Incredibly enough he has returned to that in the midst of his fury against the cause of his fright, and his search for cover near the arrows.

Behold, I see many folk….

In his anxiety about the note he has returned to his old dream of being Stig’s closest friend, or at least of being among those in the know to whom Stig gives that little nod in the corridor. If he could bring that about they would soon stop writing notes to tell him he was under observation.

He has no desire to go over completely to the arrow camp, however much he polishes their arrows and is threatened because of it. When a powerful, arrow-decorated man goes importantly past he feels attracted and stands to attention, but when the man has gone the feeling vanishes. Then follows doubt of their power. He never sees himself walking beside one of the powerful, arrow-decorated men towards the centre and sharing in all that is hidden there. If he were to try it, it would be no dream. He is more strongly attracted towards the people who work in the cellars with their lives at stake, who enjoy the respect of the rest of the house. Not that he would join them, but he would like to know them, so that they would nod to him when none of the arrow-decorated men were watching.

I must get to know Stig, his brain repeats. He bows respectfully when the arrow-decorated man walks past, and works furiously when his eyes are on him – but he has no desire to join them. He wants the respect of the house: that is his dream.

Well, you’d better go down into the cellars and lend a helping hand.

No, he thinks. I’d be no use there.

In any case you’d better give up this job, and say so openly. That’s what they won’t tolerate, and you know it.

Am I not to be allowed to work? I must have these high wages for Frank and Freda. It would be unjust and stupid to invite destitution, he decides. I want the job. I won’t go begging for the dole.

I must get acquainted with Stig, then I shall be able to work here as much as I like! he thinks wildly.

For this reason he has also managed to create a clear distinction between the people who have sent him the note, and Stig and his companions. The people telling him to watch out are the kind who waste no time or opportunity to indulge all their own contemptible desires. Who loot and even kill, and all in the name of heaven, sheltering behind people’s belief that everything happening now is for the sake of the house, he thinks angrily, only just stopping himself from spitting in the corridor.

They’re the kind who think it’s amusing to send him a warning. There’s not much to loot from him. They won’t get rich on it. They probably know it too; they only want to plague him because he works and they shirk it.