Joseph rushes down to the farmyard. Lucas follows him. Joseph wipes his brow and says, "Thank God they're still alive. Give me a pitchfork so I can clean them out a bit. By what miracle did you remember the animals?"

"They don't let you forget. They cry out as soon as they're hungry."

Joseph works for several hours. Lucas helps him, following his orders. When the sun sets they go into the kitchen.

Joseph says, "For the love of God! I've never smelled such a stink! What on earth is it?" He looks around and notices a large bowl full of goat's milk. "The milk has turned. Take it out of here and throw it in the river."

Lucas obeys. When he comes back, Joseph has already aired the kitchen and washed down the tiles. Lucas goes down into the cellar and comes back with a bottle of wine and some bacon.

Joseph says, "We'll need some bread with that."

"I have't got any."

Joseph gets up without a word and fetches a loaf of bread from his wagon.

"Here. I bought some after the market. We don't make our own anymore."

Joseph eats and drinks. He asks, "You aren't drinking? You're not eating either. What's wrong with you, Lucas?"

"I'm tired. I can't eat."

"Your face is pale beneath your tan. You're all skin and bones."

"It's nothing. It will pass."

Joseph says, "I suspected there was something bothering you. It must be a girl."

"No, it's not a girl."

Joseph winks at him. "Sure, I know what it's like to be young. But I'd be sorry to see a fine boy like you let himself go because of a girl."

"It's not because of a girl."

"What is it, then?"

"I don't know."

"You don't know? In that case you should go and see a doctor."

"Don't worry about me, Joseph. It'll pass."

"It'll pass, it'll pass. He neglects his garden, he lets the milk turn sour, he doesn't eat, he doesn't drink, and he thinks he can go on like that."

Lucas doesn't answer.

On his way out Joseph says, "Listen, Lucas. So you won't forget market day again, I'll get up an hour earlier, I'll come and wake you, and we can both load up the fruit, vegetables, and any animals you want to sell. Is that all right by you?"

"Yes. Thank you, Joseph."

Lucas gives Joseph another bottle of wine and accompanies him to his wagon.

As he whips the horse, Joseph shouts, "Take care, Lucas! Love can be fatal!"

Lucas is sitting on the garden bench. His eyes are closed. When he opens them again, he sees a little girl swinging on a branch of the cherry tree.

Lucas asks, "What are you doing there? Who are you?"

The little girl jumps to the ground. She fiddles with the pink ribbons on the ends of her braids. "Aunt Leonie wants you to go to the priest's house. He is all alone because Aunt Leonie can't work anymore. She's in bed at home, she won't get up again, she's too old. My mother doesn't have time to go to the priest's house, because she works at the factory like my father."

Lucas says, "I see. How old are you?"

"I don't know exactly. The last time it was my birthday I was five, but that was in the winter. Now it's already autumn, and I could go to school if I hadn't been born too late."

"It's already autumn?"

The little girl laughs.

"Didn't you know? It's been autumn for two days now, even though people think it's still summer because it's so warm."

"You know a lot!"

"Yes. My big brother teaches me everything. He's called Simon."

"And what are you called?"

"Agnes."

"That's a nice name."

"So is Lucas. I know you're Lucas because my aunt said, 'Go and fetch Lucas. He lives in the last house, opposite the border posts.'"

"Didn't the guards stop you?"

"They didn't see me. I went around the back."

Lucas says, "I'd like to have a little sister like you."

"Don't you have one?"

"No. If I had one I'd make her a swing. Do you want me to make you a swing?"

Agnes says, "I've got one at home, but I like to swing on other things better. It's more fun."

She jumps up, grabs the branch of the cherry tree, and swings on it, laughing.

Lucas asks, "Aren't you ever sad?"

"No, because one thing always makes up for another."

She jumps to the ground.

"You have to hurry to the priest's house. My aunt told me to tell you yesterday and the day before, and the day before that, but I forgot every day. She will scold me."

Lucas says, "Don't worry. I'll go this evening."

"Good. So now I'll go home."

"Stay awhile longer. Would you like to listen to some music?"

"What kind of music?"

"You'll see. Come."

Lucas takes the little girl in his arms. He goes into his room, puts the child down on the double bed, and puts a record on the old gramophone. Sitting on the ground next to the bed, his head resting on his arms, he listens.

Agnes asks, "Are you crying?"

Lucas shakes his head.

She says, "I'm scared. I don't like this music."

Lucas takes one of the little girl's legs in his hand. He squeezes it. She cries out, "You're hurting me! Let me go!"

Lucas loosens his grip.

When the record finishes, Lucas gets up to turn it over. The little girl has disappeared. Lucas listens to records until sunset.

That evening Lucas makes up a basket of vegetables, potatoes, eggs, cheese. He kills a chicken and cleans it. He also takes milk and a bottle of wine.

He rings the bell of the priest's house. No one answers. He goes in through the unlocked back door and puts the basket down in the kitchen. He knocks on the bedroom door. He goes in.

The priest, a tall, thin, old man, is sitting at his desk. He is playing chess, alone, by the light of a candle.

Lucas pulls up a chair, sits facing the priest, and says, "I'm sorry, Father."

The priest says, "I'll repay you a bit at a time for what I owe you, Lucas."

Lucas asks, "Have I not been here for a long time?"

"Not since the beginning of the summer. Don't you remember?"

"No. Who has been feeding you all this time?"

"Leonie has been bringing me a little soup each day. But she has been ill for the last few days."

Lucas says, "Forgive me, Father."

"Forgive you? For what? I haven't paid you in months. I have no money left. The State has broken links with the Church, and I am no longer paid for my work. I have to live off the donations of my flock. But people stay away from church for fear of disapproval. Only a few poor old women come to mass."

Lucas says, "If I didn't come, it wasn't because of the money you owe me. It's worse than that." "What do you mean, 'worse than that'?"

Lucas lowers his head. "I completely forgot about you. I also forgot about my garden, the market, the milk, the cheese. I even forgot to eat. For months I've been sleeping in the attic. I was afraid to go into my room. It was only because a little girl, Leonie's niece, came today that I had the courage to go in. She also reminded me of my duty toward you."

"You have no duty, no obligation toward me. You sell your produce, you live from the proceeds. If I can't pay you it's right that you not supply me anymore."

"As I said, it's not because of the money. Try to understand."

"Tell me. I'm listening."

"I don't know how to go on living."

The priest gets up, takes Lucas's face in his hands. "What has happened to you, my child?"

Lucas shakes his head. "I can't explain. It's like an illness."

"I see. A sort of illness of the soul. Due to your tender age and, perhaps, your excessive solitude."

Lucas says, "Maybe. I will make a meal and we will eat together. I haven't eaten for a long time, either. When I try to eat, I just vomit. With you I might be able to manage it."

He goes to the kitchen, lights the fire, boils up the chicken with the vegetables. He sets the table, opens a bottle of wine.