House of Evidence(44)
May 20, 1916. The dispute between America and Germany has subsided for the time being. The Germans have undertaken not to fire on passenger ships without warning, but they demand that the Americans persuade the British to lift the maritime embargo…
November 11, 1916. I really like living here in Chicago now. I have got to know the city very well and attend cultural events frequently. I am learning to drive an automobile…
The paper had arrived on time this morning, and Halldór was perusing the front page as he sipped his tea. Stefanía sat opposite him at the table. “It was absolutely pointless to stop at four hearts in the second round of bidding when we had a slam there,” she said, referring to the previous evening’s card game.
“Hmm,” he replied, reading the headline on the front page of the paper: “Scientists at Kiel Marine Research Institute Support Iceland’s Stance after Full Review of Dispute.”
“Or to play a club when they had already bid five clubs. You were clearly not yourself,” she continued, taking a sip of her tea.
“I just forgot for a moment,” he said, turning the paper over. “Police Investigating Death of Reykjavik Man,” read the headline above a small news story.
“You’re always absentminded these days. You come home far too late and then think about anything but cards.”
“Erlendur and Ása are taking the children to Austria, skiing,” Halldór announced, changing the subject and then turning the page again.
“Yes, it’s all right for some,” Stefanía remarked glumly. “Whereas we never get to go abroad.”
“Hmm. I’m going to be late,” he said, folding the paper regretfully.
Outside, it was raining and a thaw had set in.
Diary IV
December 27, 1916. Christmas is over and I am ill. I feel somewhat sad and pessimistic. I sent a message to the office that I would not be in today. I am struggling to write this out of my system. I recognize this condition from my time in Germany, although then it was not as bad as this time. O’Hara invited me to visit at Christmas, but I concocted an excuse. He is a Catholic and would probably have expected me to accompany the family to mass, which I could not bring myself to do…
December 28, 1916. My landlady summoned a doctor for me even though I had asked her not to. He asked if I was prone to experience depression…
December 29, 1916. It is cold and dark, and I slept all day.
December 30, 1916. I have thought a great deal about Elizabeth today. As a rule I dismiss all thoughts about her, but at the moment I cannot help myself.
December 31, 1916. New Year’s Eve. I got up and had a hearty meal. I am feeling a little better…
February 10, 1917. The Americans seem to be preparing to enter the war, and have broken off diplomatic relations with Germany. President Wilson is still hoping to be able to avoid hostilities, but the Senate has passed an appropriation for military expenditure…
April 6, 1917. The United States has declared war on Germany. Initially they will support the Allies by lending them money and supplying them with military equipment. General conscription is to be passed into law. All German ships at moorage here have been seized…
April 23, 1917. Yet again I am experiencing living with a nation on the brink of war. Nationalism is on the rise and the masses are being stirred up for fighting. Pray God this will soon pass…
When Hrefna had moved to the Hlídar district the previous fall, Elsa had decided to continue going to school in their old area, in the west part of town, which meant she had to get up early to catch a bus. It was especially hard on cold mornings, but that was the choice she’d made.
This morning she was able to get an extra half hour’s sleep, as Hrefna was taking her to school by car. They stopped first at Erlendur’s home. He had asked Hrefna to pick him up so that Ása could have the car that day; there were a lot of errands to do before they left for their ski trip the following day.
Halli was busy shoveling wet snow off the front path when they pulled up in front of the house. It was hard work, and he didn’t notice their arrival.
“It’ll be such fun for Halli to go to Austria,” Hrefna remarked.
“Yeah, I’m dead envious,” Elsa replied. She skied a lot as well, and often bumped into Halli on the slopes.
“We’ll go, too, when I’m rich,” said Hrefna. “Is Halli a good skier?”
“Yeah, really good. He does competitions, too, but he usually falls. He gets so worked up that he ends up going off-trail. If he makes it all the way down in the first round, he usually gets the best time, but then he always goes off-trail at the first gate in the second round. They call him ‘Drop-dead Halli,’ because he is always dropping out,” Elsa explained.