The two of them stepped forward on either side of his mother.
Wife, mother, daughter stood there in a row. Then his father returned. Still raw from their earlier encounter, he lingered in the doorway in the familiar country slouch. My charge’s eyes went to him. His father raised a hand in greeting, the hand short a finger. Then he grew timid, brought it down, raised the other, undamaged hand.
My charge understood this gesture to mean: We’ve had our differences, son, but you did big stuff, and if I, even by way of certain errors I made, contributed to that, well sir, I consider myself lucky to have been a part of that whole deal, truly.
You did us proud, said his mother.
And how, said his father.
Go on to glory, said his mother.
Then his mother went over, hungrily embraced his father, put her mouth greedily on his, and the two became one.
And it was over.
My charge’s wife (now widow) stepped up, smoothed his hair, kissed his head, took his two already-stiffening hands into her own and kissed them, left first, then right.
You did good, she said.
So good, the daughter said.
We love you and appreciate you, said his wife, in a voice louder than her usual speaking voice.
Amazing. It was always amazing.
Goodbye, goodbye, I thought, and then: Ah, hello.
Out of my charge’s body leaned my charge.
In spirit form now, of our ilk.
He rose from the bed, experiencing, as we all did at first, the suddenly less onerous influence of gravity, glanced at his wife and daughter, then looked over at me, puzzled.
And the Mels burst in.
—
At last, said G.
Long damn wait, said R.
They had with them a thick, coarse rope, which they wove between his legs, up over one shoulder, then around his waist. They cinched it tight and secured the arrangement with a tremendous rusty lock for which, I somehow knew, no key existed.
He’ll fight it at first, said G.
But in time, said R.
He’ll settle, said G.
Be broken, said R.
And together, we’ll roam the earth, encouraging former compatriots in their final moments, said G.
As we have encouraged him, said R.
Tonight, said G.
Only one side’s right, said R.
