Chapter 13

           ThecoffinrestedontheflatbedofanoldDodgetruck.Oneachsideofitthebearerssat,hangingtheirlegsover.AndJimrodehanginghisfeetovertherear.Themotorthrobbedandcoughed,AlbertJohnsondroveoutoftheparkandstoppedintheroaduntilthelineformed,abouteightmentoafile.Thenhedroppedintolowgearandmovedslowlyalongtheroad,andthelonglineofmenshuffledafterhim.Thehundredguardsstoodinthecampandwatchedtheparademoveaway.

           Atfirstthementriedtokeepstep,saying,"Hep,hep,"buttheytiredofitsoon.Theirfeetscuffedanddraggedonthegravelroad.Alittlehumoftalkcamefromthem,buteachmanwasconstrainedtospeaksoftly,inhonortothecoffin.Attheconcretestatehighwaythespeedcopswerewaiting,adozenofthemonmotorcycles.Theircaptain,inaroadster,shouted,"We’renotinterferingwithyoumen.Wealwaysconductparades."

           Thefeetsoundedsharplyontheconcrete.Theranksstraggledalongindisorder.Onlywhentheyreachedtheoutskirtsofthetowndidthemenstraightenup.Intheyardsandonthesidewalksthepeoplestoodandwatchedtheprocessiongoby.Manytookofftheirhatstothecasket.ButMac’swishwasdenied.Ateachcornerofthelineofmarchthepolicestood,re-routingthetraffic,turningitaside,andopeningthewayforthefuneral.AstheyenteredthebusinessdistrictofTorgasthesunbrokethroughandglitteredonthewetstreets.Thedampclothesofthemarchingmensteamedunderthesuddenwarmth.Nowthesidewalksweredensewithcuriouspeople,staringatthecoffin;andthemarchersstraightenedup.Thesquadsdrewclosetogether.Themenfellintostep,whiletheirfacestookonexpressionsofimportance.Nooneinterfered,andtheroadwaskeptclearofvehicles.