Chapter 24 twenty one

You two children have walked me many kilometers, said the Dead Father. So we have, said Julie. With scant regard for your own comfort. Your own projects. Of which you doubtless have a great many. You have labored on and on and on and on. For me. That is the case, said Julie. What of yourself? Your two lives? In what sense, what? What purpose? What entelechy? What will you do with yourself when it is all over? Julie looked at Thomas. What will we do with ourselves when it is all over? Thomas shook his head. Id rather not answer that question if you dont mind, she said. Why not?

I have an answer. I know that, the Dead Father said. One would think one would be able to answer a question of that kind wouldn't one. One would. Disagreeable not to have a ready and persuasive answer intelligible to all. I can imagine. Could be answered possibly in terms of the kind of life one has imagined for oneself. Or in terms of what one is actually doing. Both good choices, said the Dead Father. Also their congruence or non-congruence would be of interest. Ugh! said Julie. I hope I havent spooked you. Id say you rather have. Older people don't really like younger people, the Dead Father said.

A person on horseback approaching the group. It is that one who has been following us, said Julie. I wonder who it is, said Emma. I know who it is, Thomas said. It is Mother. The horse halted. Mother sitting on the horse. Mother, Thomas said, we need some things from the store. Yes, Mother said. A ten-pound bag of flour. The uncleaned. Mother produced a pencil and an envelope. Ten-pound bag of the uncleaned, she said. We need garlic, bacon, tonic water, horseradish, cloves, chives, and chicory. Garlic, bacon, tonic water, horseradish, cloves, chives, chicory. We need cigarettes, chili powder, silver polish, mayonnaise, Lysol, croutons, and chutney.

Cigarettes, chili powder, silver polish, mayonnaise, Lysol, croutons, chutney. We need eggs, butter, peanut oil, vermouth, beef bouillon, and barbecue sauce. Eggs, butter, peanut oil, vermouth, beef bouillon, barbecue sauce. We need scouring powder, hand soap, lighter fluid, Fig Newtons, and tennis balls. Scouring powder, hand soap, lighter fluid, Fig Newtons, tennis balls. Is that it? Thats it. Very well, Mother said. Thank you, Mother. Mother reined her horse about and rode away. I dont remember her very well, said the Dead Father. What was her name? Her name was Mother, Thomas said, let me have your keys, please.

My keys? Yes let me have your keys. I need my keys. Let me have them, please. Without my keys I cant open anything. I will keep them safe for you. There are things I need my keys for, the Dead Father said. Things I need to open and close. Lock and unlock. I will keep them safe for you. I feel very uncomfortable without my keys! the Dead Father said. They call it stormy Monday but Tuesdays just as bad, Thomas said, your keys. The Dead Father gave Thomas his keys.