Summary

The narrative returns back to Vardø. Diinna’s child, who is named Erik after his father, is nearly a year old. Pastor Kurtsson announces that the Commissioner has begun his journey to Vardø and that the second boathouse, which was to be Maren’s home with Dag, will become his household. Kirsten is tasked with making the home more suitable to the Commissioner's wife, including slaughtering enough meat for them to eat, and asks Maren to stitch the pelts. She also announces that the fishing trips will stop, temporarily. Meanwhile, tensions between Mamma and Diinna are increasing, with Maren being forced to intercede between them. Diinna does not even call the baby Erik as Mamma had insisted, but Eret, which is the Sámi pronunciation. Maren worries that her own connection with Diinna is weakening. Maren goes to collect the...