99csw.com people holding black umbrellas. Rain. The men laying down the cable.

I wasnt really fooled, said the Dead Father. Not for a moment. I knew all along.

No Fleece? asked the Dead Father.

Dont believe so, said Thomas, can I help you off with the loop?

Julie looking away.

Youre not alive, Thomas said, remember?

One moment more! said the Dead Father.

And these, he asked, indicating the mourners, are they hired or volunteers?

Yes, she said, I never do less than the best I can do, Ill come and hold your hand.

This large excavation? asked the Dead Father.

Im not even to 九-九-藏-書touch it?

She has it?

Nothing, Thomas said.

That we can arrange, said Thomas. Two, if you wish.

Just once to place my hand on it? asked the Dead Father. Last request?

Thomas looked at Julie.

Get in to the hole?

All there is, Julie said. Unfortunately. But this much. This where life lives. A pretty problem. As mine as yours. Im sorry.

Thats all? said the Dead Father. Thats the end?

Quite golden, said the Dead Father. Quite ample.

No more after this?

Julie holding a hand.

Quite golden, said the Dead Father. Quite ample. Thats it?

Im in it now, said the Dead Father, resonantly九*九*藏*書.

And soon, with good black earth, said Julie. Sad necessary --

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?

Thomas placed his hand on the Fleece, outside the skirt.

Did I do it well? asked the Dead Father.

Im in the hole now, said the Dead Father.

Oh to be alive, the Dead Father said, for one moment more.

Of course I had hopes, said the Dead Father. Pale hopes.

Wished to pay their respects, said Thomas.

Together they maneuvered the loop from the Dead Fathers torso.

This is it, said Thomas.

Oh, he said, I see.

Ye九_九_藏_書s, she said, but Ill come and hold your hand.

We knew that too.

He moved to touch it.

Julie moved to the Dead Father, restoring her clothes.

Long enough, said Thomas, I think.

Marvelously well, said Julie. Superbly. I will never see it done better.

Lie down in the hole.

This.

We knew you knew, said Thomas.

Few do.

What a voice, said Julie, I wonder how he does it.

The Dead Father looked again at the hole.

Great wreaths of every kind of flower standing about on stands.

The Dead Father stretched his great length in the hole. Skittering of black earth upon the great carcass, from the edges.