“No, I haven’t, dear Danjel.”
“A person who has Christ within him need not fear seasickness. He can endure the sea even the first time.”
“Yes, I will have faith, dear husband.”
And Danjel emphasized again to his wife that one reborn could sail on all the seas in the world without being seasick. One living in Christ’s faith could endure the sea at any time; whether he traveled over narrow rivers or broad oceans, he would remain as sound and well as ever.
“Yes, dear Danjel, I believe it. I’m not afraid any more.”
Inga-Lena patted her husband’s hand affectionately.
“Don’t you think you might get seasick, as well as we others?” asked Karl Oskar, who had listened in astonishment.
The farmer from Kärragärde smiled kindly. “No! Because I believe Christ has died on the cross for my sins.”
“You are a doubter, Karl Oskar,” said Ulrika of Västergöhl, but there was no reproach in her voice.
“God will convince him when we are on the ship,” said Danjel.
Ulrika wanted to help Danjel explain. “You know, Karl Oskar, it says in the Bible that Jesus had gone in a boat with His disciples and there was a horrible storm but no one was seasick. If Jesus or some one of His disciples had needed to throw up then, it would say so. But there isn’t one word about it in the gospel. So you may understand, Karl Oskar, when a person has Christ’s body within his own, he can never more feel rotten.”
Karl Oskar snorted but said nothing. What use was there in arguing with the Åkians?
To Kristina it sounded like blasphemy when the name of the Saviour was mentioned by Ulrika in this way; as if one were to think of Him lying in a ship, seasick and throwing up. He was God’s Son, He could have no ills. But even if He had a toothache, or was footsore, or had other human ailments, He could heal Himself as He healed so many others. Ulrika used such vulgar words in spiritual things that no one in his full senses could believe in her conversion. Who could imagine Christ living in her worn-out old harlot-body?
Kristina turned to Danjel. “Berta of Idemo said the married women will get more seasick than the unmarried.”
“Not if they live in the spirit.”
“But most women do live in the flesh,” interrupted Ulrika. “Bastards can be made in wedded beds, too.”
She was hurt by the disrespect Kristina showed her, and now at the first opportunity retaliated. But Kristina decided not to answer the nasty words Ulrika threw at her.
Robert was disappointed because no one had asked him about seasickness. He had knowledge from books, and now he was able to get in a word: “Ship’s fever and cholera are much more dangerous than seasickness.”
He wanted to give a description of these ills, but his brother gave him a look that could not be misunderstood; he stopped short at the very beginning.
They were to rest a few hours. When all had eaten and were satisfied, Danjel kneeled on the floor and thanked God in a loud voice for the food. His prayer was so vociferous that it was heard out in the kitchen. The maids stared in surprise through the door: one of the peasants from Småland was crying on his knees to God — indeed, a strange rabble that passed by today!
Kristina put the lid on her food basket. She was content that she hadn’t opened the butter tub. It was supposed to be thousands of miles to North America, and as yet they had traveled only twenty of them; the butter would be needed.
— 4—
Later in the evening the emigrants resumed their journey. The next road post was Möljeryd, where they intended to rest. From there the road went over Bredåkra to Karlshamn.
Now the weather grew milder. The snow had melted, the air was moist, and soon a light rain began to fall. They could see that the spring was earlier in Blekinge than at home; the grass was high along the roadsides, the coltsfoot had opened in the ditches, and the buds on the trees were thick and swollen; the spring work could soon begin hereabouts.
Their horses were growing tired from the heavy loads, and moved at a slow pace; even on small hills the men stepped off and walked; on Jonas Petter’s wagon only the girl remained in her seat.
Robert could not help thinking of Elin. She thought she needn’t learn English from his book. The language would pour forth from her mouth as once the languages of the Parthians, the Phrygians, and the Elamites had come from the tongues of the apostles, so that people thought they were drunk from new wine. Why did people think they were drunk? The more drunk a person was, the thicker his speech became, stammering, slurring, spluttering. But the girl must be given information about the land she was emigrating to. What did she know about the North American Republic? Its government, laws, religion, and railroads? Surely she needed more knowledge about the New World.
It would not hurt to show Elin what he knew about the United States — but before he had a chance to begin his discourse she said, almost confidentially: “You know — I’m afraid of America.”
“Afraid? Why?”
“Because it’s unknown — perhaps people are unkind to newcomers.”
“Oh, no! I’m sure you need not be afraid. There are so few women in America that they treat them like gold and jewels. You’ll be taken care of like a baby; you can have anything you want, you needn’t worry about a thing.”
Elin apparently did not know how well things were arranged for the women in the United States. He must cheer her up a little by telling her.
The Americans treated all women — were they old or young, ugly or beautiful — as if they were queens and princesses. They waited on them and guarded them as if they were costly pearls and diamonds. The women never need do heavy or foul chores, as here at home; they could go clean and white and with washed hands all day long; a maid in America was as well dressed as her mistress, because all women were allowed to dress in fine clothes. It wasn’t a bit like here — all women had the right to wear hats, that right was written into the laws of the republic. It was strongly forbidden to mock or poke fun at a simple woman because she wore a hat like a gentlewoman. Moreover, there were no simple women, and no noble ladies — all were equals.
In the North American Republic it was the menfolk who served the women, not the opposite, as here. If a man were attacked and beaten by a woman, he had no right to defend himself. Because the law was not like here. Outside a house a man could go no closer to a woman than three steps, if she herself didn’t allow closer proximity, or perhaps order him to come nearer. Inside a house the distance between the sexes was two steps, according to law. Any man who wished to be closer than two steps to an American woman must first marry her. The law was not like the Swedish law.
So Elin need not be afraid of America. If a man spoke to a woman in public, then she had the right to call for the police and request protection. Even if, in all friendliness, he only asked his way, she could have him arrested, or sue him for breach of promise if she was in need of cash, whichever suited her best. Women always had their own way in the United States, so she need not worry.
If a man in the United States betrayed a woman, then he was first decapitated and afterwards hanged; he would never repeat his deed. Nowadays there were no unfaithful, untruthful, or deceitful menfolk left there. They were exterminated and destroyed. She need not be afraid of America.
Thus while the wagon rolled along one of the future inhabitants of the United States was informed of the position of women in the new land. And Elin did feel more comfortable and happy and expectant. She relied on his words, she felt she would like her new country.
Robert and Elin sat as close as possible in the driver’s seat. The wagon shook and rocked, the girl pulled her clothes tightly around her, she yawned and shivered from cold. And while Robert was busy describing the railroads of America, her head fell suddenly on his shoulder. He stopped short in surprise while her head sank down on his chest. What did it mean? What did she want? What was he supposed to do? He held his body stiff as a steering shaft, yet her head remained in the same position. Then he discovered that she had fallen asleep. She slept, her tender girl-body resting against his.