Youtwochildrenhavewalkedmemanykilometers,saidtheDeadFather.

    Sowehave,saidJulie.

    Withstregardforyourownfort.Yourownprojects.Ofwhichyoudoubtlesshaveagreatmany.Youhavelaboredonandonandonandon.Forme.

    Thatisthecase,saidJulie.

    Whatofyourselves?Yourtwolives?

    Inwhatsense,what?

    urpose?Whatentelechy?Whatwillyoudowithyourselveswhenitisallover?

    JulielookedatThomas.

    edowithourselveswhenitisallover?

    Thomasshookhishead.

    Idrathernotahatquestionifyoudontmind,shesaid.

    Whynot?

    Ihaventananswer.

    Iknowthat,theDeadFathersaid.

    Onewouldthinkonewouldbeabletoansweraquestionofthatkindwouldntone.

    Onewould.

    Disagreeablenottohaveareadyandpersuasiveaelligibletoall.Iimagine.

    Couldbeansweredpossiblyintermsofthekindoflifeonehasimaginedforoneself.Orintermsofwhatoneisactuallydoing.

    Bothgoodchoices,saidtheDeadFather.Alsotheirgruenon-gruencewouldbeofi.

    Ugh!saidJulie.

    IhopeIhaventspookedyou.

    Idsayyouratherhave.

    Olderpeopledontreallylikeyoungerpeople,theDeadFathersaid.

    Apersononhorsebackapproagthegroup.

    Itisthatonewhohasbeenfollowingus,saidJulie.

    Iwonderwhoitis,saidEmma.

    Iknowwhoitis,Thomassaid.ItisMother.

    Thehorsehalted.Mothersittingonthehorse.

    Mother,Thomassaid,weneedsomethingsfromthestore.

    Yes,Mothersaid.

    Aten-poundbagofflour.Theunbleached.

    Motherproducedapendanenvelope.

    Ten-poundbagoftheu