RANNVEIG
How shall I stir?
VOICES (outside and gathering volume)
Ai…. Ai…. Reach harder…. Ai….
GUNNAR
Stand clear, stand clear—it moves.
THE VOICES
It moves…. Ai, ai….
(The whole roof slides down rumblingly, disappearing with a crash
behind the watt of the house. All is dark above. Fine snow sifts
down now and then to the end of the play.)
GUNNAR (handling his bow)
The wind has changed: 'tis coming on to snow.
The harvesters will hurry in to-morrow.
(THORBRAND THORLEIKSSON appears above the wall-top a little past
GUNNAR, and, reaching noiselessly with a sword, cuts GUNNAR'S
bowstring.)
GUNNAR (dropping the bow and seizing his bill)
Ay, Thorbrand, is it thou? That's a rare blade,
To shear through hemp and gut…. Let your wife have it
For snipping needle-yarn; or try it again.
THORBRAND (raising his sword)
I must be getting back ere the snow thickens:
So here's my message to the end—or farther.
Gunnar, this night it is time to start your journey
And get you out of Iceland….
GUNNAR (thrusting at THORBRAND with the bill)
I think it is:
So you shall go before me in the dark.
Wait for me when you find a quiet shelter.