Twosisters,aged5and8,hangoutaloneathomeinthemiddleofthecountryside.Elsa,theyoungest,swallowsthreegrainsofcoarsesalt.Judithannouncestoherthatshe’sdoomedtoadeathbydesiccation,andsheonlyhasafewhourstolive.Themotherreturns,behavingardentlyandfeverishly,andturnsthefamily’sdestinyupsidedown.