The House in the Dark by Tarjei Vesaas

Author:Tarjei Vesaas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Peter Owen Publishers
Published: 2014-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

Frank and Freda are both there when he comes in. They are hungry and are waiting for him impatiently. Freda is keeping their scanty meal warm. But they do not welcome him with any warmth because he has finally arrived. They want to ask one question: Where have you been? But they cannot. They don’t want to know where he spends his time now.

‘What’s the matter? Have you been waiting long?’ he says, before he can check it. ‘I was kept a bit, but I didn’t expect it to drag out so.’

They don’t ask. They just stare at him. He is wearing his troubled conscience on his sleeve. He pulls himself together. He mustn’t forget himself.

‘Have you eaten?’ he asks stupidly. He can see that they haven’t.

‘No,’ answers Freda curtly. She is busy putting the food on to the table. Frank sits down without a word, waiting.

The arrow polisher goes into his room and empties his pocket, first making a quick search for a new note, but there is none. Then he washes himself. He looks in the mirror. He looks the same as usual, he decides, and finds it an incredible relief.

When they are seated at table he breaks the silence and tells them why he was so late.

‘I was mixed up in something that that fellow Stig, you know, is involved with,’ he says, turned towards Frank.

They gape at him. They know very well what sort of a fellow Stig is. Their cheeks flush.

‘Stig?’ says Frank.

The arrow polisher nods.

‘Yes, I came across him, and he was able to use me. Anyway, I’ve felt like going along with him a little for some time.’

They become more cheerful as they listen to him.

It does not occur to them to doubt his word, although this is so unexpected. They have never caught their father lying as long as they can remember. Have they done him an injustice? But he does polish those arrows doesn’t he? They can’t make it out. But they are delighted to hear this.

Frank brightens and looks at his father. ‘Are you going to join him?’

‘I expect that’s what it’ll amount to,’ says the arrow polisher, feeling dizzy, hearing the roar of something approaching. Of destruction.

‘But then you’ll give up your job, won’t you?’

He nods. ‘I expect that’s what it’ll amount to. But things have to go on as usual for the time being. For various reasons. Stig asked me to. It’s all part of a splendid plan he has.’

‘What’s that!’ blurts out Freda, looking at her father with such joy that he almost forgets himself.

Frank knows better. He snaps at his sister: ‘Surely you know you should never ask about anything? Do you think Stig would put up with anyone who talked? You ought not to have mentioned his name even, Father, it’s so serious.’

The arrow polisher nods.

‘It slipped out, but I know I can trust you two.’

‘Yes,’ answer the children, so seriously that it is torture to see them. Freda turns to him and says, ‘We’re very happy about this.

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