The time of wealth had lasted from Monday to Friday. And now? Through the open door came the everlasting complaint of the crickets squeaking like an ungreased wheel, that turned at dizzying speed out there in the grass.
This familiar sound of the summer night seemed at this moment a sound of derision: Monday night — but now it’s Friday! Where are your riches now, Kristina? In the spittoon? Have you so much money in this house that you spit on it? For four days, Kristina, you were rich, but it was not yours, it belonged to the wildcats — perhaps they are enjoying it now, tearing it to pieces in their lairs and holes! Tearing to pieces all the things you had counted on. For a wildcat is much stronger and smarter than you. You’re only a poor woman! Trusting Kristina! So sorry for you! But you have known all along that this wilderness is full of evil, lurking creatures.
Yes, for Kristina something had changed. It was true, all they had gained out here during five years remained. They had not lost anything. Yet she felt as if this night she had suddenly become terribly poor.
— 2—
Saturday morning Robert entered the kitchen as Kristina was busy starting the fire. His hair was ruffled and stood straight up, his cheeks were gray in the early morning light. He went over to the water bucket and took down the scoop from its nail on the wall. Just as he had finished drinking, Karl Oskar came in from his chores in the stable. He took his brother by the arm.
“Come, I want to show you something.”
They went into the big room, Kristina behind them. Now it would come — she had been lying awake during the night, anxiously worrying about the morning meeting of the two brothers.
Karl Oskar pointed to the fireplace corner with the bills spread over the spittoon; they lay where he had flung them last night on his return.
“Here! You can have your spending money back! It might be useful when you go to the privy!”
He spoke loudly, anger vibrating in his voice, but Robert did not seem to understand what he was driving at. He put his hand behind his healthy ear and turned it toward his brother to hear better.
“Keep your rubbish! Pick up the shit! I can get along without your useless money!”
Karl Oskar stood straight and strong and stern as he faced Robert. Now they had resumed the old order: Karl Oskar was again the big brother scolding his little brother.
But Kristina could not see that Robert showed anything but puzzled surprise.
“I don’t understand, Karl Oskar. .?”
He recognized his bills in the corner, all over the spittoon. Why were they there? Who had thrown them there? Wasn’t his brother going to put them in the bank at Stillwater yesterday?
“Are you crazy, Karl Oskar? Why do you throw away all that money?”
“Shithouse money! Not worth a plugged nickel! All of it isn’t worth one Swedish penny!”
“Not worth. .? No! You’re crazy. . Karl Oskar. . Impossible. .”
Robert insisted on his innocence, both in words and gestures he denied knowing what it was all about. His eyes, his open mouth — all insisted that he was honestly innocent:
“It isn’t true! I don’t believe a word of what you say!” “You still deny? You still persist in your lying, you. . you damned cheater!”
Karl Oskar seldom grew angry, but when anger overtook him it came fast and furiously. His hands shook, he closed and opened his fists, he rubbed one fist against the open palm of the other hand. But even his bodily motions were no longer sufficient outlet for him. His fury at Robert burst out violently as he shouted with all his strength, “You’re a hell of a liar! Why did I ever let you come with me to America! There isn’t a decent thought in your heart! Here you’ve poured lies on us all week long! But now at last it’s finished! Finished! Do you hear!”
Kristina stepped between the two brothers.
“Stop shouting, Karl Oskar! You and your brother can at least talk to each other like decent people!”
Several times Robert had tried to say something but each time he had been interrupted by coughing. At last, in a weak, hoarse voice, he managed, “I always thought the money was good. I remember, though, they call it wildcat money in English; that means free, sound money. And I told you the first evening. .”
“I knew it!” interrupted Karl Oskar. “I knew you knew it all along!”
He turned to Kristina.
“There, you hear? He knew the money was no good! Wildcat money! He did it purposely! He wanted to fool us. .”
But at this moment the little brother did not listen to the big brother’s accusations; he heard another voice that had spoken long ago: Have you heard of wildcats? They’re just as good as other bills, if they’re handled right. The wildcats are as good as gold — up there in Minnesota. .
Could it be that one Swede had cheated another Swede in America. .?
“Calm down now!” Kristina pleaded with Karl Oskar.
“He wants to get rid of his useless money with us!”
“I–I didn’t want to cheat anyone. . please, listen, Karl Oskar. .”
“Shut your damn trap!”
Karl Oskar was rubbing his right fist ever harder against the palm of his left hand; his features had hardened, his eyes had grown so small they looked as if they had receded into his head.
“You’re a hell of a brother! All my life I have to go and feel ashamed of you — my own brother! Ashamed. . ashamed!”
“But listen to me. . I didn’t think. . I didn’t know. .”
“Shut up, I said! If you don’t shut up, you damn liar, I’m going to shut your trap for you!”
It happened in a second. Karl Oskar’s right fist was raised against his brother. He hit him on the mouth.
Robert stumbled backward from the impact, against the wall; he almost fell, but the wall supported him.
“Have you become a wild beast yourself?” Kristina had grabbed hold of Karl Oskar’s right arm with both her hands; anger flamed up in her also and gave her strength. “Have you lost your mind? Watch yourself!”
“I’ll shut his trap for him. .!”
“Are you hitting your own brother? Sick and ailing as he is! Get hold of yourself, man!”
Karl Oskar tore himself free of her and stalked back to the corner.
“Attack an invalid!” Kristina’s lips were white with anger.
Leaning against the wall, Robert managed to stand upright, but his legs still shook under him. Just as his brother’s blow hit him he had been ready with his explanation: You must realize that I have been cheated first! I had never meant to cheat you, brother! I would never be low enough to cheat a brother!
But instead of his own voice all he heard now was the ear mocking him in a painful throbbing: What did you bring home? Useless money! How about your health and your life? No riches and no life! What is left for you?
From the kitchen the children had been listening to the commotion, and the two smallest boys were crying with fright. Kristina quickly closed the door. Karl Oskar remained in his corner, staring silently at the floor. He had not answered Kristina’s rebuke. His senses had returned, he stood with his head bent.
“Attacking a brother! Acting like a lunatic!”