Sevser is born
Spring fell upon the taiga. With a crackling, surging water broke the weakened ice apart, the numbed spines of the rivers were straightened. The snow melted, yellow streams washed down the slopes, the earth swelled with humidity.
Hadne’s belly was heavy, too. She turned cranky, lost her old liveliness and pride. She tried to keep away from other people; she sat inside and shed tears over her sewing. The men were rarely home: the herd required a great deal of attention. In addition, the big hunting and fishing would soon begin, so that a new food stockpile could be created for the winter.
The people of the taiga are not accustomed to going easy on pregnant women, but Yadne’s compassion for her daughter-in-law freed the latter from the hardest work. Yadne alone did the work
