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shakily. “We are indeed in the hands of the gods.”
    Alec turned to the window and watched the giant black thunderheads move overhead. He expected them to bring heavy rain and provide a respite from the fearful bolts of lightning. They marched by in what seemed to be never-ending columns and brought only a slight drizzle instead of the deluge he had expected. The lightning never lessened in its intensity. The saw-grass world was lit up with successive flashes, and Alec knew that if it did not rain, the Everglades might well be destroyed by fire from the bolts.
    He ducked instinctively as another ball of green fire shattered the darkness. The captain said not a word. There was a deep silence between him and Alec. Their lives had whittled down to a grim, waiting battle for survival. They could only wait and pray and hope the lightning would not strike the shed.
    The storm went on for a long time, longer than Alec ever had known one to last. There seemed to be no end to the fury of the wind and fierce lightning. It was almost as if the wrath of the heavens had been turned against them instead of the storm’s being anatural phenomenon of clouds and barometric pressures.
    It was night when, finally, the storm came to an end. Alec watched the sky clear and saw the first stars; he gave no thought to where he was … or to the captain … or going home or staying. Nothing mattered except that he and his horse had survived. He led the Black from the shed and walked about the clearing, avoiding the fallen trees.
    The captain passed him, his eyes unfocused and staring. Alec knew where he was going and followed. They found the barn and house intact. It seemed incredible, when everything else was a shambles. No doubt the tall trees, serving as lightning deflectors, had saved them.
    While the captain went inside the barn to his mare, Alec waited and spoke to the Black without benefit of a spoken word, his touches soft and gentle.
    Finally the captain emerged from the barn, striding quickly toward them. Alec had only to look at the captain’s face to know that the mare was safe. Despite the difference in their ages and backgrounds, he and the captain had a deep bond in common, for each was one with his horse.
    â€œIt’s too late for you to leave now,” the captain said. “You’ll have to spend the night.”
    Alec nodded. He could not attempt the long trip in the darkness. “They’ll wonder what happened to me,” he said. “They’ll be worried.”
    â€œWe can avoid that,” the captain said quickly. “I’ll have Odin take a message, at least as far as the Seminolevillage; his friends will see that it’s delivered to the ranch.”
    â€œYou’re sure?” Alec asked, surprised that anyone could find his way through the swamp at night.
    â€œOf course,” the captain said. “There will be no problem. He has a canoe and goes by the waterways.”
    The night was still except for the fronds of palm trees rattling ominously in the wind. The air was cool, for the storm had driven off the intense heat. To the north, Alec could see skittering sheets of lightning, flashing luridly, then vanishing in the night sky.
    â€œWhere will we put him?” he asked, nodding toward his horse. “The shed’s not safe. The roof could fall in any time.”
    â€œThere are several stalls in the barn,” the captain answered. “We will put him there.”
    Alec didn’t like it. The mare was so ready to be bred. His concern must have been obvious, for the captain said, “You needn’t worry. I can put him at the far end of the barn, well away from her.”
    â€œAll right,” Alec said resignedly.
    Later, he walked beside the captain through the evening shadows. He had spent the last hour as he would have done at home, putting up his horse for the night. He had brushed him off and cleaned his feet. He had fetched water