But he must answer them. He has been ordained to do so. God help me, says the voice inside him.

Now someone is knocking yet again. Knocking firmly and unafraid, and he can tell before the door is open that this is not one of the usual weary souls bringing him a confused heart.

‘Come in!’ he calls, shedding his fear as well. The thought occurs to him that it may be a man with golden arrows on his jacket. And for a moment he is strong and unafraid. Let them come! It will be a pleasure to answer them, for he is in no doubt about them. Something in him longs to have it out with them, no matter the outward result. Perhaps it would bring him the clarification he longs for.

But it is not one of the arrow people. It is Stig, and he knows about Stig. He knows that Stig holds a good many reins in his hands these days. He knows he is the leader of a small group, too. Now Stig has come, tall, thin and tired, as if to visit an equal. They are struggling each in his own parish and respect one another.

The clergyman with the quiet austere face goes forward to meet him. He remembers very well the time Stig was here last; remembers a question Stig asked him: his own question. Don’t let me have to face that yet again, he thinks. That’s not why Stig has come, he attempts to reassure himself. He must have learnt to spare me that question.

‘Sit down,’ he says kindly, his face lighting up. ‘How are you?’

Stig tells him about something unimportant, about things that aren’t dangerous for him to know. No more.

Then he asks, ‘What do you think of our work now?’

Here it is after all. This difficult topic that they discussed last time.

‘You’ve asked me that before.’

‘Yes,’ says Stig, ‘and now I’m asking you again.’

‘Why?’

‘Because you might have changed your mind since I was here last.’

‘Do you think it has changed then?’

‘No,’ replies Stig. ‘But I’d like to know how you regard it here – what your attitude is towards what my boys and I are forced to do. One needs a kind of confirmation.’

Their first words are exchanged quickly, in a kind of embarrassed haste. They are both hesitant with each other, in case anything new has occurred since their last meeting. Neither of them is afraid or embarrassed in any other way. Each of them knows the firm stand the other takes under the pressure. They are dressed alike at the moment, but the one has his official uniform all the same, although it is not visible, and the grave responsibility he has will not depart from him. He must accept it and cope with it. His house is cracking.

Stig can see very well the austere uniform that the other man must wear, and that is why Stig has come to him, although his time is always so restricted. He needs to come. He has a deep respect for this man who is forced to stand, together with his ordained companions, under double fire at this time. He has not yet been given the answer to the question whether his attitude towards Stig’s work is still the same.