Shallow Soil by Knut Hamsun & Hamsun Knut 1859-1952

Author:Knut, Hamsun, & Hamsun, Knut, 1859-1952
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature
Publisher: The University of Adelaide Library

IV

On the 17th of May,† in the morning, the birds are singing over the city.

[&38224; Norway’s Independence Day.]

A coal-heaver, tired from a night of toil, wanders up through the docks with his shovel across his shoulder; he is black, weary, and athirst; he is going home. And as he walks along, the city begins to stir; a shade is raised here and there; flags are flung from the windows. It is the 17th of May.

All stores and schools are closed; the roar from the wharves and factories is stilled. Only the winches rattle; they shatter the air with their cheerful noise this bright morning. Departing steamers blow white clouds of steam from their exhausts; the docks are busy, the harbour is alive.

And letter-carriers and telegraph messengers have already commenced their rounds, bringing news, scattering information through the doors, whirling up in the hearts of men emotions and feelings like leaves in an autumn wind.

A stray dog with his nose on the pavement lopes through the streets, hot on a scent and without a thought for anything else. Suddenly he stops, jumps up and whines; he has found a little girl who is leaving on every stoop newspapers full of 17th-of-May freedom and bold, ringing phrases. The little girl jerks her tiny body in all directions, twitches her shoulders, blinks and hurries from door to door. She is pale and emaciated; she has Saint Vitus’s dance.

The coal-heaver continues his walk with a heavy, long stride. He has earned a good night’s wage; these enormous English coal-steamers and the many merchantmen from all over the world are indeed a blessing to such as he! His shovel is shiny with wear; he shifts it to his other shoulder and it glitters with every step he takes, signals to heaven with gleaming flashes; it cuts the air like a weapon and shines like silver. The coal-heaver runs foul of a gentleman coming out of a gateway; the gentleman smells of liquor and looks a little shaky; his clothes are silk-lined. As soon as he has lit a cigar he saunters down the street and disappears.

The gentleman’s face is small and round, like a girl’s; he is young and promising; it is Ojen, leader and model for all youthful poets. He has been in the mountains to regain his health, and since his return he has had many glorious nights; his friends have acclaimed him without ceasing.

As he turns toward the fortress he meets a man he seems to know; they both stop.

“Pardon me, but haven’t we met before?” asks Ojen politely.

The stranger answers with a smile:

“Yes, on Torahus. We spent an evening together.”

“Of course; your name is Coldevin. I thought I knew you. How are you?”

“Oh, so so — But are you abroad so early?”

“Well, to tell the truth, I haven’t been to bed yet.”

“Oh, I see!”

“The fact of the matter is that I have hardly been in bed a single night since my return. I am in the hands of my friends. And that means that I am in my element once more — It is strange, Mr.

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