Bearclaw Valley verbena

merrick did not know of what he spoke, only that his body seemed hale and resilient despite all he had undergone. he was stone enough for this world. why could he not turn his eyes toward the next? "i think of death as a grand experiment to follow life," he told ico giddily, scarcely recognizing his own voice.
it was as if the bear opened his jaws worked his vocal cords spiraled laughter from his throat at the impossibility of it all.
but perhaps it was not so unheard of.
"i wonder if there is life after death. or if you come back," he went on, hinting at the truth of what he meant.