Coolness

The absence of such a toxic spirit made the gatherings a true rest and an excellent opportunity to speak freely, without any fear that their secrets would be heard by someone they didn’t want privy to their conversations.

Soon Selma appeared at the doorway. Ludwig followed her, holding a wide pan with the cooked hare. After placing the dish on the table, the young man wished everyone a pleasant appetite and departed.

Selma’s first act was to approach Ava, whom she did not allow to get up from her chair.

– How is the baby doing? – Selma asked, glancing briefly at Ava’s belly.

– He’s buttin’ – she replied.

– And right he is to do it – Selma insisted. – Good boy, don’t let your mom relax.

Ava laughed.

Selma quickly fetched a plate, and with surprising ease, sliced off the best piece of hare, which she placed in front of Ava, adding:

– I hope the baby has a good appetite?

– Like an animal – Ava replied a second before managing to put the first piece in her mouth. – I barely have time to swallow.

– There you go! – Selma exclaimed. – That means this time you have a true giant in there, because a girl couldn’t hold that much food.

Ava laughed again, revealing her snow-white teeth, which made it hard to imagine – even though she was the youngest of all the wives – that she had already given birth to four children and was carrying a fifth.

– Thank you, sweetie – the hostess almost shouted after Ludwig as he was closing the door behind him.

6. Trembling and Cold

The first severe frosts arrived. The ground underfoot was harder than stone. Over the course of a week, the frost had finally established its round-the-clock presence, whereas only a few days prior, when the sun was at its zenith, the soil underfoot would thaw for a time. Now, the frost gave no reprieve, day or night.

The village’s residents changed into the warmest parts of their wardrobes. During the cold, men wore wool jackets and heavy trousers, and kept their feet hidden in felt boots. Women wore fur coats, most often made from the pelts of hare, fox, or wolf; in rare cases, beaver fur was used. Women’s fur coats always featured a hood and their length reached nearly to the ground. Younger girls wore coats that did not fall below the knee.

That day, Penelope was wearing exactly such a coat. It was made of hare fur, which is much lighter than wolf or fox fur. She had gotten rid of her dress a couple of weeks before the first frost. Instead, Penelope wore deerskin trousers from the waist down, just like many who ventured into the forest in winter or often tumbled off their sleds while sliding downhill. Such trousers were very durable. A couple of years ago, Erikson had given her small boots made of reindeer fur. The hide from the animal’s chest had been used for this, where the fur was predominantly white. The white boots stood out strongly, especially on days when snow covered the ground. Ava was the only other person in the entire village with similar small boots made of white reindeer fur, since encountering a reindeer was a great rarity, not to mention finding one with such snow-white fur. Although Penelope suspected that Andreas was the one who shot the reindeer, she still pretended to believe in Erikson’s hunting abilities. That day she wore mittens on her hands, and, as usual, a hat made from the same hare that Ludwig had given her on her head.

It was a clear afternoon. Penelope was heading to the barn on Regina’s errand. Without the wind, the cold didn’t feel as intense. As she walked down the street, Willie caught up to her, suddenly pressing himself close and greeting her: