Читать книгу The Women of Janowka - Helmut Exner - Страница 14

– Chapter 7 –

Later, when the young couple was lying in bed, Serafine still giggled while Friedrich burst out laughing from time to time.

“You have to stop making me laugh so much, Friedrich. That’s not good for a woman in my condition. My belly still hurts.”

Now it was out. Friedrich jumped out of the bed roaring: “What?”

“I think I’m pregnant. I’ve missed my period now for the second time. And my mother said to my face that I was expecting.”

“This is awesome. I’m becoming a father.”

“Yes, a father of a daughter.”

“I don’t mind having daughters, especially if they are like you.”

“Oh, you’re oozing charm again.”

“Sure. I don’t have anything against a son, by the way. But we’re still in the beginning of our endeavours. We can still have lots of children. The most exciting part of it all certainly is the endeavour of making them.”

“Tonight, however, there is no need to try it any more. It has already worked. It would be best if we try to sleep now.”

“What a pity. But tomorrow is another day – and another night.”

Serafine didn’t have a good night. Several times she was torn from her sleep by bad dreams. Though she couldn’t remember properly, everything revolved around her sister.

The next day was again hot. Serafine and Friedrich were in the field turning over the hay. In the neighbouring field Gottlieb and his mother were busy doing the same work.

“I hope the Ukrainians come tomorrow, so we can bring in the hay,” said Friedrich.

Every year, especially at harvest time as well as when hay was made, Ukrainian farm hands would come to the village to assist the farmers who could not deal with all the work on their own.

“They’ll come. Aljoscha has promised to come with his two boys. His wife won’t make it in her condition.”

It was not yet midday. But in the shimmering heat, everyone was already bathed in sweat. Not a cloud in the sky, not a breath of wind. Then – all of a sudden – an enormous clap of thunder, followed by a prolonged rumble. Serafine was thunderstruck, literally, her blood ran cold. After the strange noise was over, Friedrich and Serafine looked at each other. This couldn’t be thunder! Not with weather like this. Cannons? Possibly war had broken out without anybody having noticed it... No. Where would these cannons be located then? One could look out to the horizon. There were no cannons. Then loud music could be heard as if an orchestra had started playing nearby. In the meantime, Christine and Gottlieb came over from their field gazing at the others in bewilderment.

“What’s this? Where is the music coming from?” asked Christine.

Gottlieb said: “Did you hear that thunder? I don’t believe it.”

“I do,” answered Serafine. She knew.