As they stand there in their own splendid ways in the spring weather a blast rings out in the air, a foghorn from the Fourth Book of Moses, a black and white mountain detaches itself from the mainland and floats slowly across the placid, glistening fjord, it seems to be coming from the trading post, but it is the coastal steamer, which in both normal and abnormal times plies its route on the inland side of the main island, a steamer off course, and it is bearing the Norwegian flag, not only on its masts and funnels, bow and stern, it is fluttering from every single rope, cable and chain like a Christmas tree decoration, and the horn keeps blaring, sheep and birds are silenced and stand with the island folk on the rocks staring out at this monster of a ship gliding closer to Barrøy than anything of this size has ever ventured. People are crammed side by side along the rails waving hats and caps and elbows and knees as though they are making fun of the islanders, the boat radiates jubilation and the dawn of a new era, it is a floating festive horde of revellers who have left their senses, it is May 10.

The Barrøyers stand rigid, speechless, and are aware that the sight when it eventually disappears will leave them with an immense sense of loss, even though they don’t understand what they have seen and they wave back only when the ship has passed, and continue to do so until they feel stupid. But there can be no doubt that they have witnessed a revelation, something that lifts the mood of a whole island and stirs them into life. Ingrid runs off for the telescope that has already deceived so many eyes and she watches as the immense ship merges into the horizon and becomes a black dot beneath a pale moon.

As a result Barrøy is no longer mute and withdrawn, the people there are all talking at once about something they haven’t understood, and Barbro yells that they should slachter a bloody lamb an’ have meat t’ eat.

They cheer before Ingrid has a chance to collect her thoughts, so she agrees, and the lamb is slaughtered, carved up and cooked, and they continue to talk all at once over the meal in the par-lour, as if both the winter and the war were over, and discuss all the opportunities and changes that may bring, in heaven and on earth.