"Come in, Lucas."

Lucas goes into the room. Clara is in bed. Lucas sits on the edge of the bed, takes Clara's hand. It is burning hot. He touches her forehead.

"I'll go get a doctor."

"No, it's not worth it. It's only a chill. I've got a headache and a sore throat, that's all."

"Do you have any medicine for aches and fever?"

"No, nothing. I'll see how I feel tomorrow. For now just light the fire and make some tea."

While drinking the tea she says, "Thank you for coming, Lucas."

"You knew I'd come back."

"I hoped so. It's awful being ill when you're on your own."

Lucas says, "You'll never be alone again, Clara."

Clara presses Lucas's hand against her cheek. "I've treated you badly."

"You treated me like a dog. It doesn't matter."

He strokes Clara's hair, which is wet with perspiration.

"Try to sleep. I'll go get some medicine and come back."

"The pharmacy is probably already closed."

"I'll make them open up."

Lucas runs to the main square. He rings the bell of the only pharmacist in town. He rings several times. Finally a small window opens in the wooden door. The pharmacist asks, "What do you want?"

"Medicine for fever and aches. It's urgent."

"Do you have a prescription?"

"I haven't had the time to see a doctor."

"That doesn't surprise me. The problem is that it's more expensive without a prescription."

"That doesn't matter."

Lucas takes a bill from his pocket. The pharmacist brings him a bottle of tablets.

Lucas runs to Grandmother's house. Yasmine and the child are in the kitchen. Yasmine says, "I've already taken care of the animals."

"Thank you, Yasmine. Could you take the priest his meal tonight? I'm in a hurry."

Yasmine says, "I don't know the priest. I don't want to see him."

"You only have to leave the basket on the kitchen table."

Yasmine is silent; she looks at Lucas.

Lucas turns to Mathias. "This evening Yasmine will tell you a story."

The child says, "Yasmine can't tell stories." "Well, you tell her one. And you can draw me a nice picture."

"Yes, a nice picture."

Lucas goes back to Clara. He dissolves two tablets in a glass of water, he takes it to Clara.

"Drink it."

Clara obeys. Soon she is asleep.

Lucas goes down into the cellar with his flashlight. In the corner there is a small pile of charcoal, and there are sacks lined along the wall. Some of the sacks are open; others are tied up with string. Lucas looks in one of the sacks: it is full of potatoes. He unties the string on another sack: it contains charcoal briquettes. He tips the contents of the sack onto the floor; four or five briquettes and two dozen books fall out. Lucas picks out a book and puts the others back in the sack. He goes back upstairs with the book and the bucket of charcoal.

Sitting beside Clara's bed, he reads.

The next morning, Clara asks, "You stayed here all night?"

"Yes. I slept very well."

He makes some tea, gives Clara the tablets, relights the fire. Clara takes her temperature. She is still feverish.

Lucas says, "Stay in bed. I'll come back at noon. What would you like to eat?"

She says, "I'm not hungry. But can I ask you to go to the council office to tell them I'm out sick?"

"I will. Don't worry."

Lucas goes to the council office. Then he goes home, kills a chicken, and boils it up with some vegetables. At noon, he takes some soup to Clara. She drinks a little.

Lucas says to her, "I went down into the cellar yesterday for the charcoal. I saw the books. You carried them in your basket, didn't you?"

She says, "Yes. I couldn't bear the thought of them destroying them all."

"Will you allow me to read them?"

"Read all you want. But be careful. I'm risking imprisonment."

"I know."

In the late afternoon, Lucas goes home. There's nothing to do in the garden at this time of year. Lucas sees to the animals, then listens to records in his room. The child knocks; Lucas lets him in.

The child climbs onto the double bed. He asks, "Why is Yasmine crying?"

"She's crying?"

"Yes. Nearly all the time. Why?"

"Hasn't she told you why?"

"I'm afraid to ask her."

Lucas turns away to change the record.

"She's probably crying for her father, who is in prison."

"What's prison?"

"It's a big building with bars in the windows. They lock people up there."

"Why?"

"For all sorts of reasons. They say that they are dangerous. My father was also locked up."

The child raises his large, dark eyes to Lucas.

"Could they lock you up as well?"

"Yes, me as well."

The child sniffs, his little lip trembles.

"And me?"

Lucas lifts him onto his knees, he kisses him.

"No, not you. They don't lock up children."

"But when I grow up?"

Lucas says, "Things will have changed by then and no one will be locked up anymore."

The child is silent for a moment, then asks, "The ones who are locked up will never be able to get out of prison!"

Lucas says, "They will get out someday."

"Yasmine's father as well?"

"Yes, of course."

"And she'll stop crying?"

"Yes, she'll stop crying."

"And will your father get out too?"

"He already got out."

"Where is he?"

"He's dead. He had an accident."

"If he hadn't got out, he wouldn't have had an accident."

Lucas says, "I have to go now. Go back to the kitchen, and don't talk to Yasmine about her father. You'll make her cry even more. Be nice and obedient to her."

Standing in the kitchen doorway, Yasmine asks, "You're going out, Lucas?"

Lucas halts at the garden gate. He doesn't answer.

Yasmine says, "I'd just like to know if I have to go to the priest's house myself again."

"If you would, Yasmine. I haven't got the time."

Lucas spends his nights by Clara's side until Friday.

On Friday morning Clara says, "I feel better. I'll go back to work on Monday. You don't have to spend your nights here. You've given me so much of your time."

"What do you mean, Clara?" "I'd like to be alone this evening."

"He is coming! Is that it?"

She lowers her eyes and doesn't reply.

Lucas says, "You can't do this to me!"

Clara looks Lucas in the eyes. "You reproached me for acting like an old woman. You were right. I'm still young."

Lucas asks, "Who is he? Why does he only come on Fridays? Why doesn't he marry you?"

"He's already married."

Clara cries.

Lucas asks, "Why are you crying? I should be the one who's crying."

In the evening, Lucas goes to the bar. After closing time, he walks around the streets. It is snowing. Lucas stops in front of Peter's house. The windows are dark. Lucas rings; no one answers. Lucas rings again.

A window opens. Peter asks, "Who's there?"

"It's me. Lucas."

"Stay there, Lucas. I'm coming."

The window closes and soon the door opens. Peter says, "Come in, lost soul."

Peter is in his dressing gown. Lucas says, "I woke you. I'm sorry."

"It's not important. Sit down."

Lucas sits in a leather armchair.

"I can't face going home in this cold. It's too far, and I've had too much to drink. Can I sleep here?"

"Of course, Lucas. Take my bed. I'll sleep on the sofa."

"I prefer the sofa. So I can leave when I wake up without disturbing you."

"As you wish, Lucas. Make yourself comfortable. I'll fetch a blanket."

Lucas takes off his jacket and his boots. He lies down on the sofa. Peter returns with a thick blanket. He lays it over Lucas and puts some cushions under his head. He sits down next to him on the sofa.

"What's wrong, Lucas? Is it about Yasmine?"

Lucas shakes his head. "Everything at home is fine. I just wanted to see you."