They were laughing at the burial.
Thad Beaumont, writer, and his wife. Hewith a spade, she with a pick, laughing at the camera.
Between them, the tombstone and the inscription:
GEORGE STARK
1975-1987
NOT A VERY NICE GUY
A joke. A publicity stunt for the papers. Because Thad Beaumont, literary writer, had created George Stark as a cover name for the violent thrillers he'd written, to earn some quick, much-needed money. But enough was enough.
The cover was about to be blown, so he'd decided to kill off his other self.
But George Stark didn't want to go - and Stark was a very violent man indeed...