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15 THE ASTRAKHAN APPLES ARE RIPE

---------xv--------THE ASTRAKHAN APPLES ARE RIPE - 1 THE SUN had just it shone through the gable window and slowly searched its way to the bed where Kristina lay. She had opened her eyes. On her forehead near the hairline drops of perspiration glittered; her complexion was refreshed and rosy. Her cheeks blossomed: A young girl's coloring had returned to her after twenty years. A moment before she had complained faintly in her sleep. Karl Oskar had picked up a towel and gently dried her moist forehead. When he bent over her, he saw in her eyes that she recognized him. For the first time in three days she knew him again. Her voice was so low he had to make an effort to catch the words. "Is it already morning?" "Yea-but pretty early." "So quiet-the others aren't up yet?" "No ... " "The children ... all ofthem are asleep ... ?" "I think so." "Only you up ... already?" "I have not been in bed." "You've watched over me?" "Yes ... " "How kind ofyou. I must have slept long ... " "You have slept a long while." "I dreamed I was swinging ... you remember the ox thong I used to put up in the barn at home ... " The blanket on Kristina's chest rose and fell in rapid, short movements. Her breathing had been quicker and panting these last "I was at home in the barn, swinging and carrying on ... " "Can I give you something?" THE LAST LETTER HOME "Only a mouthfUl ofwater. I'm thirsty." He held the pitcher to her mouth and she tried to lift her head but it sank down on the pillow His left hand steadied her at the back ofher head. She drank slowly, swallow after swallow. "I can't swallow very well ... " A few big drops escaped and ran slowly down her chin; the sun glittered in them. When his hand touched her he felt the glow of fever that burned in her body. dear Karl Oskar ... She made a motion with her shoulders as ifwishing to sit up. "Better lie down, dear ... " "But I'm not sick. Only tired . "You must rest, you aren't strong yet . The silence inside was unbroken but down in the chicken pen the rooster started his shrill crowing. Something dark Buttered past the gable window, wings Bapped; a bird had just lighted in the apple tree. The boughs of the Astrakhan tree were loaded down with fruit as big as newborn babies' heads. Against the dark green leaves the apples shimmered golden-red. The sun moved and spread its golden squares over Kristina's blanket. By and by it reached a bottle and a spoon on the table beside the bed. The bottle was empty. It had contained the medicine for childbirth fever. Every time Karl Oskar moved on his chair he was conscious of a fatigue from his long lack ofsleep which threatened to close his eyes. Suddenly Kristina put out her hand and fumbled for support. ''I'm falling! Hold onto me!" "Don't be safe in your bed." But her clasped his anxiously. "The thong! The swing! I'm falling out!" "It's all right. Nothing to be afraid of... " "Karl Oskar! Please ... hold me ... hold ... !" She tried to raise herself in the bed. He took her by the shoulders, helped her to lie down and comforted her. - 2 ONCE AGAIN Kristina is thrown by the swing she has made of the ox thong in the barn at home in Duvemala. THE ASTRAKHAN APPLES ARE RIPE 143 She swings from floor to ceiling, from ceiling to floor again. She rides up and down in the thong, she feels dizzy and cries out in fear and joy. She is playful and giddy and happy, like other young girls. She skips lightly on her feet, she plays and carries on and enjoys herselfwhile youth is still in her body. Soon enough she will grow old and heavy on her feet, and then she can no longer ride a swing. But she is thrown high, so high-far, far away from her father's barn. Frightened to the bottom of her heart she looks about and does not tecognize her surroundings. She is not swinging in the ox thong any more, she is on a ship, sailing on a great water, and on that ship she is thrown up and down through the air. She is on an...