25.5.2009


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    The next day they re-assembled in the court room next to the forge. It was seven o'clock when Rev. Pauline stood up and began to speak. After a short introduction she began to ask the defendant questions which he usually answered immediately:

    "Did your wife, Gudrun Rose, know about your sexual relationship with Edith?"

    The defendant hesitated slightly: "It would be, perhaps, right to ask her."

    "We have."

    "Yes, of course she knew of it. She has always known of this passion of mine. She's never doubted that it was anything but a disease."

    "When someone has a disease, isn't it customary to go to a doctor?"

    "I've never gone to a doctor. I probably should have."

    Now Rev. Pauline looked at Violet and addressed her: "Tell me, Violet, did you know that your father used your sister, Edith, sexually?"

    "It wasn't until he assaulted me that I began to suspect something of the kind. By then, Edith had been confirmed and was all messed up."

    "Did you ask your mother about this?"

    "Right after he assaulted me the one and only time, I told Mamma what happened. At first she wanted to make light of it, but when I told her exactly what had happened, she said that Dad was afflicted with this sick passion, and we had to live with it. When I asked her about Edith, she said something like we just had to hope that she would find a good husband and could begin to live a normal life."

    At this point, Kalli Sandfeldt asked to say a few words:

    "Although we are directing our inquiry primarily toward little Steina's case, and really also Violet's, I still think we sorely lack information about the defendant's conceivable violation of Edith, Violet's older sister. Such information, if it were available, would probably shed light on the case as a whole. Now, I understand that Edith lives out in the countryside. I just want to ask whether it would be possible to get her to come here to give us an account and answer questions."

    The defendant's face showed how startled he was. However, he made no comment even though he did not feel well.

    Kalli Sandfeldt's request was agreed to without discussion, and that threw the court a little off track. It was decided to adjourn until seven o'clock the next evening, and that the defendant would again be in the bailiffs' custody.