Summary

In Chapter 5, Robert’s literary agent contacts him about a commission to write a short fiction story for a news program. Robert accepts, and he decides to use a story draft that he had based on an anecdote told to him by an acquaintance at a party. He had changed elements of the anecdote as fit his whims while adapting it into a story. The narration digresses into a backstory about Robert and Karijn’s finances. They have money saved from past jobs, such as when Robert worked in advertising. They also made a substantial amount of money investing in real estate, and they bought a summer home in Sweden. Robert briefly visits the summer home to supervise the installation of a new water pump. Robert feels a sense of momentary freedom and swims in the lake near the house. He tries and fails...