Dada 86

Then he told me he would not be coming to the funeral. He sat down behind his desk, and crossed his legs. He explained that the Doctor and I would be alone with the nurse on duty. Again his eyes briefly swept my face like a wind from across the peninsula.

In principle, the residents weren’t permitted to go to funerals. He only allowed them to attend the wake.

 “It`s easier for them that way” he said.

But there was certain strength in the vessels of his throat as he cleared it. He had given permission for an elderly friend of Dada’s to walk behind the cortege: “Kim Song”, then the director smiled. “You see: he told me, it`s rather childish, but he and your Dada were hardly ever apart. Here at home, they were teased about it; people would say to Kim: “Is he your special friend.” Then your Dada would laugh and say

‘You have to know about Saturday nights at sea to know that.’ Then they would  both laugh.

 It made them happy. They had been ship mates together and it`s true that Dada’s death has upset him a great deal. I didn’t see how I could refuse him permission. He attended the wake last night.’

 I remember it must have been him staring at me like an eagle when I awoke. As if he knew my whole story. We sat in silence for a long time. The doctor stood up and looked out of his office window. At one point, he remarked: “Here comes the holy man from the district. He`s early.”   

He explained to me that it would take at least three quarters of an hour to walk to the graveyard beyond the centre of the village. We went downstairs. The priest and the two assistants who followed him were standing in front of the building. One of them was holding some robes and the little priest bent down to adjust its silver folds. When he arrived, he called me “my son” and said a few words to me. He went inside; I followed him. I noticed right away that the screws on the coffin had been tightened and that there were four men in the room dressed also in blue. I was glad I had worn something black.