The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy

One morning, Zeddie walks into Birdsall & Son with cinnamon rolls that he baked himself. Mercy sets him to work carving boats. Later, she plans to return to the burial shipyard to collect the ashes from last week’s pyre day. However, she discovers that her father has neglected to order more urns, and their supply has been entirely depleted. Roy finds an empty cookie jar to use instead and joins Mercy on the trip to retrieve the ashes. When they arrive at the burial shipyard, Curtis Cunningham is waiting to speak with Mercy. He again offers to buy Birdsall & Son. Mercy accuses him of being threatened by their business, but he retorts that he knows that Zeddie failed his degree and that Mercy must now run the business alone. He insists that he is doing her a favor, but Mercy still refuses the offer.

Mercy and Roy head home. On the way, they run out of gas, and Mercy is forced to leave her father and walk into town. When the city bell rings, she recalls that it is a drudge drill day. She is supposed to freeze during the drill because drudges are less likely to notice someone who is not moving.