The birds

the long version

"The story of Mattis, with learning difficulties, who lives in a small house near a lake with his sister Hege who ekes out a modest living knitting sweaters. From time to time Mattie encourages her brother to find work to ease their financial situation, but Mattits's attempts come to nothing. When, finally, he sets himself up as a ferryman, the only passenger he manages to bring across the lake is a lumberjack, Jørgen. When Jørgen and Hege become lovers, Mattis finds he cannot adjust to this new situation"--P. [4] of cover.