Let go my hand.
ORM. Now the Erl is saved!
VALGERD. Saved?
ORM. Yes, you have been given back to him--and that is his voice
now. [Goes.]
[Voices of Thorfinn and Orm are heard outside, Thorfinn laughing
loudly.]
VALGERD. The Erl comes--he laughs--that I have never heard before--
oh, there is something terrible approaching! [Wrings her hands.]
[Enter Thorfinn and Orm.]
THORFINN [Laughing]. That was a murderous sight--
ORM. Yes, I promise you!
VALGERD. Welcome home, mate.
THORFINN. Thanks, wife. Have you been out in the rain? Your eyes
are wet.
VALGERD. You are so merry!
THORFINN. Merry? Yes--yes.
VALGERD. What became of your ships?
ORM. They went to the bottom--all but one.
VALGERD [To Thorfinn]. And you can nevertheless be so gay?
THORFINN. Ho! Ho! Timber grows in plenty in the north!
ORM. Now perhaps we might have something life-giving.
THORFINN. Well said! Fetch some ale, wife, and let's be merry.
ORM. And we'll thank the gods who saved us.
THORFINN. When will you ever outgrow those sagas, Orm?
ORM. Why do you force your wife and daughter to believe in them?
THORFINN. Women folk should have gods.
ORM. Whom do you believe helped you out there in the storm?
THORFINN. I helped myself.
ORM. And yet you cried out to Ake-Thor when the big wave swallowed
you.
THORFINN. There you lie.
ORM. Orm never lies.
THORFINN. Orm is a poet!
ORM. Thorfinn must have swallowed too much sea water when he cried
for help to have such a bitter tongue.
Pages:
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145