Margit Sandemo - The Ice People 23 - Rituals

There were disagreeable visits to Christiania while he was seeking help to recover Gråstensholm. And his longing for Vinga. At times he almost felt he needed to tie himself up so as not to go over and pay her a visit.

But despite these trials, the days had passed. He had enough to see to. He had acquired some livestock so as not to burden others: a cow, a few goats and some chickens, enough for him to be able to manage on his own. Whenever he had to go away from home, his neighbour’s wife would tend to the animals, so that was no problem. He planned to cultivate some land when the spring came. And then he had tried to get help in connection with Gråstensholm. But it seemed impossible. He had ridden over to Menger a few times to get some advice, but the lawyer wasn’t nearly strong enough to take up the battle against Snivel.

A worse problem was Heike’s increasing depression. That was why he had made the trip to visit Vinga two weeks earlier. Seeing her again had been both a good and a bad thing. The sense of belonging they shared with one another had been refreshing and stimulating. At the same time, his longing to be always with her tore his heart apart.

Suddenly he realized that Nils had changed the subject and was talking about Vinga. He began to listen more attentively.

“What do you think your kinswoman will say when she sees you’ve brought me along?”

“Oh, she’ll be delighted,” Heike said, with a touch of bitterness in his voice.

Vinga is not for me, when will I ever learn that? What good can I be to her? Or she to me? What I need is a good, stout farm girl, without any airs, who can accept my appearance and everything I do. Not this slender young sprite who seems to have been born out of the air itself.

But love has always had a mind of its own. It never listens to reason.

“Does she live alone?” Nils asked.

“Yes, but she is surrounded by dutiful servants. They have returned to Elistrand, almost all those who served there in her parents’ time. They worship her like a little goddess. But that doesn’t mean she isn’t lonely.

“Is she your ward?”

“Yes.”

Nils thought for a moment. Then he said, “I thought she was an old spinster or something.”

“No, far from it! I’m bringing you along because I thought you might cheer her up a bit. She is slightly ... eccentric. She doesn’t care for social life or parties. She has a mind of her own, which many people find difficult to take.”

“Do I sense a little pride in your voice?”

“Yes. She is rather special.”

My own Vinga, Heike thought. There’s no one quite like her.

“She can be rather frank,” Heike warned. “And unpredictable. She will sometimes do the most shocking things.”

“That sounds exhilarating,” Nils smiled with anticipation.

Yes, they are alike, Nils and Vinga, Heike thought to himself. Made of the same material. This made him feel terribly depressed.

The end of winter had finally arrived, that strange period when some things come and some things go. It was as though the earth was rumbling with a volcanic force that was held in and inhibited because the surface was still too cold. The air practically vibrated with the anticipation of a signal that would sound like the last trumpet, when everything would shake and tremble in the face of a major and inescapable violation. Heike had no idea where that last word had come from. It was probably his own thoughts that were tainting the sensory image.

Snow was still lying on the ground, but it was grey and melting. The black soil was peeping out. The spring equinox was just around the corner.

From a long way off Heike had been looking out for Elistrand as they reached the plain in the Parish of Gråstensholm. It was as though his heart reached out towards Vinga’s farm.

They would just have to hope that she was at home. But she hardly ever went anywhere.

Loneliness ... how familiar you are to me, Heike thought. In that way they were alike, he and Vinga. They had both experienced an infinite sense of loneliness.

They had arrived.

She met them at the door and Heike felt his body aching with pain at seeing her again. Because the joyous feeling that flowed through him was painful.

She was wearing her work clothes: he knew that she often lent a hand in the stables whenever she felt there was a need for it. And she was very capable, she didn’t just get in the way of the stable hands.

But she had a bandage on her left hand.

“Heike!” she rejoiced. “It’s you! I saw the carriage approaching and was cursing to myself. I refuse to speak to any more creditors. Oh, how wonderful! I always convince myself that you have forgotten me. Come in, come in!”

She moved aside so they could enter.

“Have you brought a friend with you?” she chirped as Heike introduced her to Nils. “My goodness, what a gorgeous young man! And that is such a rare sight these days! Welcome! I will immediately run upstairs and put on something more seductive.”

“Is this Heike’s ward?” Nils said without letting go of her hand. He was so surprised that he was stammering despite the fact that he was normally a very self-assured young man. But he quickly got over the shock and matched her straightforward style. “Heike, had I been you I would have kept her to myself.”

“Which he has,” Vinga said lightly. “But he never bothers to visit me!”

“What happened to your hand?” Heike asked.

“I’ll tell you about that some other time. But right now I want to announce that we are shortly going to have something good. A feast. With wine!”

Suddenly a terrible thought occurred to Heike. “Vinga, do you drink a lot when you are alone? I mean wine and beer and that sort of thing?”

“Yes, of course, Daddy darling! Schnapps for breakfast, two bottles of wine in the morning, and ... no, you know perfectly well that I don’t! I’m not stupid! Only stupid people ruin their lives in that way!”

“Yes, but it’s just that you’re so uninhibited. Everything that you do is without moderation!”

“Well, then I’m moderate without moderation! Now go inside and sit down, I’ll join you in a little while. I just want to freshen up a bit.”

They settled down in front of the fire just like last time, only now there were three of them. It made a big difference. Vinga had really polished herself up: she was dazzling. The two young men had difficulty taking their eyes off her.

A magnificent meal was set before them where they sat.

“The weather calls for a fire,” Vinga said. “Ugh! I’m not looking forward to the spring equinox. I hope it warms up before then.”

She was thinking of being naked up on the mountain. Heike hoped she wouldn’t speak openly about that particular topic. Surely she wasn’t going to reveal all their plans?

No, now he got a soothing, radiant smile from her.

That smile played havoc with him!

They connected immediately, Vinga and Nils. Heike sat gloomily listening to their conversation, and was conscious that he was silent and boring and unable to put in a word. It was as though his throat had contracted.

Vinga insisted on showing Nils the entire house, in fact the entire property. There was no time for the latter, but they did look at all the rooms, and Nils expressed his admiration for the tasteful furnishings.

Heike couldn’t really share his enthusiasm. Alexander Paladin had lived a hundred and fifty years before, and the exuberant splendour of the baroque style did not suit the little estate very well. Especially now, when the style was starting to become lighter, simpler and more practical. Rococo was retreating in favour of a new classicism. Heike was not familiar with such fancy words, but he had registered the transition in taste.