[Subsection]

The sun shone, and there was no end to its warmth. But the water dried up in one well after the other on the neighboring farms. At Bufast water had to be carried up from the river in barrels. The cows came home and drank thirstily. Auntie pushed them about, flailing her arms, so that each one got a drop.

Olav and Per met occasionally, but Per saw nothing of Åsne and the others. That was both good and bad. He was uncertain how to behave if he met them now; it had been quite different during their school days.

Everyone they met complained about the sun and the drought. The crops were ruined, they said. The small amount of grass left was mown before that was scorched too.

"This year we'll have to reduce the herd," they said.