No Need for a Greatcoat :: SteynOnline

Welcome to Part Eighteen of our latest Tale for Our Time – my audio serialization of The Fixed Period, written by Anthony Trollope, published in 1882 but set in 1980. In tonight’s episode, the day has dawned when Mr Crasweller is to be the first Britannulan to be “deposited” at Necropolis to prepare for his “death with dignity”. President Neverbend has done him the signal honour of personally escorting him to heaven’s waiting room:

He merely shook his head, and attempted to pass on. “Will you not take your greatcoat?” said I, seeing that he was going out into the open air without protection.

“No; why should I? It will not be wanted up there.”

“You do not know the place,” I replied. “There are twenty acres of pleasure-ground for you to wander over.” Then he turned upon me a look,—oh, such a look!—and went on and took his place in the carriage.

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