at pick or grab up that hoe or just to get your ass over here； Harvey。 After four it got a little better； and after six it got better still。 Six to eight was the optimum time。 After that you could see the long thoughts starting to steal over their minds again … in their eyes you could see it； like afternoon shadows and it was best to stop。 They still heard what you were saying； but it no longer made sense to them。 Past eight they were getting ready for the watches of the night and imagining how the cap would feel when it was clamped to the tops of their heads； and how the air would smell inside the black bag which had been rolled down over their sweaty faces。
But I got The Chief at a good time。 He told me about his first wife； and how they had built a lodge together up in Montana。 Those had been the happiest days of his life； he said。 The water was so pure and so cold that it felt like your mouth was cut every time you drank。
〃Hey； Mr。 Edgebe；〃 he said。 〃You think； if a man he sincerely repent of what he done wrong； he might get to go back to the time that was happiest for him and live there forever？ Could that be what heaven is like？〃
〃I've just about believed that very thing；〃 I said； which was a he I didn't regret in the least。 I had learned of matters eternal at my mother's pretty knee； and what I believed is what the Good Book says about murderers： that there is no eternal life in them。 I think they go straight to hell； where they burn in torment until God finally gives Gabriel the nod to blow the Judgment Trump。 When he does； they'll wink out 。。。 and probably glad to go they will be。 But I never gave a hint of such beliefs to Bitterbuck； or to any of them。 I think in their hearts they knew it。 Where is your brother； his blood crieth to me from