THE LOST VIKING SAGA

The two men walked silently back down the rutted road, each lost in his own thoughts. When they reached the shingle, John joined the gathered members of England’s army who were massed around one of the horseless wagons. Olaf, in turn, approached his men. He could see the questions in their eyes and pondered how to answer them in a way they would understand. They all looked to him anxiously.

“I have no explanation for you as to how we came to be where we are. It is as mysterious to me as it is to you. I can tell you this with certainty because I trust the word of the man who speaks with our tongue. We are in what used to be the Dane Law or England. Though those who rule here now are a much different people than those we knew.”

“What does that mean, Olaf?” asked Ebbn. “How could those things we knew have changed so quickly?”

“Any we would have known are long in their graves,” answered Olaf cautiously. “I know not how or why, but the fog caused us to be lost not only in navigation, but it has also misplaced us in time.”

There were murmurs among the men, confusion on their faces.

“Your words perplex us, Olaf,” said Hakon Swordswinger from the back of the group of warriors. “Please speak to us simply and truly.”

Olaf took a deep breath. Their situation was difficult enough for him to understand. How was he to help those who depended upon his leadership to understand their fantastic position? The idea of being lost in time was so far outside their comprehension that they never fully grasp what had happened to them. He looked the men over with great care, making a substantial effort to lock eyes with each of them as he sought the proper words to speak. When the words finally came to him Olaf determined to speak the plain truth regardless of how implausible it sounded.

“We are no longer in the time we knew, my friends. This shore we have landed upon is England, yes, but it is an England over nine hundred years after the time we live in. It is the future. Many hundreds of years have passed between the time we know and where we are at present.”

“Our families then, they are dead?” asked Gudbrand the Big.

“They are gone in this time, but I know they are still alive in our time. We will return to them, this I believe in my heart,” answered Olaf firmly.

“Harald was right. It is sorcery! How else can this be so?” exclaimed Ivar his jaw now showing black and blue as well as purple.

“Ivar, I ask you as leader and as friend,” replied Olaf calmly. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes, Olaf. You have proven yourself a loyal and honorable man to me time and again.”

“Then, please, I ask you to trust me equally in this when I say it not sorcery or witchcraft or some whim of the gods that brings us to this place. What it was that caused this, I know not as yet. Perhaps it is the will of the Christ, I cannot say. But I do believe there is a reason for it.”

Another wave of murmurs swept through the group of Norsemen. After a brief silence, a voice dared to be heard. It was Theobrand, a recent follower of the Christ, and an honorable man.

“What cause have you, Olaf, to think this the work of the Christ?”

“This time is beset by a great evil. The Germanic people are united under one leader and as a nation they are enslaving and embattling others using great and powerful weapons even more cowardly than those we encountered upon landing on this beach. I do not believe these Englanders our enemies. Harald’s death was a waste and unnecessary to be certain, but it was a product of fear, fear of the unknown both by Harald and the young man whose weapon ended our brother’s life. This we must except and move on, not looking to vengeance, but to peace and cooperation with these Englanders. It may be that we are here in this time to help end this overwhelming evil. We set out upon this journey to right a grievous wrong. It could be that our swords were needed here instead.”

“The ways of the Christ are indeed mysterious, this I discover with each passing day,” said Theobrand thoughtfully. “Olaf, I know you to be a good and honorable man. My pledge to you was certain when we left our homes to pursue the raiders. I see not why it should change. My pledge to follow you remains as true and certain as it has ever been. Where you lead I will go.”

At this statement, shouts of affirmation went up from every man. Every one of them owed some debt or another to Olaf, whether it be lands or intervention he had made on their behalf. Olaf’s character and integrity naturally caused other men to follow.

“You have my thanks, Theobrand, and each of you as well. I am humbled by your loyalty. Now, we must prepare to move. I am told the German leader may yet attack this place tonight with his weapons of cowardice and destruction. Do not misunderstand me when I say this to you. The nations of this time possess power that could make Ragnorak seem like a child’s playtime. You will soon see the effects of their power. It is indeed a perilous and dangerous time we find ourselves in. It is most important we remain true to one another and not be misled by superstition or fear. For those among us who own not the Christ, I only ask that you listen to me and not let your ideas of the ancient gods keep you from seeing things clearly. I do not belittle your beliefs, but I do hope you will someday find the truth as I have.”

Kalf caught Olaf’s eye and nodded to just over his father’s shoulder. Olaf turned to see John standing patiently behind him. Olaf gestured toward John, introducing him to his men.

“This is John. He is fluent in our language and proving himself to be a true and faithful friend.”

“Hail to you and peace. You are blessed undeniably blessed to have a leader such as Olaf,” John began by addressing the Norsemen, then switching his attention toward Olaf. “Olaf, I was sent over here to inform you that we will need to leave this beach and get you all to a place of safety before nightfall. It is under darkness that the Germans are most likely to strike.”

“This enemy is evil and cowardly for certain to use the cover of darkness for his attacks,” said Ebbn grimly. “His he so fearful that he cannot show his face to those he would attack?”

“Indeed, my friend,” returned John. “Over time you will find that to be more and more the case. Our army will take you to safety in the carts you see here.”

“What of our ship?” asked Olaf.

“I have inquired about that specifically because I knew you would be concerned for your fine vessel. The officer in charge suggested you pull it all the way up above the tide line and they will cover it with a special netting that will help conceal it from prying eyes. I should think his idea a commendable one. The Nazis won’t waste dropping their bombs this far from Barrow-in-Furness where their destruction would not be useful.”

“I will trust your judgment in this, my friend,” replied Olaf, turning to his men. “Come, Norsemen. It is time to put our strength to work. Let us show the Englanders what we are made of. We need to move the ship above the tide line and quickly.”

Immediately, the men went into action, taking up positions all along both sides of the Sea Prowler. Ebbn called out loudly and as one they lifted the ship together. In coordinated steps, under the direction of Ebbn’s resounding voice, they carried the Sea Prowler slowly across the pebble shingle. The English soldiers watched in awe at the brute strength the Norsemen put on display. When they had reached a point roughly one hundred paces beyond the tide line, Ebbn cried out a single word and on cue the ship was lowered gently to the ground. Soon after, four English soldiers ran over with a bundle of earth tone netting that was curiously adorned with bits of cloth that served to break up its smooth profile. Using John to interpret, they worked with the Norsemen to cover the Sea Prowler, weighing down the ends of the netting with large rocks. When they were finished, it was only by knowing that it was there that anyone could ascertain it was where their ship sat.