Too Soon Too Soon — As I Lay Dying

New Hope. 3 mi. The signboard comes in sight and wheels past, empty with waiting, while Dewey Dell repeats that she heard her mother is dead and wishes she had time to let her die. I wish I had time to wish I had. It's not that I wouldn't and will not it's that it is too soon too soon too soon.

Cash turns his pale questioning face toward the red curve they skip. Darl's eyes swim up her body until she sits naked above the unhurrying mules and the travail. Suppose I say Turn here, she thinks. He will do what I say. We'll go to New Hope. We won't have to go to town. Her mind jumps through void, hissing fish blood, and a knife in Darl before wind from the pines blows cool across her legs.

Why didn't we go to New Hope, pa? Vardaman says. Mr. Samson said we was, but we done passed the road. Look, Jewel, Darl says, but he is looking at the sky. The buzzard is as still as if he were nailed to it. They turn into Tull's lane. Vernon lifts his hand from his plough and stands looking after them a long while. I believe in God, Dewey Dell says. God. God, I believe in God. What do you call grief when the sensible turn stays on the sign and the wagon will not stop for it?