Read "Paradise Reclaimed" by Halldor Laxness online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
A lamb-drive at midsummer on a pony descended from kelpies, and a breath of air from the glaciers-those who have been on such a journey in their youth dream of it forever afterwards, however long they may live, and finally with the wordless emptiness of regret and resignation to death. She only rode Krapi this once; why not always from that day onwards? "I mentioned last year, Steinar, that you should let me have the white horse this summer when I ride west to welcome royalty," said the sheriff. "It is of no little importance to arrive at Þingvellir* well-mounted on such an occasion-as much to impress other districts as the Danes themselves."
Steinar of Hlíðar laughed his high-pitched titter. "I have often admired the sheriff's horses," he said. "Wonderfully reliable beasts, and fine at fording rivers, no half-measures about that. I can say nothing about the king, of course, but I would dearly love to see the sheriff in this country who would be better mounted."