Edmund talking to Emma. Beam of Emma. Washing of socks in the small stream. Discussion of foot care (general). Thomas seated on the ground, back supported by tree, smoking, plative. Edmund telling Emma that, all things sidered, she is the best. Beam of Emma. Julie and the Dead Father holding hands. Thomas smoking. The men playing whist, quoits, boccie. Terraiures being cut down to feed the fires. All the men wearing dark-blue suits with ties. Edmund wearing dark-blue suit with tie. Thomas wearing dark-blue suit with tie. The Dead Father wearing dark-blue suit with tie. Bending over spits rotating with spitted small animals. Edmund tapped on the cheek with Emmas fan. God Almighty. Emma tapped on the cheek with Edmunds thumb. God Almighty. Emma tells Edmund that he doesnt uand. Thumb not to tap cheeks with, she says. Thumb not gracile but rather stumpy, fat, she says. Index finger better if cheek is to be tapped and fan not available. Edmund fucks everything up, she says. Poor wooer, she says. May sider himself as having status of least-favored-nation, wooing-wise. Crushed Edmund. Edmund falls into flask. Thomas turns head, notices distress of Edmund. Thomas does nothing. Julie looks at Thomas and notices him doing nothing. Julie says to the Dead Father: Sometimes best to do nothing. The Dead Father replies: Maybe mostly. They tio hold hands and the Dead Father also gropes a bare foot with the hahd that is not holding hands. Julie retracts foot. Thomas smokes. Events in the sky. Starfall scattering in the dark part. Clouds moving implacably (left tht) offstage, toward the wings. Thomas smoking. The Dead Father attempting to i hand (left) between waistband of Julies skirt and Julie. Repulsed (warmly). Julie takes the Dead Fathers watch fob and places it in her pocket. The Dead Father smiles. A gift, he says, for you. Thank you, Julie says, thank you thank you. Thank me, says the Dead Father, I am used to it. I do thank you, Julie says, and your shoe buckles are oo. They are nice, says the Dead Father, that is why I have them there, on my shoes, because they are nice. Bard the Dead Fathers silver shoe buckles. Thomas smoking. Edmund with most of his mouth around the mouth of the flask. Emma interviewing the men. How high are they? 61", 511", 42", and so forth. For my files, Emma says. Thomas smoking, scratches upper left cheekbone lightly with free fingers of left hand. Alarm arrives from the outpost. Alexander runs to Thomas. Whispers to Thomas. Thomas extinguishes cigar, rises, looks about for his sword. Finds same, buckles on sword belt, tucks e tight (right) into top e boot.
The Wends are here, he said.
They hurried to the spot.
The road blockaded. The path barred. An army deployed across the way and far far up on every piece of high ground available.
Well now, said the chief Wend, arent you a pretty sight.
Good day, Thomas said.
Julie lit a cigarette as did Emma.
Well now, the chief Wend said again, do you iraveling more along this road?
With your permission.
Would you be hauling that great ugly thing there through the length and breadth of the try of the Wends?
Only the length, said Thomas. Not the breadth.
We dont want him, the chief Wend said. No thank you.
We hadnt in mind leaving him, said Thomas. Just passing through.
Is it what I think it is? the Wend asked.
It is the Dead Father.
Thats what I thought. Thats what I thought. About three