The Mortician

The Mortician is a 1964 novel by writer Henry Winston Cavell. The book was rather successful and got Cavell many accolades. It was made into a film in 1971 which was a rather small success.

Mortimer, the mortician
They piled up into the black wagon, the worn out old horses were ready and at Mortimer's word they were off. Leaving the little town of Millrose, it was by then time for him to go as half the town was dead, leaving his business dry for the while. And any moment now, the townspeople would come up to his desk, all showing and demanding his head. He could not allow them to catch him or business would sink. Four and twenty hours they traveled, his tired mares wheezing their way along and the children whining "why must we always leave". One of these days, just one day soon, the would be hoping they had never complained.

The city of Thunder
That small ancient town loomed at a distance and late at night they stopped at the outskirt's inn. "Ten", said the barman, "for all you this night". But the stingy Mortimer made him a deal, five now and five tomorrow. Mortimer was out and about the inn that night, and it was deep into the morning when he went to bed. To his convenience the barman did not awake in the morning, and he now had his first job that day.

Gregory and the Widow Lake
To his benefit he did not have to reel in his next customer. Gregory Lake, age 69 had just died and now he would make a tidy sum out of him. When the Widow Lake came by, Mortimer saw an opportunity for more business and set about to seduce the grieving widow with his elegant charms. Margaret Lake, not a moment before crushed from within was now under his spell. Having a taste of what was to come, old Mortimer said "enough" and ended this right then. But before the former Mrs. Lake could go, the mortician fed her a small pill and out she went. The next morning she was found dead in her bed, apparently from a broken heart and Mortimer was buying a new pocket to hold all his pay.