Somewhere above him the charged house is cracking. But events are moving in favour of the living. Peter stands there knowing that he will not be a part of it. His way will end here. In this moment of faintness he feels somehow certain of it. Then he reaches out a finger and touches the wall to become acquainted with it, but he cannot reach as far as these. Nothing can reach them.

He merely stands looking, in this final moment before he must go back. This is where they are, says a voice inside him. It is as simple as that now.

PETER OWEN PUBLISHERS

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Translated from the Norwegian Huset I Mr Jrkret

© 1945 by Gyldendal Norsk Forlag

English translation © Peter Owen and

Elizabeth Rokkan 1976

This ebook edition 2014

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