Francis rose a brow and laughed again. "I am not here to die. I just think of it, but I believe I heard once in church that no man who ends his own life ends up in heaven. And who knows? Maybe God has a sense of humor. Could use a guy like me up there. If people in town find out about me and take notice and decide to punish me like I'm a witch to be burned at the stake." He shrugged with a smile. "No fault of mine."

He loomed towards Aslan. "Oh? Maybe you can lead me there to meet them. I'm much better at vegetables but I know a thing or two about flowers. I have a potted plant in my room I've managed to keep alive. It's huge." He stretched out his arms.