Page 112 of Truly, Madly Viking

She could hear Rolf talking to someone. Then Meredith got on the line. "You have to believe, Maggie,"

she advised. "He will come back."

Maggie wished with all her heart that she could believe. But Joe's words echoed in her head: There is no other way.

Despite all that, there were three McBride females, eyes red from crying, who refused to give up hope that night. Each, of her own volition, went to her bedroom window in hopes of seeing the wishing star.

But the night was as black as eternity, and only hopelessness loomed on the horizon.

The next afternoon...

"Thora!" Jorund bellowed at the top of his lungs. His throat was sore from all his hollering, and he feared he might soon lose his voice altogether. "Get your bloody damn slimy carcass back here."

Nothing.

"You know, there are greedy men, even in these times, who would love to harpoon you, just for the sake of your skin and blubber. Methinks I should tell them of you."

Nothing.

Ever since he had left Mag-he's home the day before, Jorund had been sitting or standing on the land overlooking Galveston Bay, trying to make contact with his time-traveling orca. He'd been certain that the time was right now, but the stupid animal refused to connect with him.

"Thora!" he tried again. He refused to go back to Mag-he's, defeated, as he had the last time he'd left. In his breaking heart, he knew this was the right thing to do.

You don't have to scream, a clicking voice said to him in his head.

Finally! He peered outward, and sure enough, on the horizon he saw the infuriating killer whale leaping in the air, carefree, oblivious to the fact that she had ruined his life. Or was she oblivious? "Where the hell have you been?"

Here and there.

Jorund rose to his full height, beat his fists against his chest in frustration, and made a low, rumbling sound in his throat, like a huge black bear he had once come upon in the forest. Temper, temper, the whale chastised.

"I would like to show you my temper, you lackbrain whale. Come get me, and take me home."

The whale was swimming closer, going for long stretches undervater, then leaping high in the air. The bloody exhibitionist! Jorund thought.

But where is home, Viking? the whale asked with its usual groans and clicks and squeals.

'What? Riddles now?" Jorund snarled, tearing at his hair in frustration. "Do you know how hard it was to make this decision? And now you question me?"

'Twas a good question. Where is home?

" 'Tis... 'tis..." Jorund sputtered.

Precisely. Now do you see?

"See? I see naught."

I have shown you your destiny, Jorund, and still you are blind.

"Do you mean Mag-he?"

That is for you to say.

The whale was closer now, several ship lengths away, but not close enough for him to lop off its irritating tongue... if whales did in fact have tongues. But, oh, the inclination to do the animal harm was strong.

"You brought me to this land, whale. Why?"

'Twas a gift, Jorund.