Reviews of the book "" by William Faulkner. Worthy reading for gentlemen: Faulkner, “The Sound and the Fury The Sound and the Fury of William Faulkner in full”

The title of the novel "The Sound and the Fury" was taken by Faulkner from the famous monologue of Shakespeare's Macbeth - a monologue about the meaninglessness of existence. Shakespeare says the following words verbatim: “Life is a story told by an idiot, filled with sound and fury and meaning nothing” (Macbeth, Act V, Scene 5).
I read it unprepared and tried throughout the book to look at the reviews and read the author’s opinion about the book he had written. The book was equipped with a certain afterword, which is not at all part of this book, and there is also a series of programs relishing the details in the chapters. Numerous works have been written about Faulkner's leaps in time, which are especially noticeable in The Sound and the Fury. Only with such an arsenal can one understand the whole the charm of a masterpiece of world and American literature. A faithful participant in numerous lists and ratings is “The Sound and the Fury.”
The literary device, of course, is quite curious and interesting - it allows you not just to “listen to the story” or “see the story in the scenery”, but throws the reader into the story itself, right inside the events, without explaining or chewing on anything. Throw it away - and then figure out for yourself what, why and why.
I sometimes enjoyed making my way through the stream of consciousness of the characters (not the entire book is written in this way, just over half), jumping from one event to another, from the past to the present, from one person to another.
But the bottom line is not clear to me in the end. This is one of those books in which you can safely flip through a few paragraphs and not lose anything in the plot.
Do not come to any conclusion, morality, resolution...
The open ending of the novel left a lot of questions and persistent bewilderment - what, after all, was going on in this family all this time?!
1. Benji
The first part of the novel is narrated from the perspective of Benjamin “Benji” Compson, who is a disgrace to the family due to mental retardation.
Oddly enough, I liked it the most. When the children grew up all together, their attitude towards each other. If you return to this chapter after reading the novel, then the clues literally catch your eye, and reading the most awkward chapter in its construction turns out to be very interesting. Benji only records tiny fragments of the Compsons’ life, jumping from one time period to another and to a third, returning again to the present. In addition, the character who looks after Benji changes to point to certain time periods: Luster is associated with the present period, T.P. with adolescence, and Versh with childhood.
But due to the impressionistic style of the story, caused by Benji's autism, and due to the frequent time jumps, it was not clear to me that Benji's castration was carried out after he attacked the girl, which the author refers to in a nutshell, noting that Benji came out behind the gate, left unattended. Probably, for a more complete understanding of this part of the novel, you should read it last))
2. Naively believing that the second part would be from the other brother's point of view, I was mistaken, but was still drawn into this train of thought. Faulkner completely ignores any semblance of grammar, spelling and punctuation, instead using a chaotic collection of words, phrases and sentences, with no indication of where one begins and the other ends. This chaos is meant to highlight Quentin's depression and deteriorating state of mind.
Quentin, the most intelligent and suffering child of the Compson family, is the best example of Faulkner's narrative technique in the novel, as I understand it. But there is no way to understand the situation without annotations to the novel.
Personally, I thought after reading that the child was really born from Quentin.....and hence his suffering about integrity and further suicide....
3. This part of the book gives a clearer picture of the inner life of the Compson family. The third part is told on behalf of Jason, Caroline's third and favorite son. Of the three parts narrated by the brothers, Jason's part is the most straightforward, and reflects his simple-minded desire to achieve material well-being. I like this The character is most impressive, despite the fact that he is called a negative hero. He goes quite far in blackmailing Caddy, and also, being the only guardian of her daughter. But how else can he survive in this stupid family, the crown of which is an infantile mother. The apogee of me I would say. She will still survive Benji with his whining, washing and complaints.
4. Focuses on Dilsey, the full-fledged mistress of a black family of servants. Along with caring for her grandson Luster, she also takes care of Benjy, as she takes him to church, thereby trying to save his soul. The sermon makes her cry for the Compson family, whose decline she sees.
After church, Dilsey allows Luster to get on the wagon and take Benjy for a walk. Luster doesn't care that Benjy is so set in his ways that even the slightest change in routine makes him furious. Luster drives around the monument on the wrong side, causing Benjy to experience a strong outburst of rage, which could only be stopped by Jason, who was nearby and knew his brother’s habits. Jumping up, he hit Luster and turned the cart around, after which Benji fell silent. Luster looked back at Benjy and saw that he had dropped his flower. Benji's eyes were "...empty and bright again."
I almost briefly retold the novel, which I usually don’t do in reviews. But here the inquisitive mind of the reader will either guess or look for clues, wandering around in a fog throughout the entire story.
Despite everything, I am very impressed by its main storyline - the withering of the families of the American South, its way of life, the rise and collapse of the South from the time of the displacement of the Indians, the formation of the planter society and its inherent knightly code of honor, and right up to the tragedy of slavery and the replacement of former values ​​with modern mercantile values , acquisitive North.
I really like this time period enclosed in the narratives of various authors.

It is wrong to think that there is only one way out of any situation. In fact, the space of possibilities is always quite wide. The only question is the limitations with which we delineate the choice. There are always inadequate options for getting out of a situation. Not to mention the hidden ones, the implementation of which requires a lot of evasion. And The Sound and the Fury is a book about different exit options.

The starting point is the fall from grace of the daughter of the Compson family, who cheated on her husband and became pregnant by her lover. This adultery becomes the final impetus for the destruction of the Compson family, which day after day begins to lose itself. In the first three parts, each of the Compson sons becomes heroes in turn. The first of them - Maury, who later became Benjamin - is a way out of the catastrophe through madness - a fierce attempt to sensually preserve the steadfastness of the usual order, in which there is no way to influence what is happening. The second is Quentin - the sacrificial idealism of the South, the cycle of memory that constantly throws him back to the most painful moments of life - an attempt, if not to reverse the situation, then at least to stop the avalanche of changes. And the third - Jason Compson - an evil desire to build his own order on the ashes, to accept new rules of the game, but at the same time to be more cunning than these “Jews from New York” - an unsuccessful attempt to be reborn in new conditions.

The fourth part of the novel differs from the first three - a close-up, devoid of subjective coloring and allowing one to look at degradation in all its sadness. The old maid is trying to save what can still be saved.

Different points of view lead to different narrative language. If the first part, told from the perspective of an oligophrenic, is difficult to read for obvious reasons, then the second part turned out to be much more unexpected and difficult for me - that same cycle of painful memories. It’s hard to admit to yourself, but it’s really very plausible - trembling circle after circle under the rustle of trauma. It’s easier to read further; even with all the confusion of the first parts, they manage to glue together the general framework of what happened. Against this backdrop, Jason Compson stands as a surviving baby rat over the corpses of dinosaurs - a struggle petty, tough, but a struggle alive in its anger. His niece, the one who was born after adultery, is very similar to her hated uncle. She is the fourth way out - abandoning her roots and escaping into the future without looking back. The Lord is their judge.

And now I have to admit that from the point of view of implementation this novel is now much more interesting to me than from the point of view of the plot. Streams of consciousness are presented in such a way that you are forced to live next to the heroes, without giving preference to anyone. Not everything is said in clear text, and the reader must spin hints, random phrases, and snippets of nonsense. They rolled away.

Bottom line: Faulkner is cool, and I can’t help it. This is the case when reading is a long, difficult road that is not exciting, but makes you happier and stronger.

Rating: 9

The book was recommended by a friend whose tastes in books had always coincided before this incident.

If you are a connoisseur-fan, chalk up my opinion to the inability of the common man to understand great things)

IMHO. Too vague, difficult to understand. The first part was written from the perspective of an oligophrenic (?). But initially we don’t know this, we just read how someone touches the fence for a long time, first his name is Mori, then Benji, and in between we move first to the past, then to the present.

In my defense, I will say that I read a lot of books on behalf of schizophrenics, people with dissociative disorder, and I was interested!

There is no real interest here, although there is a certain perverse pleasure in figuring out this chaotic set of puzzles.

I can’t call the first part absolutely boring against the general background, because the second seemed to me to be the winner of a world-scale tediousness competition.

The third and fourth parts, to some extent, put everything in its place (remember - to get here, you need to read half a book). But there is no bright climax or unexpected ending. And the question arises: why was all this?

The general meaning of the book is clear, the extinction of the old family, the old way of life... But why was this form of narration chosen? What did the author mean by this?!

Overall, the stream of consciousness technique was interesting, with the intertwining of past and future, but in my opinion the stream could have been shorter.

In order to put everything in your head in its place in chronological order, you need to re-read it. Oh Gods.

Rating: 5

I wasn’t going to start getting acquainted with Faulkner with this book, but circumstances just so happened that a friend and I decided to read him. Reading was hard, insanely hard. And my cold added to the severity of the sensations. And in the end what happened was what happened. And what happened, read below.

Chapter first. Benjamin or how not to go crazy while reading. If Faulkner had placed this chapter in order as second, third, or fourth, I would have understood much more from this chapter and, as a result, would have understood the book better. And so, I didn’t understand anything at all. Because in this chapter there are no clearly defined time boundaries and the weak-minded Benjamin recalls several events from his life in parallel and it is almost always unclear when he jumps from one time layer to another. Plus, names flash before the eyes that don’t tell the reader anything, since Faulkner makes no effort to explain who is who. And even writing in a notebook didn’t really help me figure it out. There are two heroes with one name, or one hero with two names, or two characters with almost identical names. The first chapter is the most difficult to understand, and, again, if Faulkner had placed this chapter in any other place, he would have made life easier for many readers.

Chapter two. Quentin or Punctuation, grammar? No, we haven't heard. I toiled through the first chapter and thought that in the second chapter I would get a coherent summary of the plot, but that was not the case. Quentin is a fairly intelligent young man, but his head is about the same mess as the weak-minded Benjamin. There is a coherent presentation of the present, but when memories interfere and are blatantly woven into the present, all is lost. Again the same whirlpool of words, which I am trying to cope with, reading slowly and thoughtfully, re-reading incomprehensible fragments (although the entire chapter is practically incomprehensible to me), but my efforts do not bring clarity and I surrender myself to this madness. Let the river carry me.

Chapter three. Jason or even Wikipedia won't help you. Yeah. There is already a clear, straightforward (almost) presentation of the material. This is familiar to us, we have been through this. But, since due to the previous two chapters I carried little information with me into the third chapter, it is not clear to me what Jason is talking about. I turn for help to a special chronological table, written by intelligent people, and to Wikipedia, where we have a summary of the chapters. I read a summary of the previous two chapters, from which I previously understood little and the picture becomes a little clearer for me, although I remain perplexed as to how so much material passed me by; was all this really discussed in these chapters? Am I really reading Faulkner's The Sound and the Fury? Not the most attractive heroes flash by and you don’t meet a single hero with whom you want to empathize. And since you don’t empathize with anyone, then you don’t have any particular desire to continue reading. But 3/4 of the book is already behind you, it would be simply cowardice and disrespect for yourself to just throw away the book that you put so much effort into. Let's move on.

Chapter Four. Faulkner or the collapse of hopes. Finally, the Author Himself comes into play to explain to me everything that I, stupid reader, did not understand before. What were the heroes guided by when they committed certain actions? What happened to Caddy? He will help me put together a holistic picture of the plot, explain in plain text everything that was only mentioned in passing or hinted at in previous chapters. But no, Faulkner does not want to stoop to my level and waste his gigantic intellect explaining already understandable things. Stay, says Renat, with your nose. You're no stranger to this. What's true is true.

RESULT: The book is written in such a way that you won’t get rid of it just by reading it. If you want to fully understand the book, you will definitely have to re-read it, at least the first two chapters (which is already half a book). Some biblical allusions slip through that are incomprehensible to me (although I have not read the Bible and it is clear why they are not clear to me). The plot is not original enough to endure all this bullying for its sake. There are many books describing the withering/fall of one family/kind. Off the top of my head, I can recommend Archibald Cronin's Castle Brodie and John Galworthy's The Forsyte Saga, which in my humble opinion deserve more attention and give this novel 100 points ahead.

There are, of course, positive aspects, but I will not list them. This book already has enough rave reviews in which you can learn about the positive aspects of this novel.

Rating: 5

The Sound and the Fury is perhaps the most curious and structurally complex family saga, half as long as other known ones, but incorporating so much of the meaningless essence of existence - forgive the oxymoron! The name itself, by the way, is inspired by Shakespeare’s play “Macbeth,” which is also multi-layered in terms of meaning, but not so confusing in structure.

In the novel, Faulkner describes the fall of the Compson family, which is fixated on Caddy and her daughter, so masterfully and unusually that he just wants to shake hands.

The first chapter is a symbolic roar of a weak-minded man, beating in space, who smells the trees, and, as if spellbound, looks at the events taking place around him, without understanding the essence. The most difficult part, presented in the form of mixed fragments about the various events of their family, which he, Benjamin - the son of my sadness - experienced, regardless of the time of year and other circumstances. I advise everyone to get through this puzzle, because the second chapter is a second wind.

The second chapter is largely Quentin's internal stream of consciousness. Reflections on killing time to the beat of the ticking of a broken clock, as well as attempts to outrun your shadow. The elusive part is like time itself, the battle with which is not won. Moreover, it doesn’t even start. And such burning hatred - rage! - and the attempt to strangle her was mixed with the smell of honeysuckle. Quentin's growing up, awareness of the very essence of the universe through the prism of his father's conclusions. But you will find out for yourself what this will lead to.

The third chapter is a logically structured story from the perspective of Jason, brother Benji, Quentin and Caddy. This is where rage manifests itself in its purest form. The coldest part. And Jason has only trivial, petty things on his mind. Both in childhood and in adulthood, he prevents himself from being happy - just like his mother.

The fourth (final) chapter is narrated in a classical style. Doomed and roaring, in which everything is heading towards its logical conclusion. Sound and fury are clearly visible in it. If in the first chapters we saw everything in pieces, then in the third and fourth the picture is visible as a whole. Oppressive, it, however, gives some kind of liberation - like the beating morning rain - from the “Compsonian” shackles that sharpened the first and last representatives of their kind.

And at the end I ask myself: “Could everything have turned out differently?” And the only answer I find is Benjy’s roar, which says it all, which contains not the memory itself, but a feeling of loss, only God knows the loss of what.

Still, the book is great! Faulkner tells the story with such grace, with such beauty of style, and with such meaning; I was amazed at how clearly he described the influence of society on the destinies of people, destroying them. Faulkner shows a blind, cold mother, a drunkard father, and all the children - and they all do not hear each other, instead living in their own world, where there is only Sound and Fury. Where is the place only for attempts, each of which will not be crowned with success.

“Father said: a person is the result of his misfortunes. You would think that one day you will get tired of misfortune, but your misfortune is time, said the father. A seagull attached to an invisible wire, dragged through space. You take away the symbol of your spiritual ruin into eternity. The wings are wider there, the father said, only those who know how to play the harp.”

Composition

QUENTIN (eng. Quentin) is the hero of W. Faulkner’s novel “The Sound and the Fury” (in other translations “The Scream and the Fury”, “The Sound and the Fury”; 1929). The hero's fate is placed in the space of one day - June 2, 1910. K.'s thoughts are turned to the past. He remembers his sister Kaddy, whom he loves very much. Caddy was seduced by one Dalton Ames. Upon learning of this, K. threatens to kill him, but Ames beats him himself. To save the honor of his sister and family, K. tries to convince his father that incest occurred and he himself is to blame. However, his father does not believe him. Caddy runs away from home, and from that moment on the slow destruction of the Compeon family begins. For K., everything that happened to his sister is tantamount to the collapse of the world. Evil and injustice enter the world. In order to send K. to study at Harvard University, they sell the lawn on which his feeble-minded younger brother Benji likes to play. And K. himself, who met a poor emigrant girl and bought her bread, candy and ice cream, is taken to the police station, accused of indecent assault and forced to pay a fine. Nobility, selflessness, love are alien and incomprehensible to this world, the absurdity of which K. painfully experiences. During a walk, K., in a rage, smashes the clock and breaks its hands, trying to stop the passage of time. Thus, the hero strives to return the world to its former, bright state. The hero associates the passage of time with evil. For K. there is neither the present nor the future; he is all turned to the past. But the broken clock continues to tick, although it shows inaccurate time, illustrating the merciless truth: time cannot be stopped, the world cannot be corrected.

“Life is a story told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, but devoid of meaning.” To retell this story differently from how it was originally told means trying to tell a completely different story, unless the people in it have the same names, they will be connected by the same blood ties, they will become participants in events similar to those that happened in the lives of those who first; events are not the same, but only somewhat similar, for what makes an event an event if not a story about it? Can't any trifle represent as many events as there are different ways it is told? And what, in the end, is this event that no one has told about and which, accordingly, no one knows about?

The Compson family was one of the oldest and at one time the most influential in Jefferson and its surrounding area. Jason Compson and his wife Caroline, née Bascom, had four children: Quentin, Candacy (everyone called her Caddy), Jason and Maury. The youngest was born a fool, and when - he was about five - it became finally clear that he would remain a meaningless baby for the rest of his life, in a desperate attempt to deceive fate, his name was changed to Benjamin, Benji.

The earliest vivid memory in the children's lives was how, on the day of their grandmother's death (they did not know that she had died, and generally had little idea of ​​what death was), they were sent to play away from home, on a stream. There, Quentin and Caddy began to splash, Caddy got her dress wet and her pants dirty, and Jason threatened to tell his parents lies, and Benjy, then Maury, cried because it seemed to him that Caddy, the only creature close to him, would be ill. When they arrived home, they were escorted to the children's quarters, so they decided that the parents had guests, and Caddy climbed a tree to look into the living room, and the brothers and the black children looked down at her and her soiled panties.

Benjy was in the care of the little blacks, children, and then grandchildren of Dilsey, the Compsons' permanent maid, but only Caddy truly loved him and knew how to calm him down. As Caddy grew older, gradually turning from a little girl into a woman, Benjy cried more and more often. He didn't like it, for example, when Caddy started wearing perfume and she began to smell differently. He began to shout at the top of his voice and once stumbled upon Caddy when she was hugging a guy in a hammock.

Quentin was also worried about his sister’s early growing up and her novels. But when he tried to warn her, to reason with her, it came out very unconvincingly. Caddy answered with a calm, firm consciousness of her own rightness. A little time passed, and Caddy seriously became involved with a certain Dolton Ames. Realizing that she was pregnant, she urgently began to look for a husband, and then Herbert Head turned up. A young banker and a handsome man who was the perfect fit for Mrs. Compson's court, he caused deep disgust in Quentin, especially since Quentin, while studying at Harvard, learned the story of Herbert's expulsion from the student club for cheating. He begged Caddy not to marry this scoundrel, but she replied that she must certainly marry someone.

After the wedding, having learned the whole truth, Herbert abandoned Caddy; she ran away from home. Mrs. Compson considered herself and her family irrevocably disgraced. Jason Jr. only became angry with Caddy, convinced that she had deprived him of the place that Herbert promised him in his bank. Mr. Compson, who had a penchant for deep thought and paradoxical conclusions, as well as whiskey, took a philosophical approach to everything - in conversations with Quentin he repeated that virginity is not something existing, that it is like death - a change perceptible only to others, and, thus, nothing more than an invention of men. But this did not console Quentin: either he thought that it would be better for him to commit incest himself, or he was almost sure that he had committed it. In his mind, obsessed with thoughts about his sister and about Dalton Ames (whom he had the opportunity to kill when, having learned everything from Caddy, he tried to talk to him and he, in response to threats, calmly handed Quentin a gun), the image of Caddy obsessively merged with his sister - death of Saint Francis.

At this time, Quentin was just finishing his first year at Harvard University, where he had been sent with money raised from the sale of a pasture adjacent to the Compson house to a golf club. On the morning of June 2, 1910 (one of the four “stories” of the novel dates back to this day), he woke up with the firm intention to finally accomplish what he had long planned, shaved, put on his best suit and went to the tram stop, buying two irons along the way. An eccentric black man nicknamed Deacon Quentin gave a letter to Shreve, his roommate (he had sent the letter to his father in advance), and then boarded a tram going out of town to the river. Here Quentin had a little adventure because of a little Italian girl who came to him and whom he treated to a bun: her brother accused Quentin of kidnapping, he was arrested, but quickly released, and he joined a company of students - they testified in his favor - going out by car for a picnic. Quentin unexpectedly got into a fight with one of them - a self-confident rich guy, a handsome womanizer - when he began to talk about how recklessly he treated girls. To change his blood-stained clothes, Quentin returned home, changed his clothes, and went out again. Last time.

About two years after Quentin's suicide, Mr. Compson died - he did not die from whiskey, as Mrs. Compson and Jason mistakenly believed, because you don't die from whiskey - you die from life. Mrs. Compson swore that her granddaughter, Quentina, would not even know the name of her mother, forever disgraced. Benjy, when he matured - only in body, since in soul and mind he remained a baby - had to be castrated after an attack on a schoolgirl passing by the Compson house. Jason talked about sending his brother to an insane asylum, but Mrs. Compson strongly objected to this, insisting on the need to bear his cross, but at the same time trying to see and hear Benjy as little as possible.

In Jason, Mrs. Compson saw her only support and joy, she said that he was one of her children born not into the Compsons with their blood infected with madness and death, but into the Bascomovs. Even as a child, Jason showed a healthy craving for money - he glued kites to sell. He worked as a clerk in a city store, but the main source of income for him was not the service, but the ardently hated niece of her mother’s fiancé for not getting a place in the bank.

Despite Mrs. Compson's ban, Caddy somehow appeared in Jefferson and offered Jason money to show her Quentin. Jason agreed, but turned everything into a cruel mockery - the mother saw her daughter only for one moment in the window of the carriage, in which Jason rushed past her at breakneck speed. Later, Caddy began writing letters to Quentina and sending money - two hundred dollars every month. Jason sometimes gave some crumbs to his niece, cashed the rest and put it in his pocket, and brought forged checks to his mother, which she tore up in pathetic indignation and therefore was confident that she and Jason were not taking a penny from Caddy.

So on the sixth of April 1928 - another “story” is timed to coincide with this day, Friday of Holy Week - a letter and a check arrived from Caddy. Jason destroyed the letter and gave Quentina ten. Then he went about his daily business - helping out in the shop, running to the telegraph office to inquire about exchange prices for cotton and give instructions to brokers - and was completely absorbed in them, when suddenly Quentina rushed past him in a Ford with a guy whom Jason recognized as an artist from the circus that came to town that day. He set off in pursuit, but saw the couple again only when they abandoned the car on the side of the road and went deeper into the forest. Jason did not find them in the forest and returned home with nothing.

His day was definitely not a success: the stock market game brought big losses, and also this unsuccessful chase... First, Jason took it out on his grandson Dilsey, who was watching Benjy - he really wanted to go to the circus, but there was no money for a ticket; In front of Luster's eyes, Jason burned two countermarks he had. At dinner it was Quentina and Mrs. Compson's turn.

The next day, with the “story” about which the novel begins, Benjy turned thirty-three. Like all children, he had a cake with candles that day. Before that, he and Luster had been walking near the golf course, built on the former Complson pasture - Benjy had always been irresistibly drawn to it, but every time such walks ended in tears, and all because the players kept calling the errand boy, they shouted, “Caddy.” Benji Luster got tired of howling and took him into the garden, where they scared Quentina and Jack, her friend from the circus.

It was with this same Jack that Quentin ran away on the night from Saturday to Sunday, taking three thousand dollars, which she rightfully considered hers, since she knew that Jason had saved it by robbing her for many years. The sheriff, in response to Jason’s statement about the escape and robbery, stated that he and his mother, by their treatment, forced Quentina to flee; as for the missing amount, the sheriff had certain suspicions about what kind of money it was. Jason had no choice but to go to neighboring Mottson, where the circus was now performing, but there he received only a few slaps in the face and a stern rebuke from the owner of the troupe in the sense that Jason could look for fugitive adulterers anywhere else, but among his artists there are more of them No.

While Jason fruitlessly wandered to Mottson and back, the black servants managed to return from the Easter service, and Luster begged permission to take Benjy to the cemetery in a charabanc. They drove well until in the central square Luster began to go around the monument to a Confederate soldier on the right, while with the others Benji always went around it on the left. Benjy screamed desperately, and the old nag almost took off, but then, out of nowhere, Jason, who found himself in the square, corrected the situation. Benjy fell silent, because even an idiot likes it when everything is in its appointed place.

Retold

Through the fence, through the gaps in the thick curls, I could see them hitting. They go to the flag, and I went along the fence. Luster is looking in the grass under a tree in bloom. They pulled out the flag and beat it. We put the flag back, went smooth, one hit, and the other hit. Let's move on and I'll go. Luster came up from the tree, and we walked along the fence, they stood, and so did we, and I looked through the fence, and Luster was looking in the grass.

- Hand me the clubs, caddy1! - Hit. Leave us through the meadow. I hold on to the fence and watch them leave.

“He snarked again,” says Luster. - A good baby, thirty-three years old. And I also trudged into town for you to buy a cake. Stop howling. Better help me look for the coin, otherwise I’ll go see the artists in the evening.

They walk through the meadow, striking infrequently. I follow the fence to where the flag is. He flutters among the bright grass and trees.

“Let’s go,” Luster says. “We’ve already looked there.” They won't come anymore now. Let's go look by the stream before the washerwomen wake up.

It is red and flutters in the middle of the meadow. A bird flew up obliquely and landed on him. Luster threw. The flag flaps on the bright grass and trees. I'm holding on to the fence.

“Stop making noise,” Luster says. “I can’t bring the players back once they’ve left.” Shut up, otherwise mammy won’t give you a name day. Shut up, otherwise you know what I’ll do? I'll eat the whole cake. And I'll eat the candles. All thirty-three candles. Let's go down to the stream. We need to find this coin. Maybe we can pick up some balls. Look where they are. Over there, far, far away. - He walked up to the fence and pointed with his hand: - Do you see? They won't come here anymore. Let's go.

We walk along the fence and approach the vegetable garden. There are our shadows on the garden fence. Mine is higher than Luster's. We are climbing into the gap.

“Stop,” Luster says. – Again you got caught on this nail. There’s no way you can avoid getting caught.

The caddy unhooked me and we climbed through. “Uncle Mori ordered us to walk so that no one could see us. Let’s get down,” Caddy said. - Bend down, Benji. That’s it, understand?” We bent down and walked through the garden, with flowers. They rustle and rustle about us. The ground is hard. We climbed over the fence where the pigs were grunting and panting. “The pigs probably feel sorry for the one that was slaughtered this morning,” said Caddy. The earth is hard, in lumps and holes.

“Put your hands in your pockets,” Caddy said. “Any more fingers, you’ll freeze.” Benji is smart, he doesn't want to get frostbite at Christmas."

“It’s cold outside,” said Versh. - There is no need for you to go there.

“What is it,” said my mother.

“He’s asking to go for a walk,” said Versh.

“And God bless you,” said Uncle Mori.

“It’s too cold,” Mom said. - It’s better to stay at home. Stop it, Benjamin.

“Nothing will happen to him,” said Uncle Mori.

“Benjamin,” Mom said. “If you’re bad, I’ll send you to the kitchen.”

“Mammy didn’t tell me to take him into the kitchen today,” Versh said. “She says she can’t handle all this cooking anyway.”

“Let him take a walk,” said Uncle Mori. “If it upsets you, you’ll go to bed again, Caroline.”

“I know,” said mom. “God punished me as a child.” And why is a mystery to me.

“It’s a mystery, a mystery,” said Uncle Mori. – You need to maintain your strength. I'll make you some punch.

“Punch will only upset me more,” said Mom. - You know.

“Punch will strengthen you,” said Uncle Maury. “Wrap him up well, brother, and take a walk for a while.”

Uncle Mori left. Versh left.

“Shut up,” said my mother. “They’ll dress you, and now we’ll send you away.” I don't want you to catch a cold.

Versh put on my boots and coat, we took a hat and went. In the dining room, Uncle Maury puts a bottle on the sideboard.

“Walk with him for half an hour, brother,” said Uncle Mori. - Just don’t let him out of the yard.

We went out into the yard. The sun is cold and bright.

- Where are you going? - says Versh. - What a cunning fellow - is he going to the city or something? - We walk, rustling through the leaves. The gate is cold. “Hide your hands in your pockets,” says Versh. – They’ll freeze to the iron, then what will you do? As if you can't wait in the house. – He puts my hands in his pockets. He rustles through the leaves. I smell the cold. The gate is cold.

- This is better than nuts. Wow, I jumped into a tree. Look, Benji, a squirrel!

Your hands can’t hear the gate at all, but it smells brightly cold.

- Better put your hands back in your pockets.

The caddy is coming. She ran. The bag dangles and hits behind.

“Hello, Benji,” Caddy says. She opened the gate, walked in, and bent down. The caddy smells like leaves. – You came out to meet me, right? - she says. – Meet Caddy? Why are his hands so cold, Versh?

“I told him: hide it in your pockets,” says Versh. – He grabbed the gate, the iron.

– You went out to meet Caddy, right? - Caddy says and rubs my hands. - Well? What do you want to tell me? “Caddy smells like trees and like when she says we’ve woken up.”

“Why are you howling,” says Luster. “They will be visible again from the stream.” On the. Here's some dope for you." Gave me a flower. We went behind the fence, to the barn.

- Well, what? - says Caddy. – What do you want to tell Caddy? They sent him away from home - right, Versh?

“You can’t hold him back,” says Versh. - He screamed until they let him out, and went straight to the gate: look at the road.

- Well? - says Caddy. “Did you think I would come home from school and it would be Christmas right away?” Thought so? And Christmas is the day after tomorrow. With gifts, Benji, with gifts. Come on, let's run home to warm up. “She takes my hand, and we run, rustling through the bright leaves. And up the steps, from the bright cold to the dark. Uncle Maury puts the bottle in the cupboard. He called, “Caddy.” Caddy said:

“Lead him to the fire, Versh.” Go with Versh,” Caddy said. - I'm here now.

We went to the fire. Mom said:

– Is he cold, Versh?

“No, ma’am,” Versh said.

“Take off his coat and boots,” said mom. - How many times were you told to take off your boots first and then enter?

“Yes, ma’am,” Versh said. - Stand still.

He took off my boots and unbuttoned my coat. Caddy said:

- Wait, Versh. Mom, can Benji go for a walk again? I'll take it with me.

“You shouldn’t take it,” said Uncle Mori. – He’s already had a walk today.

“Don’t both of you go anywhere,” mom said. “Dilsey says it’s getting even colder outside.”

“Oh, Mom,” said Caddy.

“It’s nothing,” said Uncle Mori. “She’s been sitting at school all day, she needs to get some fresh air.” Go for a walk, Candacey.

“Let him come with me, Mom,” said Caddy. - Oh please. Otherwise he will cry.

- Why did you mention the party in front of him? - Mom said. “Why did you have to come in here?” To give him a reason to torment me again? You've been outdoors enough today. Better sit here with him and play.

“Let them take a walk, Caroline,” said Uncle Maury. - The frost won't hurt them. Don't forget that you need to conserve your strength.

“I know,” said mom. “No one can understand how the holidays frighten me.” No one. These troubles are beyond my strength. How I wish I was in better health - for Jason's sake and for the sake of the children.

“Try not to let them worry you,” said Uncle Mori. - Both of you go, guys. Just for a little while, so that mom doesn’t worry.

“Yes, sir,” Caddy said. - Let's go, Benji. Let's go for a walk! “She buttoned my coat, and we went to the door.

“So you’re taking the little one into the yard without boots,” said the mother. - The house is full of guests, and you want to catch a cold.

“I forgot,” Caddy said. “I thought he was in bots.”

We have returned.

“You have to think about what you’re doing,” said mom. Yes, stand still, Wersh said. He put on my boots. “If I’m gone, then you’ll have to take care of him.” “Now stomp,” said Versh. “Come and kiss your mother, Benjamin.”

Caddy led me to my mother's chair, my mother cupped my face in her hands and pulled me close.

“My poor little one,” she said. I let go. “You and Versh keep a good eye on him, honey.”

“Yes, ma'am,” Caddy said. We went out. Caddy said, “You don’t have to come with us, Versh.” I'll take him for a walk myself.

“Okay,” said Versh. “It’s not very interesting to go out in such cold weather.” “He went, and we stood in the front.” Caddy sat down, hugged me, pressed her bright and cold face to mine. She smelled of trees.

“You’re not a poor little thing.” Really, not poor? You have a Caddy. You have your Caddy.

“I got wet and slobbered,” says Luster. And you are not ashamed to raise such a roar." We pass the barn where the charabanc is. It has a new wheel.

“Sit down and sit quietly, wait for mom,” said Dilsey. She pushed me into the charabanc. Tee-Pee has the reins in his hands. “I don’t understand why Jason doesn’t buy a new one,” Dilsey said. - Wait until this one falls to pieces under you. The wheels alone are worth it.

Mom came out and lowered her veil. Holds flowers.

-Where is Roskus? - Mom said.

“Roskus was broken today, he couldn’t lift his arms,” said Dilsey. “Tee-Pee rules well too.”

“I’m afraid,” said my mother. “God knows, I ask little from you: once a week I need a coachman, and I can’t even ask for this little.”

“You know as well as I do, Miss Kaline, that Roskus has rheumatism,” said Dilsey. - Go sit down. TP will take you there just as well as Roskus.

“I’m afraid,” said my mother. - I'm afraid for the little one.

Dilsey walked up onto the porch.

“Good little one,” she said. I took my mother's hand. - Consider him the same age as my Tee-Pee. Go when you want to go.

“I’m afraid,” said my mother. They walked off the porch and Dilsey sat her mother down. - Well, however, it will be better for all of us.

“And you’re not ashamed to say that,” said Dilsey. “As if you don’t know how meek Queenie is.” For her to carry it, you need a scarecrow worse than an eighteen-year-old black man. Yes, she is older than he and Benji combined. Don’t be mischievous, T.P., drive quietly, do you hear? If only Miss Kaline complains to me, Roskus will take care of you. His hands haven't completely lost their strength yet.

“Yes, ma’am,” said T.P.

“This won’t end well, I know,” my mother said. - Stop it, Benjamin.

“Give him a flower,” said Dilsey. - He wants to hold a flower.

She extended her hand to the flowers.

“No, no,” said mom. - You'll ruin them all.

“And you hold it,” said Dilsey. - I only have to pull one out. “She gave me the flower, and the hand went away.”

“Now touch before Quentin sees and wants to come with you too,” said Dilsey.

- Where is she? - Mom said.

“Near my house, he’s playing with Luster,” said Dilsey. - Touch it, T.P. Rule as Roskus taught you.

“I’m listening, ma’am,” T.P. said. - B-but, Queenie!

“For Quentina,” Mom said. - Look behind...

“Don’t worry,” said Dilsey.

The caravan shakes along the alley and creaks in the sand.

“I’m afraid to leave it to Quentin,” says Mom. “We’d better go back, T.P.”

We drove out of the gate and it was no longer shaking. T.P. whipped Queenie.

- What are you doing, Tee-Pee! - Mom said.

“We need to cheer her up,” said T.P. - So as not to sleep while walking.

“Turn back,” Mom said. – I'm afraid for Quentina.

“There’s no turning around here,” said Tee-Pee.

We arrived where it was wider.

“But here you can,” said my mother.

“Okay,” said T.P. They began to turn.

- What are you doing, Tee-Pee! - Mom said, grabbing me.

“We have to turn it around somehow,” said Tee-Pee. - Whoa, Queenie.

We have become.

“You’ll turn us over,” Mom said.

- So what do you want? - said Tee-Pee.

“Don’t turn, I’m afraid,” my mother said.

“I know Dilsey won’t look after me without me and something will happen to Quentina,” said Mom. - We need to get back quickly.

“B-but, Queenie,” T.P. said. Whipped Queenie.

“Tee-pee-ee,” said my mother, clutching me. Queenie's hooves are heard, and bright spots float smoothly on both sides, and the shadows from them float on Queenie's back. They float all the time, like the bright tops of wheels. Then they froze on the side where the white cabinet with the soldier on top was. And on the other side everyone is swimming, but not so fast.

-What do you want, mother? says Jason. He has his hands in his pockets and a pencil behind his ear.

“We’re going to the cemetery,” says mom.

“Please,” Jason says. - It’s as if I’m not interfering. That's all, why did you call me?

“You won’t come with us, I know,” says mom. “With you, I wouldn’t be so afraid.”

- Afraid of what? says Jason. “Father and Quentin won’t touch you.”

Mom puts a scarf under her veil.

“Stop it, Mom,” Jason says. - Do you want this idiot to howl in the middle of the square? Touch it, T.P.

“B-but, Queenie,” T.P. said.

“God punished me,” said my mother. “But soon I will be gone too.”

“Stop it,” Jason said.

“Whoa,” said T.P. Jason said:

“Uncle Maury is asking for fifty dollars from your account.” Give?

- Why are you asking me? - Mom said. - You are the owner. I try not to be a burden to you and Dilsey. Soon I will be gone, and then you...

“Touch it, T.P.,” Jason said.

“B-but, Queenie,” T.P. said. The bright ones swam again. And from that side too, quickly and smoothly, like when Caddy says we’re falling asleep.

“Reva,” Luster says. “And don’t be ashamed of you.” We pass the barn. The stalls are open. “You don’t have a pinto horse now,” says Luster. The floor is dry and dusty. The roof caved in. Yellow dust particles are milling around in slanting holes. “Where did you go? Do you want your head to be hit with a ball?”

“Put your hands in your pockets,” says Caddy. “You’ll still freeze your fingers.” Benji is smart, he doesn't want to get frostbite on Christmas.

We go around the barn. There is a big cow and a small one at the door, and you can hear Prince, Queenie and Fancy stepping in the stalls.

“If it were warmer, we’d take a ride on Fancy,” says Caddy. – But today you can’t, it’s too cold. “You can already see the stream, and the smoke is spreading.” “They oil the pig there,” says Caddy. “Let’s go back that way and have a look.” - We're going down the mountain.

“If you want, bring a letter,” says Caddy. - Here, bring it. – She transferred the letter from her pocket to mine. – This is a Christmas surprise from Uncle Maury. We need to give it to Mrs. Patterson so no one can see. Just don't take your hands out of your pockets.

We came to the stream.

“The creek is frozen,” Caddy said. - Look. “She broke the water from above and put a piece to my face. - Ice. That's how cold it is. “She took me by the hand and we climbed the mountain.” “I didn’t even tell mom and dad to talk.” I think you know what this letter is about? About gifts for mom and dad and for Mr. Patterson too, because Mr. Patterson sent you candy. Do you remember last summer?

Fence. Dry flowers curl, and the wind rustles them.

“I just don’t know why Uncle Maury didn’t send Versh.” Versh wouldn't talk. – Mrs. Patterson is looking out the window. “Wait here,” Caddy said. - Stay still and wait. I'll be right back. Give me the letter. “She took the letter out of my pocket. - Don’t take your hands out. “With a letter in her hand, she climbed over the fence, walked, rustling brown flowers. Mrs. Patterson went to the door, opened it, and stood on the threshold.

Mr. Patterson waves a green-colored hoe. He stopped and looked at me. Mrs. Patterson runs towards me through the garden. I saw her eyes and cried. “Oh, you idiot,” says Mrs. Patterson. “I told him not to send more than you alone. Give it to me. Quicker". Mr. Patterson comes towards us with a hoe, quickly. Mrs. Patterson reaches over the fence. Wants to climb over. “Give it here,” says Mrs. “Give it here.” Mr. Patterson climbed over the fence. I took the letter. Mrs.'s dress got caught on the fence. I saw her eyes again and ran down the mountain.

“There’s nothing there except houses,” says Laster. - Let's go to the stream now.

They wash and clap by the stream. One sings. Smoke creeps through the water. It smells like laundry and smoke.

“Be here,” says Luster. - There’s no need for you to go there. There you get hit in the head with a ball.

-What does he want?

“As if he knows what,” Luster says. “He needs to go upstairs, where they play golf.” Sit here and play with the flower. And watch - watch how the guys swim. Act like people.

I sit down by the water, where they rinse and there is blue smoke.

- Nobody picked up a coin here? - says Luster.

-What coin?

– Which one I had this morning. Twenty-five cents,” Luster says. – I sowed it somewhere from my pocket. It fell into a hole, this one. If I don’t find it, I won’t have enough money to buy a ticket in the evening.

- Where did you get it, the coin? Probably in the white guy's pocket?

“Where you got it, it’s not there now, but later it will be,” says Laster. - In the meantime, I need to find this one. Have you seen anyone?

- I just need to look for coins. I have enough to do.

“Come here,” Luster says. - Help me search.

- Yes, he’s like a coin, like a pebble.

“Let him help anyway,” says Luster. – Do you go to see the artists in the evening?

- I have no time for that. By the time I get through this trough, I’ll be so tired that I won’t even be able to raise my arms, much less go see these artists.

“I bet you’ll go,” says Luster. - I bet they were there yesterday. As soon as they open it there, you will all immediately go to that tent.

- There will be a lot of blacks there even without me. It's enough that I went yesterday.

“I suppose we spend the same money as the whites.”

“The white man gives the black man money, but he knows: another white man will come with music and pocket it all for himself, down to the last cent, and again, go, black man, and earn money.”

- No one is driving you there to the show.

- They’re not driving yet. We didn't think of it.

- You were given white ones.

– It didn’t work out. I go my way, and they go theirs. I really need this show.

“They have one there playing songs on a saw.” Just like a banjo.

“You did yesterday,” says Luster, “and I’ll go today.” Just find a coin.

- So, will you take him with you?

“Yeah,” Luster says. - Of course. So that he will grow out for me there.

– What do you do when you get sick?

“Whipping him, that’s what I do,” Luster says. He sat down and rolled up his pants. Children play in the water.

– Has anyone found Benjin’s balls? - says Luster.

- Guy, don’t say bad words. If your grandmother finds out, it won't be good for you.

Luster entered the stream where the children were. Searches along the shore.

“When we walked here this morning, I still had the coin,” says Laster.

-Where did you sow it?

“It fell out of my pocket, into this hole,” says Luster. They are searching in the stream. Then everyone immediately straightened up, stood, rushed with a splash, and began to hustle. Luster grabbed it, crouched in the water, looking at the mountain through the bushes.

- Where are they? - says Luster.

- Not in sight yet.

Luster put it in his pocket. They came down the mountain.

“Then the ball fell—didn’t you guys see it?”

- No, he fell into the water. Haven't you heard?

“Nothing flopped around here,” Luster said. “Something hit the tree over there.” I don’t know where it went.

They look into the stream.

- Crap. Look in the stream. He fell here. I have seen.

They walk along the shore and look. Let's go back to the mountain.

- Don’t you have the ball? - said that boy.

– Why did he surrender to me? - said Luster. – I didn’t see any ball.

The boy entered the stream. Walked on the water. He turned and looked at Luster again. I went down the stream.

An adult called from the mountain: “Caddy!” The boy came out of the water and went up the mountain.

- Started it again? - says Luster. - Shut up.

-Why is he doing this?

“Who knows why,” says Luster. - For no reason. Howling all morning. Because today is his birthday.

- How old is he?

“I turned thirty-three,” Luster says. - Exactly thirty years and three years.

“Tell me better—exactly thirty years since he was three years old.”

“What mammy told me is what I tell you,” says Luster. “I only know that thirty-three candles will be lit.” And the cake is short. They barely fit. Shut up. Come here. “He came up and grabbed my hand. “You old fool,” he says. - Do you want me to flog you?

“It’s too hard for you to spank him.”

“I’ve already flogged him more than once.” Shut up,” Luster says. - How many times do you have to explain that you can’t go there? There they will hit your head with balls. Come here,” he pulled me back. - Sit down. “I sat down, he took off my shoes and rolled up my pants. - Go over there, into the water, play for yourself and don’t howl or drool.

I fell silent and went into the water, and Roskus came calling for dinner, and Caddy said: “It’s too early for dinner. Will not go".

She's wet. We were playing in the stream, and Caddy sat down in the water, wet her dress, and Versh said:

“I wet my dress, now your mother will spank you.”

“Well, no,” said Caddy.

- How do you know that it’s not? - said Quentin.

“Well, I know,” said Caddy. - How do you know that yes?

“Mom said she would punish me,” Quentin said. - And then, I’m older than you.

“I’m already seven years old,” said Caddy. - I know everything myself.

“And I’m even older,” said Quentin. - I'm a schoolboy. Really, Versh?

“And I’ll go to school next year,” said Caddy. - As soon as it starts. Really, Versh?

“You know, they’ll flog you for a wet dress,” said Versh.

“It's not wet,” Caddy said. She stood up in the water and looked at the dress. - I'll take it off and it will dry.

“But you can’t take it off,” said Quentin.

“I’ll take it off,” said Caddy.

“You better not take it off,” said Quentin.

Caddy walked up to Versh and me, turning her back.

“Unbutton me, Versh,” Caddy said.

“Don’t you dare, Versh,” Quentin said.

“Your dress, unbutton it yourself,” said Versh.

“Unbutton it, Versh,” Caddy said. “Or else I’ll tell Dilsey what you did yesterday.” - And Versh unbuttoned it.

“Just try to take it off,” said Quentin. Caddy took off her dress and threw it on the shore. She was only wearing her bra and panties, nothing else, and Quentin spanked her and she slipped and fell into the water. She stood up and began to splash on Quentin, and Quentin began to spray on her. Both Versh and I were splashed. Versh picked me up and carried me ashore. He said he would tell about Caddy and Quentin, and they started spraying Wersh. Versh went behind the bush.

“I’ll tell mammy about you,” said Versh.

Quentin climbed ashore and wanted to catch Versh, but Versh ran away and Quentin did not catch up. Quentin returned, then Versh stopped and shouted that he would tell. And Caddy shouted to him that if he didn’t tell, he might come back. And Versh said that he would not tell, and went to us.

“Rejoice now,” said Quentin. “Now we’ll both be whipped.”

“Let it go,” said Caddy. - I'll run away from home.

“You’ll run away, of course,” said Quentin.

“I’ll run away and never come back,” said Caddy. I started crying, Caddy turned around and said, “Don’t cry.” - And I stopped. Then they played in the water. And Jason too. It is separate, further along the stream. Versh came out from behind the bush and carried me into the water again. Caddy was all wet and dirty from behind, and I started crying, and she came and sat down in the water.

“Don't cry,” Caddy said. - I won't run away.

And I stopped. Caddy smelled like trees in the rain.

"What's the matter with you?" Luster says. “Stop howling, play in the water like everyone else.”

“You should have taken him home. After all, they don’t tell you to take him out of the yard.”

“And he thinks – the meadow is theirs, like before,” says Laster. “And still you can’t see here from the house.”

“But we see him. And looking at a fool is not pleasant. And it’s not a good omen.”

Roskus came and called for dinner, but Caddy said it was too early for dinner.

“No, it’s not too early,” says Roskus. “Dilsey told you to go home.” Lead them, Versh.

Roskus went to the mountain, there a cow mooed.

“Maybe we can dry off while we get home,” Quentin said.

“It’s all your fault,” said Caddy. - So let them flog us.

She put on her dress and Versh buttoned it up for her.

“They won’t know that you’re wet,” said Versh. - It's invisible. Unless Jason and I tell you.

“Won’t you tell me, Jason?” - Caddy asked.

- About whom? - Jason said.

“He won’t tell,” Quentin said. - Really, Jason?

“You’ll see, he’ll tell you,” Caddy said. - To my grandmother.

- How will he tell her? - said Quentin. - She's sick. We will walk slowly, it will get dark and no one will notice.

“Let them notice,” Caddy said. “I’ll take it myself and tell you.” He can't climb here on his own, Versh.

“Jason won’t tell,” Quentin said. “Do you remember, Jason, the bow and arrows I made for you?”

“It’s already broken,” Jason said.

“Let him talk,” said Caddy. - I'm not at all afraid. Take Mori on your back, Versh.

Versh sat down and I climbed onto his back.

“Well, bye, see you tonight, before the show,” says Luster. “Come on, Benji. We still need to look for the coin.”

“If we go slowly, it will be dark by the time we get there,” said Quentin.

“I don’t want it slow,” Caddy said. We went up the mountain, but Quentin didn't go. It already smelled of pigs, but he was still by the stream. They grunted in the corner and breathed into the trough. Jason walked behind us, hands in his pockets. Roskus was milking a cow in the barn near the door.

Cows rushed out of the barn.

“Come on, Benji,” T.P. said. - Start it again. I'll pull it up. Wow! – Quentin kicked Tee-Pee again. He pushed him into the pig trough and Tee-Pee fell there. - Oh man! - said Tee-Pee. - He deftly me. You saw how this white guy kicked me. Wow!

I'm not crying, but I can't stop. I am not crying, but the earth does not stand still, and I cried. The earth keeps climbing up, and the cows run away upward. Tee-Pee wants to get up. He fell again, the cows are running down. Quentin holds my hand as we walk to the barn. But then the barn left, and we had to wait until it returned. I didn't see the barn come back. He came back behind us and Quentin sat me down in the trough where they feed the cows. I'm holding on to the trough. It also goes away, but I hold on. Again the cows ran - down, past the door. I can not stop. Quentin and T.P. swing up and fight. Tee-Pee went down. Quentin drags him upstairs. Quentin hit T.P. I can not stop.

“Get up,” Quentin says. - And sit in the barn. Don't go out until I get back.

“Benji and I are going back to the wedding now,” says T.P. - Wow!

Quentin hit T.P. again. Shakes him and hits him against the wall. T.P. laughs. Every time he gets hit against the wall, he wants to say “uh-oh” and can’t help but laugh. I fell silent, but I can't stop. Tee-Pee fell on top of me and the barn door ran away. I went down, and Tee-Pee was fighting with himself and fell again. He laughs, but I can’t stop, and I want to get up, and I fall back, and I can’t stop. Versh says:

- Well, you showed yourself. Nothing to say. Stop yelling.

T.P. keeps laughing. Floundering on the floor, laughing.

- Wow! - says T.P. “Benji and I are going back to the wedding.” We drank saspreleva and came back!

“Be quiet,” says Versh. -Where did you get it?

“In the cellar,” says T.P. - Wow!

- Quiet! - says Versh. -Where in the cellar?

“Yes, everywhere,” says T.P. Laughs again. - There are a hundred bottles there. Million. Leave me alone, boy. I will sing.

Quentin said:

- Pick him up.

Versh picked me up.

“Have a drink, Benjy,” Quentin said.

It's hot in the glass.

“Shut up,” Quentin said. - Drink better.

“Drink saspreleva,” said Tee-Pee. - Let me have a drink, Mr. Quentin.

“Shut up,” Versh said. “I haven’t received much from Mr. Quentin yet.”

“Back him up, Versh,” Quentin said.

They hold me. Hot water runs down my chin and down my shirt. “Drink,” Quentin says. They hold my head. I felt hot inside and started crying. I cry, but something happens inside me, and I cry harder, and they hold me until it passes. And I fell silent. Everything is spinning again, and now the bright ones are coming. “Versh, open the stall.” The bright ones float slowly. “Put these bags on the floor.” We swam faster, almost as expected. “Come on, grab your feet.” T.P. can be heard laughing. The bright ones float smoothly. I float with them up the bright slope.

At the top, Versh set me down on the ground.- Quentin, let's go! - he called, looking down from the mountain. Quentin is still standing there by the stream. He throws pebbles in the shadows where there is water.

“Let the little coward stay,” said Caddy. She took my hand, we walked past the barn, into the gate. The path is lined with bricks and there is a frog in the middle. Caddy stepped over her, pulling me by the hand.

“Come on, Maury,” Caddy said. The frog is still sitting, Jason kicked it.

“A wart will pop up,” said Versh. The frog jumped away.

“Come on, Versh,” Caddy said.

“You have guests there,” said Versh.

- How do you know? - Caddy said.

“All the lights are on,” Versh said. - In all windows.

“It’s like you can’t light it without guests,” Caddy said. - They wanted it and turned it on.

“We bet, guests,” said Versh. “You’d better go up the back stairs and up to the nursery.”

“And let the guests in,” said Caddy. “I’ll go straight into their living room.”

“I bet your dad will spank you then,” said Versh.

“Let it go,” said Caddy. “I’ll go straight into the living room.” No, I’ll go straight to the dining room and sit down for dinner.

-Where will you sit? - said Versh.

“Grandma’s place,” Caddy said. - Now they bring it to her bed.

“I’m hungry,” Jason said. He overtook us, ran along the path, hands in his pockets, fell. Versh came over and picked it up.

“You have your hands in your pockets and you’re going to flop,” said Versh. - How can you, fat one, take them out in time and lean on them?

Dad is at the kitchen porch.

-Where is Quentin? - he said.

“He’s walking along the path there,” said Versh. Quentin walks slowly. The shirt is stained white.

“I see,” said dad. Light falls from the veranda onto him.

“And Caddy and Quentin were splashing each other,” Jason said.

We stand waiting.

“That’s how it is,” said dad. Quentin came up and dad said: “Today you will have dinner in the kitchen.” – He fell silent, picked me up, and immediately the light from the veranda fell on me too, and I look down at Caddy, Jason, Quentin and Versh. Dad turned to go up to the porch. “Just don’t make any noise,” he said.

- Why, dad? - Caddy said. - We have guests?

“Yes,” said dad.

“I said they were guests,” Versh said.

“Not at all,” said Caddy. - That's what I said. And what am I going to do...

“Quiet,” said dad. They fell silent, and dad opened the door, and we walked across the veranda and entered the kitchen. Dilsey was there, dad put me on a chair, closed the front, and rolled me over to the table where dinner was. Steam from dinner.

“So that they listen to Dilsey,” said Dad. “Don't let them make noise, Dilsey.”

“Okay,” said Dilsey. Dad left.

“So remember: obey Dilsey,” he said behind us. I leaned over for dinner. Steam in my face.

“Dad, let them listen to me today,” said Caddy.

“I won’t listen to you,” Jason said. “I will obey Dilsey.”

“If daddy tells you to, you will,” said Caddy. - Dad, tell them to listen to me.

“I won’t,” Jason said. - I won’t listen to you.

“Quiet,” said dad. - So, everyone, listen to Caddy. When they've had dinner, you'll take them upstairs by the back door, Dilsey.

“Okay, sir,” said Dilsey.

“Yeah,” Caddy said. - Now you will obey me.

“Come on, be quiet,” said Dilsey. – Today you can’t make noise.

- And why? - Caddy said in a whisper.

“You can’t, that’s all,” said Dilsey. – The time will come, you will find out why. The Lord will enlighten.

I put my bowl down. Steam comes from it and tickles your face.

- Come here, Versh.

- Dilsey, how will this enlighten you? - Caddy said.

“He teaches at church on Sundays,” said Quentin. – You don’t even know that.

“Shh,” said Dilsey. “Mr. Jason told me not to make any noise.” Let's eat. Here, Versh, take his spoon. – Versh’s hand dips a spoon into a bowl. The spoon rises to my lips. The steam tickles your mouth. We stopped eating, looked at each other in silence, and then we heard it again, and I began to cry.

- What is this? - Caddy said. She put her hand on mine.

“It’s Mom,” Quentin said. The spoon rose to my lips, I swallowed, and began to cry again.

“Stop it,” Caddy said. But I didn’t stop, and she came up and hugged me. Dilsey went, closed both doors, and there was no sound.

“Well, stop it,” Caddy said. I fell silent and began to eat. Jason eats, but Quentin doesn't.

“It’s Mom,” Quentin said. Got up.

“Sit down now,” Dilsey said. “They have guests there, and you’re in these dirty clothes.” And you sit down, Caddy, and finish your dinner.

“She was crying there,” Quentin said.

“Someone sang it,” Caddy said. - Really, Dilsey?

“You better eat quietly, like Mr. Jason said,” said Dilsey. – When the time comes, you’ll find out.

Caddy went and sat down.

“I told you we’re having a dinner party,” Caddy said.

Versh said:

- He has already eaten everything.

“Give me his bowl,” said Dilsey. The bowl is gone.

“Dilsey,” Caddy said. “But Quentin doesn’t eat.” And he was told to obey me.

“Eat, Quentin,” said Dilsey. - Finish and leave the kitchen.

“I don’t want any more,” Quentin said.

“If I say so, you must eat,” said Caddy. - Really, Dilsey?

Steam comes from the bowl into your face, Versh's hand dips into the spoon, and the steam tickles your mouth.

“I don’t want any more,” Quentin said. - What a dinner party when grandma is sick.

“Well then,” said Caddy. “The guests are below, and she can go out and look from above.” I will also put on my nightgown and go out onto the stairs.

“It was Mom who cried,” Quentin said. - Really, Dilsey?

“Don’t bother me, my dear,” said Dilsey. “I’ve fed you, and now I’m preparing dinner for the whole company.”

Soon even Jason had finished eating. And he cried.

“He whines every night, ever since grandma is sick and he can’t sleep with her,” Caddy said. - Whining.

“Here I’ll tell you about you,” Jason said.

“You already told me that,” Caddy said. – There’s nothing more to tell you.

“It’s time for you to go to bed, that’s what,” said Dilsey. She came up, lowered me to the floor and wiped my mouth and hands with a warm rag. - Versh, take them upstairs by the back door, just quietly. And you, Jason, stop whining.

“It’s not bedtime yet,” Caddy said. – We never go to bed this early.

“You’ll go to bed today,” said Dilsey. “Dad told you to go to bed as soon as you’ve had dinner.” You heard it yourself.

“Daddy told me to obey,” Caddy said.

“And I won’t listen to you,” Jason said.

“As you will,” said Caddy. “Now come on, everyone, and listen to me.”

“Just keep it quiet, Versh,” said Dilsey. - Today, children, be quieter than water, lower than the grass.

- And why? - Caddy said.

“Your mother is not well,” said Dilsey. - Everyone follow Versh.

“I told you mom was crying,” Quentin said. Versh lifted me onto his back and opened the door to the veranda. We went out and Versh closed the door. It’s dark, only the shoulders and the smell of Versh. "Do not make noise. - We'll take a walk again. “Mr. Jason ordered us straight up.” “He told me to obey.” - And I won’t listen to you. - He told everyone. And to you Quentin." I feel the back of Versh's head, I hear all of us. “Really, Versh? - Is it true. - So listen. Now let's go for a little walk in the yard. Let's go." Versh opened the door and we went out.

We went down the steps.

“Let's go,” Caddy said. - The frog galloped away. She has been in the garden for a long time. Maybe we'll meet another one.

Roskus carries buckets of milk. Passed by. Quentin didn't come with us. Sits on the kitchen steps. We go to the house where Versh lives. I love the way it smells. The fire is burning. Tee-Pee sat down, his shirt hem reaching to the floor, and he put it on so that it would burn more intensely.

Then I got up, T.P. dressed me, we went to the kitchen and ate. Dilsey started singing and I started crying and she stopped talking.

“We can’t go there,” says T.P.

We are playing in the stream.

“You can’t go there,” says Tee-Pee. “I heard mammy didn’t tell me to.”

In the kitchen Dilsey sings, I started crying.

“Quiet,” says T.P. - Let's go. Let's go to the barn.

Roskus is milking at the barn. He milks with one hand and groans. The birds sat on the door and watched. One sat down on the ground, eating with the cows. I watch Roskus milk and T.P. feed Queenie and Prince. Calf in a pig fence. He pokes his muzzle into the wire and hums.

“Tee-Pee,” Roskus called. T.P. called back from the barn: “Yes.” Fancy stuck her head out of the stall because T.P. hadn't fed her yet. “Hurry up and manage there,” said Roskus. - You'll have to finish the milking. The right hand no longer functions at all.

Tee-Pee came and sat down to milk.

- Why don’t you go to the doctor? - said Tee-Pee.

“The doctor won’t help here,” said Roskus. - This is our place.

- What kind of thing? - said Tee-Pee.

“This is a miserable place,” said Roskus. - You've finished - let the calf in.

“This is a miserable place,” said Roskus. Behind him and Versha, the fire rose, fell, and slid across their faces. Dilsey put me down. The bed smelled like Tee Pee. It smelled good.

– What do you mean by this? - said Dilsey. – You had an epiphany, a sign was given, or what?

“No need for insight,” said Roskus. “Here he is, the sign, lying in bed.” It's been fifteen years since people have seen this sign.

- So what? - said Dilsey. “He did no harm to you or yours.” Versh is working, Fronie is married, T.P. grows up - he will take over for you, and he will completely cripple you with rheumatism.

“The Lord has already taken two from them,” said Roskus. - Third in line. The sign is clear, you can see it as well as I do.

“That night the owl hooted,” said Tee-Pee. - Since the evening. I poured some stew for Dan, but the dog never came. No closer than a barn. And as soon as it got dark, he howled. Versh heard it too.

“We’re all on that line,” Dilsey said. - Show me a person to live forever.

“It’s not just about deaths,” said Roskus.

“I know what you mean,” said Dilsey. “You’ll be in trouble when you say her name out loud and you’ll sit with him and calm him down.”

“This is a miserable place,” said Roskus. “I noticed him from the very moment he was born, but when they changed his name, I finally understood.”

“Enough,” said Dilsey. Above, she covered me with a blanket. It smelled like Tee-Pee. - Be quiet, let him fall asleep.

“The sign is clear,” said Roskus.

“Yeah, that’s a sign that TP will have to do all your work for you,” said Dilsey. “TP, take him and Quentin, let them play with Luster at the house. Froni will look after them. Go and help your father."

We finished eating. Tee-Pee took Quentina in his arms and we walked to the house where Tee-Pee lives. Luster is sitting on the ground, playing. T.P. sat Quentina down and she also began to play. Luster had the coils, Quentin - took away, took away. Luster began to cry, Fronie came, gave Luster a tin can to play with, and then I took the reels, Quentina began to fight, and I began to cry.

“Calm down,” said Fronie. “You’re not ashamed to take away a little girl’s toy.” – I took the coils and gave them to Quentina.

“Calm down,” said Fronie. - Tsk, they tell you.

“Shut up,” said Fronie. “A good spanking, that’s what you need.” – She took Luster and Quentina in her arms. “Let’s go,” said Froni. We went to the barn. Tee-Pee milks a cow. Roskus is sitting on a box.

- What else did he do? – asked Roskus.

“Yes, I brought him to you,” said Froni. – He’s hurting the little ones again. Takes away toys. Stay here with T.P. and don't cry.

“Milk it clean,” said Roskus. “Last winter I learned that the young woman lost her milk. Now if you ruin this one, we’ll be left completely without milk.

Dilsey sings.

“Don’t go there,” says T.P. “You know what mammy didn’t order.”

They sing there.

“Let’s go,” says T.P. - Let's play with Quentina and Luster. Let's go.

Quentin and Luster are playing on the ground in front of the house where T.P. lives. The fire rises and falls in the house, Roskus sits in front of the fire - a black spot on the fire.

“The Lord has taken away the third one,” says Roskus. – I predicted it the year before last. Unfortunate place.

“Then I’d move to something else,” says Dilsey. She undresses me. “Only Versha was confused by his croaking.” If it weren’t for you, Versh would not have left us for Memphis.

“Let this be all misfortune for Versh,” says Roskus.

Fronie came in.

-Have you finished yet? - said Dilsey.

“Tee-Pee is cumming,” said Fronie. “Miss Kaline is calling to put Quentin to bed.”

“I’ll manage and go,” said Dilsey. “It’s time for her to know that I don’t have wings.”

“That’s it,” said Roskus. “How can a place not be unhappy when the name of one’s own daughter is banned here?”

“It will be for you,” said Dilsey. - Do you want to wake him up?

“So that the girl grows up and doesn’t know what to call her mother,” said Roskus.

“Not your sadness,” said Dilsey. “I raised them all, and somehow this one too.” Now shut up. Let him sleep.

“Just think, wake up,” said Fronie. - It's like he can distinguish names.

“He can tell the difference,” said Dilsey. “Tell him this name in a dream, and he’ll hear it.”

“He knows more than people think,” Roskus said. “He sensed it all three times when their time came, no worse than our pointer.” And when his time will come, he also knows, but he cannot say. And when yours comes. And my when.

“Mammy, move Luster to another bed from him,” Fronie said. - He will spoil Luster.

“Tip your tongue,” said Dilsey. – Didn’t you come up with a smarter idea? I found someone to listen to - Roskus. Get down, Benji.

She pushed me, and I lay down, and Luster was already lying there, sleeping. Dilsey took a long piece of wood and placed it between Luster and me.

“You can’t go to Luster’s side,” said Dilsey. - He is small, it will hurt him.

“You can’t go there yet,” said T.P. “Wait.”

We watch from behind the house as the charabancs drive away.

“Now we can,” said Tee-Pee. I took Quentina in my arms, and we ran, stood at the end of the fence, watching how they drove. “They’re taking him over there,” said Tee-Pee. - The one with the windows. Look. There he lies. Do you see?

“Let’s go,” Luster says. “We’ll take it home so it doesn’t get lost. Well, no, you won't get this ball. They will see you and say you stole it. Shut up. You can't have it. Why do you need it? You don’t need balls.”

Frony and Tee Pee are playing on the ground by the doorstep. Tee-Pee has fireflies in a bottle.

-Are you still allowed to go for walks? - said Froni.

“There are guests,” said Caddy. “Dad told me to obey today.” So you and T.P. need to listen to me too.

“I won’t,” Jason said. “And Fronie and T.P. don’t need to listen to you at all.”

“I tell them, and they will obey,” said Caddy. “But maybe I don’t want to give the order yet.”

“Tee-Pee doesn’t listen to anyone,” said Fronie. - What, the funeral has already begun?

-What is a funeral? - Jason said.

“You forgot: mammy didn’t tell me to tell them,” said Versh.

“No,” Caddy said. - It's with the blacks. And white people don't have funerals.

“Froni,” Versh said. “We weren’t told to tell them.”

- What didn’t they tell you? - Caddy said.

Dilsey cried, and when we heard it, I cried, and Gray howled under the porch, “Luster,” Fronie said from the window. “Take them to the barn. I need to cook, but because of them I can’t. And this dog too. Get them out of here."

“I’m not going to the barn,” Luster said. “Grandfather will also appear. He was waving at me from the barn last night.”

- Why not talk? - said Froni. “Whites die too.” Your grandmother died - just like any black woman.

“It’s the dogs that die,” Caddy said. “Or horses—like when Nancy fell into the ditch and Roskus shot her, and the buzzards came and stripped her to the bones.”

Under the moon, the bones from the ditch are round, where the dark vine and the ditch are black, as if some bright ones have gone out, while others have not. And then they went out, and it became dark. I paused to breathe, and again, and I heard my mother, and the steps were leaving quickly, and I could hear the smell. Then the room came, but my eyes closed. I haven't stopped. I can smell it. TP unfastens a pin from the sheet.

“Quiet,” he says. - Shhh.

But I can smell it. TP sat me down in bed and dressed me quickly.

“Quiet, Benji,” says T.P. - Come to us. It’s good at home there, Fronie is there. Quiet. Shhh.

I tied my shoelaces, put my hat on, and we went out. There is light in the corridor. You can hear mom down the hall.

“Shh, Benji,” says T.P. - Let's leave now.

The door opened, and there was a very strong smell, and my head stuck out. Not dad's. Dad is lying there sick.

- Take him into the yard.

“We’re already on our way,” says T.P. Dilsey walked up the stairs.

“Quiet, Benjy,” says Dilsey. - Quiet. Bring him to us, T.P. Froni will make the bed for him. Watch him there. Quiet, Benji. Go with Tee Pee.

I went to where I could hear my mother.

- Let it stay there with you. - This is not dad. I closed the door, but I could hear the smell.

Let's go down. The steps go into the dark, and T.P. took my hand, and we walked out through the dark and out the door. Dan sits in the yard and howls.

“He can smell it,” says T.P. - And you, too, have an instinct for this?

We go down the steps from the porch, where our shadows are.

“I forgot to put your jacket on,” says T.P. - But it would be necessary. But I won’t go back.

Dan howls.

“Shut up,” says T.P. Our shadows are walking, but Dan is not moving, he just howls when Dan howls.

“I lost my temper,” says T.P. - How can we lead you to us? You didn’t even have this toad bass before. Let's go.

We walk along the brick path, and so do our shadows. The barn smells like pigs. A cow is standing nearby, chewing on us. Dan howls.

“You will raise the whole city to its feet with your roar,” says Tee-Pee. - Stop doing that.

Fancy is grazing by the stream. We approach, the moon shines on the water.

“Well, no,” says T.P. - It's too close here. Let's go even further. Went. Well, clubfooted - almost waist-deep in dew. Let's go.

Dan howls.

The grass rustles, and a ditch has opened in the grass. Bones roll from black vines.

“Well,” said Tee-Pee. - Now shout as much as you like. The whole night is yours and twenty acres of meadow.

Tee-Pee lay down in the ditch, and I sat down, looking at the bones, where the buzzards pecked at Nancy and flew up from the ditch, heavy and dark.

“When we walked here this morning, there was a coin,” Luster says. “I also showed you. Do you remember? We are standing here, I took it out of my pocket and show it.”

- Well, do you think the buzzards will undress your grandmother? - Caddy said. - What nonsense.

“You’re a jerk,” Jason said. I started crying.

“You’re stupid,” Caddy said. Jason is crying. Hands in pockets.

“Jason should be rich,” said Versh. - He always hangs on to money.

Jason is crying.

“Well, they teased me,” said Caddy. - Don't cry, Jason. Can buzzards get to grandma? Dad won't let them in. You’re small, and even then you wouldn’t have been given to them. Do not Cry.

Jason fell silent.

“And Fronie says it’s a funeral,” Jason said.

“No, no,” said Caddy. - This is our dinner party. Fronie doesn't know anything. He wants to hold fireflies. Give it to him, T.P.

Tee-Pee gave me a bottle of fireflies.

“Let’s go around the house and look through the window into the living room,” said Caddy. “Then you’ll see who’s right.”

“I already know,” said Froni. - I don’t even need to look.

“You better be quiet, Froni,” said Versh. “Otherwise you’ll get a spanking from mammy.”

- Well, what do you know? - Caddy said.

“I know what I know,” said Fronie.

“Come on,” said Caddy. - Let's go look out the window.

We are going.

– Did you forget to return the fireflies? - said Froni.

- Let him hold it a little longer - is that okay, Tee-Pee? - Caddy said. - We'll bring it.

“You weren’t the one who caught them,” said Froni.

- And if I allow you to come with us, then can I hold you a little longer? - Caddy said.

“No one told T.P. and I to obey you,” said Fronie.

- And if I say that you don’t need to listen to me, then can you hold me a little longer? - Caddy said.

“Okay,” said Fronie. - Let him hold it, Tee-Pee. But we'll see how they vote there.

“You can’t see what they have there from here,” said Versh.

“Well, let's go,” said Caddy. “Frony and Tee-Pee don’t have to listen to me.” And everyone else obeys. Pick him up, Versh. It's almost dark already.

Versh took me on his back and we walked to the porch and then around the house.

We looked out from behind the house - two lights were heading towards the house along the alley. T.P. returned to the cellar and opened the door.

“Do you know what’s down there?” T.P. said. Soda. I saw Mr. Jason carrying bottles from there in both hands. Stay here a minute."

T.P. went and looked through the kitchen door. Dilsey said: “Well, why are you stopping by? Where's Benji?

“He’s here in the yard,” said T.P.

“Go watch him,” said Dilsey. “Don’t go into the house.”

"Okay, ma'am," T.P. said. “Has it already started?”

A snake crawled out from under the house. Jason said he wasn't afraid of snakes, and Caddy said he was, but she wasn't, and Versh said they were both afraid, and Caddy said don't make any noise, Dad didn't say so.

“I found a time to roar,” says Tee-Pee. “Take a better sip of this saspreleva.”

She tickles my nose and eyes.

“If you don’t want it, let me have a drink,” says Tee-Pee. “That’s it, once - and no. Now let's go get a new bottle while no one bothers us. Shut up."

We stood under a tree where there was a window into the living room. Versh sat me down in the wet grass. Cold. Light in all windows.

“Grandma’s over there,” Caddy said. “She’s sick all day now.” And when he recovers, we will have a picnic.

The trees are noisy and so is the grass.

“And next to it is the room where we get measles,” said Caddy. - Froni, where are you and T.P. suffering from measles?

“Yes, anywhere,” said Froni.

“It hasn’t started yet,” Caddy said.

“They’ll start now,” said T.P. “You stay here, and I’ll go and drag the box, it will be visible from the window. First, let's just finish the bottle. Wow, she just makes me want to hoot like an owl.”

We finished our drink. T.P. pushed the bottle through the grate under the house and walked away. I could hear them in the living room, I grabbed the wall with my hands. Tee-Pee is carrying a box. He fell and laughed. He lies and laughs in the grass. He stood up and dragged the box under the window. He tries not to laugh.

“It’s creepy, like hunting,” says Tee-Pee. - Climb onto the box, look, did it start there?

“It hasn’t started yet,” Caddy said. - There are no musicians yet.

“And there will be no musicians,” said Froni.

“You know a lot,” said Caddy.

“What I know, I know,” said Fronie.

“You don’t know anything,” Caddy said. I went up to the tree. - Give me a lift, Versh.

“Your dad didn’t tell you to climb a tree,” Versh said.

“It was a long time ago,” Caddy said. - He already forgot. And then, he ordered me to obey today. What, isn't it true?

“And I won’t listen to you,” Jason said. “And neither will Fronie and Tee-Pee.”

“Hit me, Versh,” Caddy said.

“Okay,” said Versh. - You will be spanked, not me.

He came up and put Caddy up on the tree, on the lower branch. The back of her pants is dirty. And now she is not visible. The branches crack and sway.

“Mr. Jason said he’d whip you if you broke the tree,” Wersh said.

“And I’ll tell you about her too,” Jason said.

The tree stopped swaying. We look at the quiet branches.

- Well, what did you see there? - Froni whispers.

I saw them. Then I saw Caddy, flowers in her hair, and a long veil, like a light wind. Caddy. Caddy.

- Quiet! - says T.P. - They'll hear! Get off quickly. - It pulls me. Caddy. I'm clinging to the wall. Caddy. Tee-Pee pulls me.

“Quiet,” says T.P. - Quiet. Let's get out of here quickly. - It drags me further. Caddy... - Quiet, Benji. You want them to hear. Let's go, have another drink and come back - if you shut up. Let's go grab another bottle before we both get sunburned. Let's say Dan drank them. Mr. Quentin keeps saying how smart the dog is - let's say he can drink wine too.

Light from the moon on the steps to the cellar. Let's drink some more.

– Do you know what I want? - says T.P. - So that a bear comes here to the cellar. Do you know what I'll do to him? I'll come right up and spit in your eyes. Give me the bottle to shut my mouth, otherwise I’ll start burning now.

Tee-Pee fell. I laughed, the cellar door and the moonlight flashed, and I hit myself.

“Be quiet,” says T.P. and wants not to laugh. - They will hear. Get up, Benji. Get to your feet, quickly. - He flounders and laughs, but I want to get up. The steps from the cellar go up, with the moon on them. Tee-Pee fell into the steps, into the moonlight, I ran onto the fence, and Tee-Pee runs after me and: “Quiet, quiet.” Fell into the flowers, lol, I ran into the box. I want to climb in, but the box jumped back, hit me on the back of the head, and my throat said: “Uh.” It said again, and I lay quietly, but the pain in my throat did not stop, and I began to cry. Tee-Pee drags me, but his throat won't stop. It doesn't stop all the time, and I don't know whether I'm crying or not. Tee-Pee fell on me, laughing, and it wouldn't stop in his throat, and Quentin kicked Tee-Pee, and Caddy hugged me, and the light veil, but Caddy didn't smell of trees anymore, and I cried.

"Benji," Caddy said. "Benji." She hugged me again with her arms, but I left.-What are you doing, Benji? Because of this hat? “I took off my hat, came up again, and I left.”

“Benji,” she said. - Why then? What did Caddy do wrong?

“Yes, because of this dress,” Jason said. – You think you’re big already, right? You think you're the best, right? Got dressed up.

“You little bastard, bite your tongue,” Caddy said. - Why are you crying, Benji?

– If you’re fourteen, you think you’re already big, right? - Jason said. - Great deal, do you think so?

“Quiet, Benjy,” Caddy said. - Otherwise you’ll worry your mother. Stop doing that.

But I didn’t stop, she walked away from me, I followed her, she stood waiting on the stairs, I stood too.

-What are you doing, Benji? - she said. “Tell Caddy, and Caddy will fix it.” Well, speak up.

“Candacey,” Mom said.

“Yes, ma'am,” Caddy said.

- Why are you teasing him? - Mom said. - Come here with him.

We entered my mother’s room, my mother was lying there, and the disease was like a white rag on her forehead.

“What’s the matter with you again, Benjamin?” - Mom said.

“Benji,” Caddy said. She came up again, but I left.

“It’s probably because of you,” Mom said. “Why are you touching him, why don’t you let me lie quietly?” Get him the box and please go away, leave him alone.

Caddy took out the box, put it on the floor, and opened it. It's full of stars. I stand quietly - and they stand quietly. I move - they play with sparks. I fell silent.

Then I heard Caddy leaving and started crying again.

“Benjamin,” Mom said. “Come here,” he went to the door. “They’re telling you, Benjamin,” Mom said.

- What do you have here? - said dad. -Where are you going?

“Take him downstairs, Jason, and have someone watch him,” Mom said. “You know how unwell I am, and yet you...

We went out and dad closed the door.

- Tee-Pee! - he said.

“Yes, sir,” T.P. said from below.

“Benji is coming down to see you,” Dad said. - Stay with T.P.

I listen to the water.

You can hear the water. I'm listening to.

“Benji,” T.P. said from below.

I listen to the water.

The water has stopped and Caddy is at the door.

- Ah, Benji! - she said. She looks at me, I came up, and hugged me. “I finally found Caddy,” she said. - Did you think I ran away? “Caddy smelled like trees.”

We went to Caddin's room. She sat down in front of the mirror. Then she stopped using her hands and turned to me.

- What are you doing, Benji? Why are you? Do not Cry. Caddy isn't going anywhere. Look at this,” she said. She took the bottle, took out the cap, and brought it to my nose. - It smells so good! Smell it. Good as!

I left and didn’t stop, and she was holding the bottle and looking at me.

“So there it is,” said Caddy. She put the bottle down, came over, and hugged me. - So that’s what you’re talking about. And he wanted to tell me, but he couldn’t. I wanted to, but I couldn’t. Of course, Caddy won't wear perfume. Of course it won't. I'll just get dressed.

Caddy got dressed, took the bottle again, and we went to the kitchen.

“Dilsey,” Caddy said. - Benji is giving you a gift. “Caddy bent down and put the bottle in my hand. “Now give it to Dilsey.” “She held out my hand and Dilsey took the bottle.

- No, think about it! - said Dilsey. - My child gives me perfume. Just look, Roskus.

Caddy smells like trees.

“Benjy and I don’t like perfume,” Caddy said.

Caddy smelled like trees.

“Well, here’s another thing,” said Dilsey. - He’s a big boy now, he should sleep in his own bed. You are already thirteen years old. “You’ll sleep alone now, in Uncle Mora’s room,” said Dilsey.

Uncle Mori is not well. His eyes and mouth are unhealthy. Versh brought him dinner on a tray.

“Morey is threatening to shoot the scoundrel,” Dad said. “I advised him to keep it down, otherwise this Patterson wouldn’t hear.” - Dad drank from the glass.

“Jason,” Mom said.

-Who should I shoot, eh, dad? - said Quentin. - Shoot for what?

“Because Uncle Mori joked, but he doesn’t understand jokes,” said dad.

“Jason,” Mom said. - How can you do this? What the hell, Mori will be killed from around the corner, and you will sit and chuckle.

-Who should we shoot? - said Quentin. -Who will Uncle Maury shoot?

“Nobody,” said dad. - I don’t have a gun.

Mom started crying.

“If it’s a burden for you to show Mori hospitality, then be a man and tell him to his face, and don’t mock him behind the eyes in front of the children.”

“What are you doing,” said dad. – I admire Mori. It immeasurably strengthens my sense of racial superiority. I wouldn't trade it for a team of brown horses. And do you know, Quentin, why?

“No, sir,” said Quentin.

“Et ego in Arcadia...2 I forgot the Latin for “hay,” said dad. “Well, don’t be angry,” said dad. - This is all a joke. “I drank, put the glass down, went up to my mother, and put my hand on her shoulder.

“Inappropriate jokes,” said my mother. “Our family is not one iota worse than yours, Compson’s.” And if Mori is in poor health, then...

“Of course,” said dad. – Poor health is the root cause of life in general. Born in illness, nourished by decay, subject to decay. Versh!

“Sir,” Versh said from behind my chair.

- Go fill the decanter.

“And tell Dilsey to take Benjamin upstairs and put him to bed,” Mom said.

“You’re a big boy now,” Dilsey said. “Caddy got tired of sleeping with you.” Well shut up and go to sleep.

The room left, but I didn’t shut up, and the room came back, and Dilsey came, sat on the bed, looking at me.

“So don’t you want to be good and go to sleep?” - said Dilsey. - Don’t you want to? Can you wait a minute?

Gone. The doorway is empty. Then Caddy is at the door.

“Shh,” says Caddy. - I'm coming.

I fell silent, Dilsey turned back the coverlet, and Caddy lay down on the blanket under the coverlet. She kept her bathrobe on.

“Well,” said Caddy. - Here I am.

Dilsey came with another blanket, covered her, and tucked her in around her.

“He’s a minute and ready,” said Dilsey. “I won’t turn off your light.”

“Okay,” Caddy said. She placed her head next to mine on the pillow. - Good night, Dilsey.

“Good night, my love,” said Dilsey. Blackness fell over the room. Caddy smelled like trees.

We look at the tree where Caddy is.

– What can she see there, huh, Versh? - Froni whispers.

“Shhh,” said Caddy from the tree.

- Come on, go to sleep! - said Dilsey. She came out from behind the house. “Dad told me to go upstairs, and you snuck in here behind my back?” Where are Caddy and Quentin?

“I told her not to climb the tree,” Jason said. - I’ll tell you about her.

- Who, on what tree? - said Dilsey. – She came up and looked up at the tree. - Caddy! - said Dilsey. The branches swayed again.

- You, Satan! - said Dilsey. - Get down to the ground.

“Shh,” said Caddy. “After all, dad didn’t tell me to make noise.”

Caddin's legs appeared. Dilsey reached over and took it off the tree.

- Do you have any intelligence? Why did you let them come here? - said Dilsey.

“What could I do with her,” said Versh.

- Why are you here? - said Dilsey. - Who gave you permission?

“She is,” said Fronie. - She called us.

- Who told you to obey her? - said Dilsey - Come on, march home! – Froni and T.P. are leaving. They are not visible, but can still be heard.

“It’s night outside, and you’re wandering around,” said Dilsey. She took me in her arms and we walked towards the kitchen.

“They snuck behind my back,” said Dilsey. “And they know that it’s high time to go to bed.”

“Shh, Dilsey,” Caddy said. - Talk quietly. We were not told to make noise.

“Then don’t make any noise,” said Dilsey. -Where is Quentin?

“He's angry that he was told to obey me,” Caddy said. “And we still have to give Tee-Pee the bottle of fireflies.”

“Tee-Pee can do without the fireflies,” said Dilsey. - Go, Versh, look for Quentin. Roskus saw him walking towards the barn. - Versh leaves. Versh is not visible.

“They don't do anything in the living room,” Caddy said. “They just sit on chairs and watch.”

“Apparently they are waiting for your help,” said Dilsey. We turned around the kitchen.

“Where did you turn?” Luster says. “Look at the players again? We've already looked there. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Stay here and never move while I run home to get that ball. I thought of one thing.”

The kitchen window is dark. The trees turn black in the sky. From under the porch, Dan waddles, slightly grabbing his leg. I went behind the kitchen, where the moon is. Dan is behind me.

- Benji! T.P. said in the house.

The tree in the flowers by the living room window does not turn black, but the thick trees are all black. The grass chirps under the moon, my shadow walks across the grass.

- Hey, Benji! T.P. said in the house. -Where have you gone? He went into the yard. I know.

Luster has returned. “Stop,” he says. "Do not go. You can't go there. There's Miss Quentin in the hammock with her gentleman. Let's go here. Turn back, Benji!

It's dark under the trees. Dan didn't go. Stayed where the moon is. The hammock became visible and I began to cry.

“You better come back, Benji,” Luster says. “Otherwise Miss Quentin will be angry.”

There are two in the hammock, then one. The caddy walks quickly, white in the dark.

- Benji! - she says. - How did you run away from home? Where is Versh?

She wrapped her arms around me, I fell silent, holding on to the dress, pulling her away.

- What are you doing, Benji? - Caddy said. - Well, why? Tee-Pee,” she called.

The one in the hammock stood up, came over, I started crying, and pulled Caddy’s dress.

“Benji,” Caddy said. - This is Charlie. You know Charlie.

- And where is Niger, what is looking after him? - said Charlie. - Why do they let him in unattended?

“Shh, Benjy,” Caddy said. - Go away, Charlie. He doesn't like you. “Charlie left, I fell silent. I pull Caddy's dress.

- Well, what are you doing, Benji? - Caddy said. “Can’t I sit here and talk to Charlie?”

“Niger call,” said Charlie. It fits again. I cried louder and pulled Caddy's dress.

“Go away, Charlie,” Caddy said. Charlie comes up and puts his hands on Caddy. I cried harder. Loud.

“No, no,” said Caddy. - No. No.

“He’s still mute,” Charlie said. - Caddy.

“You're crazy,” Caddy said. I began to breathe. - Mute, but not blind. Let me go. No need. - Caddy breaks out. Both are breathing. “Please, please,” Caddy whispered.

“Send him away,” Charlie said.

“Okay,” Caddy said. - Let me go!

-Will you drive me away? - said Charlie.

“Yes,” said Caddy. - Let me go. - Charlie left. “Don't cry,” Caddy said. - He left. – I fell silent. She breathes loudly and her chest moves.

“We’ll have to take him home,” Caddy said. She took my hand. “I’ll be there now,” in a whisper.

“Don’t go,” Charlie said. - We'll call Niger.

“No,” Caddy said. - I'll come back. Let's go, Benji.

- Caddy! – Charlie whispers loudly. We are leaving. - Come back, I say! - Caddy and I are running. - Caddy! - Charlie follows. We ran under the moon and ran to the kitchen.

- Caddy! - Charlie follows.

Caddy and I are running. Up the steps to the veranda, and Caddy sat down in the dark and hugged me. She breathes audibly, her chest moves against mine.

“I won’t,” says Caddy. - I will never do it again. Benji, Benji. “I started crying, so did I, we held each other.” “Quiet, Benjy,” Caddy said. - Quiet. Never again. - And I stopped. Caddy stood up and we went into the kitchen, turned on the light, and Caddy took the kitchen soap, washed her mouth under the tap, rubbed it hard. Caddy smells like trees.

“How many times have you been told you can’t come here,” says Luster. We quickly stood up in the hammock. Quentin does his hair with his hands. He is wearing a red tie.

“Oh, you disgusting, unfortunate idiot,” says Quentin. “And you purposely follow him around with me. I’ll tell Dilsey now, she’ll belt you.”

“What could I do when he’s struggling,” says Luster. - Turn around, Benji.

“Could, could,” says Quentina. - I just didn’t want to. The two of them were spying on me. Was it your grandmother who sent you to spy? – Jumped out of the hammock. “Just don’t take him away this minute, just mess with him here again, and I’ll complain, and Jason will spank you.”

“I can’t handle him,” Luster says. – If we tried it ourselves, then we’d talk about it.

“Shut up,” Quentina says. -Are you going to get out of here or not?

“Let it go,” he says. His tie is red. There is sun on the tie. - Hey, Jack! Look here! – I lit a match and put it in my mouth. He took it out of his mouth. It's still burning. - Well, try this! - he says. I went. - Open your mouth! - I opened. Quentina hit the match with her hand, the match went away.

- Well, to hell with you! - says Quentina. - Do you want him to howl? He just needs to start - and for the whole day. I'll complain to Dilsey about them now. - She left, ran away.

“Come back, baby,” he says. - Do not go. We won't train him.

Quentina runs towards the house. I turned around the kitchen.

“Ay-ay, Jack,” he says. - You've done a lot of things.

“He doesn’t understand what you told him,” Luster says. - He is deaf and dumb.

“Oh, well,” he says. - How long has this been?

“It’s exactly thirty-three today,” says Laster. - He's a fool from birth. Aren't you going to be an artist?

- And what? - he says.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you in our city before,” says Laster.

- So what? - he says.

“Nothing,” Luster says. – I’m going to the show today.

He looks at me.

- And you won’t be the same one who plays the saw? - says Luster.

“If you buy a ticket, you’ll find out,” he says. Looks at me. “This guy needs to be locked up,” he says. - Why are you here with him?

“I have nothing to do with it,” Luster says. “I can’t handle him.” I’m walking around looking for a coin - I lost it, and now I have nothing to buy a ticket with. Just stay at home. -Looks at the ground. “Do you happen to have a quarter of a dollar?” - says Luster.

“No,” he says. – It won’t be found by chance.

“We’ll have to look for that coin,” Luster says. He put his hand in his pocket. – Would you like to buy a ball too?

- What ball? - he says.

“For golf,” Luster says. - Just a quarter of a dollar.

- What do I need it for? - he says. – What will I do with him?

“That’s what I thought,” Luster says. “Come on, donkey head,” he says. - Let's go watch the balls being kicked around. Look, I found you a toy. Here, keep it with the dope. – Laster picked it up and gave it to me. She sparkles.

-Where did you get this box? - he says. The tie turns red in the sun.

“Under the bush here,” says Luster. - I thought it was your coin.

He came and took it.

“Don’t cry,” says Luster. - He will look and give it back.

“Agnessa,” Mabel, “Becky,” he says. I looked at the house.

“Quiet,” says Luster. - He'll give it back now.

He gave it to me, I fell silent.

-Who was she here yesterday? - he says.

“I don’t know,” Luster says. “They are here every evening, when she can climb down the tree from the window.” You can't keep track of them.

“One still left a trace,” he says. I looked at the house. I went to lie down in a hammock. - Get out of here. Don't get on your nerves.

“Let’s go,” Luster says. - You've done a lot of business. Let's go while Miss Quentin is there complaining about you.

We go to the fence, look into the gaps of the flowers. Luster searches in the grass.

“It was in this pocket,” he says. The flag flutters, and the sun slants across the wide meadow.

“Someone will pass here now,” says Luster. – Yes, not those – those players have already passed. Come on, help me look.

We walk along the fence.

“Stop howling,” Luster says. “If they don’t come, you can’t force them!” You have to wait a minute. Look at this. There they appeared.

I walk along the fence to the gate where schoolgirls are passing with their bags.

- Hey, Benji! - says Luster. - Back!

“Well, what’s the use of hanging around there, looking at the road,” said T.P. “Miss Caddy is far away from us now. She got married and left. What's the point of holding on to the gate there and crying? She won’t hear.”

“What does he want?” said mom. “Entertain him, T.P., keep him quiet.”

“Yes, he wants to go to the gate, look at the road,” said Tee-Pee.

“This is exactly what you can’t do,” said my mother. “It’s raining outside. Can't you play with him to make him shut up? Stop it, Benjamin."

“He won’t shut up for anything,” said T.P. “He thinks if he stands at the gate, Miss Caddy will come back.”

“What nonsense,” said my mother.

I can hear them talking. I walked out the door, and they can no longer be heard, and I go to the gate, where schoolgirls are passing with bags. They pass quickly and look at me, turning their faces. I want to say, but they are leaving, I walk along the fence and want to say, but they are getting faster. I’m already running, but the fence ends, I have nowhere to go further, I hold on to the fence, look after him and want to speak out.

- Benji! - says T.P. - Why are you running away from home? Wanted Dilsey to be whipped?

“What good is it for you to howl there and moo over the fence,” says Tee-Pee. “I just scared the kids.” You see, they ran across to the other side of you.

“How did he open the gate?” said dad. “Didn’t you, Jason, lock the latch behind you when you came in?”

“Of course I locked it,” Jason said. “What am I, a fool? Or do you think I wanted this to happen? Things are already funny in our family. I knew it wouldn’t end well. Now, I think, you’ll send him to Jackson 4 Unless Mrs. Burges shoots him first..."

“Shut up,” said dad.

“I knew it all along,” Jason said.

I touched the gate - it’s not locked, and I hold on to it, look into the dusk, and don’t cry. Schoolgirls pass by at dusk, and I want everything to be in place. I'm not crying.

- There he is.

We stopped.

“He can’t get out of the gate.” And then - he is meek. Went!

- Afraid. I'm afraid. I'd rather go that way.

- Yes, he won’t get out of the gate.

I'm not crying.

- Also still a cowardly bunny. Went!

It's twilight. I'm not crying, I'm holding on to the gate. They don't come quickly.

- I'm afraid.

- He won't touch it. I pass here every day. He just runs along the fence.

Come over. He opened the gate, and they stopped and turned around. I want to say, I caught her, I want to say, but she screamed, and I want to say, to speak out, and the bright spots stopped, and I want to get out of here. I want to rip it off my face, but the bright ones floated again. They float up the mountain and towards the cliff, and I want to cry. I inhaled, but exhaled, I can’t cry and I don’t want to fall off a cliff - I’m falling into a whirlwind of bright spots.

“Look here, you idiot!” Luster says. “They’re coming over there. Stop crying and stop drooling."

They approached the flag. He pulled it out, hit it, and put the flag back in.

- Mister! - said Luster.

He turned around.

- What? - speaks.

-Won't you buy a golf ball? - says Luster.

“Show me,” he says. He approached and Luster passed him the ball over the fence.

- Where did you get it? - he says.

“Yes, I found it,” says Luster.

“It’s clear what I found,” he says. - But where did you find it? The players have it in their bag?

“It was lying in our yard,” says Luster. - I'll sell it for a quarter of a dollar.

– Should I sell someone else’s ball? - he says.

“I found it,” Luster says.

“Go ahead and find it again,” he says. He puts it in his pocket and leaves.

“I need a ticket,” says Luster.

- Is that so? - he says. Went for smooth. “Step aside, Caddy,” he said. Hit.

“I can’t tell you,” says Luster. “If they’re not there, you howl; if they come, you howl too.” Could you please shut up? Do you think it's nice to listen to you all day? And he dropped his dope. On the! - He picked it up and gave me the flower. - I’ve already worn it out, at least go and rip a new one. - We stand at the fence, looking at them.

“You can’t make porridge with this white,” says Laster. – Did you see how he took my ball? - They're leaving. We walk along the fence. We reached the garden, we had nowhere to go further. I hold on to the fence, look into the gaps of the flowers. Gone.

Our shadows are on the grass. They go to the trees in front of us. Mine arrived first. Then we got there, and there were no more shadows. There is a flower in the bottle. I am my flower - go there too.

“You’re a big ass,” says Luster. – You play with herbs in a bottle. When Miss Kaline dies, do you know where they’ll take you? Mr. Jason said they'll take you where you're supposed to go, to Jackson. Sit there with other crazy people, hold on to the bars all day and let them drool. You'll have fun.

Luster hit the flowers with his hand and they fell out of the bottle.

- That's how you are in Jackson, just try to howl there.

I want to pick up flowers. Luster picked it up and the flowers left. I started crying.

“Come on,” says Luster, “roar!” The only problem is that there is no reason. Okay, now you'll have a reason. Caddy! - in a whisper. - Caddy! Well, roar, Caddy!

- Luster! - Dilsey said from the kitchen. The flowers are back.

- Quiet! - says Luster. - Here are your herbs. Look! Again everything is exactly as it was. Stop it!

- La-aster! says Dilsey.

“Yes, ma’am,” Luster says. - Let's go now! And all because of you. Get up now. “He pulled my hand and I stood up. We went out of the trees. There are no shadows of ours.

- Quiet! - says Luster. - All the neighbors are watching. Quiet!

“Bring him here,” says Dilsey. She came down the steps.

-What else have you done to him? - she says.

“I didn’t do anything to him,” Luster says. - It’s so simple, out of nowhere.

“No way,” says Dilsey. - Did something? Where did you go with him?

“Yes, there, under the trees,” says Luster.

“They drove Quentina to anger,” says Dilsey. - Why are you taking him to where she is? Because you know, she doesn't like it.

“She’s too busy,” says Luster. “I bet Benji is her uncle, not mine.”

- You, guy, stop being impudent! says Dilsey.

“I didn’t touch him,” Luster says. “He was playing around, and then suddenly he started roaring.

“So you destroyed his graves,” says Dilsey.

“I didn’t touch them,” Luster says.

“Don’t lie to me, son,” says Dilsey. We walked up the steps to the kitchen. Dilsey opened the stove door, placed a chair nearby, and I sat down. He fell silent.

“Why did you have to bother her?” Dilsey said. “Why did you go there with him?”

“He sat quietly and looked at the fire,” Caddy said. “And his mother taught him to respond to his new name. We didn’t want her to cry at all.”

“They really didn’t want to,” said Dilsey. “Fiddle with him here, with her there. Don't let him near the stove, okay? Don’t touch anything here without me.”

“And aren’t you ashamed to tease him?” says Dilsey. She brought the cake to the table.

“I wasn’t teasing,” Luster says. “He was playing with his herbs in a bottle, and suddenly he picked it up and roared. You heard it yourself.

“You’ll say you didn’t touch his flowers,” says Dilsey.

“I didn’t touch it,” says Luster. - What do I need his weed for? I was looking for my coin.

“I lost her,” says Dilsey. She lit the candles on the cake. Some candles are thin. Others are thick, in scanty pieces. - I told you to hide it. And now, then, you want me to ask Fronya for another one for you.

“Be it Benji or Razbenji, but I’ll go see the artists,” says Luster. - Not enough during the day, so maybe tinker with him at night.

“That’s why you’re assigned to him,” says Dilsey. - Get it off your chest, grandson.

“Yes, I do,” says Luster. “Whatever he wants, I do everything.” Really, Bendya?

“That’s it,” says Dilsey. - And not to let him roar throughout the whole house, annoyed Miss Kaline. Let's better eat the cake before Jason comes. Now she will get attached, even though I bought this cake with my own money. Try the specks here, when he keeps count of each testicle. Don't you dare tease him here without me if you want to go see the artists.

Dilsey left.

“It’s too hard for you to blow out the candles,” says Luster. - And look how I do them. – He bent down and puffed out his cheeks. The candles are gone. I started crying. “Cut it out,” Luster says. - Look at the fire in the stove. I'll cut the cake for now.

I can hear the clock, and the Caddy behind me, and I can hear the roof. “It’s pouring and pouring,” said Caddy. “I hate rain. I hate everything in the world." Her head lay on my lap. Caddy was crying and she put her arms around me and I started crying. Then I look into the fire again, again the bright lights floated smoothly. You can hear the clock and the roof and the Caddy.

I eat a piece of cake. Laster's hand came and took another piece. You can hear him eating. I look into the fire. A long piece of iron extended from behind my shoulder to the door, and the fire went away. I started crying.

- Well, why did you howl? - says Luster. - Look at this. - The fire is back. I'm silent. “I would sit there, looking at the fire, and be silent, as mammy ordered, but no,” says Luster. – And don’t be ashamed of you. On the. Here's another piece for you.

-What did you do to him here? says Dilsey. - Why do you offend him?

“Yes, I’m trying to keep him quiet and not annoy Miss Kaline,” Luster says. – He roared again out of nowhere.

“I know this is yours for nothing,” says Dilsey. “When Versh comes, he’ll teach you with a stick so you don’t mischief.” You've been asking for a stick this morning. Did you take him to the stream?

“No, ma’am,” Luster says. “We’ve been out of the yard all day, as ordered.”

His hand came for a new piece. Dilsey hit her hand.

“Reach out and try again,” says Dilsey. “I’ll chop it off with this cutter.” He probably hasn't eaten a bite yet.

“I just ate it,” says Luster. “I’m one for myself, he’s two.” Let him say it himself.

“Just try to take more,” says Dilsey. - Just extend your hand.

“Well, well,” said Dilsey. “Now, that’s right, it’s my turn to cry. I also need to snort over poor Mori.”

“His name is Benji now,” Caddy said.

"What for?" Dilsey said. “What, his old, dear name has already been worn down, is it no good?”

“Benjamin is from the Bible,” Caddy said. “It suits him better than Mori.”

“How is it better?” Dilsey said.

“Mom said it was better.”

“We came up with that too,” said Dilsey. “A new name won’t help him. And the old won't hurt. Changing names means there will be no happiness. I was born Dilsey, and so it will remain Dilsey, when everyone has long forgotten me.”

“How will it remain when you are forgotten, eh, Dilsey?” Caddy said.

“It, my dear, will remain in the Book,” 6 said Dilsey. “It’s written there.”

From behind the shoulder to the door there was again a long piece of iron, and the fire went away. I started crying.

Dilsey and Luster are fighting.

- Well, no, I got caught! says Dilsey. - Well, no, I saw it! – She pulled Luster out of the corner and shook him. - So this is what it is - yours for nothing! Wait, your father will come. If I were younger, I would tear your ears off by the roots. I’ll lock you in the cellar for the whole evening, you’ll be the actors instead. You'll see, I'll lock it.

- Oh, mammy! - says Luster. - Oh, mammy!

I reach out to where the fire was.

- Don't let him in! - said Dilsey. - It will burn your fingers!

My hand pulled back, I went into her mouth. Dilsey grabbed me. When my voice is not there, I can still hear the clock. Dilsey turned to Luster, slapping him on the head. My voice is loud again and again.

- Give me some soda! says Dilsey. She took my hand out of my mouth. My voice is loud. Dilsey pours baking soda onto my hand.

“There’s a rag on a nail in the closet, tear off a strip,” she says. - Shh-sh-sh. Otherwise, mom will get sick again from your crying. Better look at the fire. Dilsey will treat your hand, your hand will stop in a minute. Look, what a fire! – She opened the stove door. I look into the fire, but the hand does not stop, and neither do I. I want to put my hand in my mouth, but Dilsey holds on.

She tied a rag around her hand. Mom says:

- Well, what's wrong with him again? And they won’t let me get sick in peace. Two adult blacks can’t look after him, I have to get out of bed and go down to him to calm him down.

“It’s all over,” says Dilsey. - He'll shut up now. I just burned my hand a little.

“Two adult blacks can’t take him for a walk without him yelling in the house,” says his mother. “You know that I’m sick, and you’re deliberately making him cry.” – She came up to me and stood there. “Stop it,” he says. - Stop it this minute. Did you treat him to this?

“There’s no Jason flour in this cake,” says Dilsey. “I bought it with my own money in the store.” Benji celebrated her birthday.

“You wanted to poison him with this cheap store-bought cake,” says mom. - Not otherwise. Will I ever have a moment of peace?

“You go back upstairs,” Dilsey says. - The hand will pass now, he will stop. Come on, lie down.

- Should I leave and leave him here to be torn to pieces? - says mom. “Is it possible to lie there peacefully when he’s yelling here?” Benjamin! Stop it this minute.

-Where are you going to go with him? says Dilsey. “Before, at least you’d be taken to a meadow before it was all sold.” You can’t keep him in the yard in front of all the neighbors when he’s crying.

“I know, I know,” says mom. - It’s all my fault. Soon I will be gone, without me it will be easier for both you and Jason. - She cried.

“Well, it’s good for you,” says Dilsey, “or you’ll get sick again.” Better go and lie down. And I will send him and Luster to the office, let them play there while I cook him dinner.

Dilsey and her mother left the kitchen.

- Quiet! - says Luster. - Stop it. Otherwise I’ll burn my other hand. It doesn't hurt anymore. Quiet!

“Here you go,” says Dilsey. - And don't cry. – She gave me a shoe, I fell silent. - Go with him to the office. And if only I hear him cry again, I will flog you with my own hands.

We went to the office. Luster turned on the light. The windows became black, and that spot came on the wall, tall and dark, I went up and touched it. It is like a door, but it is not a door.

The fire came behind me, I went up to the fire, sat on the floor, holding the shoe. The fire grew. He grew to be a cushion in his mother's chair.

“Be quiet,” says Luster. - Shut up at least a little. Look, I lit a fire for you, but you don’t even want to look.

“Your name is Benji now,” Caddy said. “Do you hear? Benji. Benji."

“Don’t misrepresent his name,” Mom said. “Come with him to me.”

Caddy grabbed me and lifted me up.

“Get up, Mo... I mean Benji,” she said.

“Don’t you dare drag him around,” Mom said. “To take you by the hand and lead you to a chair—you don’t have enough sense for that anymore.”

“I can do it in my arms”, said Caddy. “Can I, Dilsey, carry him upstairs in my arms?”

“What else, little one,” said Dilsey. “You can’t even raise a flea there.” Go quietly, as Mr. Jason ordered.

There is a light on the stairs at the top. Dad is standing there in a vest. On his face: “Quiet!” Caddy whispers:

- What, is mom unwell?

Versh lowered me to the floor and we went to my mother’s room. There is fire - it grows and falls on the walls. And in the mirror there is another fire. Smells like illness. It’s on my mother’s forehead like a white rag. Mom's hair is on the pillow. The fire does not reach them, but it burns on their hand, and mother’s rings jump.

“Come on, tell mom goodnight,” Caddy said. We go to the bed. The fire left the mirror. Dad got out of bed, lifted me to mom, she put her hand on my head.

- What time is it now? - Mom said. Her eyes are closed.

“Ten minutes to seven,” said dad.

“It’s too early to put him to bed,” said mom. “He’ll wake up again at dawn, and it’ll happen again like today, and it’ll finish me off.”

“That’s enough for you,” said dad. I touched my mother's face.

“I know that I’m only a burden to you,” said my mother. “But soon I will be gone, and you will breathe freely.”

“Well, stop it,” said dad. - I'll go downstairs with him. – He took me in his arms. “Come on, old man, let’s sit downstairs for now.” Just don't make any noise: Quentin is preparing his homework.

Caddy came up, leaned her face over the bed, and mom’s hand came where the fire was. Her rings play on Caddy's back.

“Mom is not well,” said Dad. “Dilsey will put you down. Where's Quentin?

“Versh went after him,” Dilsey said.

Dad stands and watches us pass. You can hear mom there, in mom’s room. “Shh,” says Caddy. Jason is still walking up the stairs. Hands in pockets.

“Behave yourself,” said dad. - Don't make noise, don't disturb mom.

“We won’t make any noise,” Caddy said. “You can’t make noise, Jason,” she said. We're walking on tiptoes.

You can hear the roof. The fire is also visible in the mirror. Caddy picked me up again.

“Come on, I’ll take you to mom,” she said. “And then we’ll go back to the fire.” Do not Cry.

“Candacey,” Mom said.

“Don't cry, Benjy,” Caddy said. - Mom is calling for a minute. You're a good boy. And then we'll come back.

She put me down, I stopped.

“Let him sit here, Mom,” Caddy said. “He’ll look at the fire enough, and then you’ll be able to teach it.”

“Candacey,” Mom said. Caddy reached down and picked me up. We staggered. “Candacey,” Mom said.

“Don't cry,” Caddy said. “You can still see the fire now.” Do not Cry.

“Bring him here,” mom said. - And don’t you dare pick him up. It's too heavy. You'll also damage your spine. Women in our family have always been proud of their posture. Do you want to stoop like a laundress?

“It’s not heavy,” Caddy said. “I can carry it in my arms.”

“But I forbid you,” said my mother. - Carrying a five-year-old child in your arms. No no. Just not on my lap. Put it on the floor.

“On Mommy’s lap, then he’d shut up,” Caddy said. “Shh,” she said. - Now let's go back to the fire. Look at this. Here is your cushion on the chair. Do you see?

“Stop it, Candacey,” Mom said.

“Let him watch and stop crying,” said Caddy. “Lift up a little, I’ll pull her out.” There she is, Benji, look!

I look at the pillow and don’t cry.

“You indulge him too much,” said my mother. - You and your father. You don't want to realize that the consequences will fall heavily on me. This is how grandma spoiled Jason, and he had to wean him off for two whole years. And I no longer have the strength for Benjamin.

“Don’t be afraid,” said Caddy. – I love babysitting him. Really, Benji?

“Candacey,” Mom said. “I forbade you to distort his name.” It’s enough for me that your father insists on calling you by that stupid nickname of yours, but I won’t allow Benjamin. Diminutive names are vulgar. They are used only by the common people. “Benjamin,” Mom said.

“Look at me,” said mom.

“Benjamin,” Mom said. She took my face with her hands and turned me towards her.

“Benjamin,” Mom said. “Take that pillow away, Candacey.”

“He'll cry,” Caddy said.

“I said: remove the pillow,” said mom. - He needs to be taught to obey.

The pad is gone.

“Shh, Benjy,” Caddy said.

“Get away from him, sit over there,” Mom said. - Benjamin. – Holds my face close to his. “Stop it,” she said. - Shut up.

But I didn’t shut up, my mother hugged me, cried, and I cry. The pillow came back, Caddy lifted it over mom's head, put it on it, pulled mom by the shoulder, and mom lay down in the chair, crying on the red and yellow pillow.

“Don't cry, Mom,” Caddy said. - Go to bed and treat yourself there in peace. I'll go get Dilsey. - She led me to the fire. I watch how smoothly the bright ones float. The fire can be heard from the roof.

Dad took me in his arms. He smelled like rain.

- How's it going, Benji? - said dad. – Were you a good boy today?

Caddy and Jason are fighting in the mirror.

- Caddy! - said dad.

They are fighting. Jason began to cry.

- Caddy! - said dad. Jason is crying. He's not fighting anymore, but Caddy is fighting in the mirror, and dad let me off his hands, walked into the mirror and started too. Picked up Caddy from the floor. She breaks free. Jason is lying on the floor crying. He has scissors in his hand. Dad is holding the Caddy.

“He cut up all Benjin’s dolls,” Caddy said. “I’ll cut him up now.”

- Candacey! - said dad.

“You'll see,” said Caddy. - You'll see. - It breaks out. Dad is holding her. Caddy wants to kick Jason. He rolled into the corner, away from the mirror. Pana went to the fire with Caddy. Now there is no one in the mirror, only fire. It’s like a door and fire beyond the threshold.

“You can’t fight,” said dad. “You don’t want mom to get sick.”

Caddy stopped.

“He’s all the dolls into pieces - everything that Mo, Benji and I made out of paper.” He did it out of spite.

“I didn’t mean it out of spite,” Jason said. She no longer lies, sits on the floor, cries. “I didn’t know these were his dolls.” I thought they were just old pieces of paper.

“I knew it,” said Caddy. - Out of spite, out of spite.

“Hush,” said dad. “Jason,” Dad said.

“I’ll make you some others tomorrow,” Caddy said. – I’ll make a lot of dolls. Look, here is your pillow.

Jason entered.

“How many times have I told you, stop!” Luster says.

“Why the noise?” says Jason.

“It’s just him,” Luster says. “He’s been crying all day today.”

“Don’t bother him as much,” Jason says. “If you don’t know how to calm me down, then go into the kitchen.” We can’t all, like mother, lock ourselves away from him in our rooms.

“Mammy didn’t tell me to take him into the kitchen until he finished cooking dinner,” Luster says.

“Then play with him and keep him quiet,” Jason says. “You work your ass off all day, come home from work, and you’re greeted by a madhouse.” – He opened the newspaper and reads it.

“Look at yourself in the fire, and in the mirror, and at the pillow too,” said Caddy. “You don’t even have to wait until dinner - here it is, your pillow.” You can hear the roof. And how Jason cries loudly behind the wall.

Dilsey says:

– Sit down, Jason, have dinner. Did you offend Benji here?

- What are you talking about, ma'am! - says Luster.

-Where is Quentina? says Dilsey. – I’ll serve it now.

“I don’t know, ma’am,” Luster says. - She wasn't here.

Dilsey left.

- Quentin! - she said in the corridor. - Quentin! Go have dinner.

We can hear the roof. Quentin smells like rain too. "What did Jason do?" said Quentin.

“I cut up all Benjina’s dolls,” said Caddy.

“Mom told me to say Benjamin,” said Quentin. Sits on the carpet with us. “I wish the rain would stop soon,” said Quentin. “Or else sit in your room doing nothing.”

“You were fighting with someone,” Caddy said. “Will you say no?”

“No, just a little,” said Quentin.

“So they believed you,” Caddy said. “Dad will still see.”

“So be it,” said Quentin. "And when this rain stops."

“Dilsey called me to dinner?” - Quentin says at the door.

“Yes, ma’am,” Luster says. Jason looked at Quentina. Reading the newspaper again. Quentina entered. “Mammy said she’ll serve it now,” Luster said. Quentina sat down in her mother's chair. Laster said:

- Mister Jason.

- What do you want? says Jason.

-Will you give me twenty-five cents? - says Luster.

- Why do you need it? says Jason.

“On the artists today,” says Luster.

“I heard Dilsey was going to borrow Fronie for your ticket,” Jason says.

“Yes, she took it,” says Luster. - Only I lost a coin. Benji and I spent the whole day searching. At least ask Benji.

“Borrow it from him,” Jason says. – I don’t get money for free. - Reading newspaper. Quentina looks into the fire. Fire in her eyes and on her lips. Lips are red.

“It was he who went to the hammock, I didn’t let him,” says Laster.

“Shut up,” Quentina says. Jason looks at her.

“Have you forgotten what I promised to do if I saw you again with that guy from the booth?” says Jason. Quentina looks into the fire. - Maybe you didn’t hear?

“I heard you,” says Quentina. - Why aren’t you doing?

“Don't worry,” Jason says.

“I don’t think so,” says Quentina. Jason is reading the newspaper again.

You can hear the roof. Dad leans over and looks at Quentin.

“Congratulations,” said Dad. “And who won?”

“Nobody,” said Quentin. - We were separated. Teachers.

- Who is he? - said dad. - If it `s not a secret.

“Everything was fair,” Quentin said. - He's as tall as me.

“I’m glad to hear,” said dad. – And why do you have it, may I ask?

“Yes,” said Quentin. “He said that he would put a frog on the table for her, but she would not flog him, she would be afraid.”

“That’s how it is,” said dad. - She. And then, that means...

“Yes, sir,” said Quentin. “Then I moved him.”

You can hear the roof, and the fire, and snoring outside the door.

- Where would he get a frog in November? - said dad.

“I don’t know, sir,” said Quentin.

I can hear it again.

“Jason,” Dad said. We can hear Jason.

“Jason,” Dad said. - Come in and don’t sniffle there. We can hear the roof, and the fire, and Jason.

“Stop it,” said dad. - Otherwise I’ll punish you again.

He picked Jason up and sat him in the chair next to him. Jason sobbed. The fire can be heard from the roof. Jason sobbed louder.

“Just dare once more,” said dad. You can hear fire and the roof.

“There you go,” said Dilsey. “Now come in for dinner.”

Versh smelled of rain. And dogs too. You can hear fire and the roof.

You can hear the Caddy walking fast. Dad and Mom look at the open door. The caddy walks past quickly. Do not look. It's going fast.

“Candacey,” Mom said. Caddy stopped walking.

“Yes, mom,” she said.

“Don’t, Caroline,” Dad said.

“Come here,” said mom.

“Don’t, Caroline,” Dad said. - Leave her alone.

Caddy came up and stood in the doorway, looking at mom and dad. Then Caddina's eyes are on me and immediately away from me. I started crying. He cried loudly and stood up. Caddy came in, stood against the wall, looking at me. I came to her, crying, she pressed her back against the wall, I saw her eyes, I cried even louder, I pulled on her dress. She pushes with her hands, and I pull. Her eyes run away from me.

Versh said: “Your name is Benjamin now. Can you tell me why? They want to turn you into a blue-haired man.” 7 Mammy says, in the old days, your grandfather also changed the name of a black man, and he became a preacher, and then they looked at him. and the gums are blue. Although they used to be like everyone else’s. But if a pregnant woman looked into the eyes of a blue-haired man on the full moon, her child would also be blue-colored. And when there were already a dozen blue-haired children running around the estate, one evening that preacher did not. returned home. The hunters found his horns and legs in the forest. And guess who devoured him.

We're in the corridor. Caddy keeps looking at me. He holds his hand to his mouth, but I can see his eyes, and I cry. We go up the stairs. Again she stood against the wall, looking, I was crying, she went further, I followed her, crying, she pressed herself against the wall, looking at me. She opened the door to her room, but I pulled her by the dress, and we went to the bathroom, she stood at the door, looking at me. Then she covered her face with her hand, and I pushed her, crying, towards the washbasin.

“You have him crying again,” Jason says. “Why are you bothering him?”

“I’m not interfering,” says Luster. “He’s been like this all day today. He needs a good spanking.”

“He should be sent to Jackson,” says Quentina. “It’s simply impossible to live in this house.”

“If you, mademoiselle, don’t like it here, don’t live,” says Jason.

“I’m not going to,” says Quentina. "Do not worry".

Versh said:

“Step aside, let your feet dry,” He moved me away from the fire, “And don’t start a roar here.” You can see it that way too. All you have to do is look at the fire. You don’t have to get wet in the rain. You don’t even know how lucky you were born. - He lay down on his back in front of the fire.

– Do you know why they changed your name? - Versch said. “Mammy says your mother is too proud, you’re a shame for her.”

“Be quiet, let me dry my feet,” Versh said. - Do you know what I’ll do? I'll calm you down with a belt on your ass.

You can hear the fire, and the roof, and Versha.

Versh sat up quickly and pulled his legs back. Dad said:

- Well, Versh, get started.

“Okay, I’ll feed him today,” Caddy said. “He sometimes cries at Versh’s at dinner.”

“Take this tray to Miss Kaline,” Dilsey said. - And hurry back - feed Benjy.

- Do you want Caddy to feed you? - Caddy said.

“And he definitely needs to put that dirty old shoe on the table,” says Quentina. “It’s like you can’t feed him in the kitchen. Sitting at the table with him is like sitting with a pig.”

“If you don’t like the way we eat, don’t sit with us,” Jason says.

From Roskus par. He is sitting at the stove. The oven door is open, Roskus's feet are there. Steam from my bowl. Caddy puts a spoon in my mouth so easily. There is a black hole inside the bowl.

“Well, don’t be mad,” says Dilsey. "He won't bother you anymore."

The soup has already sank behind the crack. Here is the empty bowl. Gone.

“He’s so hungry,” said Caddy. The bowl is back, the gap is not visible. And now we can see. “I'm really hungry today,” Caddy said. - Think about how much you ate.

“Why, he won’t,” says Quentin. “All of you here are sending him to spy on me. I hate everything here. I'll run away from here."

“It started raining all night,” said Roskus.

“You keep running away and running away, but every time you come back for lunch,” says Jason.

“But you’ll see,” says Quentina.

“Then I’m in trouble,” said Dilsey. “The leg is sore, it’s just getting better.” I've been up and down these stairs all evening.

“Well, you wouldn’t surprise me with that,” Jason says. “You can expect anything from such people.”

Quentina threw the napkin on the table.

“Be quiet, Jason,” says Dilsey. She came up and put her arm around Quentina’s shoulders. “Sit down, my dear. And he’s not ashamed to poke your eyes with someone else’s fault.”

“What, is she sulking in her bedroom again?” - said Roskus.

“Keep quiet,” said Dilsey.

Quentin was pushed away by Dilsey. Looks at Jason. Her lips are red. She looks at Jason, raised her glass of water, and waved her hand back. Dilsey caught her hand. They fight. The glass broke on the table and water flowed into the table. Quentina runs away.

“Mom’s sick again,” Caddy said.

“You bet,” said Dilsey. - This weather will at least put anyone to bed. When will you finish eating, boy?

“Oh, damn,” Quentina says. "Damn". You can hear her running up the stairs. We're going to the office.

Caddy gave me a pillow, and you can look at the pillow, and in the mirror, and at the fire.

“Just don’t make any noise, Quentin is preparing his homework,” said Dad. – What are you doing there, Jason?

“Nothing,” Jason said.

“Get out of there,” said dad.

Jason came out of the corner.

-What's in your mouth? - said dad.

“Nothing,” Jason said.

“He's chewing paper again,” Caddy said.

“Come here, Jason,” Dad said.

Jason threw it into the fire. It hissed, turned around, and began to turn black. Now gray. And now there is nothing left. Caddy, Dad and Jason are sitting in Mom's chair. Jason squints his puffy eyes and moves his lips as if he were chewing. Caddin's head is on daddy's shoulder. Her hair is like fire, and there are grains of fire in her eyes, and I went, dad lifted me into a chair too, and Caddy hugged me. She smells like trees.

She smells like trees. It's dark in the corner, but you can see the window. I sat there, holding the shoe. I can’t see the shoe, but my hands can, and I hear the night falling, and my hands can see the shoe, but I can’t see myself, but my hands can see the shoe, and I’m on my haunches listening to the darkness fall.

“There you are,” Luster says. “Look what I have!” Shows me. “Guess who gave this coin? Miss Quentin. I knew I would go to the show anyway. Why are you hiding here? I already wanted to go into the yard to look for you. I haven’t done much to howl today, but I came here to an empty room to mutter and whine. Let’s go put him to bed, otherwise I’ll be late for the artists. I don't have time to bother with you today. As soon as they blew the trumpets, I went.”

We didn't come to the nursery.

“We only get measles here,” Caddy said. - Why can’t we go to the nursery today?

“As if you care where you sleep,” Dilsey said. She closed the door and sat down to undress me. Jason began to cry. “Quiet,” said Dilsey.

“I want to sleep with my grandmother,” Jason said.

“She's sick,” Caddy said. - Once he gets better, then go to sleep. Really, Dilsey?

- Quiet! - said Dilsey. Jason fell silent.

“Here are our shirts and that’s it,” said Caddy. – Are we here for good?

“So put them on quickly, since they’re here,” said Dilsey. “Unbutton Jason.”

Caddy unzips. Jason began to cry.

“Oh, I’ll whip you,” said Dilsey. Jason fell silent.

“Quentin,” Mom said in the hallway.

"What?" said Quentin behind the wall. I heard my mother lock the door. She looked into our door, walked in, bent over the bed, and kissed me on the forehead.

“When you put Benjamin to bed, go and ask Dilsey if she would mind making me a hot water bottle,” Mom says. “Tell her that if it’s difficult, I’ll do without a heating pad. I just want to know".

“I’m listening, ma’am,” Luster says. “Well, let’s take off your pants.”

Quentin and Versh entered. Quentin turns his face away.

- Why are you crying? - Caddy said.

- Shh-sh-sh! - said Dilsey. - Take off your clothes quickly. And you, Versh, go home now.

I was undressed, looked at myself and cried. "Quiet!" Luster says. “You don’t have them, even if you look or don’t look. They rolled away. Stop it, otherwise we won’t arrange it, there’s no more name day for you.” He puts on a robe for me. I fell silent, and Luster suddenly stood up and turned his head towards the window. He went to the window and looked out. He came back and took my hand. “Watch how she gets off,” Luster says. “Just be quiet.” We went to the window and looked. It came out of Quentinin's window and climbed onto a tree. The branches swayed at the top, then at the bottom. Came out of the tree and walks across the grass. Gone. “Now to bed,” Luster says. “Turn around! Do you hear the trumpet sound! Lie down while they ask in a good way.”

There are two beds. Quentin lay down on it. He turned his face to the wall. Dilsey puts Jason next to him. Caddy took off her dress.

“Look at your pantaloons,” said Dilsey. - You're lucky that mom doesn't see.

“I already told you about her,” Jason said.

“You won’t tell,” said Dilsey.

- So what, they praised you? - Caddy said. - Sneaky.

- What, maybe they flogged him? - Jason said.

“Why don’t you change your shirt,” said Dilsey. She went and took off Caddy's bra and panties. “Look at you,” Dilsey said. She rolled up her panties and rubbed them from behind Caddy. - It's completely stained. There will be no swimming today. “I put a shirt on Caddy, and Caddy climbed into bed, and Dilsey went to the door, raised her hand to turn off the light. - And don’t make a sound, hear! - said Dilsey.

“Okay,” Caddy said. “Mom won’t come to say goodnight today.” This means that you must continue to listen to me.

“Yes, yes,” said Dilsey. - Well, go to sleep.

“Mom isn’t well,” Caddy said. - She and her grandmother are both sick.

“Shhh,” said Dilsey. - Sleep.

The room became completely black except for the door. And now the door is black. Caddy said, “Shh, Maury,” and put her hand on me. And I lie quietly. You can hear us. And you can hear the darkness.

The darkness is gone, dad is looking at us. He looks at Quentin and Jason, came up, kissed Caddy, stroked my head.

- What, is mom very unwell? - Caddy said.

“No,” said dad. - Make sure Mori doesn't fall.

“Okay,” Caddy said.

Dad went to the door and looked at us again. The darkness has returned, he stands black in the doorway, and here the door is black again. The caddy is holding me, I can hear us and the darkness, and there is a smell of something in the house. Now you can see the windows, the trees are rustling there. And then the darkness all went smooth, bright, as always, and even when Caddy says that I was sleeping.