Snow Falling on Cedars Chapter 21

Nels watches Susan Marie on the witness stand, feeling depressed because he is too old to be anyone's lover, and he admires how beautiful she is. He makes clear to the court that she was not there for any part of the conversation between Kabuo and Carl. Nels presses Susan Marie to tell the court that Carl had given Kabuo at least some hope that he might buy the land--Carl had told him he would think about it. Nels is clearly uncomfortable with the fact that in some way, Susan Marie is allowed to speak for her husband, and tell her version of what happened the day before he died, because he cannot tell it himself. Just as Nels finishes his questioning, the power goes out in the courthouse.