Waiting for the Barbarians

The Magistrate opens this chapter with a discussion of the passing of winter into spring and all the signs that point to spring’s arrival. He sets out to compose two letters. The first is a notice that he is leaving the settlement to seek out the nomads and try to make a peace offering with them as a result of what he deems was severe damage to the mutual relationship caused by Joll’s unit. The second document gives him trouble; he does not know what to write, but presumably it is to be a reflection on his relationship with the girl. He gives up on this task and enlists a couple of men to help guide him across the harsh landscape in search of the Indigenous nomadic community. He also brings along the girl, much to the surprise of the three men whose help he has enlisted. He tells them that she will serve as an interpreter, but they are suspicious of this explanation because they see the girl as the Magistrate’s personal concubine. The Magistrate tells only the girl that the purpose of the expedition is to return her to her people.