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down to repair whatever he could.

Grandad Forman rose slowl

y. He looked from

Daddy to Mommy to me and shook his head, backing

away. He pointed at me.

"It's in the blood." he said. "My sins are carried

in the blood."

"Na!" Mommy shouted back at him. "'Your sins

were born and will die with you, not with us. Go

make your own peace and leave us be." she ordered. He turned and stumbled away, clutching his

chest with one hand. his Bible with the other. After a

few steps, he paused to look back at us. He was

mumbling to himself and looked insane, his hair

flying up every which way.

"Go into the house. Dad." Daddy shouted at

him.

Grandad shook his head and then walked faster,

almost running toward the west field as if he had to

flee. We saw him stumble and fall and then get up and

hung along, gazing back at us until he was nearly

gone from sight.

"I'd better go after him," Daddy said. "Leave him. Isaac. We've got to get Simon to

bed," Mommy said, stepping toward him. She put her

hand on Uncle Simon's shoulder. "Go back to bed.

Simon. You need rest before you get very, very sick.

Isaac and Honey will repair what can be repaired for

you."

"She's right. Simon," Daddy said. "Go on back

to bed."

Simon stared at his mutilated garden, two large