“We needn’t hasten our overhaul unduly,” she said, minutes later. “A breathing spell here will do us good.”
“Yes, we’ve talked about that. Still, we should have ample time on Bornholm, till Niels hears from us and can come.”
“We talked about that too.”
“Remember, let me deal with humans. Inuit garb in Europe
is not too outlandish on a man, but a woman-“
“Yes, yes, yes!” she snapped. Redness went over her cheeks, down her throat, across her breasts.
“I crave pardon,” he said in an unclear voice, and raised his golden eyes to her gray.
“Oh, no matter,” she hurried to reply. “I’m on edge. My gut is a-growl.”
He made a grin. “Mine likewise. That isn’t the sea you hear.”
The exchange eased them somewhat. Nonetheless they were
nearly dumb while they finished preparing their meat, and held no converse white they ate it except a few words about how savory it was and how pleasant the fire.
When they were through, Tauno fetched more wood and stoked the blaze. Early night was falling, the strip of sky gone dusk-blue, a deeper violet in the niche. Their vision found ample light. They sat down on opposite sides for enjoyment of red, yellow, blue flicker with coal-glow at the core, homely crackle, pungency of smoke.
“We ought to retire, I suppose,” Tauno said, “but I’m not sleepy yet. You go if you like.”
“I’m not sleepy yet either,” Eyjan answered.
Both gazed into the flames.
“I wonder how Y ria fares,” she said at last, quite low.
“We’ll learn.”
“Unless Niels and Ingeborg failed.”
“In that case, we can hit on something else.”
“How I hope they’ve not suffered evil,” Eyjan whispered.
“Well-nigh could I wish to believe a god would help them if I
prayed.”
“Oh, they’re tough,” said Tauno. “I dare look forward to seeing them again.”
“I also. Niels is . . . I like him better than any other human I’ve known.”
“And she- Whoof!” snorted Tauno, squinching his eyes and fanning his nose. “Suddenly the smoke’s become mine alone.”
Eyjan lifted her face to him. A half moon made frosty his greenish-fair locks and threw soft highlights on the wide shoulders where firelight did not reach. “Come over here,” she invited.
He stiffened, then did. Side by side, flanks touching, they held out palms to the heat and gazed straight before them. Time blew by, over the cliff tops.
“What will we do, waiting at Bornholm for news?” Eyjan finally asked.
Tauno shrugged. The movement passed his arm along hers, and he swallowed hard before he could say, “Take our ease, no doubt, apart from chasing food. We’ll have earned that.”
Her bronzy tresses brushed him as she nodded. “Yes, we’ve done much, haven’t we? . . you and’I.”
“And more is ahead.”
“We’ll meet it together.”
Somehow their heads swung around, somehow they were
breathing each other’s breath, the clean smells of each other, and her mouth was an inch from his. They never knew which of them reached out first.
“Yes, yes,” she half sobbed when the kiss came to a pause.
“Oh, yes, now!”
He pulled back. “Our mother-“
She threw herself against him. Behind softness, he felt a heart that slammed even faster than his. Laughter gasped in her throat. “Too long have we fretted about that. We’re merfolk, Tauno, darling.” In flfelit splendor she leaped to her feet, tugged at his hand. “Over there, on the turf, we have a bed. . . only now do I know how I yearned.”
“And I.” He stumbled up. She nearly dragged him along, and down.
· The moon was sunken behind the cliffs. Stars glistened small.
Eyjan raised herself to an elbow. “It’s no use, is it?” she said bitterly. “Nothing is any use.”
Tauno threw an arm across his face where he lay. “Do you think I am glad?” he mumbled.
“No, of course not.” Eyjan beat fist on thigh. “The Christians can exorcise us,” she cried. “Why in the name of justice can we not exorcise the Christians?”
“There is no justice. I’m sorry .” Tauno rolled over so his back was to her.
She sat erect, regarded him, ran a hand along his side till it came to rest on his hip. “.scorn yourself not, brother mine,” she achieved saying. “There are worse curses. We both have a world for living in.”