Lincoln in the Bardo

by George Saunders

  Manders, op. cit.

  CVIII.

  I rode along in that gentleman, upon our little horse, through those quiet streets, and I was not unhappy. Though he was. He had neglected his wife by this night’s indulgence, he felt. And they had another little sick boy at home. Who might also succumb. Though he was better today, he might yet succumb. Anything could happen. As he now knew. He had forgotten. He had somewhat forgotten, about the other boy.

  Tad. Dear little Tad.

  The gentleman had much on his mind. He did not wish to live. Not really. It was, just now, too hard. There was so much to do, he was not doing it well and, if done poorly, all would go to ruin. Perhaps, in time (he told himself) it would get better, and might even be good again. He did not really believe it. It was hard. Hard for him. Hard for me. To be in there. I resolved nevertheless to stay. It was getting on near morning. Normally, during the day, we took our rest. Were drawn back to our shells and must rest in there. Tonight I did not feel that draw. But I was sleepy. I dozed, and slipped through him, into his horse, who was, I felt at that moment, pure Patience, head to hoof, and fond of the man, and never before had I felt oats to be such a positive thing in the world, or so craved a certain blue blanket. And then I roused myself, and sat up straight, and fully rejoined the gentleman.

  And we rode forward into the night, past the sleeping houses of our countrymen.

  thomas havens

  For Caitlin and Alena

  BY GEORGE SAUNDERS

  FICTION

  CivilWarLand in Bad Decline

  Pastoralia

  The Very Persistent Gappers of Frip

  The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil

  In Persuasion Nation

  Tenth of December

  Lincoln in the Bardo

  NONFICTION

  The Braindead Megaphone

  Congratulations, by the Way

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  GEORGE SAUNDERS is the author of nine books, including Tenth of December, which was a finalist for the National Book Award and won the inaugural Folio Prize (for the best work of fiction in English) and the Story Prize (best short-story collection). He has received MacArthur and Guggenheim fellowships and the PEN/Malamud Prize for excellence in the short story, and was recently elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In 2013, he was named one of the world’s 100 most influential people by Time magazine. He teaches in the creative writing program at Syracuse University.

  georgesaundersbooks.com

  Facebook.com/​GeorgeSaundersFans

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