Reparation

from Island of the World by Michael O Brien

"...for Josip and Josip alone, she exercises something akin to diabolic loathing. It is so astounding he takes it on as a challenge. He estimates it will take 3 - 4 years to tame her, but he is resolved that even if can not tame her, he is willing to spend a lifetime enduring her as reparation.

Reparations for what? I have not hurt the woman. We have never met before. My parents and ancestors surely did her no harm. General reparation then. He can accept the insult as a mild form of humiliation offered for her soul and offered as a payment for sins committed against her people by Croats. The disproportion in this seems incredibly unfair because most of the victims of Yugoslavia's confusion were not, are not and probably will not be Serbs. Even so she has an eternal soul and he feels pity for her. Whenever she throws a dart, he takes it in the chest and says a silent prayer for her."