Virgil Wander

Rune is Alec Sandstrom’s estranged father, and he arrives from Norway to search for answers about his son’s disappearance. His journey from Norway to the small town of Greenstone symbolizes a quest for reconciliation and understanding with his son and himself. Rune desires to learn about his son and redemption for missing out on the relationship when he was alive. Runes are ancient symbols used in old Germanic alphabets and evoke a kind of mystical wisdom. Like these ancient symbols, Rune’s persona is often mysterious and undiscernible with his eccentric kites and pet raven. Yet Rune becomes a translator and transmitter of the past and the future. Through his interactions with Virgil and other residents of Greenstone, Rune resurrects Alec’s memory, builds new relationships, and injects hope into a dying town.

Rune’s passion for kite flying connects him to the natural world and is a metaphor for freedom, hope, and the human spirit’s resilience. The high-flying kites represent aspirations and dreams, contrasting with the grounded, often mundane struggles of others in Greenstone. Though an older man, Rune exudes vitality and injects life into every encounter he has. Rune’s kites bring a sense of childlike wonder and whimsy to the town, symbolizing the uplifting power of creativity and imagination. Rune’s gentle wisdom and unique perspective influence those around him, encouraging them to reflect on their lives and make positive changes. Virgil describes how people are drawn to him, “He had a little Pied Piper in him” (102). He helps Virgil recover physically and emotionally from his accident and pushes him to reconnect with his spiritual life. Virgil helps Rune forge a deeper connection with his grandson, Bjorn. Rune’s presence represents the opportunity for intergenerational healing and connection. He once considered himself the end of the line for his family, but Bjorn represents hope for the future and a continuation of his legacy. A chance encounter with the town villain, Adam Leer, almost snuffs out Rune’s pure goodness and light, but with the kindness and compassion of the community, he recovers. The novel ends in a full circle moment as Virgil and Nadine travel to Norway to see Rune and start their new life together in the place where Rune’s story began.

Nadine is Alec Sandstrom’s beautiful wife, and although he’s been gone for 18 years, Nadine remains emotionally connected to him, living a life of “lonely persistence” (164). Her quiet endurance in the face of great loss reflects her steadfast nature and inspires Virgil to compare her to Odysseus’s wife, Penelope, in The Odyssey. Penelope is the epitome of patience and loyalty, waiting 20 years for her husband, Odysseus, to return from the Trojan War. She remains faithful despite numerous suitors vying for her hand. In the same way, Nadine demonstrates strength and resilience as she navigates life without Alec and refuses a long line of men. As a single mother raising her son, Bjorn, Nadine works to maintain a sense of stability and hope despite the mysteries surrounding her husband’s disappearance. Penelope exerts strength and maintains control over her household by protecting her son, Telemachus, from the suitors’ influence and cleverly delaying remarriage by weaving and unweaving Laertes’ shroud. Similarly, Nadine protects Bjorn by keeping Adam Leer away from him and focuses on her work “weaving” together glass tubing in her neon signs. Despite finding a tire from his plane, Alec’s fate will always remain unsolved, yet Nadine presses on, finding peace in her work and the possibility of new beginnings. 

For Virgil, Nadine represents missed opportunities, as he’s loved her for years and never been brave enough to tell her. He confesses, “I’d long found it difficult to speak with Nadine. It shouldn’t have been” (128). Through his growing, father-like relationship with Bjorn, Virgil connects with Nadine and finds the strength to share his feelings, which she reciprocates. Virgil’s romance with Nadine is critical when considering what to do with his life after his accident. Nadine represents a clear path and a future he can look forward to with hope. Unlike Odysseus and Penelope, Virgil’s journey to Nadine doesn’t involve crossing oceans or fighting monsters, yet it is Virgil’s fear and guilt he must overcome to find his way home to Nadine. Nadine’s faithfulness to Alec’s memory is rewarded with a new start with Virgil.

Bjorn is Alec Sandstrom’s only son, born the same night Alec pitched his perfect game. Bjorn comes of age in the shadow of his father’s disappearance, which impacts his identity and experiences. Growing up without a father creates a hole in Bjorn’s life, and he struggles to reconcile his father’s mythic image with his desire for a paternal figure. This absence impacts Bjorn’s emotional development, causing him to mature above his years while fostering feelings of longing and incompleteness. As an adolescent, Bjorn is in the process of forming his own identity. He struggles to define himself in his father’s absence and a dead-end town. He takes up winter surfing, a dangerous hobby, causing adults to worry that he’s on a self-destructive mission. Bjorn’s life changes when a grandfather he never knew existed arrives in town. With the support of his mother, Nadine, and mentorship from others, Bjorn’s character represents the potential for growth and renewal even after significant loss.

Bjorn exemplifies the potential for hope and renewal in Greenstone. Despite the weight of his father’s legacy and loss, Bjorn radiates a sense of resilience and adaptability. Virgil describes him as “the baby Viking, turned into the gladdest sort of little kid, the tall-for-his-age sort who laughs with his whole body and goes outside a lot because it’s interesting out there, and attracts other little kids, and becomes their roguish captain” (31). His relationship with Virgil, who becomes a surrogate father figure, illustrates the possibility of new beginnings and the importance of supportive relationships in overcoming adversity. While Virgil finds a sense of purpose and connection through his interactions with him, Bjorn also benefits from Virgil trusting him with running the Empress. Bjorn’s growth throughout the novel symbolizes the town’s journey toward healing and moving forward from the past. However, Bjorn’s relationship with Rune changes him the most. While initially reluctant to get close to the stranger, Bjorn gradually develops a relationship with his grandfather. Through the intergenerational connection, Rune invests in his familial legacy, teaching Bjorn about their history and culture. Bjorn gains a new family member and a greater sense of purpose outside himself and life in Greenstone.