The Verdict

I followed Lisi into the good room of the house. Julius was enthroned there as the head of the family in a high-backed wing chair, looking at us with a stern expression. His daughter-in-law joined her husband, sister-in-law and niece, who stood lined up along the wall, their hands folded in front of their torsos. I was assigned a spot a few steps in front of the patriarch. I looked straight in his face and tried to read his intentions. But after just a few seconds, I could no longer endure his gaze and lowered my eyes to the ground. I felt like a defendant in front of a judge. And I feared that a verdict would be passed on me that would change my life forever.

“Eva, you came to us of your own free will,” he began in a deep, rumbling voice, like rocks rolling down a slope. I listened attentively. “Fate has now ensured that you will live here for a long time.”

Eva breathed a sigh of relief. She had never intended to return to her old life anyway - at least not to the town she came from. After the first unfortunate exchanges with the village elder, she had feared that she would be sent away. From this perspective, the landslide would even have done her some good if it meant she could stay.

But when Julius continued with an icy expression, it sent shivers down her spine.

“We can't afford to feed useless eaters. Everyone has to do their share for the community. So far, however, we have not been able to determine that you are suitable for hard work or that you have a skill that is valuable to us.”

She opened her mouth to object. After all, she wanted to work and had the confidence to do so. All she needed was a little guidance and a little patience from the villagers. But the old man wouldn't allow her to have a single word.

“The village council has sized you up. You are young and seem to be healthy. We think you can bear many strong children. That's why you're going to marry Franz, Vincent's son.”

Eva's head was spinning. She had heard the words, but her mind refused to understand what Julius had said. This was madness. Didn't she have any say in this decision? One couldn't seriously expect her to accept without contradiction that complete strangers would simply decide something so serious right over her head.

“B-but ... uh ... what ... who?” she began to stammer.

Julius stood up. He towered tall and broad over the petite young woman, a physical reflection of his superiority over her.

“It's decided,” he stated succinctly, ”Grete and Lisi, get the bridal veil out of the dresser and help the bride get ready. The ceremony will take place in Vincent's farmhouse after sunset today. Adrian, you go over to Franz. He'll need help getting everything ready. Leni, you come with me.”

Eva felt as if he had beaten her. She was completely at his mercy. Here in this remote village, he was more powerful than the emperor in Vienna. And yet everything inside her rebelled against submitting to his will. She felt like a piece of cattle that was to be turned over to a breeding bull.

She screamed "No!" at the top of her voice, turned on her heel and ran out of the house. Excited voices behind her only spurred her on even more. As fast as her feet could carry her, she left the village and headed for the edge of the forest.