Thetryside.Flowers.Creepingsnowberry.Theroadwithdust.Thespingfromlittlesweatglands.Thelihecable.

    Beautifultryaroundhere,saidJulie.

    Geous,saidThomas.

    Greattobealive,saidtheDeadFather.Tobreatheinandout.Tofeelonesmusclesbiteandsnap.

    Howisy?Thomasasked.Themeie.

    Itisinparable,saidtheDeadFather.Magnifit,thatwouldbeawordforit.IwouldIhadtwoasgoodastheleft.OldPlugalong.

    Howdidyouebyit?askedThomas.Actordesign?

    Thelatter,saidtheDeadFather.Inmyvastherewasroomfor,yof,everykindofexperiehereforedecidedthatmeicalexperienceartofexperieherewasroomfor,inmyvastness.Iwaoknowwhatmaesknow.

    Whatdomaesknow?

    Maesaresober,unplaining,endlesslyeffit,andworkceaselesslythroughallthehoursfoodofall,saidtheDeadFather.Theydream,whentheydream,ofstopping.Oflastthings.They--

    Whatsthat?Thomasinterrupted.Heointingtothesideoftheroad.

    Twochildren.Onemale.Onefemale.Nottoobig.Nottoosmall.Holdinghands.

    Childreninlove,saidJulie.

    Inlove?Howdoyouknow?

    Ihaveaneyeforlove,shesaid,ais.Aclearinstance.

    Children,saidtheDeadFather.Whippersnappers.

    Whatisthat?thechildrenasked,pointingtotheDeadFather.

    ThatisaDeadFather,Thomastoldthem.

    Thechildrenhuggedeachhtly.

    Hedoesntlookdeadtous,saidthegirl.

    Heiswalking,saidtheboy.Orstandingup,anyhow.

    Heisdeadonlyinasehomassaid.

    Thechildrenkissedeachother,onthelips.

    Theydontseemveryimpressed,saidtheDeadFather.Whereistheawe?

    The