"Einar, Einar." "What is the time?" "We don't have any clocks." "Oh, right." "I keep forgetting." "I'd say 8 by the sun." "A woman would keep it tidier." "You're not a bad cook." "I'm lousy at doing the dishes." "That makes the two of us." "And I am tired of rolls." "Make pancakes then." "How?" "I don't know." "Ask someone." "If we asked a woman, she 'd make them herself and give them to us out of pity." "We'll just stick to the rolls, then." "You aren't tired of them?" "No." "Still, we could do with a woman." "How would we pay her?" "You could marry." "Just like that?" "However you like." "Like buying a horse?" "I didn't say that." "Earmark her, and bring her home." "Why can't people today be serious?" "Have they ever been?" "I brought out the pack saddle." "That old thing?" "It can be repaired." "I'll use the other tackle." "The packsaddle only needs a stitch." "Come on, old girl." "All saddles are alike." "No, they're not." "No need to show off." "It's not showing off." "At your age I looked forward to go." "I am at my age." "We' d noticed." "Who looks forward to rounding up rotten sheep?" "You're not the only one going." "You'll all be rounding up the rotten sheep." "I'd look forward to moving to a decent place to live in." "Home is what you make of it." "Don't blame the place for the hard times." "Still, we'd be better off living in a town." "That's everyone's answer to hard times." "Now, when animals fall prey to disease, the only piece of advice from youngsters such as yourself is to move away." "Surely you can see how futile it is." "It's not futile." "I may be a coward, but moving away is not the answer." "It's too late for me, anyway." "You're not that old." "Yes, I am." "It 's better than taking state money." "I'm much too old for the company of destitute men... on strange soil, waiting to be handed a job on a silver platter." "It couldn't be any worse than this." "Hard times don't spare the towns." "But they have more comforts." "I'd rather my hard times be without comforts." "My life is here." "There's only one journey left for me." "You'll live to a hundred." "I hope not." "I think I'll feed him." "What for?" "The poor thing is hungry." "I thought we were going put it to the knife." "Shh, not while he's listening!" "I have got a favor to ask." "Need some fish?" "A bottle of spirits." "Now look, Einar..." "For the mountains." "You'd better stick to milk." "Come on, be a pal." "You can call it shepherds'milk." "Don't drink it yourself." "Here's ten kronur." "You'll take care of it, won't you?" "Don't worry." "There's not much time left." "We'll take care of it." "Guys, come down from there and give it a push." "Everyone aboard?" "Yes." "Where is the dog?" "I haven't seen him." "Run off for good, most likely." "He'll be back." "Stupid animal." "Shall we shoe the horses?" "We should slaughter the lamb first." "What, right now?" "The carcass has to cool down before we can cook the meat." "We'd do better to castrate the damn mutt instead." "Wouldn't do your belly no good." "Dad is nearly ready." "Won't you come instead?" "Are you nuts?" "You only have to jump in the saddle." "I am not dressed for it." "Hello there, squire." "See you down at the sheep pens." "Is something wrong?" "Far from it." "I'll go on, then." "Hold your horses!" "Let me blow my nose first." "Does that require dismounting?" "We mustn't arrive completely dry." "I've been getting wet myself, today." "What about your soul's flower, my boy?" "I dare say the rain reached that, too." "You have to water the flower of the soul." "Look on the bright side." "None of that inheriting the earth nonsense." "But you will." "It's enough to make me sick." "I have a good stomach." "All I'm inheriting is a depression and a bunch of sick animals." "When livestock dies, young men need to have faith in better times." "Praise the Lord and the Co-op." "Faith in oneself." "What's the use?" "I'm old, and have yet to see easy times." "Diseases don't concern me because it's always been a matter of survival." "Pessimistic young men are the devil's disease." "Take a pull." "One more for the road." "No, I'm good." "Come on, be a man!" "Very well, here's to you, then." "It'll do wonders for your optimism." "It might be worth something if it made me rich." "Evening." "You've brought the snow with you, I see." "It'll go as soon as come." "Still riding old Blaise." "Better than your pot-bellied nags." "You ought to rest him." "You'd have had him for steak by now." "Looking magnificent, as always." "Good horseflesh a surprise to you?" "Not exactly easy on the eyes." "He's brought me here for thirty years." "They'll have you for cruelty." "Cruelty to you." "We are talking about White Glider." "He was bred by my stallion." "You are nothing but cows." "You must not call Toms breeding in question." "Still three to come." "Five haven't brought dogs." "You're short of dogs?" "I assumed there would be plenty of them." "I would spread my wings and fly." "If I saw a bottle nigh." "By mountain lake side blue and deep." "Reign Peace and Dignity." "And from their snow-clad heights the peaks," "Gaze down in majesty." "On your feet." "Did you manage to sleep?" "Not much." "You can never catch a wink in this cabin." "Been at the snuff, eh?" "He should call off the bitch." "Well, here." "Well, here's the dog." "Crept in with the mist." "Six carne late." "Things are looking up." "Little guttersnipe." "That's the end for her." "Did the horse just kill the dog?" "So it seems." "Bloody clodhopper." "You'll pay for her." "It was my fault." "She was squatting on my mitten." "Damned liar!" "Stop them." "Let him go." "Have you gone mad?" "I'll have no fighting here." "Fighting over a bitch." "She was a good sheepdog." "Enough said." "Let's be moving on." "Margaret!" "Margaret!" "Something's wrong with Olaf." "I'll go and see." "Wait a minute." "Maybe it's nothing." "Then he wouldn't be sitting there." "Perhaps he'd rather go home." "There's no-one there to look after him there." "Olaf." "Is something the matter?" "Nothing serious." "Come in and rest." "I'm fine here by the roadside." "Can I get you anything?" "It's only a stitch." "But you're sweating." "Old age, my dear." "Good afternoon." "I had to stop when I saw you by the road." "What would your name be, bonnie lassie?" "Margaret Tomasdóttir." "Your father is Tomas of Allweaters?" "Yes." "This did he engeuder." "And your name?" "Olaf Einarsson." "Of Gilsbakki?" "That is the man." "And have the years thus gone apace?" "I don't place the stranger." "Ernest, from Mowny." "Ernie" "You've put on a bit of weight." "Weight, have I?" "You could be a Factor." "As bad as that?" "Time was substantial." "Stout and rich, eh?" "You haven't forgotten." "My friend, what is it?" "I'll be all right." "He's unwell." "We saw him by the road and he could barely walk." "What is it?" "Just a bit of a pain." "You must see a doctor." "If we could just phone..." "We'll drive you to the doctor." "In my working clothes?" "A dandy in your old age?" "I haven't shaved." "What about the milking?" "I'll see to it." "Of course the damsel will care for the cows." "My boys sheephearding." "You will be back first." "If you're heading out to the sheephearding, tell him I had to see the doctor." "It's too much trouble." "The ditches are failing." "People lost interest." "Like all your innovations." "But the scheme taught us to pool our resources." "And now?" "Now we wait." "Like birds in the wilderness." "We'll have our day." "Farming has had its day." "You never cared much for farming." "My dear friend..." "Change is universal, and inevitable." "And often absurd, like your ditches." "He's ill." "Hurry." "Hitting the bridge won't improve his health." "How have you been?" "I can't complain." "Denmark is kindly." "What do you mean?" "Simply that it must be comfortable place to live." "What could I have done here, anyway?" "Write in Icelandic, like the others." "Ineluctable wretchedness." "This land is uninhabitable." "Some of us manage." "What is wrong with Denmark?" "Nothing." "It's cosy there." "Confound your Icelandic snivelling." "But what of the spirit?" "It's always the same with you turn-of-the-century types." "In agony you inquire about the spirit." "We heard you composed a poem for the king." "You thought it odd?" "We were proud." "We still like to impress." "Such irony." "The king is all right." "Tall enough, anyway." "How is the farm doing?" "Hard times." "This country is never out of distress." "And there is sheep-fever." "Of course there is." "I'm not complaining." "Perhaps that's the worst of all." "Can I give you a hand?" "No." "Get better soon." "Nice to see you." "And you." "A pity you can't stay." "It wouldn't do any good." "This is where you came from, don't forget." "I won't." "Who's got Mowny now?" "It's been deserted." "Drive on." "That's one of yours, Tómas." "How did it go?" "What?" "Getting the sheep down." "Same as usual." "No-one left behind?" "No we're all here." "Well, that's good." "Couldn't be better." "Your dad was using the snuff." "He did?" "And he chewed tobacco, too." "How wicked." "One dog got killed." "That's sad." "We had tears in our eyes." "Let's get some coffee." "Your dad sent a message." "He decided not to come." "He's gone to the doctor." "Why?" "I don't know." "When was it?" "Yesterday." "And he's not back yet?" "They operated last night." "I phoned before I came." "What did they say?" "As well as can be expected." "That's what they said." "Was he very ill?" "I 'm not sure." "Coffee?" "What about the cows?" "I did the milking." "You did?" "Who else?" "But I didn't muck." "Have some more." "It's for you." "I don't need it all." "You will be out very late." "Aren't you joining us?" "No I 'm just visiting." "But you're not busy." "What about the milking?" "All you think of is cows." "How do you know what I think?" "True, you're a deep one." "Man must do his best and then a bit." "Someone should write that in the sky here." "Write it where you like." "Their best and then a bit, then go to the grave." "Where else can they go?" "Why not just go?" "What do you mean?" "It would be a change of churchyard." "Here have some of this." "You've been hiding it." "I forgot about it." "You'll make a farmer yet." "Not in these times." "Tight man, tight fist." "I said, I forgot." "Of course." "You're touchy as hell." "Been at it too long." "Living, talking, and drinking too much." "It's all too much." "So you shoot yourself or get touchy." "Where is that bottle?" "We must use every opportunity to be merry." "You'll learn that when you get married." "That won't be happening any time soon." "And the ladies are okay with that?" "As far as I know." "You'll never know when it hits you." "Were you "hit"?" "Things were different in my days." "Back then we actually proposed." "Now people couple like horses." "And marriage is nothing more than an unfortunate consequence and a moral compromise for when the girl starts puffing up like she had the worms." "In your youth, one even married for money." "I got a sewing-machine with my wife." "Perhaps you think I was after the sewing-machine." "Is she going to town this year?" "I don't know." "Doesn't she usually?" "Concrete buildings and electricity enchant her." "She complains about the dark, cold, and the rheumatism." "She's always been good at complaining." "What's going on?" "What's the matter?" "He's asleep, that's all." "Is he drunk?" "He smells like booze." "Impossible." "It's booze alright." "Mother, please." "You can't pretend that he's not drunk." "He may have had a drop." "And you're not steady on your feet." "They are both drunk." "Will you have some coffee?" "I must fetch the horse." "It can wait." "Where did he pass out?" "On the way in." "He might have hurt himself." "He was quite safe." "He might have fallen off." "It's a steady horse." "This drinking." "Just cover him up." "Say goodbye when he wakes up." "Where are you going?" "To unload, and then home." "Won't you have something?" "I've had plenty." "Wait, I'll help you." "You are not going out at this time of night." "Will the paddock do?" "Don't come out." "Why not?" "I'll manage." "Stay here tonight." "Do you think I won't make it home?" "You can be so pig-headed." "It came in useful then?" "It did." "Good to have around." "Always is, in moderation." "Otherwise there was only rain and wind." "What's that?" "Shepherds milk." "Olaf from Gillsback." "Over there." "Has he been moved?" "Over there." "Visitors aren't allowed until 3 o'clock." "It's risky to operate on the elderly." "Even minor surgery may exhaust a failing system." "The lungs or the brain, this time the heart." "Sorry I startled you." "You're very pale." "It was a bit untidy." "We weren't particular." "You are not cross?" "Why should I be?" "Because I tidied up." "Don't be silly." "Are you hungry?" "Not just now." "What's wrong?" "Nothing." "There is something." "Margaret, he is dead." "He was a good man." "That's what matters." "If there is a good and a bad place." "He'll go where it's good." "Then they'll have to fetch him." "Perhaps." "He wouldn't push himself forward." "But there is a place, for a man like him." "He never tried to reserve one in advance." "Goos people needn't try." "10 aurar, please." "Is the chairman available?" "Walk straight through." "Come in." "I'm Einar Olafsson." "I recognize you." "My condolences." "I came to find out how much we owe." "Are you sure you owe anything?" "We did last year, and things have hardly improved since then." "Times are hard." "Haven't they always been?" "They haven't improved, at least." "Accounts, please." "Your father helped founding this Co-operative." "That's right." "But he wasn't entirely happy with it." "He had high hopes like all pioneers." "Thought the co-op should save everything." "2385 kronur and 63 aurar, deficit." "I'll pay off." "How do you mean?" "I'll pay the debt." "All of it?" "Yes, all of it." "How?" "Slaughter the livestock." "All of it?" "To the last sheep." "Will that cover it?" "What will you do?" "Sell the farm." "I am not pressing you." "Something may turn up, conditions may improve." "Nobody is asking you to settle the account." "Putting it off won't help." "Still, you have the farm." "You know these farms, no change for centuries." "Just so many animals, as our hands can feed." "We have no money." "But you will sell at a profit." "And I am paying a commercial debt." "I've said it can wait." "It won't get any smaller." "The money'll buy a new branch-store." "To sell fizzy drinks and chocolate." "Co-op shops are better than profiteers." "So what?" "Work it out for yourself." "Yes." "Well." "Be fair." "I'll loose nothing by leaving." "On the other hand..." "The Co-ops helpers hand." "Well." "Quite." "Behold, a sower went out to sow his seed." "Some fell by the wayside and it was trodden down." "And the fowls of the air devoured it." "Today we bid farewell to Olaf Einarsson." "Born 1867, he learnt farming at home." "In 1895 he married, and his son mourns him today." "A man for our time." "He was a sower who despised idleness." "His heart transcended his labours." "His generation worked selflessly for Iceland." "Seeking no reward, he was accounted poor." "But he was rich indeed, in ideals." "Now Olaf has passed on to his place beyond." "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they have deprived no man of his goods." "Lord, let thy servant depart in peace." "Were you listening to it?" "Do you really want to hear it?" "I agree, it's not our kind of programme." "Are you the new hand?" "Perhaps." "Not before time, anyway." "I've only brought coffee, not a rake." "No work then." "I could fetch a rake." "Not now." "The casual labourers have all gone." "What about the dance?" "I wouldn't know." "To celebrate the end of the round up." "I hope the girls find nicer partners than the rakes." "There will by plenty of men." "Nice for you." "Even if you don't come." "My coming wouldn't by a stir." "You ought to come." "I've enough stirring." "You, stirring?" "Stirring up the sheep." "I'm going to go." "Good, but I've run around enough." "Spoilsport." "Would I be more fun hopping about?" "In time to "Oh Johnny" or "South of the border."" "You don't have to hop." "Just watch Accordion- Joe sweating away." "Trying to keep his trousers up for the tango." "You're too much alone." "Why don't you come to our house?" "People might think I was after a rich spinster." "Don't call me a spinster." "Your mother would suspect I was ruining you." "Are you scared of her?" "I wouldn't want to shock right thinking old folk." "We could ruin each other." "I don't want to ruin anything." "Don't be so serious." "All right, then." "How does one begin?" "With the jersey." "The jersey." "It's as good way as any." "And then?" "It's a question of topography." "To the riverward of the hayrick." "I understand." "That's not right at all." "You're not supposed to understand anything." "Women aren't supposed to, till after being ruined." "Right, where were we?" "Riverward of the hayrick." "Then I say: "Why?"" "Right, but be coy." "Then what?" "So you intend to sell?" "That's right." "Then what will you do?" "Leave." "I knew that the moment you arrived with your sheep." "Selling the land, however, is a another matter." "Keeping it is no good." "You could come back." "The sheep will only cover half the debt." "You think to much about debts." "What else after years of penny pinching?" "We're ready for them." "Will you sell the farm to me?" "Why would you want it?" "I could enlarge my own." "How much would you offer?" "6000 including the four cows and the hay." "Half paid down and half over ten years." "Done." "Don't you want time to consider?" "What for?" "You're welcome to change your mind." "It's a good price." "Think about it." "Don't feel bound." "We can't afford to lose our young people." "Farming isn't for everyone." "It just takes patience." "I've had enough of that." "A farmer's work can't be measured by the day." "By the debt more likely." "I won't sell my labour to strangers." "I'm too old." "1,2,3..." "I said three didn't I?" "Three it was." "1, 2, 3, 4.." "It's not every day one counts out money." "You keep it locked up?" "I've never had a penny to my name." "Had those printed, did you?" "These notes are from the co-op." "You broke into the safe." "Did I say three?" "You said four." "Right. 1, 2, 3, 4.." "Have a drop?" "No thanks." "You don't need this money." "The account has to be settled." "Apart from that." "I'd still need money, for changes, stockbuying." "There is no future in sheep." "You could get a loan." "Where from?" "Where did I get this money?" "You're privileged." "You should've come to me." "What, without a penny to your name?" "We'd have thought of something." "Piling debt on debt." "That's all there is to pile these days." "A million wouldn't help I could never pay it back." "We're a nation of debtors no-one dreams of paying." "How much did I say?" "You said four." "Four it was?" "Right." "1, 2, 3..." "It's not too late to change your mind." "Tear this up?" "Say the word." "I'm not saying that word." "You're so pig-headed." "There are two sides to all questions." "Are you regretting your bargain?" "We don't want you to go." "We who?" "You are a good neighbour, I speak for your own good." "We've had this out before." "People change their minds." "Not me." "You could come back ." "Thanks, anyway." "We could divide the farm." "I 'm getting tired." "May I leave the horses in the meadow?" "Are you asking me?" "Who else?" "It's yours now." "What difference does that make?" "A bargain is a bargain." "Those are poor words." "Still, it 's a bargain." "Poor and heartless words." "Hello." "Hello." "How are things?" "What's happened to you?" "Me?" "Nothing." "Oh yes it has." "Can you see from up here?" "Selling, killing." "The horse." "I saw." "I couldn't sell him." "No need to shoot him." "What could I do?" "Keep him." "Buy him a ticket on the bus?" "You could have kept him here." "So I could write him letters?" "It was the best way." "Why not let him live?" "I've decided to leave." "All of me is leaving." "What about me?" "That's different." "Why not take me out and shoot me?" "Why not come with me?" "Why not just stay?" "Everything has been sold or killed." "We could stay here just the same." "I won't live on charity." "Don't be an idiot." "t is all falling apart." "It's a wasteland." "Don't you fancy the tune?" "Not up to your standards?" "I'll go with you." "There's a good girl." "Don't say that." "What am I to say then?" "You could say I've lost." "A good girl who's lost, tu won herself a man." "You'll always remember?" "You'll remind me." "Even when I don't." "What's the matter?" "I've got to go." "Not out in this rain." "Yes, I'm going now." "Will they worry about you?" "They might." "Say we're leaving together." "I'll tell them." "Then being with me now, wont matter." "They're old." "So what?" "It's your life." "It isn't as simple as that." "I'll talk to them." "No, don't do that." "I'll have to say goodbye." "No, you mustn't do that." "Just slink off as though I'd stolen you?" "Where are we to meet?" "At the hotel." "Where the bus goes from?" "Yes." "What will you say?" "I don't know." "That I don't trust myself to say goodbye." "Is that what you meant?" "What else?" "Everything, going to you, leaving them." "You know how it will be." "I know well enough." "Them or us." "Not quite." "It's hard, but from now on, just us." "He tried to stop you, he wants us to stay." "I know he'll understand." "He will." "But he'll suffer." "They are so old." "Let's not argue." "Perhaps they won't mind too much." "But if they do mind?" "They know I can't give you up." "Tell them I can't give you up either." "You are the fruit of the earth." "That, they would not understand." "Good day to you." "Coffee?" "Don't mind if I do." "How long to pay up?" "I've no idea what's usual." "Doesn't know what's usual." "Just do what you usually do." "Six months then." "All right, six months." "That'll be in spring." "Money's short in spring." "It's always short." "November might be better." "You decide." "November 15th, then." "Well, for this beautiful workbench?" "I'll bid 10 kronar." "11." "12." "I'll go to 13." "14 15." "I'll bid you 16." "For this fine bench 16 kronur." "Going, going... 17 kronur." "We'll come up to 18, then." "That's it for me." "Going, going, gone." "Next?" "That mincher over there." "What am I bid?" "Not selling White Glider?" "He is out of his misery." "White Glider dead?" "We'll deal with the mares." "What am I bid?" "Goodbye and thank you." "Goodbye." "The new owner didn't show up." "No." "Good morning." "Good morning." "Some coffee?" "Thank you." "I let the dog out." "Thanks." "Are you taking him?" "I've got no choice." "Animals can be tricky." "I couldn't have him put down." "I once had a dog." "He got run over on the road." "One day I'll have another." "I'm fond of animals." "But these cars." "How will you manage the dog?" "In the city?" "I don't know." "I wouldn't have a dog there." "I know what." "What?" "I could give him to you." "To me?" "He won't get himself run over." "But he'll be frantic, when you go." "Not for long." "It was my fathers'." "We can meet at the hotel." "You could marry." "Shall we shut the dog up?" "Right, Tiri, Here boy." "Sure he'll be all right?" "He'll be OK." "The weather is filthy." "Snow on the mountains." "Time to go." "It's all right, it's all right."