Bones, murdered or merely perished, ought to stay silent. That's the law. But, quick and shrill as a violin-screech, they come back, to the terror of all who stand guilty of living, and then they dance, playing on their tomb-lids as lightly as cats--but the game's evil, hateful, angry; there's no fun in being a skeleton!
The passage reflects on the unsettling notion that the dead, whether through murder or natural means, should remain silent. According to the law, silence is expected from those who have passed on. However, the dead are depicted as returning to disturb the living, creating a sense of fear among those who are guilty or burdened by their existence.
This interaction between the living and the dead is characterized by a dark and sinister tone. The imagery of skeletons dancing on their tombs suggests a mocking presence, yet the act is devoid of joy, highlighting the bitterness of death and the consequences of life. Vollmann's words evoke feelings of dread and the unresolved issues that haunt the living, indicating that the past continues to influence the present in malevolent ways.
