Beyond

By Robert Harvey

The story begins Norway in the year 1000AD.
After Training and a voyage across the North Atlantic, two young
After Training and a voyage across the North Atlantic, two young
Norsemen, one a Chieftain of a village in Greenland and his
best friend a Viking Medicine Man fi nd themselves stranded on
the Northeast coast of North America, in what is now the New
England States of the United States.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Oct 26, 2010
• ISBN: 9781453590126

Book preview

Prologue

I AM A VIKING

Bran answered Kin as follows, I have enjoyed the past nine, almost ten, moons. It seems like I’ve learned more than most men do in a lifetime, but I still yearn for more. I can cook, I can sew, and I can even start a fire without flint and steel along with a million and one other things. I can look at the moon and tell you what the tide will be today, tomorrow, or next week, even next year. I can look at the stars and tell you the season. I know a little bit about medicine, thanks to you and Demna. Tonn has taught me the history of our country, of all the Norse gods, and of the old saga stories. Omar, one of Tonn’s old friends, taught him all the numbers, and Tonn taught us. I know all the numbers. I can add the numbers together and subtract them. I can multiply and divide the numbers also. I know there are 365 days in one year. I know that to keep the earth, the moon, and the stars aligned, you must add a day every four years. He has taught me there is always two sides to every story and that there is always more than one way to get something done. I am a good sailor and a Viking. Tonn has been a good teacher. He has taught us things even the king and his best advisors have no knowledge of.

Bran stopped, looked at Kin, and smiled. I’m ready to go invade the Franks, Angles, or even sail to Iceland or Greenland. But what I long to do is go where no man has gone, sail to new lands, to go beyond what is known and explore these lands.

The voyage to Greenland and beyond

Bran's Voyage to New World Book Beyond [place before chapter 1].jpg

Chapter One

HAUGERSUND, NORWAY, AD 1000

The village of Haugersund was a typical Norwegian village. Haugersund had a population of around two thousand. Hauger Hall set at the far end and to one side of a large fiord. The hall was a wooden structure built in the shape of the letter T. Chief Hauger’s Vikings, who were single, lived in the right wing; his servants occupied the left wing. This wing also housed the hall kitchen where most of the food was cooked. The chief and his family lived in the center wing. This family wing also had its own kitchen and dining area for family and was used as a meeting room for special guests. Where the wings of the hall come together was a large meeting room where all that lived in Hauger Hall ate and socialized. Hauger would eat with his single Vikings four or five times a week, and his wife would usually join him. Members of his war and civil council would come to the hall for their evening meal three or four times a week. All other Vikings were welcome to visit and share the evening meal.

THE STORY

The sun had just peaked over the far mountains to the east when Tonn, our instructor, came into this old building we were using for our classroom. Tonn had told us earlier this building was a stable at one time, used to house reindeer. It still smelled like it anyway. There are three of us chosen to receive additional training, for what we do not know. We are the only ones in our village to receive this additional training. Most Vikings learn their fighting skills when young from their fathers, uncles, and other leaders in the village. All three of us knew the basic fighting skills of Norseman. All three of us had already received three weeks of basic training several months ago.

I, Bran, am eighteen years old; and my two friends and classmates, Usna and Goreu, are both seventeen years old. I am tall for my age with hair light yellowish blond and dark blue eyes. Usna and Goreu are half a head shorter with light blue eyes and light brown hair. All three of us think we will make good-looking Viking warriors. But our looks will not help us during this training.

Tonn had talked to each of us, telling us a little about our additional training. Not once letting us know we had been chosen by our war chief, war leaders, and governing civic councilmen to receive special training for assignment as leaders of future settlements in other lands. We were to find out there were a lot more to being a Viking than just using a sword, spear, or bow and that Tonn does not believe in wasting his time.

In our village of Haugersund, all males sixteen to seventeen years of age start their apprenticeships in the trades needed to keep our village and the whole of Norway strong. Basic training as a Norseman warrior is required by all and most will go on to be Vikings; however, there are fishermen, hunters, shipwrights, blacksmiths, and a few other special trades, along with farmers. Men in these special trades will lay down their tools and become Viking warriors should our king or their war chief call upon them. Young men with natural abilities or special talents are picked for these trades. All three of us want to be a full-time Viking warrior. I wanted to have the exciting experience of adventures and riches of a war chief like my father.

The very first day, Tonn laid down the law to us. During this training, he, Tonn, will be our lord and master; and we will do as told—no ifs, ands, or buts. It did not matter that my father was Hauger, the provincial war chief, and Usna’s father was on the war council or Goreu’s father was village mayor. Tonn is to be our instructor, and his word is the law. Tonn stated there will be very little overlapping of subjects, but there will be a lot of practice in each to gain experience and proficiency. When he is satisfied with one area of training, he will introduce a new subject or objective. Our instructions will be on everything needed to protect our homeland, make war, or need to know on a long sea voyage. They would even include the knowledge on the different ways of starting a fire, cooking, and making of clothing, also how to make serviceable footwear and, yes, personal hygiene.

Tonn told us we would study the stars and other heavenly bodies and their different positions in the sky during the year. We would also learn the phases of the moon and the effect they have on our tides.

Tonn went on to say we would learn how to sail a ship, make emergency repairs, store cargo, tie different knots, and other skills needed on the high seas.

Tonn said, I will try to make your training interesting and let you have fun at the same time. You must be skilled and proficient in the use of the sword, short blade and knife, the spear, and hand ax, along with the Viking war shield. While out in the field, if you want to eat any fresh meat, you will have to be proficient with the crossbow or longbow if you want to eat something besides fish and dried meat.

Tonn went on to tell us there were to be several trips in the field, to the mountains, seashore, and time aboard a warship. On these trips will be where to practice the skills we learned. The trips will be scheduled during different seasons and held no matter what the weather.

There will be studies such as learning about the Norse gods, mythology, sagas, and runes.

He said, I will teach you what every war chief and his assistant must know. Whether the village chief or war chief. You will learn bookkeeping and how to use all the numbers.

Bran thought, I knew now that the training we were going to receive had to be special, but I wondered for what reason.

The shadows were starting to grow long when Tonn’s instructions were interrupted by Trbon, a young warrior, stating, Hauger has called a meeting of the war council.

Tonn turned to us, his face showing concern, and said, You go eat and have a good night rest. I will see you back here at first light.

On the other side of Haugersund is Bran’s best friend Kin, who at seventeen years of age was in his first year of training to become a medicine man, under Demna, the chief medicine man of Haugersund. Bran’s older brother, Ardan, who is nineteen years old, was also in medical training under Demna. Normally Demna had only one apprentice, but Kin (an orphan brought back from a Viking raid when he was a small lad of about six years old and was being raised by the Demna family) had showed so much interest in medicine that Demna had asked Hauger and the council for a second apprentice. Kin already had a vast knowledge of medicine picked up by living in the medicine man’s home. In the past year Kin had already learned almost all Demna could teach and was far ahead of Ardan who was in his third year of training. Kin was now trying new drugs and means to cure disease and improve health. It seemed to Demna that Kin had a doctor’s art, like a sixth sense, in the skill of healing and the treating disease.

On the last war raid far to the south, Hauger had returned with several drawings of the human anatomy, which he had given to Demna. Hauger had told Demna he had almost thrown them into the fire, then took a second look, and decided they were very unusual and had kept them. Kin became very excited upon seeing these drawings and had been studying them every day. The artist who had drawn them was a scholar with a vast knowledge of the human body. The drawings showed a complete skeleton and diagrams of how each bone fits and how the muscle tissue holds them together. Kin asked Demna and Ardan how the artist had known what to draw. It was finally decided that a dead person, possibly more than one, must have been studied.

Trbon, the warrior who had just summoned Tonn to council, knocked on the door and informed Demna that Hauger had called a meeting of his council.

Murna, the chief medicine man’s daughter at fourteen years of age, had started to develop a nice figure and the mind of a young lady. She liked Kin very much; maybe it was love. But this could not be since ancient law states she could not marry a brother, even if the brother was adopted. Kin was different than anyone she had ever seen. He was tall for his age, had broad shoulders, and was very handsome. He also had small little freckles across his nose and red hair. Murna knew there were other people with red hair, but in the whole village all had blond or light brown hair. She had seen only one other person with red hair. She wondered what the people were like where he came from.

She had been about three years old when Kin came to live with them. At the time she thought he looked funny, and the fact that he could not speak any of their language did not help her image of him. By the time Kin turned nine years old, her mother and father had taught him their language so well that he did not even have an accent. Kin had gone on to learn about medicine from her father. She did not know how he could learn so much, but he was always out looking for different plants to make drugs and try their effects. She had seen him very sick several times after trying a new drug on himself. Her father had been doing the same thing for years, and they both knew the dangers.

Murna also likes Ardan, another apprentice of her father. Ardan was five years older than her, and she knew he liked her by the way he would look at her. Ardan was the oldest son of Hauger, their war chief, and brother of Bran, and Bran was Kin’s best friend; so she would be nice to all of them.

But right now Murna did not have time for any of the young men of her village. Her mother had her, from sunup to sunset, busy learning to cook, sew, and the hundred and one other things a young lady must know.

It had been a little over a year since Thor had departed with two ships headed for Iceland, then Greenland, and was to go on beyond in search of other lands to see if they would be good for settlement. Thor was following the route of Gunnbjorn Olfsson who had found Greenland and told Erik Thorvaldson (Erik the Red) of the large land and several other smaller land masses, which were mainly just rock and ice. Greenland had been found suitable for permanent settlement in the year AD 982 by Eric the Red, and in AD 986 he established base hunting and fishing camp that had lasted only a few years.

Also Eric the Red had reported encountering some people on one of the smaller islands west of Greenland. These people were said to have remarkable eyes and fat round cheeks. They used small skin boats that would not sink and were said to be very good hunters. These smaller islands have been visited again over the years since Gunnbjorn Olfsson and Eric the Red’s day, and no people have been found since. There had not been hunting or fishing camps or settlement established on Greenland since Eric the Red had departed.

Thor’s instructions prior to departing were to sail along the coast of each land mass and go from island to island, and hopefully they would turn south, and he would find good timber and fertile lands that could be settled. Now Thor had returned and was to report his findings to the governing council.

The two ships returning to Haugersund had been in port for less than an hour when Hauger, the provincial war chief, called for the council to assemble. Hauger was listening to the initial report from Thor, the expedition commander, when he saw Trbon, an up-and-coming young warrior, close by and called him over. Hauger instructed Trbon to have all members of the governing council, both war and civil, to assemble within the next hour.

Thor’s initial report to Hauger was only a brief summary of the high points of the voyage. The complete story would be told to the council. All in all it was a good report: the voyage had been good, and there had been only one life lost, and that was a natural death. There were two young captives who would remain aboard ship until Hauger and the council decided their fate.

When the last council member entered the room, Hauger called the meeting to order. He praised Odin and the gods for the safe return of their ships and that of Thor and his crews. He told the assembly he disliked calling them together so late in the day, but it was important to hear Thor’s report while it was fresh. Without further ado he turned the meeting over to Thor.

Thor looked over the faces of the council with a smile on his face as if saying hello to his old friends, First off, I will tell you this voyage was very good, and we have learned a great deal. Second I do not like to tell you this—I have only seen about forty-five winters—but my memory has started to give me trouble. That is why I have brought both of my ship captains with me to council. I will most likely need their help to remember some of the details. As he said this, a low soft murmur could be heard throughout the assembly. Thor went on with his story, starting back when they had departed some fourteen, almost fifteen, moons ago and their trip across the North Atlantic with stops along the way to hunt and obtain fresh water. As we neared Iceland we witnessed a violent volcano eruption on a small island to the northeast of the main island. The entire shoreline was rearranged with red molten rock. The volcano was spewing out a toxic cloud that blocked out the sun and smelled worse than rotten eggs. This cloud had come very close to our ships, causing several crew members to become very sick to the stomach and causing everyone’s eyes to water. So we did not linger but set a fast course out of the area and headed for Greenland. We did not stop at our fishing village on the western end of Iceland. By the time we were out from under the toxic cloud, we were too far out to return. We decided we would stop on our return trip. Five or six times during this report Thor had to be aided by his two captains in order to remember some of the details of his story. Thor turned to Hauger and said, It is getting very late, and I know everyone is as hungry as I am; it’s time to adjourn. It has been a long day for me, and I would like to rest and continue tomorrow.

With this said, and now realizing Thor was not the same man that had departed, Hauger dismissed the meeting and instructed everyone to assemble at midmorning tomorrow. Hauger asked Demna and Tonn if they would stay a few minutes longer.

Hauger instructed Demna to have one of his apprentices board ship in the morning and check both of the captives. Hauger requested not only the physical condition of each but also the mental condition along with their age and sex, also what language they spoke and any other item of note.

Demna told him he would have Ardan assigned to the task since Kin has gone out looking for healing roots and herbs and would not be back until late tomorrow.

Also Hauger asked Demna to check on the health of Thor as soon as his report to council was complete. I hope it is just his age and nothing more, he added.

Hauger then turned to Tonn and said, Why don’t you hold off on starting your special training in order to hear all about Thor’s voyage?

Tonn chuckled and said, Well, I don’t know; how about if I start them off with a little homework first? They slapped each other on the back and went their separate ways.

Chapter Two

LEARNING TO BE A VIKING

Early the following morning Tonn met Bran, Usna, and Goreu, telling them there was a change in plans. He would be at the council meeting to hear about Thor’s voyage to Iceland and Greenland, and then he told them what he wanted them to practice while he was away.

Tonn’s assignment sounded like fun and should be easy to master. He gave each a gift of a small leather pouch containing a piece of flint and a short iron rod. They were to learn how to start a fire, first with flint and iron and then without it. Tonn had left a fire starting stick and bow to be used, only as an example; each student was to make his own. Both methods were to be practiced over and over using different woods and starting materials. The objective was to be able to start a fire anywhere, at any time, with materials found in the area. Since all three had started a fire using flint and iron rod, all thought it would be simple, and it had taken only a few minutes for each to have a fire going. Bran had found an old bird’s nest that he had used as starter material. Usna and Goreu had found something that looked like it came out of a packrat’s den, and both had used part of it as a starter. All three had a fire going in just a few minutes. All tried again using dry grass as their starter; it took longer, but finally the grass started.

The hardest thing was to get the burning spark coming off the flint to go the direction they wanted it to go. After a while, Bran found that if he held the flint just so and brought the iron rod down at the correct angle, he could get the spark to go almost where he wanted. All morning long they started one fire after another using different material.

That afternoon was a completely different story. All had seen a fire started with a stick from time to time, but none of them had ever tried it. Each year during winter solstice they had watched the shaman, holy man, call the god Odin as he started a fire with a stick. It had looked so easy and had taken the shaman only moments to start the fire. All three studied the example, bow and starter stick Tonn had left, and went their separate ways to find the materials.

Bran found a bundle of arrow shafts in storage been behind Hauger Hall. All three fashioned their own bow and starter stick from this bundle. Working together they finely got a fire started. After that each one tried to start his on fire. It was a lot harder than it looked. It took several tries before all three had successfully started their own fire.

In the middle of the afternoon, Tonn came over to their training area to see how they were doing. The council had been dismissed early and was to resume again in the morning. Tonn looked over their fire-making tools, smiled, and retrieved his sample stick and bow; without a word, he started a fire that took him less than a minute. Bran noticed Tonn had put a few grains of fine sand into the starter hole to help the friction. Tonn had also used a double piece of leather to protect his palm.

Now I want you to start a fire without using your bow. Place your starter stick in the starter hole, hold the stick between the palms of your hands, and, while pressing down, twirl it back and forth as fast as you can. A fire can be started this way, but it is very hard. Try until you get one started. After you have succeeded in doing this, I want you to work together. Set across from each other, one of you will start twirling the stick while pressing down; and when you reach the bottom of stick, the second person starts at the top. Working together you should be able to keep enough friction to start a fire. You will find this a lot harder than it looks too. Tonn chuckled.

He told them to practice until the sun reached the top of the trees to the west (about another hour); then they were dismissed to go home. He would see them again in the morning with instructions prior to his going to the council meeting.

All three thought they would rather be doing other things, like sword fighting for one, instead of making a dumb old fire. But they were Vikings and must follow instructions no matter what.

An hour later Bran picked up the remaining arrow shafts they had not used. He would return them to the storage place, since he was going that way. When he arrived home, which was in one wing of Hauger Hall, his mother embraced him in a big bear hug and a kiss on the forehead. Bran felt kind of embarrassed; he thought he was getting too old to have his mother treat him as a little boy. He said nothing, but his mother saw his look. When she saw the blister, caused by the starter stick, on his left palm, she asked him how it had happened. When he told her, she only smiled and then with loving care punctured the blister with one of her sharp slender bone needles. She instructed him to keep the watery matter drained because if he let it fill and pop, his hand would be sore longer.

Hauger arrived home, slapped Bran on the back, and asked, Are you enjoying your training? Bran answered, So far so good. If you have time after supper, I would like to talk to you about the training. Hauger smiled, showing amusement, and with a sparkle in his eyes said, I think we can find time.

That evening around the supper board Bran could feel the change in the way he was being treated. His mother had cooked one of his favorite foods, and his two younger sisters and little bother were being nice for a change. He had been in training for only two days, but they could see, even feel, a change in him. His mother was treating him as an adult, and he was not a playmate anymore to his siblings.

During supper Hauger talked about the two ships that had returned and his uneasy feeling about Thor’s health. With pride he told that Demna had assigned Ardan to examine the two young captives: a boy of five years and his seven-year-old sister. Ardan used one of the ship’s crew, who knew the Celtic tongue, during his examination. Ardan reported both were in good health and appeared to be sound of mind. Magnus, one of our carpenters and shipbuilders, the one whose wife cannot carry a child to term and is childless, asked for and has been given both children. Staying together should help their adjustment to a new lifestyle.

As the supper board was being cleared, Hauger sent his small children off to bed and instructed his wife to bring both he and Bran a cup of that good ale, the stuff from the Isle of Britain. When the children were out of earshot, Hauger started telling Bran more about Thor’s voyage.

Thor said he tried without success to find the fiord where Eric the Red had established his hunting and fishing camp. He had gone up several fiords, but nothing had been found. It was most likely up one of the other fiords. On Thor’s return his ships visited Iceland. They entered a large fiord on the southwest side; they found a nice bay with low banks and a small nice beach area. As they crossed the bay, they saw a small ship, more like a large boat, and some stone houses that looked like they had just been built. Then without warning, from the low bank, the warriors of this village started shooting flaming arrows, trying to set his ships on fire. Thor ordered the sails lowered and the battle drums to signal a war cadence as his men manned the oars and headed for the beach. The flaming arrows had time to only start several small fires, which were extinguished. Several of his men manned their bows, but they were so close to the beach the men grabbed their spears along with their other weapons and jumped to the beach. When the battle was over, only the two children were left alive. There had been only two hands full of men, half that many women, and only two children in this settlement. Thor had lost no men, and only three had been slightly wounded. Thor had ordered all the bodies loaded on their small ship, and the sail was set to take it out to sea. He posted a lookout that watched it until it disappeared over the horizon. Thor thought the rock houses the Celts had built along with their weapons might be useful when other Norsemen visited this site, so he had the houses secured and their weapons placed in a cache for safekeeping.

Thor entered another fiord to the south and found the Norseman village where they spent several days. The village chief, a man named Bui, had not known the Celt had been building their village to his north.

His father’s story about the voyage was very interesting and held his undivided attention. This was just the type of adventure he had dreamed about.

When Hauger said to Bran, Tell me about your training, Bran was in deep thought, reliving the voyage in his own mind, and did not hear the question. Hauger smiled, reached over, and tapped the board. Watching Bran jump, he asked, What about your training?

Bran was startled and looked like a little boy who was caught with his hand in the honey pot and said, Sorry, Father, my imagination got carried away. I was on the voyage with Thor.

Hauger could see his son’s interest and was pleased.

Father, why are Usna, Goreu, and I receiving this special training? Tonn told us ours would last almost a full year; we are to take field trips to the mountains, seashore, and go on a sea voyage. We are to receive instructions in subjects the normal warrior would not. Can you tell me why our training is so advanced and lasts so long? Bran asked.

"I told the council you boys would start asking questions. I did not think it would be this soon. Yes, you three have been picked by the council to receive special training to become leaders, most likely the mayors, of new colonies, which will be established in other lands. The council does not want the general population to know of this planning yet. We must expand and set up colonies in other lands to survive. We have only a small area suitable for farming, and our growing season is short. Most of our meat is deer meat, and it comes from North Land and Lapland. The only thing we have enough of is fish. So what are we going to do? Expand.

It is planned for several colonies to be established, some on some of the British Isles, Iceland, Greenland and, any other lands that are not overpopulated. When you three complete your training, you will be appointed to assist in establishing a new colony, possibly even leading the expedition. King Olav had ordered several townships to have their most outstanding young men receive this special training. When the council meets tomorrow, I will tell them of your questions and have Tonn schedule a time and place where I can explain the reason for your training. Until then, Bran, do not tell anyone of this plan, Hauger cautioned.

Bran asked, But why so secretive?

Hauger smiled. There are people with big ears, among us, who would for a price tell the kings of other lands of our plan. Mainly the kings of Angle-land would have all of Britain on the warpath looking for us to land.

Bran said, I understand now and will not say a word.

About this time Bran’s mother said, You two had better come to bed; half the night is already gone.

Chapter Three

SPECIAL TRAINING

The sun had been in the sky less than an hour as Bran made his way to their training area. The wind was from the west, and he could smell the odor of the North Sea. The weather was cool for the middle of summer. From where Bran stood, he could see several fields of oats, barley, and rye. The hills to the north and east were covered with trees. Most of them were small pine trees, which had been planted to replenish the old growth. Bran remembered what his father said the night before: small farms and not enough food to feed all the people Bran thought no more large trees for ships or houses either.

Tonn was already in the classroom as Bran entered. He greeted Tonn with respect and a smile, saying, Good morning. It looks like I am here ahead of Usna and Goreu.

Tonn said, Good morning. No, actually you’re late. I have already sent them on an errand. Tonn was smiling, but Bran’s heart still skipped a beat. Tonn went on, Hauger stopped by. In fact, he just left a minute ago; you just missed him. He told me about your conversation last night. I only have this to say right now. Do not tell anyone why you are in this special training, not even Usna or Goreu. Hauger will inform them during the meeting I will schedule. Tonn did not wait for Bran to acknowledge his request but went on talking.

I have to be in council again today in order to hear about the last of Thor’s voyage. Usna and Goreu will return with a large amount of hay. Set up a training area outside using the hay as a backstop for your arrows and spears. Start with the bow and arrow, at noon change, over to your atlatl and spear. The hay will save the heads of your arrows and spears. I want all of you to be able to hit an object no larger than one of your hands, at twenty-five paces, with arrow or spear. I want you to be able to do so with each shot. Please inform Usna and Goreu of my orders, he added as he went out the door.

Bran, Usna, and Goreu took their time setting up their practice area. They all had been taught by their father, uncle, and best friend how to shoot a bow and arrow since they were children. They had been through the normal training to become a Viking warrior. Each thought he would have no problem hitting a target as big as his hand. They all agreed to coach one another and would take turns shooting three arrows each.

Practice went well, and by midmorning their performance had improved. They could hit the hand-size target two out of three times. At noon their proficiency had greatly improved, but none were perfect.

The Norsemen used several different types and styles of spears. One is the long spear used for thrusting but can be thrown. The shaft of this spear is longer than a man is tall. There are several sizes and shapes of heads made of either flint or metal. The head is always big and heavy in order to aid in the thrust or stabilize it in flight. Another spear, something like the long spear, is used by fishermen. This fishing spearhead is barbed and sometimes forked and barbed. Normally a long string is attached with a float at the other end. The shaft of neither of these spears is feathered.

There is another type spear, sometimes called a dart, which is much shorter and a spear thrower atlatl is used. The atlatl is a short flexible board approximately two feet long with a handgrip at one end and a spur to hold the spear in place at the other. The atlatl is like an extension of the arm and adds speed and thrust to the throw. The short spear shafts have fixed spearheads while others have a head that comes off on impact, and the shaft, if not broken, can be used again. The spearhead can be flint or metal and is much lighter than those on the long spear. The shafts are also lighter and have three feathers to stabilize it in flight. This spear was approximately five feet long and resembled an arrow.

The only type of spear Bran, Usna, and Goreu had ever used was the short spear. Each had his own atlatl, which was as long as his arm, from elbow to the tip of their longest finger. Each had brought three spears.

Again they agreed to coach one another and take turns throwing. This time Usna pulled the long straw and would throw first. Goreu was left holding the short straw again, which brought on a little good-natured ribbing from Bran and Usna.

On Usna’s first throw he was on target but a little high. His next two spears were both low.

Bran said, I couldn’t see anything you did wrong, but maybe you compensated too much on your last two throws.

When Usna went to retrieve his spears from the hay, he came up with the shafts only; the heads were buried deep in the hay. As he turned back toward the throwing line, he had a very funny look on his face.

Goreu was laughing with amusement at the sight of Usna holding the spear shaft with no point attached.

Bran could not stop laughing. Between Usna’s look of disbelief and Goreu’s merriment, something got to his funny bone. The more he tried to stop, the more he laughed.

Usna didn’t think there was anything amusing in having to dig his spearheads out of the hay. But as he looked at his friends, he started laughing too. It took a few minutes for them to collect their composure.

They checked their spears, and all of them had the detachable heads. They stood there looking at one another when Usna said, I saw some spears over in one of the small storage areas in back of our classroom. I don’t know if they have fixed points or not. Let’s check.

They returned to the practice field with five fixed-point spears. Usna said, I’ll leave my spearheads in the hay until we finish practice.

As Bran threw his third spear, Tonn came into view. They told him what happened to Usna’s spearheads. Tonn chuckled and answered, I see you found the spears I keep for this training. I should have told you to use them earlier.

Bran said, Then it’s all right to use them?

Oh yes, that’s what they are for, Tonn answered. Later we will have a class, and I will teach you how to make different kinds of weapons, and I’ll have you make a few extra short spears to replace these; they are getting old.

Tonn watched them practice, giving a few pointers and correcting their stance and follow-through. He told them the most important thing was Never take your eyes off the target. He watched a while longer and then told them to keep up the good work and he would be back a little later.

When Tonn returned, he helped them retrieve the spearheads out of the hay and said, I like this target area and backstop you made. It looks like it will last a while. Let’s leave it. We can use it again.

Tonn had them assemble inside the classroom where he related some of the events of Thor’s voyage. Tonn told them about the violent volcano that rearranged the entire shoreline, about the toxic cloud, and the crew becoming sick as they passed close to Iceland on their way to Greenland. The beautiful fiord along the coast of Greenland and that some of the inlets went fifty miles or more inland and that the south has several miles of ice-free land, which could be inhabitable. The ice cap to the north looked like it was two miles thick, and over on the west side there is one fiord that is very wide and deep. Thor’s ships entered this inlet and had gone several miles when they saw some strange-looking people. Thor thought they must be the same people Eric the Red had reported seeing. They had very slanted eyes and no hair on their faces. They had built some temporary shelters, and as his men approached, the people were friendly but very cautious. They had several women with them who stayed in the background and were very shy. The best he could understand was that these people only came to this area to hunt the narwhal (sea-unicorn) and seals. They said their homes were to the west somewhere. The boats they used were very unique. They called them kayak. The boats were long and narrow made of seal skin that completely covered a wooden and bone frame. The only opening was for one or two paddlers. These people are very good hunters. There were only seven men, and there were two handfuls of narwhals on the beach near their temporary village. They also told Thor there was land to the west and to the southwest. Thor thought this large inlet would make a good location for a hunting settlement or even a new colony.

It was getting late in the day. Tonn said, I had best stop and let you go eat, or your supper board will be cold. I will tell you more about Thor’s voyage tomorrow.

It was late the following afternoon when Hauger addressed the three trainees about their special training. It had made no sense to him not to tell them in the first place, but his council had insisted. He started by saying, "As you have already figured out, the training you are receiving is advanced and should provide you with knowledge and insight far above the average person or warrior. You were picked for this special training over all other young men under my command. The council considered all men ages sixteen to twenty years for this training. Maybe we should have asked if you wanted this training, but your fathers thought it would be something you would like doing. No one is to know the training you are receiving or the reason for this training. After I get through explaining the reasons to you, I think you will agree. If someone asks about your training, which they will, just shrug your shoulders as if you don’t know and tell them to ask Tonn. They do not need to know the real reason; it’s none of their business. If someone does ask, report them to Tonn.

You are not the only ones in this type of training. There are men in this type of training throughout Norway. Most of them are your age, maybe some a little older. All will be leaders or advisors in the near future, he added.

"Let me ask you a few questions. Has your mother complained about the ration of meat and other foods she is allotted for her family? Have you heard any talk about all the older trees being cut or there not being enough wood for ships and houses? Have you heard your family and friends say anything about Haugersund having too many people? I see you are nodding your head yes. Have you asked yourself why?

"The land of Norway is not large enough for all our people. It is getting to the point to where we cannot grow enough food to feed all the people. Even though we use all the suitable land, it’s still not enough. We have used almost all the old-growth trees. We have replanted and have some large enough to cut every year, but they are not enough. The land itself is not enough. There is no place to build new homes without taking away the farmland or reducing our forest.

"I think you are getting the picture. We are going to have to go and settle other lands, and you are going to be administrators and leaders of those who settle these lands. Some of these lands are sparsely settled already. The Isles of Britain still have a lot of open land. We have several settlements there already, but if the king of these Angles knew we were planning more settlements, he would try to stop us. The lands from Jutland down to Frankish Normandy still have a little open land. The duke of Normandy, Richard the Good, has invited us to use Normandy as a base station in our conquest of new lands. The Angles and Franks are unfriendly; and if they discover we are planning to invade their lands to establish permanent colonies, they would start building their armies as soon as they heard, and we would never succeed in taking part of their land. We are still going to have to fight for some of these lands, but we hope not to have all-out war. Also colonies are planned for Iceland, Greenland, and any other lands that are not overpopulated.

"Now you see the reason we cannot talk about your special training. Let me put it this way. You can talk about the training but not the reason for the training.

The War and Civic Council of Norway of which I am a member will be holding more secret meetings with King Olav. Where we go, who will go, and when we go will be decided. When these plans affect the people of Haugersund, I will let you know.

Hauger turned to Tonn and asked, Tonn, would you like to add anything?

Tonn replied, I thought of one thing. It’s very unlikely you will go on the same expedition and be assigned to the same colony. Most likely each of you will be appointed as a leader, a civic leader, and go your separate ways. Always remember you are a Viking warrior no matter what your assignment may be. With a nod of his head he turned the meeting back to Hauger.

Hauger asked, Will you stay in this training program?

All three answered yes at the same time.

Hauger acknowledged their answer and continued, I know each of you has two handfuls of questions. But before I answer, I would like to say you have the best instructor there is. Listen to Tonn and learn all you can. Lives will depend on your leadership.

Hauger stayed for another half hour. He and Tonn answered their questions, which left more questions to be answered later.

Tonn ended the class with a Norse saying: Never forget that your enemy is a man. Never forget he hates you more than he fears death and that to kill you is glorious for him.

Chapter Four

A HIDDEN PARADISE

The last two moons had been nonstop for Bran, Usna, and Goreu. Tonn, from sunup to sunset, had them constantly doing something.

Tonn taught them to tie all kinds of knots, along with the application and use of each type. They visited a ship in the harbor in order to see how different knots were used aboard ship. Bran had not known there were so many ways to tie a knot.

They had spent one day in the village shoe shop. The shoemaker showed them all kinds of leather, hides, and sinew used in making different types of shoes and boots. The shop had steel needles and bone awls. There were also metal brads, buckles, and fasteners in all shapes and sizes. There were hammers and all the other things used to make footwear. All three were instructed on how to use the simplest tools to make a pair of serviceable boots. Tonn grinned. They don’t look very good, but they will protect your feet. I hope you never have to make any in the field.

Tonn’s wife, along with Goreu’s mother, had taken them to the nearly open meadows and hills to show them the different varieties of edible plants. They learned that most plants can be eaten, but some are poisonous. If the animals and birds eat it, so can you. Don’t eat any mushrooms, unless you become an expert, they were told.

Demna, the chief medicine man, along with Kin, his apprentice, held a class on emergency first aid for the wounded. Demna told about sickness they could get while at sea, like the softening of bones, how sometimes their gums would become swollen and bleed, how they would start to bruise for no apparent reason. He explained this could be avoided if they could maintain a diet of fresh vegetables and fruit on their voyage. Kin explained what they could do when a person had been wounded and had a broken bone. First stop the bleeding, and use direct pressure on the wound; if this does not stop the bleeding, you will have to use a tourniquet. The flow of blood must be stopped, Kin explained. Try to use a clean bandage on the wound; the cleaner the better. This will keep the wound from festering and hopefully stop infection. If a bone is broken, you must stabilize the broken bone. Try not to move the person until a splint has been applied. Next, try to keep the person warm and dry. Do what you can to help, but if you don’t know what to do, do nothing. Also don’t try to do too much. Get help from someone that knows what they are doing. Kin had them practice putting tourniquets and then splints on one another.

Field cooking with edible plants and any meat or fish they could find was taught by Tonn. His knife was his only tool. He demonstrated how to broil, boil, and bake. The things they cooked they had to eat. Usna enjoyed these cooking lessons. He loved to eat and would eat anything.

Tonn took them on a two-day field trip up a nearby fiord. As their rowboat rounded a steep cliff near the back of a nearby fiord, a small fresh water stream appeared. Tonn had them paddle up this stream that opened into a shallow lake. The bank at the far end had a low sandy beach. Conifers covered the nearby hills. The place looked calm and serene like it had not been disturbed since the beginning of time. The only sound came from several ravens that were crowing at something, most likely an owl.

Tonn landed their boat near the mouth of the small stream. As they pulled the boat up on the beach, Tonn nodded. This is my hidden paradise; only a few old warriors know of this place. Tonn studied it a minute and said, Let’s set up our tent right over there. He pointed to a nice spot. Gather some firewood, and let’s get our camp set up before we take a swim.

As Tonn and Goreu were putting up the tent, Bran and Usna started up the stream toward the trees to gather some firewood. The trail they followed had been made by wild game. Bran stopped and studied the ground. Look at this hoof print; it’s as big as my hand. This deer must be a monster.

Yes, it’s one of the biggest I’ve seen, agreed Usna. But it looks to be several days old. See how the sides have caved in and the pine needles cover the track?

As they went up the trail, they laid all the good-size limbs they found next to the trail. They would pick them up on the way back. As they rounded a bend in the trail, the stream opened into a small pool with a waterfall that fell from about head high. Two deer, both does, were drinking on the other side of the pool. One’s head came up and looked at them, and then both just walked off into the woods. Both Bran’s and Usna’s hearts were pounding ninety to nothing. They had left their weapons in camp, but maybe Tonn would let them hunt later.

Back in camp they told Tonn about the deer tracks and the two does and asked about hunting. Tonn said, Oh yes, we have to hunt and fish too. I did not bring any food.

Goreu nodded and said almost to himself, "That why you brought the fishing spears I saw in the boat.

The water in the shallow lagoon in front of their campsite was a lot warmer than the open waters of the sea. Also the water was less salty because of the fresh water coming in from the small stream. Tonn showed them how to dig for clams. In only a few minutes Tonn had to make them stop; they had too many already. Tonn took them out in the boat and showed them how to spear fish. All had fished before, but Tonn taught them the Tonn way, which he thought was better. He said, We don’t want more than we can eat, eight maybe ten at the most.

That evening they cooked their own fish. They had speared several kinds of fish, drum and sea bass mainly. Tonn had them cut the fish down the back, gut and gill them, not cutting the belly, and open them out. He showed them how to use a forked limb and thread it into the fish. The limb was stuck in the ground near the fire with the fish in the roasting position over the red-hot coals. The clams, crabs, and other shellfish were baked. Tonn had them dig a hole, build a fire in the hole, and let it burn down to hot coals. Then he had them lay several layers of large green leaves of the lily plant over the coals. On top of the leaves he had them place the shellfish and some of the lily bulbs. He then instructed them to add several more layers of leaves and cover the hole with sand, leaving a small opening for the fire to breathe. Tonn told them, Two hours will be long enough to bake these shellfish. If we leave them longer, they will be overcooked and not as succulent.

Early the next morning, Bran, with his bow and arrows, and Goreu, with his atlatl and spears, were near the small pool where the deer had been the day before. Usna was still in his sleeping furs, not feeling too good. They all knew he had eaten too much the night before. Tonn had taken his old long spears and walked down the beach.

The sun had just peaked over the hills to the east. In this early morning twilight Bran made his way to a little rise in the land and inched forward until he stood within bow shot of where he had seen the does yesterday. Goreu had remained downstream where he had found a good spot just off the trail.

To Bran time stood still. He loved the woods, especially this time of morning, and he loved to hunt. He had the patience and perseverance to endure the long wait of the still hunt. There was not a sound to be heard other than the waterfall. As the day became lighter, small wood thrush and other birds darted in the brush. A woodpecker could be heard high in a tree to his right. Bran turned his head very slowly; he could almost see where Goreu had stopped but could not see him.

A good two hours or more had passed, and nothing had changed. The woods were still quiet. Bran heard something; it sounded like a twig snapping. Bran looked and saw Goreu had moved into view. As Bran turned his head back toward the pool, a deer—yes, a buck—had come to drink. The buck looked magnificent; his rack had at least twelve points, and the horns were still covered with velvet. Bran said to himself, Whatever you do, Goreu don’t take another step; and if you do, don’t step on another stick. As Bran brought his bow up, three more deer came into view. There were two does and another buck. This buck was smaller. It stopped short of the pool and was looking toward the larger buck. The small buck had four points, still in velvet, and was splendid looking. At this time Bran had his bow up and an arrow pulled all the way to his chin. The smaller buck jumped as the arrow struck, turned, and ran down the trail toward Goreu with the arrow in its rib cage. The larger buck and the does were gone with a blink of the eye. Bran saw Goreu raise his spear to throw, then dodge, as the deer almost ran over him. By the time he regained his throwing position, the buck was too far down the trail.

Bran and Goreu followed the deer back toward their camp. The camp was topsy-turvy when they arrived. The deer had run right over the tent, toppling it on Usna, who was still inside. The buck had come off the tent and had run through their fire, scattering the coals in all directions. Regaining its footing, the deer had run down the beach, a good spear throw, before it dropped dead. Tonn was standing by the deer laughing; his laugh was so loud it was audible all the way back to camp.

As they dressed the deer, Tonn was still chuckling about how the deer had looked as it ran through the camp. Tonn said, I have never seen anything like it before. I can hardly wait to tell this story to your fathers.

They saved a nice roast to have for supper and grilled some for breakfast. The rest of the meat they smoke cured to keep it from spoiling. Tonn instructed them how to make drying racks near the fire.

Usna was feeling better. He even ate some of the deer for breakfast. Usna said, I didn’t know what happened. The tent fell down around me, and as I crawled out, Bran and Goreu were standing by the fire, and Tonn was laughing. I thought you were playing a trick on me. My temper flared a little until I saw the deer and realized what had happened.

That afternoon Tonn taught them how to make several different types of snares for trapping small animals. Later that evening he showed them the way to make a very simple but effective fish trap out of the vines in the area. The next morning the snares were empty, but the fish trap held several nice small fish, which were eaten for breakfast.

As they loaded their boat for their return trip, Tonn said, I think all of you have learned several survival skills while we have been here. I hope you never have to use them other than when you are just camping and having fun. As they climbed into the boat and pushed off, Tonn nodded toward the shore. I like this place. Please tell no one; let’s keep it to ourselves.

Since their camping trip to Tonn’s hidden paradise, the time had flown by. The days were getting shorter, and the nights were much cooler. It would not be long until there would be frost. Actually, to Bran, the cool breeze felt good.

Their sword practice had gone well. Bran had no problem using his sword and war shield together. But when he tried to use the war shield and hand ax at the same time, he could not coordinate his movements. Tonn always slipped past his shield with a simulated killing blow. No matter how hard he tried, when he swung his ax, his shield moved to the side, and every time Tonn would slip in.

After several of these boo-boos, Tonn stopped and grunted. You’re determined to get yourself killed, aren’t you?

Bran shrugged. Every time I swing my ax, I have to move my shield out of the way.

"Then don’t swing your ax until you know you can hit your target. Take your time. Use the shield for protection. Wait