C14 Chapter 14

Elisabet had heard of beings, horrific beasts, that stuck to your chest in a suffocating embrace. Now she woke up in a state of terror, which could only mean that she had had a nightmare. She was gasping for breath, struggling like mad for fresh air, but her throat was blocked and her eyes were sore. Tears were trickling down her cheeks and now and then she heard a short, piercing yap from herself.

Life had turned into hell, a bitter struggle to survive. She heard a voice near her: “Ach, mein lieber Gott, was soll ich tun?”

Everything around her was pitch dark. But the woman’s voice sounded very friendly. Elisabet was beginning to realize what had happened and she moaned: “Powder,” and had another attack of coughing. “They doused me in powder, knowing that I’m allergic to it.”

Miss Spitze – because it just had to be her – switched into Norwegian. “What horrible people! They’re evil, they always have been! I had hoped and prayed that I would never meet them again.” As she spoke, she tried to clean Elisabet’s hair and clothes of the powder but this caused the white stuff to whirl and poor Elisabet had a new sneezing attack.

“We simply have to get rid of it,” Miss Spitze said firmly. “Afterwards, we will move away from it.”

The idea sounded sensible but Elisabet was scared for her life. Miss Spitze’s voice sounded so distant and staccato-like because of Elisabet’s serious lung cramps. She could feel that she was about to lose consciousness again. Then she was being dragged over the stone floor; she tried to help, crawling to safety away from the dangerous powder grains. Then suddenly she was able to breathe more lightly.

Miss Spitze explained: “We’re in a cellar. I dragged you further inside and closed a door. It will be more difficult for anybody to find us – if they’re searching for us at all – but it was necessary for your sake.”

“Thank you, you’ve saved my life,” Elisabet said, relieved. She was still in much pain but it was no longer unbearable. “You’re Miss Spitze, aren’t you? I’m Elisabet Paladin of the Ice People; I’m sorry that I’ve dragged you into this.”

“This was what you wanted to speak to me about, wasn’t it?” the German woman said quietly. “About these people?”

“Yes, Vemund Tark and I tried to help Karin Ulriksby get out of her mental paralysis. But I’m afraid we have made matters worse.”

She gasped heavily for breath a few times and then, at Miss Spitze’s request, Elisabet told her what had happened and what she knew of Karin’s past.

“I have to know everything in order to be able to help properly. Vemund won’t say anything.”

Miss Spitze said: “That goes without saying. I myself have never been able to speak about it. You see, I was the only witness. But then by pure chance I met Vemund Tark about three years ago. He saw that I reacted strongly to his last name and he didn’t give in until I had told him the whole story. I told him when I realized that he knew nothing about Karin Ulriksby’s fate. Vemund and his younger brother, Lillebror, knew that their mother had been married before and that they had an older sister who was mentally ill and had set fire to her home, Bode. The half-sister was never to be mentioned in the boys’ home. But my heart has always felt immense sympathy for the girl, and I wondered how she was, which is why I told Vemund everything. He was a good boy and he took it all very heavily.”

“Yes, he’s good,” Elisabet said in a tender tone of voice. Nevertheless, there’s something I don’t understand. He asserts vehemently that he is to blame for Karin’s sad fate.”

“Alas, poor man! In a way he’s right ...”

Elisabet said: “Now I think you had better tell me the whole story. You see, I’m very involved. I’m Karin’s friend: I want to make her life humanly dignified again, and I plan to marry Vemund – if only he can rid himself of this stupid idea of wanting to commit suicide. He can’t live with the knowledge that Karin became sick because of him.”

Miss Spitze sighed. “I see that I will have to tell it all once more. Although everything was so horrific that the thought makes me sick. But you’re a woman – and from what I understand, quite open-minded. I think I will tell you things I couldn’t bring myself to mention to Vemund, so that you can better understand poor Karin’s reaction.”

Elisabet nodded, which Miss Spitze could not see. “I’ve guessed one or two things,” she said.

“Let me hear,” Miss Spitze said.

Elisabet replied: “I think that the people who live here aren’t the right Tarks. I think Karin witnessed that the true Tarks were killed because they were exceptionally wealthy. Arnold and Emilie and Mandrup Svendsen are merely upstarts who actually have a different name. I also know that Mandrup is Karin’s Bubi. However, I can’t make sense of it all – I need a lot more pieces in the jigsaw puzzle.”

“Oh, Miss Elisabet, you’re very much on the wrong track. The horrible creatures in this house are the right Tarks, and Mandrup Svendsen is also the one he makes himself out to be.”

Elisabet was astonished. “Then I think you had better tell me.”

“Yes,” Miss Spitze said, breathing heavily. “I think we have plenty of time because I’ve been banging on the door for a long time and nobody has heard me. Or wanted to hear me.”

Then she began: “Mein Gott, I absolutely detest having to speak about it. Anyway, Miss Karin was a lonely girl. She loved Bode, which was the home of the Ulriksby Family. Her father passed away at about the same time as she acquired a suitor with good prospects. It was decided that they would get married and Karin was head over heels in love. Now the lonely girl had a friend. She viewed everything through rose-tinted spectacles and all she could speak about was Bubi and nothing else. I was a kind of governess to her in those days.”

Elisabet asked: “Was the mother, Mrs Emilie, nice to her daughter?”

Miss Spitze replied: “Mrs Emilie was never nice to anybody. It was nothing but superficial, dazzling kindness. Karin worshipped her divine mother. Like most people close to Emilie, Miss Karin begged for a trifle of attention, a trifle of favour from her. Emilie has always been like that. Cold and unattainable, with a radiant smile that could melt anybody’s heart when she was in the right mood.”

“Yes,” Elisabet said. “She’s like a she-wolf.”

Miss Spitze replied: “That’s true. The two of them lived alone at Bode – with all the servants, of course – and Bubi’s visits were an oasis for her. She looked forward to them with an almost frightening intensity. She was so young, so ignorant of life and men and their love. She seemed to believe in a chaste, romantic marriage. She was bound to have heard of the ... most fervent ties between a married couple, but she couldn’t really imagine physical love. I recall that I spoke to her about it once and she asked me with big, frightened and rapturous eyes whether it was true that you had to lie in the same bed to have a child together. I wasn’t the right person to explain about the facts of life because I was just as inexperienced myself, and she couldn’t turn to her mother. Mrs Emilie didn’t speak about such things.”

Elisabet asked Miss Spitze: “Was Miss Karin pretty in those days?”

“She was the loveliest young girl I’ve seen! Oh, by the way, I must correct myself ... Bode was Emilie’s home from the beginning, which she had kept during her marriage to her first husband, Mr Ulriksby. It was her grandfather who had owned it. He had two sons and one of them was Svend. This is why Mandrup is called Svendsen.”

“So Bode was also Mandrup’s home?” Elisabet asked.

“No, Emilie’s father, the elder brother, had inherited it.”

“But Mandrup was a frequent visitor?” Elisabet persisted.

“Yes, he was. Anyway, Miss Karin’s wedding day was drawing nearer. She was ecstatic! Bubi had gone away ...”

“To pick lilies-of-the-valley for the bridal bouquet?” Elisabet asked.

“That’s possible, I don’t remember that. He was to be away for a longish period. Then one evening ...” Miss Spitze was finding it difficult to speak. “Karin and I were discussing something or other, I don’t remember what. Karin said: ‘Let’s ask Mother because she knows everything!’ So we hurried to Mrs Emilie’s bedroom and eager as Karin was she didn’t knock on the door but ran straight in. I’ll never forget that sight ...”

Miss Spitze had to wait a little before she was able to continue. The only thing you could hear was Elisabet’s wheezy breathing, the cough had almost disappeared. “Mrs Emilie ... had a lover with her. She was naked and he wore only a short shirt. You can probably imagine Karin’s reaction when she saw her dear, dignified mother’s white thighs and the man lying between them. His face was turned away but he got up in such a rush that Karin never managed to see who he was. It was a canopy bed and since they only had one light on, his face lay in the shadow; when he stood upright in bed, his head was behind the edge of the canopy. His shirt was much too short and the only thing Karin had seen until then of manly nakedness were the small cherubs on the church ceiling. What she now saw was, of course, completely different. We had clearly entered the bedroom at a very critical time because Mrs Emilie was lying in bed, twisting with cramp-like convulsions. It was all so horrible, so intimate, that I grabbed Karin and rushed out. I had to bring her outside, she was so terribly ill at ease.”

Elisabet murmured: “Poor girl.”

“Yes, but that wasn’t all. She deliberately avoided her mother and I don’t think Mrs Emilie was interested in seeing her. There was an awful atmosphere in the house. ‘If only Bubi would come,’ Karin said to me. ‘He can get me away from this house.’ And then Bubi came! Karin wasn’t at home at the time so when she had returned from her walk, I told her that he had come and was waiting in the salon. The poor girl brightened up like a sun following those anxious days when she couldn’t speak, couldn’t smile but walked about with a stiff, expressionless face. Now her dear Bubi would take her away from the monster who had once been her mother. They would live together in a wonderful marriage where they would never touch one another in that abominable manner but walk about in the rose garden, holding hands, exchanging sentimental words and kissing each other modestly.”

Miss Spitze made a break and collected herself. “Mrs Emilie was also present in the salon. This curbed Karin’s eagerness to enter somewhat. Mrs Emilie walked up to Karin with an expression in her eyes that I had never seen before, although I’ve seen many of her cruel faces. Miss Elisabet: in spite of the many complaining words, it radiated triumph. Young Bubi stayed in the background, more than anything else he looked like a dog that was waiting to be told off because it had been out in the rain and got wet. Mrs Emilie said: ‘Dear child,’ holding her hands out like a sun goddess. Her voice dripped with sympathy but the eyes! Oh, those evil eyes! ‘Dear child, now you must take everything quite calmly. Bubi and I have decided that the best thing for you is that you’re allowed to play and be free for a few more years. Actually, the best thing for you is for Bubi and me to get married. We’re fond of one another in a completely different way, which you’re too young to understand ...”

Elisabet was horrified. She gasped: “Tell me, wasn’t Bubi younger than even Karin?”

Miss Spitze replied: “Indeed he was! After all, I was there with Karin so I heard everything that was being said. ‘Oh, and then I have something wonderful to tell you, Karin,’ Mrs Emilie went on. ‘You’re about to have a young brother or sister! Isn’t that wonderful?’”

“Vemund,” Elisabet blurted. “Vemund was the child! That’s why he felt so guilty!”

Miss Spitze replied: “Exactly! Then Mrs Emilie walked over to Bubi and stood there with his arm in hers. Like a handsome couple about to have their portraits painted. Poor Karin was not at all happy at this piece of news. I’ll never forget it, Miss Elisabet. Her breathing reminded me of yours a moment ago. She seemed to be unable to breathe, followed by this slow, frightening scream. She flew at her mother, trying to tear her eyes out ... Because Karin must have seen it before her eyes just as I did. The picture of those two in bed! The servants came rushing in and pulled Karin away, but she struggled and extricated herself. A moment later, Bode was in flames. When they found Karin again, her mind was darkened. She was closed up. She fantasized apathetically about Bubi coming soon in good time for the wedding. Her memory had stopped in the minutes before she met them.”

“But Bubi ...? Wasn’t that Mandrup?”

“No, not at all. That was Arnold Tark, of course! Karin’s rich fiancé, whom Emilie wanted for herself. I don’t know what he thought about it all, I suppose she fascinated him as she did everybody. Bewitched and hypnotized. I believe he’s regretted it many times.”

Elisabet recapitulated. She had heard Emilie call for Bubi. And seen Mandrup. “What did you say, Bubi?” Of course, he did not have to be Bubi. Elisabet visualized Arnold Tark’s tired face before her mind’s eye. “I think so, too. Oh, Vemund, born out of wedlock! What are we to do with you?”

There was only one answer: they had to see to it that Karin got well and was happy so that he no longer needed to have a bad conscience for being the cause of her tragedy.

What was happening with Karin now? What was happening upstairs? Would somebody soon come and look for them? Or had everybody left Lekenes so that the Tark Family were the only ones left? If so, she and Miss Spitze were in a bad way.

Mandrup Svendsen was quickly apprehended when he tried to escape via a back door. The policemen outside caught him and the good days were over as far as he was concerned. He was now doomed to spend a long, long time behind bars.

Mrs Emilie was very shrewd. She knew that the doors were guarded and she took no chances. Arnold Tark and she had no reason to fear the police. She was thinking of the scandal, their reputation and people’s opinion. They acted almost in panic.

“Let’s hide, Bubi! Do you remember the secret room we discovered in the wardrobe in your room? They will never find us there and when everybody has left Lekenes, we’ll flee to Denmark! Come!”

Arnold followed Emilie out of old habit. They ran over to his room.

“What about the two in the cellar? Nobody knows they’re there,” he objected.

“So what?” Emilie gasped. “Those two are just a bother. We had better get rid of them.” They were in Arnold Tark’s room. “Here, take your pistol, it’s loaded. It might be good to have. No, take them both. In case they find us.”

Arnold Tark took the pistols but then hesitated. “No, Emilie. I agree with you that we had better stay put here. But I’ll open the door for those two first.”

“You must be crazy! The others are searching for us!”

Arnold Tark replied: “You can say whatever you want to but I’m going to get those two out.” He ran back into the corridor and down a back staircase. His face, which had been tired and haggard ever since Karin appeared, now resembled a ghost. It was as if the blinkers he had worn for all these years had lost their effect. Now, deep inside, he saw Emilie the way he had always known she was but had never wanted to admit to himself. Now he also saw himself in a clearer light, and that was even more difficult to bear.

He heard Emilie’s angry steps behind him on the stairs. “Arnold,” she hissed. “Will you please come back!”

Arnold closed his ears to Emilie’s commanding voice. The tears trickled down his cheeks in lifeless weeping. Everything, simply everything, was over! Nevertheless, he could still do a final, decent deed: he would free the two women in the cellar.

He could still hear Karin’s desperate screams far away, though they sounded more exhausted. He heard footsteps in other rooms on the ground floor – men who were looking for them. Vemund ... who had turned his back on his parents. Good God, it had really hurt! So this was why ... He had discovered the truth about Karin.

Karin ... Arnold Tark had managed to suppress the thought of her for many years, She was never mentioned. Once when the boys were small he happened to tell them about their crazy half-sister who had set fire to their house. Emilie was furious at him for this and had punished him with frosty silence for several weeks. It had been awful! It felt like being pushed out into the deepest darkness. However, deep down, the thought had been nagging him for a very long time: ought they not to visit Karin? Or at least find out how she was and whether she was still alive? Emilie was totally against it. She said that he was a weakling who would bring bad luck on them, who were otherwise so happy. They had had such fine, handsome sons to show off. You could not do that with Karin.

Vemund had caused this. He had looked up Karin. Vemund was a good man. The severed ties with him had been extremely hurtful.

Arnold Tark was down in the cellar. Emilie followed him like a fury. A small lamp by the stairs was lit. She was livid, grabbed him and hissed. “Here you come with all your stupid nonsense! What do you want of them? They just lead to disaster. I’ve never been able to stand Elisabet, and the other fool ... Arnold? Arnold? What are you doing?”

He had never been able to get angry, which was his weakness. Now the tears were pouring down his cheeks. “You’re old! You’ve ruined my life!”

“Arnold, stop it! Put the pistol away! It’s only me!”

The shot echoed through the vaults. He let the fired pistol lie and then he went over to open the door where the two women had been locked up. He turned the key and opened the door without saying a word. Elisabet and Miss Spitze walked out, dazed, whispering a “thank you”. Then they caught sight of Emilie’s dead body, and stopped abruptly.

“The she-devil,” Elisabet muttered. “The she-spider is dead.”

Arnold sobbed: “Why didn’t anybody call her that twenty-five years ago? It might have opened my eyes then. Yes, I shot her. She whom I loved with blind adoration.”

He walked up the stairs and they followed him slowly, frightened. They stopped on the ground floor while he continued upstairs. They wanted to find out what had happened to Karin and hear what the others had to tell.

Arnold Tark continued to his room upstairs. He heard voices everywhere but they were nothing to do with him. Like a mechanical doll, he took a candle and his pistol and entered his wardrobe. For a moment, he stopped and looked at the expensive, beautiful clothes Emilie had chosen for him. Then he held the candle to a rustling silk coat. It went up in flames immediately, igniting the other clothes. But by then, Arnold Tark, Karin’s Bubi, had entered the secret room. He put the pistol to his temple and pulled the trigger.

The only thing they could do was to try and save as much of the furniture as possible. The fire spread rapidly and Lekenes could not be saved. A massive group of volunteers managed to move most of what was on the ground floor.

Vemund and Elisabet met Lillebror out in the courtyard in the middle of the rescue work. “I know who’s responsible for all this,” Lillebror shouted desperately. “It was the evil witch who was here earlier in the week.”

“What witch?” Vemund asked.

“The one with the yellow eyes. She asked to speak to Mother but she wasn’t at home. Then she went up to Mother’s room to fetch something. Father went with her. The only thing she did was to take some strands of hair from Mother’s comb. That evil, evil woman!”

Elisabet said nothing. Her intuition told her who had been here ...

Vemund said sharply: “Lillebror, don’t try to blame a woman from outside for this. Witch or not! It was their own cruelty that killed them.”

“Father shot Mother! My wonderful mother!”

“One day, I’ll tell you the truth, Lillebror,” Vemund said with a sigh. “When I’ve the strength to tell it. I’ll help you get a sensible job in society but afterwards you must manage on your own. It may be tough but one day perhaps it will make a man of you.”

Then they continued to carry things out from the once so beautiful Lekenes.

Ingrid and Ulvhedin laughed at their small masterpiece. They looked at the charred remains of the doll they had made. It had once resembled Emilie Tark and her hair was sewn into it. First, they had “killed” the doll and then they had burnt it.

Ulvhedin asked Ingrid: “Do you think you’ve helped Elisabet sufficiently now? With our conjurations that all the old evil would concentrate around Lekenes and come out in the open one day?”

Ingrid was more sceptical. “I think we’ve wiped out the evil spirit. But ... finding love is something Elisabet must tackle on her own. I saw in her hand that she will have to fight for her happiness. But now the worst obstacles are out of the way and everything will be all right. Don’t you think so, my old fellow and wizard?”

Ulvhedin laughed: “Yes, Ingrid.”

Then they began to prepare a meal the way they wanted it to be. There were no longer any guardians for these two dangerous old eccentrics.

Young Sofie Magdalene’s christening had to be postponed; it was impossible for Karin to take part and it was impossible for anybody to feel happy.

First of all, the funeral had to be completed. Both sons were present and so was Elisabet for Vemund’s sake, but, of course, Karin could not be there. Dr Hansen watched over her night and day. Lillebror was barely able to stand upright on the church floor. Elisabet thought that having great men and women as role models can be dangerous. You continue to admire them at a distance while you try to come to grips with them. You should not see them shrink to normal mortals because then you lose the illusion that there is something fine and sublime in this world. Many people need an idol to look up to, providing them with a sense of enormous happiness and strength, which is not to be sneezed at.

After his mother’s death, Lillebror was so indignant that Miss Spitze had to tell the horrible truth for the third time, this time in more subdued detail. Lillebror was gone for the whole day afterwards. Vemund and Elisabet had no idea which was the hardest for him to bear: the loss of his mother as a pure gem or whether, like everybody else, he thought that people might have had more sympathy, more compassion, for the love relationship that killed Karin’s happiness had they not acted afterwards as if she did not exist. Neither Vemund nor Elisabet could forgive them for this abandonment.

Karin was completely apathetic. She was unable to talk to anyone, she could not even show any interest in Sofie Magdalene. However, she often sought Dr Hansen’s hand to hold in hers, which was something that gave everybody some hope at least.

The one who had the hardest time of all was Vemund. Elisabet could no longer get through to him. She knew that he had not given up his plan to commit suicide, which made her feel despair because she loved him more than ever.

The day after the funeral, she walked up to his house but he was not at home. Mrs Aakerstrøm said that she had seen him walking along the edge of the forest. Elisabet followed him hesitantly. Perhaps he would be cross with her but she was afraid to let him wander about in the forest with his gloomy thoughts. She knew that there was a steep mountain wall farther up. He sat at the very edge of the cliff. Elisabet coughed discreetly so as not to frighten him into doing something stupid. Vemund hardly looked up as she sat down next to him. He took her hand in a sad grip.

They sat in silence for a long time.

At last he said: “Everything went wrong, Elisabet. Karin got worse again and Lillebror has found no safe haven with you. We’re back to square one. But now I can’t be bothered to fight.”

Elisabet said, tongue in cheek: “Of course, it means nothing to you that I love you dearly, does it?”

Vemund’s grip on her hand had become more intense but he still did not look at her: “When I heard the shots and the noise from the fire and couldn’t find you, I was scared to death, Elisabet. I would be a fool if I availed myself of your weakness for me.”

Elisabet thought that it is not a weakness but rather love that is incredibly strong! Only I dare not say so out loud. “What about my own emotions? Apart from the fact that you don’t want me dead, which was very nice of you, what do you really feel for me?”

He replied: “You know that perfectly well.”

Typical man! Women want to know everything. They have to guess the answers, left to themselves with their uncertainty.

She thought out loud: “Is there nothing beautiful in this world?”

Finally, he turned towards her: “Yes, you and your thoughts. They are pure and honest.” But he still had a sorrowful look in his eyes. Elisabet realized that there was only one way in which to save him.

“Vemund: you must promise me one thing: wait here until I come back; I’m sure you can manage that. Afterwards you can be dead for as long as you want to, if you can give this time to wait for me, right?”

He gave her an inquisitive look: “I promise.”

She bent forward and gave him a light kiss on the cheek and then ran as fast as she could to Karin’s house.

She asked Dr Hansen how Karin was doing.

“No change. No interest in anything at all. Once more, she is closed in a world of her own.”

With a gesture of her hand, Elisabet showed that she wanted Dr Hansen to withdraw to the other side of the room. He obeyed. She collected herself somewhat and then sat down on the edge of the bed.

“Karin, I’m your friend, Elisabet. Do you remember me?”

Karin’s expression showed that she wanted to be left in peace.

“Listen to me,” Elisabet said relentlessly. “Now you know who Vemund is, don’t you? Your half-brother. He doesn’t want to live because he believes that he’s made you unhappy. He was the one who was born at the time, you know, and he can’t live with that fact. For three years, he’s done everything for you, you know that. And he also tried to do the best he could for your younger brother.”

The corner of Karin’s mouth quivered but her eyes looked empty.

Elisabet went on: “Vemund can’t live with the knowledge of who he is, and now that you’re feeling worse life seems pointless to him. He intends to take his own life because there’s nothing more he can do for you. But I love him, Karin: you have such a good brother! He’s the great love of my life and I’ll do everything for him. But he won’t listen to me. Please help me, Karin! You’re the only one who can save him from death and me from being unhappy for the rest of my life!”

Finally, Karin turned her eyes and looked at Elisabet, but she said nothing.

Elisabet continued: “You’re wondering what you can do. I ask you to please come with me, I’ve asked Vemund to wait for me up in the forest. I wish so very much that you would tell him that he mustn’t die ...”

Now the tears were pouring down Elisabet’s cheeks. “I don’t want to lose you, Karin. I ask you to think very carefully about what I just said. Do you want to live the rest of your life on the memories of a man who wasn’t worthy of you? A mother who let you down? Or do you want to live in the now among those who love you and want the very best for you? Vemund and me, Mrs Aakerstrøm and Mrs Vaagen, Dr Hansen – and little Sofie Magdalene who needs you and who will be orphaned if you vanish into your self-absorption once more?”

From the other corner of the room, Dr Hansen said: “I also need you, Karin.”

Karin turned her head and looked at him. Then she looked at Elisabet.

“Karin, you know what it means to lose somebody you love,” Elisabet said, wiping away her tears. “Only you can save your brother. If you want to live! Convince him that it’s wrong to choose death.”

Karin did not say anything.

“Sofie Magdalene is not yet christened,” Elisabet said gently. “We’re waiting for you, her mother, to be there as well. She needs you. Nobody knows better than you what it means to lose a mother’s love.”

The woman in the bed looked at Dr Hansen: “How is Sofie Magdalene?”

Mrs Vaagen, who had been waiting in the room next door, immediately lifted up the child and walked over to the bed with her.

“She seems so alert and awake,” Karin said, stretching out her finger towards the little baby’s hand. “Little one, little one. Would you please help me to get dressed? Dr Hansen, you ... please wait outside and ... you must come with us up to the forest!”

When Vemund saw Karin walking on her own, he got up quickly. “Karin, you’re up and about again!”

The others waited among the trees, near enough that they could step in if needed.

“What’s this I hear?” Karin said, putting her hands in his. “Do you know what it feels like to lose the love of your youth forever? Do you know the feeling of emptiness that grips you?”

“I can well imagine how you must feel,” Vemund said sympathetically.

“I’ve thought about it and discovered that I have a lot to live for, a lot of useful things I want to accomplish in my life. I’ve no time to be a burden on others in a hospital or in somebody else’s home! I want to live! No, I’m talking about Elisabet!”

Vemund stiffened. “Elisabet!”

“Yes, you’re well on your way to sentencing her to the same void as the one I’ve suffered in for far too many years. Do you want her to lose the sun in her life, her future, her happiness, her hope and her dreams?”

“Do you mean ...?”

“I don’t think you love her, Vemund!”

“So this is what you think? She’s the only one I want. But I don’t deserve to have her because I’ve inflicted so many deadly wounds on you. I can’t live with the horrible way in which I was created.”

“Vemund, Vemund, my brave little brother. Isn’t it about time we buried these old memories? Have they done us any good? No, but you, my dear friend, have given me the opportunity to live a normal life. Wouldn’t it be wise of me to seize this chance? Is there any point in feeling all that sorrow because of those two people from the past? We’re not obliged to love our parents – those are not my words but something Dr Hansen taught me on my way up here. Let’s forget them, Vemund. And let’s also teach Lillebror to forget them.”

Vemund stretched out his arms and embraced Karin as tears poured down his cheeks. Elisabet and Dr Hansen came over to them.

“Well, Vemund,” Elisabet said with her familiar shyness. “Do you intend to jump?”

He laughed at her. “No, Elisabet! I’ve thought of asking you whether you need a penniless, sentimental rafter at Elistrand!”

“I’ll think about it,” Elisabet replied graciously.

Sofie Magdalene was christened and it was a splendid occasion. Elisabet had invited her entire family as well as the two trolls up at Graastensholm. Afterwards, there was a reception in Karin’s house.

Vemund had Elisabet to himself for a moment out in the kitchen, drawing her close to him in a tender embrace. Both knew that they might face problems in their married life. The scene that Karin and Miss Spitze had witnessed such a long time ago would inhibit them. Much of the beauty of the sexual aspect of love had been ruined for Vemund and Elisabet. However, this memory would pale and they would have their own romantic moments to look back on instead.

Ingrid and Ulvhedin came out into the kitchen.

“Dear Elisabet,” said Ingrid with the radiant cats’ eyes. “You made the right choice, after all. Do you remember that I warned you?”

“It wasn’t difficult to make up my mind.”

The two old people seemed very smug and pleased.

“Ingrid,” Elisabet said in a threatening tone of voice, “You were at Lekenes. I told Vemund that it was you.”

The pretty old witch tried to look innocent. She didn’t succeed at it at all.

Vemund smiled wistfully: “I remember that I wondered whether the devils themselves had pulled the strings so that all those who had anything to do with the matter were gathered at Lekenes on that day. It turned out that I was perfectly right!”

The two “devils” of the Ice People’s famous clan smiled at each other. They were thrilled and took it as a compliment.

“We had such a good time when we mixed the brew,” Ingrid said. “And all conjur...”

“That’s enough,” Ulvhedin said sharply. There was no doubt that he had also enjoyed himself.

“Thank goodness there won’t be any more of your kind in the clan,” Elisabet said, slightly shaken.

Ulvhedin turned serious. “But the seeds of the dragon – the dragon’s teeth – have already been sown,” he said quietly.

Ingrid said: “Shut up, you superstitious old fogey. Örjan’s son in Scania is virtue personified. My grandchildren, Ingela and Sölve, will be coming to Norway this summer. You’ve no idea how tame and pious they are. Elisabet’s generation are all paragons of virtue!”

“Perhaps,” Ulvhedin said in a low voice, but Vemund was the only one who heard him.