At last only a few feet
separated boy and wolf. Squatting, he put the partly eaten fish in the
sand in front of her, and took a step back. The pup came closer,
sniffed at it briefly, then began to eat. Her tail wagged in childish
contentment.
And then the miracle occurred. The Child laughed, throwing his arms up
to the sky. If he had known the word ‘hooray', he would certainly
have used it.
Such sweet music! Sylviana thought her heart would break for it, and
Kalus remembered for the first time without bitterness, the smile and
trust of young Shama.
The girl sat up; she couldn't help herself. At once the child
sprinted back to the sea, diving into the waters as naturally as a newly
hatched sea turtle, thinking no more of the ensuing swim than a bird
thinks of flight. A short distance out an impatient, affectionate orca
rose between his waiting legs, and carried him home on her back.
Sylviana watched in weary peace, with dreamy eyes thinking how sweet it
might be to one day have a child of her own. Until something in the
emptiness of the beach arrested her.
'Kalus, the boat. It's gone!'
And so it was. He rose beside her, and pointed to a spot on the
northeast horizon. There, riding ever lower in the waves, floated the
craft he had so agonizingly constructed.
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