Lincoln in the Bardo Read online

  We will, the Reverend said. We most certainly—

  But how will you? the boy said. Have you a method? Of communication? I did not. When I was there within him.

  roger bevins iii

  We do, said Mr. Vollman. We do have such a method.

  the reverend everly thomas

  (Nebulous.

  Far from established.)

  roger bevins iii

  (There has historically been some confusion around this issue.)

  hans vollman

  Just then, from across the premises, came the sound of Mrs. Delaney, calling out for Mr. Delaney.

  the reverend everly thomas

  Many years ago, her husband had preceded her to this place. But was no longer here. That is to say, though his sick-form lay just where she had put it, Mr. Delaney himself—

  roger bevins iii

  Was elsewhere.

  the reverend everly thomas

  Had gone on.

  hans vollman

  However, poor Mrs. Delaney could not resolve to follow.

  roger bevins iii

  Because of some funny business. That had taken place with another Mr. Delaney.

  the reverend everly thomas

  The brother of her husband.

  hans vollman

  It had not felt “funny” at the time, but urgent, fated, and wonderful.

  roger bevins iii

  But now she was of a divided heart: having spent many years in that previous place, longing for this other Delaney, miserably trapped in her marriage—

  the reverend everly thomas

  She had, within a month of her husband having come here, taken up with that other Delaney, only to find him at once falling in her estimation, because of the reckless disregard he had shown for her husband’s (his brother’s) memory, this revealing to her that he was of a decayed and avaricious moral character (unlike her husband, who had been, she now saw, upstanding in every way).

  hans vollman

  Albeit rather literal, and timid, and not nearly the imposing and alluring physical specimen that he, the (morally suspect) brother, was.

  roger bevins iii

  So she found herself stuck.

  hans vollman

  Physically longing for that Delaney (still back there, in that previous place).

  the reverend everly thomas

  But also desiring to go, and see her husband again, and apologize.

  roger bevins iii

  For having wasted the many years of their life together craving another man.

  hans vollman

  In short, she did not know whether she was coming or going.

  the reverend everly thomas

  Going or waiting.

  roger bevins iii

  So just wandered around, shouting, “Mr. Delaney!”

  the reverend everly thomas

  Continuously.

  hans vollman

  We never knew which Delaney she was calling for.

  roger bevins iii

  Nor did she.

  the reverend everly thomas

  I say, the lad suddenly gasped, an unmistakable quaver of fear in his voice.

  hans vollman

  Looking over, my heart sank.

  The roof around him had liquefied, and he appeared to be sitting in a gray-white puddle.

  roger bevins iii

  From out of the puddle, a vine-like tendril emerged.

  the reverend everly thomas

  Thickening as it approached the boy, it flowed, cobra-like, over the juncture at which his calves crossed.

  roger bevins iii

  Reaching to brush it away, I found it stiff, more stone than snake.

  the reverend everly thomas

  A chilling development.

  roger bevins iii

  The beginning of the end.

  hans vollman

  XXXII.

  If Miss Traynor’s case was any indication, this tendril would soon be followed by a succession of others, until the boy was fully secured (Gulliver-like) to the roof.

  roger bevins iii

  Once secured, he would be rapidly overgrown by what might best be described as a placental sheen.

  the reverend everly thomas

  This sheen then hardening into a shell-like carapace, that carapace would begin to transition through a series of others (viz., the fallen bridge, vulture, dog, terrible hag, etc.), each more detailed and hideous than the last, this process only serving to increase the speed of his downward spiral: the more perverse the carapace, the less “light” (happiness, honesty, positive aspiration) would get in.

  roger bevins iii

  Driving him ever further from the light.

  hans vollman

  These memories of Miss Traynor depressed us.

  the reverend everly thomas

  Bringing to our minds, as they did, the shame of that long-ago night.

  roger bevins iii

  On which we had abandoned her.

  hans vollman

  Stumbling away, heads lowered.

  roger bevins iii

  Tacitly assenting to her doom.

  the reverend everly thomas

  As she descended.

  hans vollman

  We remembered her singing merrily all through the initial carapacing, as if to deny what was happening.

  roger bevins iii

  “A Heavy Bough Hung Down.”

  hans vollman

  Dear child.

  the reverend everly thomas

  Lovely voice.

  hans vollman

  Which became steadily less lovely as the initial carapace formed and she took on the form of a girl-sized crow.

  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.

  I should say so, said Mr. Kane.

  ’Tis a bit ripe in this country, said Mr. Fuller, pinching his nose closed.

  My father was here and has promised to return, the boy said. I am trying to last.

  All best Wishes with that, said Mr. Lippert, raising an eyebrow.

  Mind your leg there, kiddo, said Mr. Kane.

  Distracted by our guests, we had been remiss: the boy’s left leg was now webbed to the roof by several stout new tendrils, each the width of a wrist.

  Goodness, the boy said, blushing.

  The labor required to get him free was not insignificant, roughly equivalent to that required to uproot a tangle of blackberry roots. He bore the considerable discomfort of that procedure with a soldierly fixity of mind for one so young, letting out only a stoic grunt at each tug, and then, exhausted, fell back into that earlier state of disassociated torpor.

  This father of his, said Mr. Fuller in an undertone. Long-legged fellow?

  Somewhat dolorous in aspect? said Mr. Lippert.

  Tall, a bit raggedy-seeming? said Mr. Kane.

  Yes, I said.

  Just passed him, said Mr. Fuller.

  I beg your pardon? I said.

  Just passed him, said Mr. Kane.

  Here? Mr. Vollman said incredulously. Still here?

  Out near Bellingwether, Husband, Father, Shipwright, said Mr. Lippert.

  Sitting all quiet-like, said Mr. Fuller.

  Just passed him, said Mr. Kane.

  the reverend everly thomas

  Toodle-oo, said Mr. Fuller.

  You will Excuse us, said Mr. Lippert. This is the time of night when we must rapidly Circumnavigate the entire Premises, hovering only inches away from that Dread fence, to see which of us may come the Closest, even while experiencing those nauseating Effects convey’d via Proximity to same.

  hans vollman

  And off they went, emitting a perfect major triad via fart-noises with their mouths, sending down, as if in farewell, a rain of celebratory hats: flared Tops, Turkish house caps; kepis of various colors; a flower-bedecked Straw, falling rather more slowly than the rest, a lovely thing, redolent of summer.

  roger bevins iii

  This revelation left us dumbstruck.

  hans vollman

  Strange that the gentleman had come here in the first place; stranger still that he lingered.

  the reverend everly thomas

  The Bachelors were not entirely trustworthy.

  hans vollman

  Terrified of boredom, they were prone to pranks.

  roger bevins iii

  Had once convinced Mrs. Tessenbaum she was manifesting in lingerie.

  hans vollman

  After which she spent several years cowering behind a tree.

  roger bevins iii

  Occasionally hid tiny Mrs. Blass’s dead-bird parts, twigs, pebbles, and motes.

  the reverend everly thomas

  Causing her to race frantically about the premises while they hovered above, encouraging her, with false suggestions, to leap over fallen branches and cross narrow rivulets, which did not seem narrow to her, poor thing, but like great rushing streams.

  roger bevins iii

  Any assertion by the Bachelors must therefore be regarded with suspicion.

  hans vollman

  Still, this was intriguing.

  roger bevins iii

  Merited further investigation.

  hans vollman

  I think not, the Reverend said sharply, as if intuiting our intention.

  Then indicated, with a meaning glance, that he wished a confidential word.

  roger bevins iii

  XXXVI.

  We three sank through the roof, into the white stone home.

  hans vollman

  It was several degrees cooler there, and smelled of old leaves and mold.

  roger bevins iii

  And of the gentleman, slightly.

  hans vollman

  We are here by grace, the Reverend said. Our ability to abide far from assured. Therefore, we must conserve our strength, restricting our activities to only those which directly serve our central purpose. We would not wish, through profligate activity, to appear ungrateful for the mysterious blessing of our continued abiding. For we are here,
but for how long, or by what special dispensation, it is not ours to—

  roger bevins iii

  Several of Mr. Bevins’s many eyes, I noted, were rolling.

  hans vollman

  Waiting for the Reverend to dismount from his high horse, Mr. Vollman was amusing himself by repeatedly placing a pebble on his tremendous member and watching it tumble down.

  roger bevins iii

  We must look out for ourselves, the Reverend said. And, by doing so, we protect the boy as well. He must hear nothing of this rumor, which would only serve to raise his hopes. As we know, only utter hopelessness will lead him to do what he must. Therefore, not a word. Are we in agreement?

  We mumbled our assent.

  hans vollman

  Lacking the necessary spring in his (ancient) legs (he had come here already quite old), the Reverend began clawing his way up one wall and soon (although not that soon) vanished through the ceiling.

  roger bevins iii