Becca The Viking & The Heavenly Runebook Book 6: Becca The Viking & The Heavenly Runes, #1

By R.D. Ginther

BBecca Book 6 continued on, as Becca got busy regathering his crew that were imprisoned, and even Yara's flocks that were taken. This venture led him down a path of conflict with the Israeli soldiers, and at the same time, to see the supernatural powers at work on his behalf. Becca and his men were driven to the city Jerusalem by unseen forces. All along the way there, they were reconnected to their missing fellow crew members that were imprisoned, but now mysteriously released. Another unexpected unofficial crew member also showed up on their trek to Jerusalem. And it didn't end there, as two more unexpected alliances joined the crew of Sigrida II. One can only imagine what is in store for this unusual group of warriors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: K.A.Edwards
• Release date: Apr 22, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224179176

Book preview

BECCA THE VIKING & THE HEAVENLY RUNES

Book 6

Voyage to the Golden Gate

"Woe to Ariel, to Ariel, the city where David dwelt!

...Yet I will distress Ariel,

...And I will camp again against

Thee round about, and will lay siege

Against thee with a mount, and I will

Raise forts against thee.

And thou shalt be brought down...

And they voice will be...out of the ground,

...And thy speech shall whisper out

Of the dust."

—Isaiah, Prophet of Judea

1.

Tsinneh knew from his friend among the guards, the way to the farm where Yara’s flocks were being boarded.  As for the dogs, they had no idea whatsoever where they were, unless they were at the farm too.

They came to a sign by the road.  RESTRICTED PROPERTY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MEDINATE YISRA’EL,  ISRAEL, STATE OF ISRAEL.  NO TRESPASSING.  LETHAL FORCE AUTHORIZED.  BY ORDER OF THE COMMANDER. 

Just beyond that was another sign.

"GOLDWASSER ORCHARDS LLC

PASTURAGE & DOMESTIC ANIMALS BOARDED,

BEST FEES, BONDED AND INSURED,"

Proprietor,  Shmuel Goldwasser.

They drove in the narrow lane leading past the house, and pulled into the graveled yard between the house and barn. 

The arrival of the Sigrida at the orchard and farm of  the Israeli man who boarded Yara’s sheep and goats came as a big, unwelcome surprise to him.  He pulled out his two-way radio, but Peter saw what he was going to do, call his commander, and snatched it out of his hand and handed it to Becca. 

Captain, he no doubt was going to alert the commander at the detention center.  He would send an armed squad.

The farmer was very distraught.

Who are you?  What are you doing here!  Have you come to rob me?  This is my property, and I demand you all leave immediately, or I will call—

But he could not call out.

His wife and three daughters in the house ran out on the back porch and were staring at them all, clearly astonished. 

Thirty-seven camels, and the same number of Bedouins, plus an Australian embassy car, and a number of men—it was a major invasion on a modest-sized operation on leased land holding a fruit orchard, barn, and house, along with some irrigated pasturage.

Becca spoke and Alexios translated.

I’ve come for our sheep and goats.  I will take them and go.

The proprietor, a thin, excitable, balding man in Army khakis, with a  cracked and taped green sun visor,  cried out,  I will not let you take them!  I am paid for their upkeep by the prison commander.  It’s a lot of money if I lose them!  How shall I support my family and also pay my workers? 

They are ours to take away, Becca told him at the door of his barn.  Show me to them.

Seeing how futile it was to fight so many, the man took Becca to the goat pen on the side of the barn at the back, and a pasture beyond where the sheep grazed. 

Becca looked both flocks over for signs of neglect and mistreatment,  and then turned to the farmer after they returned to the barnyard.

They appear well enough, so you will have your reward from my hand, not the commander’s. 

The farmer’s expression changed from anxiety to one of surprise.

You mean you’re not going to rob me?

Becca smiled.  You will be fairly paid.

He called to his purser, which had to be Tsinneh.  He already served as a multi-tasker Supercargo, in the additional role of head steward aboard the Sigrida.  One more appointment and assigned duty did not make much more of a load than he already carried. 

Yes, Captain?  Tsinneh answered, saluting somewhat better the more practice he got.

Pay the man his due wages for keeping the flocks.  Ask him what he has coming, and if it seems agreeable to us, he shall have it. 

Tsinneh knew perfectly well he had no funds to pay the man.

Captain, could I go and take a look at them first?  I know how many we should get back.

Becca nodded, and stayed at the barnyard.  Tsinneh hurried off.

His inspection did not take him long.  He returned, his face troubled, shaking his head.

They are less than the number taken from us, Captain.  We had seventeen goats, of which sixteen were nannies and one was a buck, and the number of the sheep was fifteen, that being thirteen ewes and two rams.

What is the count now, Tsinneh?

Ten goats, of which nine are nannies, and one is a buck.  Sheep—

There sounded a commotion in the barn.

Three workers, two boys and an older man, came running out a side door in the barn pursued by Bedouins, who caught them, then dragged the trio to the captain.

The Bedouins were all excitedly talking at once in furious tones.

Tsinneh, what is the matter, what have these hired men done?

Captain, they say they found them trying to hide a goat and a sheep they had just slaughtered.  They hadn’t finished gutting the carcasses when we arrived but were covering them up with hay in case you came in the barn.

Becca wasted no time.

Hold this man and his workers! Becca commanded Tsinneh and the Bedouins.  I will be back.

Moving the big barn door aside he went in,  and walking through the sun-shafted gloom toward the back  found exactly what the Bedouins described.

Chains  hanging from the rafters had hooks on which the carcasses had been strung, beneath which were big shallow pans full of bloody guts, hair, hooves, and horns.  A bloody ax and knives lay scattered about on the floorboards.

He looked around, then went over to a large haystack  and saw a bloody leg sticking out, and pulled off the hay and found two fresh, ungutted carcasses, a sheep and next to it a goat. 

Becca heaved  the door all the way open.  He stood facing the waiting men, his hair flaming in the sun.  Disgusted and tight-lipped,  his face told the whole story.

Peter, Aelfric, and Moshe, take shovels and bury the sheep and goat you will find in the barn.

The three quickly went in to look for tools for the burials.

Tsinneh  now grabbed the terrified farmer by the arms for his own safety, just as the Bedouins made a rush fit to hogtie and string him up by the hooked chain in the barn.

Move back! he commanded the Bedouins.  I’ll deal with him.

They all needed no translation.  They all fell back.

Becca stepped up to Goldwasser, his voice as keen and sharp as Damascene steel. 

How do you explain what you have done to our flocks?  And you still expect to be paid?  And did you sell the meat to the prison? 

His eyes showing anger, Alexios translated.

The farmer’s eyes rolled in his head.  His mouth and jaw moved, but he could scarcely get a word out. 

Yes, I do, but I was forced to it.  The money went on the lease which the commander increased beyond my ability to pay.  I got nothing!  Believe me!

The farmer broke into terrible sobs.

Becca waited for the man to calm down.  When he did get control of himself enough to think of something to say in defense, he spewed out everything. 

Sir, I was afraid I would get nothing from Major Leeron!  He is known for quartering whatever he wishes here, his prize horses, which I have to take, or he’ll shut me down for not paying my lease of prison acreage in full, because I haven’t the money!  He’s done that to me, robbing me each time of what he agreed to pay standard boarding rates, knowing he has me and doesn’t have to pay me a shekel as long as I haven’t paid the full lease rent on this property.  All I have are my apricots and a few nut trees—it’s not enough to live on!  I found this out after I came, but it cost me so much to move my business here, and with the costs he put on me for keeping his prize race horses free, I was soon in the red.  I board stock to increase my income from the leased government property, but he gets out of paying  a thing, but I must bear the expense and he gets to pocket whatever the government disburses for boarding confiscated animals!  Would he have paid me for keeping these flocks of goats and sheep, sir?  No!  He never intended to pay me a shekel, I do believe.  So  I lose valuable feed and pasture grass, all for nothing! 

"What you say may be true of the commander, for I know his ways too.  Despite your needs, you did wrong against us, so you have not justified the killing of our sheep and goats, which were left by a widow in our keeping.  If you should be forced by bankruptcy off this leased land here, there are better places elsewhere perhaps you could get to start over.  Here is no future at all for you, obviously.  Yet you stayed, hoping to hold on to what you have, right?  That was your big mistake!

Tsinneh hold him while I go and see for myself. 

Becca went back and  counted eight sheep, seven nannies and one ram. That meant seven sheep were missing, slaughtered along with one ram.

Becca ran a hand through his hair and shook his head.

Such a big loss!  All the hard work and love Yara had put into her precious livestock, wasted by two wicked men, each out solely for his own interests! 

Furthermore, they had been put in his hands for safekeeping, and he had failed Yara!

He returned to the barnyard.  The proprietor was held by Tsinneh, while his hired workers were being guarded by Bedouins, to see they did not run off to the commander.

Meanwhile, Bedouins had been roaming about.  The women, about to dash from the house to the road to get help, were cut off and they ran back into the house, chased there by the screaming Arabs with their knives flashing. 

The proprietor’s head hung down. 

Why did you kill our animals? he demanded, pulling Goldwasser toward him up by to him  by his khaki shirt. 

I heard your answer, but it was no answer I can accept.  And what have you done with our dogs?  Have you killed them too?

I have not done them any harm, Captain!  When the commander said he was of a mind to put them all down, but I told him I knew of a man who had many sheep in the hill country, so he was called to come pick them up.  He came and they were taken away in crates on his truck.  I do not know the address, it is in the hills, and I have never been there. 

Becca thought about this.  Goldwasser could be lying to him.  He intended to get the address out of him, and if he couldn’t, he would make Goldwasser lead them to the place.  If the man wanted his skin intact and freedom to return to his family, he’d find it!

One thing he knew for certain was, that Goldwasser had his workers do the slaughtering.  He, not his employees, would have to be punished for that, but what was suitable?

The  Motorola radio sounded, Goldwasser. 

Becca, having seen guards use the same radios at the detention center that held him,  prodded Goldwasser to answer, tightening his grip at his throat.

Goldwasser speaking, he croaked.

Becca held it up to Alexios’s ear, as he knew both Danish and Hebrew.

Alexios turned back to Becca. 

Major Leeron orders Mr. Goldwasser to tell him if he has seen you.  He says you are a dangerous criminal and Goldwasser is to shoot you on sight.  What shall he be told?

"Tell him we’re here with Mr. Goldwasser.  He and his workers have slaughtered many of our sheep and goats.  Tell him I hold the commander chiefly responsible as Goldwasser’s superior.  I am coming