My Latest Sun is Sinking Fast
The next day Carol visited with some Woodbury friends in town while Daryl, Rick, and Joaquin separated the supplies from yesterday's run. They were living in a nursing home that was adjacent to the hospital. The rooms were adequate for two people and there was a private bathroom. She had to admit that it was nicer than the prison and they seemed pleased that they were still together. She promised to come and visit again soon and walked over to the building that they had stored the supplies.
Daryl was waiting for her; it had not taken all that long to separate the supplies. Rick had taken some of their supplies back up the mountain and Daryl had the rest. Carol looked at some of the things that were in the back of the truck. Most of it was practical stuff, but there also two metal toy trucks, just perfect for two little boys. She also found an adorable teddy bear that would suit a baby girl. Carol looked at all the practical supplies and then at the trucks and the bear; she remembered telling Daryl all about the family with two little boys and a baby sister that she had visited with Ashton. Tears came to her eyes, Daryl had asked for these things to give to those children. Daryl seeing her on the edge of crying teased het, "Now don't be all weepy, I'll let you play with the trucks if you are a good little girl". Carol shook the tears from her eyes, and smiled at him, "What if I don't want to be a good little girl?" Daryl gave his barely upturned grin and said, "Then you definitely get to play with the trucks".
Carol wanted to take the toys to the children right now. "Right now? Don't you think we should wait until Christmas?" Carol shook her head, "There are children, we have toys. Come on, let's take them over and then we can take the rest of the supplies home." Daryl grumbled, "I hope that guy doesn't shoot us for showing up at his house." Carol laughed, "Don't make any sudden moves and make eye contact". She got in the truck; she knew that he really wanted to go but was shy about it.
They stopped in the road and waited until Jared came out. He recognized Carol and welcomed them in. Daryl carried the toys and Carol picked up a woman's jacket that would fit Marissa. They all sat on the front porch and enjoyed watching the children with their toys. Jared had protested at first, but Daryl convinced that there was no one in their group to play with those trucks. Jared gave in and the boys grabbed the trucks and held them tight. Jared reminded the boys to say thank you. Marissa loved the jacket and the baby loved the teddy bear. Carol apologized to Jared because they hadn't brought him anything. He shook his head, "No, seeing the kids with their toys and Marissa with something almost as pretty as she is, well, that is my gift." Daryl and Jared sat on the porch floor and watched them play with the trucks.
Marissa and Carol talked while the menfolk played with the trucks. Marissa told her that they had been visiting with some of their neighbors and how much she enjoyed having some company. Carol held the baby and they had a nice visit. Jared showed Daryl around the farm while the boys tagged along.
It was getting late, and the family walked them out to the truck. Marissa and Carol hugged goodbye while Jared and Daryl shook hands. The boys tugged at Daryl's pants and when he glanced down he saw their upraised palms. He shook each boy's hand as sincerely as he had their father's.
Daryl didn't say anything, just turned the truck around, and started back. Carol saw the glint of tears in his eyes. She moved closer to him and put her head on his shoulder. Finally, Daryl sighed, "Jared is a good father. I don't know how you learn to do that. Maybe you can't learn it; you just have to learn it from your father". Carol said, "You are the kindest man I know, Daryl. I think that it is just your nature, no one had to teach you what you were born to be."
They were driving by the hospital when they saw Glenn and Maggie standing on the sidewalk. Maggie was crying and Glenn was talking to her. Daryl parked the truck and they jumped out to see what was wrong. Maggie cried while Glenn told them that Hershel had a heart attack and was in the hospital. Hershel was weak but he had asked to see them tonight. They were on their way home to find them.
Maggie and Glenn took them to Hershel's room. Carol saw at once that he was very ill and her heart sank. Hershel opened his eyes and smiled at the new arrivals while he ordered Maggie and Glenn to go home and check on Beth. He looked sternly at them until they agreed to go home. Maggie kissed him goodbye and promised that she would be back early the next morning. Glenn moved her to the door, stopped suddenly, and went back and kissed Hershel on his forehead. Glenn was crying as they left.
Daryl and Carol stood on either side of Hershel's bed; Carol had put her hand over Hershel's hand and he smiled at her. "Did you ever hear the song ''Angel Band? It starts off with "My latest sun is sinking fast, my time is nearly gone." And that is true for me, my time is nearly gone. I wanted to see you two before I go. I need you to do some things for me. God let me live long enough to help get my girls some place where they could have a better life. I could have died at the farm, when I was bitten by a walker, or a thousand other times, but he kept me here until I could die knowing that they would be safe".
Daryl held Hershel's hand, "What do you want us to do?" Hershel answered, "First, promise me that you will look after my children. I trust you two more than anyone else." They both nodded their eyes full of tears. Hershel went on, "This will be harder for you, taking care of people comes natural to both of you, I need you to give me a pistol. I need to end this in the best way I can". Hershel smiled at their horrified faces; it was a lot to ask.
Carol protested, "Hershel, your children want to be with you as long as they can. They will feel cheated if you kill yourself". Daryl thought back to when he had to put down Dale back at the farm to end his suffering. He wouldn't fight Hershel on this.
Hershel spoke and they could both tell that he was tiring," I don't have long, maybe I can last another day but I don't want to die in front of my children, and they would have to put me down or God forbid I might infect them. No, please let's end this today. Just tell my children that I died and that you put me down before I turned. I have already talked to the doctor; he will tell them that I had another heart attack."
Carol and Daryl looked at each other; they both loved him enough to not deny him a peaceful death. They looked down at Hershel and he gripped their hands a little tighter. He spoke to Daryl, "I was so happy to marry you and Carol. The sunset that evening was so beautiful and I had a feeling that night that I wasn't going to see a lot more sunsets that pretty".
Hershel looked at Carol, "I know that you read the Bible, will you read to me your favorite passage. I would like to hear it."
She answered readily, "I love the book of Isaiah. Chapter 55:12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." Carol didn't open the Bible on the nightstand; she had memorized that verse as a child and had never forgotten it.
Hershel asked Carol to repeat the verse and she did. Hershel's face became more peaceful. "Tell them that I died telling you how much I loved them. May God bless you and keep you until we meet again." He closed his eyes.
Carol always carried a pistol with her and she took it out now. Daryl took it from her, intending to do it himself and spare her. She put her hand on the pistol to show him that they would each share this burden. Together they placed the pistol close to Hershel's forehead and together they squeezed the trigger. Together they waited until the understanding doctor came in and declared Hershel dead. Together they wept for a world in which good men like Hershel are not allowed to die in peace and tranquility. Together they drove home and told Beth, Maggie, and Glenn that their father had passed peacefully after telling them how much he love his children.
Hershel was buried at the summit of McAllister Mountain. His grave did not face east which was the custom of the mountain folk. Hershel was buried facing west toward the sunsets that he loved. Carol had asked Beth to sing "Angel Band" at the cemetery. Hershel would have loved it.
My latest sun is sinking fast,
My race is nearly run;
My strongest trials now are past,
My triumph is begun.
Refrain:
Oh, come, angel band,
Come and around me stand;
Oh, bear me away on your snowy wings
To my eternal home;
Oh, bear me away on your snowy wings
To my eternal home.