Come now, no need to speak of— hans vollman
The other man (the one hit by a beam) Quite naked Member swollen to the size of Could not take my eyes off It bounced as he Body like a dumpling Broad flat nose like a sheep’s Quite naked indeed Awful dent in the head How could he walk around and talk with such a nasty— willie lincoln
Presently we found ourselves joined by the Reverend Everly Thomas.
hans vollman
Who arrived, as he always arrives, at a hobbling sprint, eyebrows arched high, looking behind himself anxiously, hair sticking straight up, mouth in a perfect O of terror. And yet spoke, as he always speaks, with the utmost calmness and good sense.
roger bevins iii
A newcomer? said the Reverend.
I believe we have the honor of addressing a Mr. Carroll, Mr. Bevins said.
The lad only looked at us blankly.
hans vollman
The newcomer was a boy of some ten or eleven years. A handsome little fellow, blinking and gazing cautiously about him.
the reverend everly thomas
Resembling a fish who, having washed ashore, lies immobile and alert, acutely aware of its vulnerability.
hans vollman
Putting me in mind of a nephew of mine who had once fallen through the ice of the river and come home chilled to the bone. Fearful of his punishment, he had not the nerve to step inside; I found him leaning against the door for what warmth he could gain in that way, stunned, guilty, nearly insensate with cold.
roger bevins iii
No doubt you are feeling a certain pull? Mr. Vollman said. An urge? To go? Somewhere? More comfortable?
I feel I am to wait, the boy said.
It speaks! said Mr. Bevins.
the reverend everly thomas
Wait for what? Mr. Sheep-Dumpling said.
My mother, I said. My father. They will come shortly. To collect me Mr. Sheep-Dumpling shook his head sadly His member also shook Sadly They may come, said the many-eyed man. But I doubt they will collect you.
Then all three laughed With much clapping of the many-eyed man’s many hands And waggling of Mr. Sheep-Dumpling’s swollen member Even the Reverend laughed Though, laughing, he still looked frightened In any event, they will not stay long, said Mr. Sheep-Dumpling.
All the while wishing themselves elsewhere, said the many-eyed man.
Thinking only of lunch, said the Reverend.
It is soon to be spring The Christmas toys barely played with I have a glass soldier whose head can turn The epaulettes interchangeable Soon flowers will bloom Lawrence from the garden shed will give us each a cup of seeds I am to wait I said willie lincoln
X.
I shot Mr. Bevins a look.
hans vollman These young ones are not meant to tarry.
roger bevins iii Matthison, Aged Nine Years? Tarried less than thirty minutes. Then dispersed with a small fartlike pop. Dwyer, 6 yrs & 5 mos? Was not in the sick-box upon its arrival. Had apparently vacated in transit. Sullivan, Infant, tarried twelve or thirteen minutes, a crawling squalling ball of frustrated light. Russo, Taken in Her Sixth Year, & Light of a Mother’s Eye? Tarried a mere four minutes. Looking behind stone after stone. “I am investigating after my schoolbook.”
hans vollman Poor dear.
the reverend everly thomas The Evans twins, Departed This Sorry Vale Together at 15 Years, 8 Months, tarried nine minutes, then left at precisely the same instant (twins to the end). Percival Strout, Aged Seventeen Years, tarried forty minutes. Sally Burgess, 12 Years & Dear to All, tarried seventeen minutes.
hans vollman
Belinda French, Baby. Remember her?
roger bevins iii The size of a loaf of bread, and just lay there, giving off a dull white light and that high-pitched keening.
the reverend everly thomas For fifty-seven straight minutes.
hans vollman Long after her mother, Amanda French, Lost Bringing Life to a Fair & Yet Unlucky Childe, had gone on.
roger bevins iii They lay together in a single sick-box.
hans vollman A most touching sight.
the reverend everly thomas But in time, she went.
roger bevins iii As these young ones should.
the reverend everly thomas As most do, quite naturally.
roger bevins iii Or else.
the reverend everly thomas
Imagine our surprise, then, when, passing by an hour or so later, we found the lad still on the roof, looking expectantly about, as if waiting for a carriage to arrive and whisk him away.
hans vollman And pardon me for saying so—but that wild-onion stench the young exude when tarrying? Was quite thick already.
roger bevins iii Something needed to be done.
the reverend everly thomas
XI.
Walk with us, lad, Mr. Sheep-Dumpling said. There is someone we would like you to meet.
Can you walk? said the many-eyed man.
I found that I could Could walk Could skim Could even walk-skim A little walk-skim was bully by me Something was lying untoward below us, in a box inside that little house Untoward ly May I tell you something?
It had the face of a worm A worm, I say! A worm the size of a boy Wearing my suit Horrors.