Requiem for a Nun

334 WILLIAM FAULKNER

TEMPLE

Will that one be there too, that never had a father and never was even

born, to forgive you? Is there a heaven for it to go to so it can forgive

you? Is there a heaven, Nancy?

NANCY

I dont know. I believes.

TEMPLE

Believe what?

NANCY

I dont know. But I believes.

They all pause at the sound of feet approaching beyond the exit door, all

are looking at the door as the key clashes again in the lock and the door

swings out and the Jailor enters, drawing the door to behind him.

JAILOR

(locking the door)

Thirty minutes, Lawyer. You named it, you know: not me.

STEVENS

I'll come back later.

JAILOR

(turns and crosses toward them) Provided you dont put it off

too late. What I mean, if you wait until tonight to come

back, you might have some company; and if you put it off

until tomorrow, you wont have no client.

(to Nancy)

I found that preacher you want. He'll be here about sundown, he said. He

sounds like he might even be another good baritone. And you cant have too

many, especially as after tonight you wont need none, huh? No hard

feelings, Nancy. You committed about as horrible a crime as this county

ever seen, but you're fixing to pay the law for it, and if the child's

own mother-

(he falters, almost pauses, catches himself and continues briskly, moving

again) There, talking too much again. Come on, if Lawyer's through with

you. You can start taking your time at daylight tomorrow morning, because

you might have a long hard trip.