Om varigheden af skærildsophold for mindreårige afdøde

Fra George Saunders' debutroman Lincoln in the Bardo, der udkom i tirsdags og som jeg lige nu læser på min iPad - to ældre sjæle samtaler i det biddhistiske venteværelse, der titlens Bardo (den talende står under replikken):

  "These young ones are not meant to tarry
roger bevins iii

  Matthisson, Aged Nine Years? Tarried less than 30 minutes. Then dispersed with a small fartlike pop. Dwyer, 6 yrs & 5 mos? Was not in the sick-box upon its arrival. Had apparently vacated in transit. Sullivan, Infant, tarried twelve or thirteen minutes, a crawling squalling ball of frustrated light. Russo, Taken in her Sixth Year, & Light of a Mother's Eye? Tarried a mere four minutes. Looking behind stone after stone. "I am investigating after my schoolbook."
hans vollman

  Poor dear.
the reverende everly thomas

  The Evans twins, Departede This Sorry Vale Together at 15 Years, 8 Months, tarried nine minutes, then left at precisely the same instant (twins to the end). Percival Strout, Aged Seventeen years, tarried forty minutes. Sally Burgess, 12 years & Dear to All, tarried seventeen minutes.
hans vollman

  Belinda French, Baby. Remember her?
roger bevins iii

  The size of a loaf of bread, and just lay there, giving off a dull white light and that high-pitched keening.
the reverend everly thomas

  But in time, she went.
roger bevins iii

  As these young ones should.
the reverend everly thomas

  As most do, quite naturally.
roger bevins iii

  Or else.
the reverend everly thomas

  Imagine our suprise, then, when, passing by an hour or so later, we found the lad still on the roof, looking expectantly about, as if waiting for a carriage to arrive and whisk him away.
han vollman

  And pardon me for saying so - but that wild-onion stench the young exude when tarrying? Was quite thick already.
roger bevins iii

  Something neede to be done.
the reverend everly thomas