DIVINE INTERVENTION
Chapter One

Link put his hands behind his head and leaned back into the springy grass. He couldn't imagine a more perfect day. The sun was dazzling, the sky was just the right shade of blue, and only the occasional cloud floated by in a lazy, pure-white puff. The smell of spring was in the air, and there was nothing to do but sit back, relax, and enjoy the—

"Link!"

He moaned and shut his eyes. Maybe if he ignored him, his uncle would go away.

"LINK!"

The voice was louder now, and Link could hear the grass rustling with approaching footsteps. He forced himself to sit up. A big man was stalking toward him, an unfriendly look in his eye.

"Did you take that calf over to the ranch yet?"

"Uh." Damn it. He knew there was something he forgot. "No, sir."

"Why not?"

"I forgot."

"You forgot?" Tarin gave him a hard look. "Yesterday you forgot to deliver to Danté in Kakariko," he said. "Tomorrow you're gonna forget to squirt the milk into the bucket, and we'll lose a day's profits out of the bargain."

"I'm sorry."

"I want you on your way in ten minutes, do you understand me?"

"Can I take the cart?"

"Ask Rodan."

"Can I, uh… can I take it myself?"

Tarin raised an eyebrow. "No," he said. "You can ask Rodan to drive you. And that reminds me," he added. "I know you're friendly with Malon, but I don't want you hanging around there today. You're to come straight home and help your aunt with supper."

Link's shoulders slumped. "What?" he said. "But that's—can't you get one of the girls to do it?"

"I can," said Tarin forcefully, "but I'm telling you to do it. Get a move on. Ten minutes."

Link made a face. "Yeah, yeah."

"Excuse me?"

"Yes, sir."

He turned to trudge toward the barn, praying to the gods that Rodan would be there. Luckily, he was, and he agreed to take Link on the cart. "I haven't seen Razor in ages," he said as he hitched up the horses. Link tried to look on the bright side. At least he was still outside. And he would get to see Malon, even if Rodan did have to be with him.

Malon was feeding cuccos just inside the ranch. She brightened when she saw the cart roll in.

"Hi!" she said.

"Hi, Malon," said Link, hopping down before the cart had completely stopped.

Malon spotted the calf on the back of the cart. She looked over her shoulder. "Mama!" A sturdy-looking woman came out of the house, drying her hands on a dishrag. "It's Rodan and Link!"

"Well, hi there, boys."

"Afternoon, Marielle," said Rodan.

"Is that my new baby up there?" said Marielle, her eyes twinkling. She cut a large figure and spoke with a commanding voice, but when she spotted the calf, she pranced up to the cart like a little girl on Dinsday. "Oh, look at you!" she cooed. "You're a beauty, aren't you? How much do I owe you, Rodan?"

"Come on," Malon whispered. "Let's let them work it out."

While Marielle counted out rupees, Link and Malon slipped behind the barn. "I can't stay for too long," said Link.

Malon pouted. "At least stay for dinner."

Link shrugged. "My uncle wants me home."

Malon rolled her eyes. "Your uncle must be impossible to live with. He's got rules about everything."

"It's cause there are so many kids and so little money. He has to be strict."

"I guess." Malon's eyes wandered, and something caught her attention. She laughed. "When is Rodan going to buy that horse?"

Link followed her gaze. Rodan, apparently finished with the transaction had drifted to the horse corral and was now stroking the mane of a powerful-looking horse, jet-black with a wiry mane. "Razor?" he said, not without a healthy amount of skepticism. "Yeah right. The Triforce will turn to lead before Rodan gets that horse."

"Why is it so hopeless?"

"There's no way we can afford a horse like that. And besides, Rodan's already got one."

Malon sighed. "He wants it so badly, though," she said. "And they're perfect for each other."

"Yeah," said Link. "It's too bad how that never seems to work out."

"When two people are perfect for each other."

"They should be able to be together."

"Right."

They had moved closer. Malon looked up into Link's eyes. She reached up to touch his cheek, and he felt his face grow hot.

"Link!"

For the second time that day, Link groaned at being interrupted.

"Link, where'd you go?" His cousin's voice was getting louder. Soon, Rodan was sure to poke his head around the corner of the barn. Link pulled away from Malon.

"See you later," he said.

Malon smiled. "Bye, Link."

He met Rodan approaching the barn. "There you are. We're all set, let's go."

They climbed onto the cart and pulled away, Malon and Marielle waving them out. The cart felt much lighter without the weight of the calf in the back.

"So, what's going on with you and Malon?"

Link raised his head. "What do you mean?" he asked, pulling an innocent expression.

Rodan didn't buy it. "Come on. You two disappear together every time you see her. I don't think you're discussing farming techniques behind that barn."

"Rodan!" Link crossed his arms and scowled. "What's it to you, anyway?"

"Just curious."

"Yeah, and I'm sure once the pile of rupees under your mattress gets big enough, it's definitely not going straight toward that horse."

Rodan flushed. "How do you know about that?" he hissed.

Link shrugged. "You started it."

"Well you'd better keep that to yourself, you hear me? I told Papa I was seeing a girl in town. If he knew I was working a city job and keeping the money—"

"Fine. Just don't spill the beans about Malon."

"Fine."

They rode on in silence. A crash of thunder rumbled in the distance.

"So much for a perfect day," muttered Rodan.

A bolt of lightning lit up the sky. It was followed shortly by another burst of thunder. Rodan looked up. "Gods," he said. "That storm's moving fast. We'd better hurry."

He flicked the reins and the horses picked up their pace. The sun twinkled and went out as angry black clouds rolled in. Another flash, and the thunder followed almost immediately, deafeningly loud. The cart lurched to a stop as the two horses reared up in panic.

"Whoa there!" cried Rodan. "Easy, girls! Easy!" His face was white. "How did it reach us that fast? Pull up the tarp while I calm them down. Hurry, before—"

His words were drowned by a sudden torrent of rain. "Hurry!" he cried again, his voice muffled.

Link scrambled into the back of the cart as Rodan hopped to the ground. He unrolled the tarp and started to stretch it over the wooden frame. A sudden gust of wind plucked the canvas from his fingers and tossed it aside like a handkerchief. Link cried out and jumped out of the cart after it. It tumbled across the muddy ground, buffeted as easily as a giant feather. The wind picked up again, strong enough to knock Link to the ground.

He heard Rodan's voice, barely audible. "Leave it!" he was saying. "We've got to get back! Come on, Link!"

Link struggled to his feet. He could barely see for all the rain and the dark clouds overhead, but he followed his cousin's voice.

The sky lit up. Link saw the cart illuminated before him, the horses rearing up again, the trailer filling with water. He saw Rodan with one foot on the step, frozen in motion in the split second before a jagged bolt of lightning plunged from the sky and struck the center of the cart. Link saw the wagon split like a toothpick, and he saw Rodan fly backward, before everything was dark again. The ensuing crash of thunder shrouded Rodan's scream.

"RODAN!" Link struggled toward where he thought he might have fallen. He could hear the horses crying now, terrified out of their minds. He followed the sound, fighting against the wind and rain, scanning the black ground for any sign of his cousin.

Then, without warning, everything stopped.