As I Lay Dying Page #4

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step itself to pieces.

I think Snopes fed them on

sawdust.

Why did he feed them on sawdust,

Darl?

Look.

I couldn't see. I couldn't feel.

I couldn't feel the bed under

me.

And I couldn't think of where I

was.

I couldn't think of my name. I

couldn't even think I am a

girl...

but I knew that something was.

but I couldn't even think of

time

Then, all of a sudden, I knew

that something was.

It was wind blowing over me.

I believe in God. I believe in

God.

I believe in God. I believe in

God.

God, I believe in God.

I believe in God. I believe in

God.

I believe in God.

Gonna hawl a little. Gonna hawl

a little.

Pepper! Pepper!

Dewey, make it quick.

Where you going? Where she

going?

What can I do for you?

You looking for some toilet

things, or is it medicine you

want?

That's it?

I'd rather go back there.

All right.

What's the trouble? Tell me what

it is you want. I'm pretty busy.

It's a female trouble.

Is that all? Where's your Ma?

Haven't you got one?

She's out yonder in the wagon.

Why don't you talk to her about

it before you take any medicine?

I mean, any woman would tell you

about it.

Are you too regular or not

regular enough?

Yes, I reckon so. Yes.

Well, which? Don't you know?

You want something to stop it,

is that it?

No. You see, it's already

stopped.

Oh, well, we--

You're not married, are you?

No.

Well, I don't have anything in

my store for you...

and I'd advise you to go home

and tell your Pa, if you have

one...

and let him make somebody buy

you a wedding license.

But I got the money to pay you.

A thousand dollars wouldn't be

enough in my store.

Ten cents wouldn't be enough.

Howdy.

Can I have a bag of cement?

That'll be 50 cents.

50 cents?

Could I have 10 cents worth?

10 cents--? For what?

My brother broke his leg.

- What?

- You gotta get this wagon outta

here.

It's a public street! I reckon

we can stop to buy something

same as any other man.

We got the money to pay for it,

and there ain't any law--

I just want 10 cents worth.

I don't wanna break a sack.

Don't you know you'll cause that

boy to lose his leg?

You take him to the doctor.

I would like 10 cents worth of

cement.

Fine.

Just get that boy to a doctor.

You get this thing buried as

soon as you can.

Don't you know you're tempting

jail for Endangering the public

health?

We're doing the best we can.

We woulda set out to bury her

today, but had to wait for that

boy to bring the wagon back.

Shut up, Pa!

Sir, I'm sorry. We'll be gone in

a minute.

Get this man to a doctor.

Ain't got to worry about me.

I'm fine.

Hurry up, Dewey Dell! We done

lost too much time.

We ain't gonna discommode you no

more.

Pepper!

(indistinct)

Here a place.

Right here. Hold, mule. Hold,

mule.

We could get some water over

yonder.

Dewey Dell, you better go see

you can borrow a bucket.

Guess you had less luck than you

expected selling them cakes in

Mottson.

We better not try and lift him

down. We fix it here.

When we get to Jefferson,

tomorrow?

I could just last it out.

It'll be easier this way on you.

It won't rub together.

But I can last it out.

And we'll lose time if we stop

now.

We done bought the cement now.

Listen, I can last it out.

It's just one more day.

And it don't bother none. It

sets up so.

We done bought it now.

How's that look?

You don't wanna put too much

water in it...

or it won't work right.

How's that?

You know, maybe if you... y'all

could find some sand.

Vardaman, go on and get some

sand.

I can last it out...

if it's just one more day, you

know?

'Cause it don't bother none.

All right.

Careful with that there.

Bring your leg out.

Just mind it so it don't get on

-

How's that feel?

It feels fine.

It feels cold and good on there.

It feels fine.

If it'll only help...

I ask your forgiveness.

I couldn't have foreseen it more

than you.

I feel fine.

All right?

I think it's gonna rain.

Look, there's Jewel!

Where that horse?

Delivered him to Snopes himself.

You did right.

This here sure got me tired.

Darl, if Snopes didn't feed them

mules on sawdust...

would they be able to make the

hill without us have to get out

and walk?

Maybe.

Dewey Dell, when we stop at

night in the barn, where do them

buzzards stay?

I asked Darl. He doesn't know

neither.

Tonight I'm gonna see where them

buzzards stay while we're in the

barn.

Where you going? Hate to

discommode you.

Well, no, sirs, ain't no

trouble.

But we wonder about that leg,

though.

How's that feeling, son?

It's getting a little bit hot

from being in the sun like that

all day.

You want some water poured on

it? Maybe that'll ease it some.

I'd be obliged.

It's just from being in the sun

all day.

I ought to kept my mind on it to

kept it covered.

How's that feel?

I'm obliged. That feels fine.

Well, you folks...

you have a good night. We'll be

right inside if you need

anything else.

Fine.

Cash, see if you can get some

sleep.

Sure. Yeah, it feels fine.

I miss Ma.

Come here.

Put your head right down there.

Listen.

Can you hear?

Yeah?

I can hear her.

You hear?

What's she saying, Darl? Who's

she talking to?

Talking to God.

She's calling on Him to help

her.

What she wanting to do?

She wants Him to hide her from

the sight of man.

Why does she want to get hid

away, Darl?

So she can lay down her life.

Why does she wanna lay down her

life?

Just listen.

Listen.

You can hear?

She's been calling out.

Ever since the river, she's been

calling out.

What are they doing, Dewey Dell?

They're bringing Ma on the barn.

They don't wanna leave her

outdoors all night.

I can smell her. Can you smell

her, too?

Hush.

I went looking to find where

them buzzards stay at night.

I saw something Dewey Dell told

me not tell nobody.

It's not about Pa and it's not

about Cash...

and it's not about Jewel and

it's not about Dewey Dell...

and it's not about me.

Help! Fire! There's a fire!

Pa! Pa!

Let's get the mules!

Get the mules! Get the mules!

Come on.

Look out!

Jewel! Jewel!

Jewel! Jewel!

Stop him! Jewel!

Stop him!

Where Darl?

Where Darl got to?

Your foot look funny, Cash.

I reckon we gonna have to bust

that off.

You take that off, gonna take

the hide, too.

Why in tarnation did you put it

on there?

I thought it might steady it

some.

Didn't anybody think to grease

his leg first?

I only aimed to help him.

It was Darl put it on.

Where is Darl?

Where is Darl?

Oh, God.

Be it best to leave it on.

You gonna keep the cat away,

Darl?

You needn't to cry. Jewel got

her out. You needn't to cry,

Darl.

If you could just travel out

into time, that would be nice.

It'd be nice if you could just

travel out into time.

Takes two people to make you.

and one people to die.

It's how the world will end.

Can you still hear her?

Hey, Darl, we close to

Jefferson?

Yeah.

Life was created in the valleys.

It was blew up on the hills on

the old terrors...

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