NPPF Canto Two--forked paths and reloaded cameras

[Paul Mackin]

Has enough attention been focused on the intricate cutting in and out
between the  disaster of Hazel's date and the elder Shade's evening at
home with the TV, ending with the arrival of the police with the news of
her death.

Starting at lines 403-4 

Your scrutinized your wrist: "It's eight fifteen. 
[And here time forked.} I'll turn it on." . . . . 

and concluding at lines 486-7

And a patrol car on our bumpy road
Came to a crunching stop. Retake,retake!

The phrase "time forked" announces that two narrative will run
simultaneously, with certain specific events seemingly to be precisely
coordinated in time. This would be an important enough bit of
foreshadowing, given what we know is pending in the remainder of the
book. However there is more, it seems to me. Doesn't the "Retake,
retake" interjection strongly suggest that somehow the whole course of
the evening's events might magically be canceled out and made to run an
alternative course. 

Isn't one of the functions of the "Hereafter" sometimes considered to be
correction of "mistakes" (possibly failures is a better word)  that have
taken place in life. The obvious mistake or failure in the Shade's life
would be Hazel's unhappiness ending in her early death. 

But on to Canto Three.

We hope.

P.