Yrsa Sigurdardottir - My Soul to Take

TO TAKE

A Novel of Iceland

YRSA SIGURDA RDT TIR

BY B E R N A R D S C U DDE R A N D A N N A YAT E S

To my tiny grandson:

Reginn Freyr Mnason

Contents

THE CHILD FELT the cold creeping up her legs and

LETTER APERTURE, THRA corrected them with a polite smile. In

THRA FETCHED THE file containing the documents regarding the property

I CANT UNDERSTAND whats become of Birna,

muttered Jnas, reaching

WHEN SHE WAS dressed, Thra decided to go straight to

AS THE POLICE car pulled slowly out of the drive,

DADS NO FUN. Hes asleep. Sos Gylfi. I want to

ON THE TOP of the box lay a folded Nazi

IM TELLING YOU, my stockrooms been broken into,

Stefana said,

THRA HAD NEVER tried anything like the boxs former contents, 75

EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT? Matthew asked in English, looking from Thra

YES, THEY FINALLY decided to remove that stuff, like I

THE JAPANESE FATHER and son were so overwhelmingly polite that

SITTING BEHIND THE reception desk, Vigds watched Thra and Matthew

I ADVISE YOU to clear your schedule for the next

THE CHURCH WAS on an area of grass not far

THIS MUST BE the place. Thra scanned the beach. We

THRA NUDGED MATTHEW and nodded in the direction of the

THE STALLION BELONGS to my wife. Im not fond of

THRA CLEARED HER throat. Theres one thing I dont Understand. 169

THRA WAS PACING in circles around the parking lot, trying

THRA FELT AS though she had been transported back in

WHATS THE BIG deal? asked Thra, turning away from the

AND YOU DRAGGED me out of bed for this? complained

SHE HUNG UP. Thra grimaced. She looked at the screen

YOU GO FIRST, said Thra, giving Matthew a gentle shove. 225

I KNOW ITS almost time for you to leave the

IT MUST BE the same fox that was tied to

THRA SAT AT the computer in Jnass office, speaking to

THE TRAILER STUCK out well beyond the parking space. Thra

DRESSED IN A black robe trimmed with dark blue satin,

SO I IMAGINE you found this by pure coincidence, like

THRA STABBED HER finger at the page. Matthew looked at

MATTHEW KNOCKED LOUDLY on the door of Magnss hotel room.

RER. BER. THRA set her phone down on the table

THE LEMONADE FROM the minibar was expensive, but to Thra

IT WAS THRAS turn. She stepped up to the open

F e b r u a r y 1 9 4 5

The child felt the cold creeping up her legs and back, and she tried to sit up straight in the front seat to get a better view. She peered into the white snow surrounding the car, but could not make out any farm animals. Its too cold for the animals outside, she thought, wishing she could leave the car and go back inside the house, but she didnt dare say a word. A tear crept down her cheek as the man beside her struggled to start the engine. Pursing her lips, she turned her face away from him so that he wouldnt notice. Hed be so angry. She looked at the house where the car was parked and looked for the other girl, but the only living creature in sight was the farm dog, Rover, sleeping on the front steps. Suddenly he lifted his head and stared at her. She sent him a weak smile, but he stretched out again and closed his eyes. The car sputtered to life and the man straightened up in his seat.

About time, he said gruffly as they drove away. He glanced at the girl, who had turned back to look straight ahead. Well, lets take a little trip. She bounced around in her seat as they drove along the rough, bumpy track leading away from the house. Try to hold on, he said without looking at her.

At last the car reached the road and they cruised along in silence for a while. The girl looked out of the window in the hope of seeing some horses, but the landscape all around was deserted. Then her heart skipped a beat when she realized where they were.

Are we going to my house? she asked hopefully.

You could say that.

The girl sat up even straighter and observed the scenery more closely. 2

Y R S A S I G U R D A R D T T I R

In front of them was familiar countryside, and clearly visible in the distance the rock that her mother had said was a troll who had turned to stone at daybreak. Instinctively she craned forward to look at it. A car appeared at the crest of the low hill ahead, driving toward them. It looked like a military vehicle. As they slowed down, the man ordered her to keep her head out of sight. Not unaccustomed to hiding, she did so without hesitation. He clearly agreed with her grandfather that nothing good ever came from the army. Her mother had whispered to her that soldiers were perfectly normal men, just like Grandfather. But younger. And better-looking. Just like you. The girl remembered how sweetly her mother had smiled at her when she said that. The child heard the other vehicle approaching, getting louder until they passed each other and then fading away. She wriggled in her seat.

You can sit up, the driver said, and she did so. Do you know how old you are? he asked.

Four, she replied, taking care to speak clearly as her grandfather had taught her.

The man snorted. Youre really scrawny for a four-year-old.

Although the girl didnt understand the word scrawny, she realized that it was not good to be like that. She said nothing. There was a silence.

Do you want to see your mum again?

Her eyes widened and she looked up at the man. Was she going to see Mommy? Just thinking about it made everything okay. She nodded eagerly.

The little girls thighs no longer ached from the cold. Everything would be nice again. They turned down the road she knew so well. She saw her home and smiled for the first time in ages. The car drew up to the house slowly and stopped. Entranced, she stared out at the large, imposing house. It looked so sad and lonely. No lights, and no smoke from the chimney.

Is Mommy here? she said fretfully. Something strange was going on. The last time she had seen her, her mother had been lying in bed in a room in the mans house. She was sick, just like Grandfather had been,

with no one except her daughter to help her. Perhaps Mommy went back home the night after she vanished from the bed? But then why had she left her with the man? Mommy wouldnt have done that.

Your mum isnt exactly here, but youll still see her. You can be together forever. He smirked, and the girl felt uncertainty creep into her happiness, but she dared not ask any questions. The man threw open the car door and got out. He walked around and opened her door. Come on. Youre going on a little journey before you meet your mum.

Cautiously, the girl climbed out of the car. She looked all around, hoping to catch sight of someone or something to encourage her, but could see nothing.

The man bent down to take hold of her mittened hand. Come on, Ill show you something. He pulled her along with him and she almost had to run to keep up with his long strides. They went behind the house to the cattle shed. A stench rose to greet them, becoming more rancid the closer they got. The little girl wanted to hold her nose but didnt dare. The mans expression implied that he could smell it too. When they reached the shed, he looked through a window, too high for the girl to reach. He leaped back, his hand over his mouth. She hoped nothing awful had happened to the cows, but she noticed that there was no sound from inside. Maybe the cows were asleep. The man tugged her onward again.