Free The Stonemason by Cormac McCarthy Page A

which I knew would open for me. I stood with my job book beneath my arm in which were logged the hours and the days and the years and wherein was ledgered down each sack of mortar and each perch of stone and I stood alone in that whitened forecourt beyond which waited the God of all being and I stood in the full folly of my own righteousness and I took the book from under my arm and I thumbed it through a final time as if to reassure myself and when I did I saw that the pages were yellowed and crumbling and the ink faded and the accounts no longer clear and suddenly I thought to myself fool, fool do you not see what will be asked of you? How He will lean down perhaps the better to see you, regarding perhaps with something akin to wonder that which is his own handiwork, He whom the firmament itself has not power to puzzle. Gazing into your soul beyond bone or flesh to its uttermost nativity in stone and star and in the unformed magma at the core of creation. And ask as you stand there alone with your book—perhaps not even unkindly—this single question: Where are the others? Where are the others. Oh I've had time in great abundance to reflect upon that terrible question. Because we cannot save ourselves unless we save all ourselves. I had this dream but did not heed it. And so I lost my way.

The dining room at the farmhouse. There is a long dining room table and chairs, an antique sideboard. The table is partly cleared and Mama enters and takes up more plates and carries them out to the kitchen. Ben is sitting at the head of the table and Maven and Mason are sitting at the table and Carlotta enters and takes up some dishes to carry them to the kitchen. She is about seven months pregnant. The telephone rings and Maven starts to get up but Ben motions to her to sit down.
    B EN I'll get it, Babe.
    He comes to the telephone and picks it up and says hello and then listens.
    B EN ( To telephone ) No. No. You stay where you are. I'll be down there in twenty minutes.
    He pauses and listens.
    B EN Listen to me. Stay where you are. I'll be there in twenty minutes.
    He hangs up the phone and returns to the table. He bends and kisses Maven.
    M AVEN What is it, Ben?
    B EN Got to go, Babe. I'll be back in a couple of hours.
    M AVEN Oh Ben...
    B EN ( Holding up his hand to Mason, his other hand on Maven's shoulder ) Mason.
    M AVEN ( Turning ) What is it?
    B EN Just something that's come up. Somebody in trouble. It's nothing really. But I have to go.
    M AVEN Are they in jail?
    B EN Not yet. ( He smiles ) I'll call you if I need your services.
    He exits.

SCENE IV
    A cheap hotel room in the central city at stage right. A nineteen year old black youth is lying on an old fashioned bed with an iron bedstead. He is dressed in cheap flashy clothes. He has a thin moustache and he is smoking a cigarette. Street sounds from below. There is a knock at the door and he gets up and goes to the door and opens it. Ben is standing at the door.
    B EN Hello Soldier.
    S OLDIER What say, Ben. Long time no see. Come in. Come in.
    Ben enters and looks around. Soldier shuts the door and motions him to a straight back chair sitting opposite the bed. Soldier sits on the bed and stubs out the cigarette in an ashtray on the night table.
    S OLDIER Set down, Ben, set down.
    Ben sits in the chair.
    S OLDIER I went by the house. I seen they was other people livin there.
    He looks up at Ben.
    S OLDIER Don't worry. I wasn't comin in. You out at the farm now.
    B EN We've been out there about two years.
    S OLDIER Yeah, well.
    Ben studies Soldier.
    B EN You've been in jail.
    S OLDIER Shit. Put me in no jail.
    B EN It's been about a year. I knew what had happened when the checks started coming back.
    S OLDIER Well, I see you ain't changed. Still know everthing.
    B EN Everything you've got on is new.
    S OLDIER Shit.
    B EN I guess that's why you're here.
    S OLDIER Why's that?
    B EN To collect your checks.
    S OLDIER Afraid I need a little more than them checks.
    Ben looks at