Of Sea and Cloud Read Online Free Page A

the humidity smelled like nicotine. He rolled the window down.
    Forget Osmond. This day’s been coming a long time, Jonah. I’m sorry for you to go through this.
    Coming ever since Ma died I figure.
    That’s right. That changed Nicolas something. That’d change any man.
    I been thinking about her.
    I know it. We all been thinking about her.
    Not the Captain.
    Captain Bill’s been thinking on your mother more than all of us together only he’s too chickenbeaked to admit it. That’s why he’s the Captain because he’s a chickenbeak. Look at him with Osmond. Christ Almighty and hally fucking looya. Now the Captain’s at Osmond Randolph’s beckon. That ain’t good.
    Jonah nodded and watched the dark sky and felt suddenly that the sky was motionless as the hilltop graveyard spun.
    And he done knocked up that little slush Erma Lee now, Virgil said.
    Yeah, he done that.
    Nicolas wouldn’t take to that notion any more than I, Virgil said.
    They watched in silence as Bill and Osmond lowered the empty casket into the ground. What’d he say up there, old Osmond?
    He didn’t say nothing that I know of, Jonah said. Said we’re stuck between the flesh and the Lord and the ocean’s a big puddle of blood.
    Guess I agree with him on that.
    The old man didn’t love God no matter.
    Nicolas didn’t love much.
    Guess he didn’t, Jonah said.
    Just lobster fishing.
    Like loving a heartrot whore he always said.
    Virgil grinned and nodded his head in slow agreement.
    Bill came to the window and Jonah rolled it down the rest of the way and handed the brandy bottle to him. Rain blew over the cab and onto Bill’s head and pushed his hair down like a bald spot. Bill took a drink and held the bottle on the windowsill. His jaw was square and clean-shaven and his glasses were wet. You didn’t have no last respects to pay our old man, Jonah?
    Jonah didn’t answer.
    Christ, Jonah, said Bill.
    That’s just an empty box up there with Osmond Randolph standing next to it. You know as well as I do.
    It still means something.
    That what little Erma Lee been telling you? This means something?
    She don’t matter. It means something to me.
    That’s fine, Bill. That’s good. It don’t to me.
    Well something better mean something sometime, Jonah.
    You ain’t my Pa last I checked.
    I’m what you got, Jonah. Me and Virgil here. Bill put his hand on Jonah’s shoulder for a second then took it back. Ride on down to the pound with me, Jonah. I’ll drop you back here later.
    I’ll take my rig.
    Suit yourself.
    I aim to do just that.
    Erma Lee crossed the grass and took Bill by the arm. Bill nodded to Jonah and Virgil and walked away. Jonah and Virgil sat in the truck as the rest of the people left the cemetery. Celeste and Charlotte came to the truck and Virgil rolled his window down.
    You two will be along soon? Celeste said.
    We will, Virgil said.
    Celeste looked to Jonah then back to her husband. I don’t know which one of you to worry about more.
    Him, Virgil said.
    Celeste nodded.
    Osmond and his three grandchildren came through the cemetery gate last. Osmond closed the gate. He waited until Celeste and Charlotte left then stepped to Virgil’s window. His grandchildren stood in a row behind him.
    Virgil, he said.
    Osmond.
    We will miss Nicolas, Osmond said.
    Yes we will. Virgil lifted the bottle from the seat and handed it to Osmond. Osmond twisted the cap off and tipped his head back and took a long drink. He handed the bottle back to Virgil and their eyes connected through the wind and rain. A piece of Osmond’s wet hair blew across his cheek. Osmond nodded and left.
    Rain hammered on the roof. After a moment Virgil said, The Captain is fucked, Jonah.
    I know it. What’ll Osmond do to him?
    He’ll take over the pound is what he’ll do.
    Jonah shifted in the seat and said, The Captain’s tough.
    But he ain’t