Read Online Under the Glacier by Halldór Laxness - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Halldór Laxness
Ads: Link
here with us, I understand, per analogiam . But while I remember, pastor Jón, what do I owe you for the shoeing?
Pastor Jón: Let us say 25 aurar the foot per analogiam , since you brought the shoes yourself.
Langvetningur: It’s said they have stopped minting 25-aurar pieces, pastor Jón.
Pastor Jón: Well, come back anyway when you have found the red one.
Langvetningur, perhaps to me, since he had argued it many a time with the pastor: As a matter of fact, we’re making a trip up the glacier to fetch a little something tomorrow morning, and it could well be that we shall need the church.
Pastor Jón: You had better be getting on your way now, old chap, and lead not the devil into temptation, as the late pastor Jens of Setberg used to say to people.
13
A Highly Responsible Office
Pastor Jón: Please excuse him for not using Latin in the right places. He is a unique person in this world. But he must not be allowed to know it. He has a theory; or more accurately, a fable. He thinks he has discovered the powder. I hope he keeps it dry. But when he says he needs the use of a church, then I say Pass and nothing will shift me from that.
Embi: What does he want with a church?
Pastor Jón: They are going to attempt reanimation there.
Embi: I’m sorry, I’m rather out of my depth.
Pastor Jón: The idea is to receive omnipotence from the galaxies. Snæfellsjökull is said to have communion. That’s all to the good. But the church they shall not get—not with my permission. Besides, it’s nailed shut.
Embi: That reminds me, pastor Jón. Nailed shut? The church! That’s rather sad news. Who nailed this church shut? What can be done?
Pastor Jón: The glacier stands open.
Embi: Someone said there had been no divine service at Christmas. Is that true?
Pastor Jón: That which is beyond words remains silent at Christmas too, my friend. But the glacier is there, all right.
Embi: The bishop has sent me to offer assistance in solving the problems he thinks this congregation is facing.
Pastor Jón: Few people realise the responsibility that is placed on the man who has to see to Christianity at Glacier. It is no easy matter. I was shoeing a herd of out-parish horses all night. Many people criticise me for giving hay-sweepings to alien free-range horses and shoeing out-parish herds. I ask— what is an out-parish herd and what is an in-parish herd?
Embi: The living requirements of horses—are they so pressing that the cure of souls has to take second place?
Pastor Jón: We know only one thing for certain about a horse: it belongs to no church parish, not baptised, not redeemed, with a drunk man on its back. And moreover, no need for it in the land now that both the drunk and the sober are driving machines. And yet people go on owning this creature to brag about it, torture it, write eulogies about it, and eat it. But it’s not enough just to torture horses and eulogise them as they do here: they have to be shod so that they can be driven to the slaughterhouse. I regard the shoeing of horses as pertaining to the cure of souls. But the church they shall not get, not even for horses.
Embi: Perhaps the horse-owners aren’t the same as those who want communion with the galaxies?
Pastor Jón: Yes, they are the same people.
Embi: The bishop is gravely concerned about this situation. What can we do for you?
Pastor Jón: Would you like to muck out the byre for me? Embi: It’s not actually in the brief. On the other hand, I was taught that there is no difference of degree in work, only in workmanship.
Pastor Jón Prímus laughs like a little boy who is posing riddles for grown-ups but despises their sagacity because he knows the answers himself: I have no cow, you see. Got rid of cows long ago. But now Hnallþóra’s been given a calf.
Embi: This calf met the undersigned on arrival last night. Pastor Jón: Didn’t you think he looks rather philosophical? Hnallþóra thinks he’ll die. I think he’ll live.
Pastor Jón: Let us say 25 aurar the foot per analogiam , since you brought the shoes yourself.
Langvetningur: It’s said they have stopped minting 25-aurar pieces, pastor Jón.
Pastor Jón: Well, come back anyway when you have found the red one.
Langvetningur, perhaps to me, since he had argued it many a time with the pastor: As a matter of fact, we’re making a trip up the glacier to fetch a little something tomorrow morning, and it could well be that we shall need the church.
Pastor Jón: You had better be getting on your way now, old chap, and lead not the devil into temptation, as the late pastor Jens of Setberg used to say to people.
13
A Highly Responsible Office
Pastor Jón: Please excuse him for not using Latin in the right places. He is a unique person in this world. But he must not be allowed to know it. He has a theory; or more accurately, a fable. He thinks he has discovered the powder. I hope he keeps it dry. But when he says he needs the use of a church, then I say Pass and nothing will shift me from that.
Embi: What does he want with a church?
Pastor Jón: They are going to attempt reanimation there.
Embi: I’m sorry, I’m rather out of my depth.
Pastor Jón: The idea is to receive omnipotence from the galaxies. Snæfellsjökull is said to have communion. That’s all to the good. But the church they shall not get—not with my permission. Besides, it’s nailed shut.
Embi: That reminds me, pastor Jón. Nailed shut? The church! That’s rather sad news. Who nailed this church shut? What can be done?
Pastor Jón: The glacier stands open.
Embi: Someone said there had been no divine service at Christmas. Is that true?
Pastor Jón: That which is beyond words remains silent at Christmas too, my friend. But the glacier is there, all right.
Embi: The bishop has sent me to offer assistance in solving the problems he thinks this congregation is facing.
Pastor Jón: Few people realise the responsibility that is placed on the man who has to see to Christianity at Glacier. It is no easy matter. I was shoeing a herd of out-parish horses all night. Many people criticise me for giving hay-sweepings to alien free-range horses and shoeing out-parish herds. I ask— what is an out-parish herd and what is an in-parish herd?
Embi: The living requirements of horses—are they so pressing that the cure of souls has to take second place?
Pastor Jón: We know only one thing for certain about a horse: it belongs to no church parish, not baptised, not redeemed, with a drunk man on its back. And moreover, no need for it in the land now that both the drunk and the sober are driving machines. And yet people go on owning this creature to brag about it, torture it, write eulogies about it, and eat it. But it’s not enough just to torture horses and eulogise them as they do here: they have to be shod so that they can be driven to the slaughterhouse. I regard the shoeing of horses as pertaining to the cure of souls. But the church they shall not get, not even for horses.
Embi: Perhaps the horse-owners aren’t the same as those who want communion with the galaxies?
Pastor Jón: Yes, they are the same people.
Embi: The bishop is gravely concerned about this situation. What can we do for you?
Pastor Jón: Would you like to muck out the byre for me? Embi: It’s not actually in the brief. On the other hand, I was taught that there is no difference of degree in work, only in workmanship.
Pastor Jón Prímus laughs like a little boy who is posing riddles for grown-ups but despises their sagacity because he knows the answers himself: I have no cow, you see. Got rid of cows long ago. But now Hnallþóra’s been given a calf.
Embi: This calf met the undersigned on arrival last night. Pastor Jón: Didn’t you think he looks rather philosophical? Hnallþóra thinks he’ll die. I think he’ll live.
Similar Books
