MS-HRC-SB-4-3

[1037] laid down his napkin and left the room. [1038] Adrian, cried Mrs Saposcat,
come back and finish your sweet.^! [1039] Alone before the table she listened
to the steps on the garden-path, clearer, fainter, clearer, fainter.

[1039|001] The Lamberts. [1040] One day Sapo arrived at the farm earlier than
usual. [1041] But do we know waht ^[  ] time he usually arrived? [1042] Lengthening,
fading shadows. [1043] He was surprised to see, at a distance, in the
midst of the young stubble, the father's big red and white head.
[1044] His body was in the hole or pit he had dug for his mule, which had
died during the night. [1045] Edmund came out of the house, wiping his
mouth, abⁿd joined him. [1046] Lambert then climbed out of the hole and the
son went down into it.

[1047] Drawing closer Sapo saw the mule's black
corpse. [1048] Then all became clear to him. [1049] The mule was lying on its
side, as was to be expected. [1050] The forelegs were stretched out straight
and rigid, the hind drawn up under the belly. [1051] The yawning jaws, the
wreathed lips, the enormous teeth, the bulging eyes, composed a
stirking ^[  ] death's-head. [1052] Edmund handed up to his father the pick,
the shovel and the spade and climbed out of the hole.

[1053] Together
they dragged the mule by ^{the legs to[⁁]} the edge of the hole and heaved it in,
on its back. [1054] The forelegs, pointing towards heaven, projected above
the level of the ground. [1055] Old Lambert banged them down with his
spade. [1056] He handed the spade to his son and went towards the house.

[1057] Edmund began to fill up the hole. [1058] Sapo stood watching him. [1059] A great
calm stole over him. [1060] Great calm is an exaggeration. [1061] He felt better.
[1062] The end of a life is always vivifying. [1063] Edmund paused to rest, leaned
panting on the spade and smiled. [1064] There were great pink gaps in his
front teeth. [1065] Big Lambert sat by the window, smoking, drinking,