Beforesummerhadwiltedpletely,lifeicametoanendinawaytheyhadnotimagined.OnedayGoldmundwasroamingabouttheareawithaslingshot,hopingtoartridgeorsomeotherfowl;theirfoodhadgrownratherscarce.Lenewasnotfaraway,gatheringberries,andfromtimetotimehedpassnearherandseeherhead,herbrownneckrisingoutofherlinenshirt,orhearhersing.Ooleafewofherberries;thenhewanderedoffandlostsightofherforawhile.Hethoughtabouther,halftenderly,halfannoyed,becauseshehadagaiioumnaure.Shesaidthatshethoughtsheregnantandshecouldhimgooffagain.Nowitwillsoonbeover,hethought.SoonIllhavehadenoughandwanderonalone.IllleaveRobert,too.Illtrytogetbacktothebigcitywhenthecoldbegins,toMasterNiklaus.IllspeerthereaspringIllbuymyselfanewpairofshoesandwalkandwalkuntilIreachourcloisterinMariabronnandsayhellotoNarcissus.ItmustbetenyearssinceIlastsawhim,andImustseehimagain,ifonlyforadayortwo.

    Anunfamiliarsoundrousedhimfromhisthoughts,andsuddenlyherealizedthatallhisthoughtsanddesireswerealreadyfarawayfromhere.Helisteently.Thesoundoffearrepeateditself;hethoughthereizedLenesvoidfollowedit,irritatedthatshewascallinghim.Soonhewascloseenough—yes,itwasLenesvoice.Shewascallinghishoughidistress.Heranfaster,stillsomewhatannoyed,butpityandwaiheupperhandasherscreamingtinued.Whenhewasfinallyabletoseeher,shewaskneelingiher,herblousepletelytorn,screamingalingwithamanwhowastryingtorapeher.Goldmundranforwardwithlongleaps.Allhispent-upanger,hisrestlessness,hissorrowbrokeoutinahowlingrageagainsttheunknownattacker.Hesurprisedthemariedtopiheground