The Longboats

Three months had passed since our attack on the Greek ship and there have been no reports of the second Greek ship attacking Amsterdam with no sightings either. I had sent a two seater to our left flank to fly over the enemy lines to see if there was a buildup of troops and equipment and we found there was. We reinforced the lines there with troops that came from Sweden and Norway, who decided to join us at last but we had to train and equip them before they were put into the lines. They had been isolated for years, not wanting to join a war they said was not their own until the second Greek dreadnought was sighted off the coast of Norway near a city called Stavanger, on a long range recon patrol. The ship had to have gone around the island of England to get there without us seeing them, then return the same way. At any rate, we now had an endless supply of troops with the down side that we had to equip them and that was putting a strain on, not only our finances but our factories as well.

Jackson had been back from his visit to one of the English Kings and was still complaining to Major Welsh about that visit and the lack of troops they were sending. We did receive a dozen of their soldiers for flight training but none of them were women and this disturbed me. Women were half of my fighting force and were some of the fiercest warriors I had ever seen and they gave no quarter to the enemy. I saw this also in the pilots as they strafed troops on the ground endlessly and without mercy. I put Jackson in charge of the airfields operation as we moved closer to the front and had several squadrons operating across the front lines, mainly for observation of enemy troop movement. That is until the Greek fighter aircraft started to show up in similar designs to a SPAD and a Neuport seventeen.

It was now full winter with heavy snow at times that slowed all movement to a crawl and we found no attacks from the Greek infantry. During this time we had to start flying patrols over the front to keep the Greek two seaters from observing our own lines and fierce dog fights began in earnest. Yet, our tanks were still not on the front because of production problems with supplying Norway and Sweden. It would take another few weeks to get them in place but I was now flying to the front with Yngvildr as my wing-man along with thirteen new pilots in our formation, escorting them to their new duty station.

As we neared Essen, a newly built temporary airfield, we saw cloud cover coming in from the north, behind us, that did not look good for flying. As we circled the airfield I motioned for the new pilots to land first and as I watched four of them land, Yngvildr fired a short burst from her guns which caught my attention. She pointed to the south, toward our front line. I saw specks zooming and dipping on our front lines less than a mile away that looked like bees over a honey comb. Our trenches were being attacked by a Greek squadron.

With an arm signal, I motioned for the remaining flight of eight pilots to form up on me then we banked and flew straight towards the attack. I heard several fire their guns to make sure they worked and were clear, then I put my plane into full throttle. We were slightly higher than the enemy in their tan and white planes as they made strafing runs on our trenches, which gave me time to make a count of seven Greek planes. I gave the signal to dive and we plummeted on the unsuspecting enemy, our guns blazing as we dove on them and I hoped they remembered not to power dive as that would blow their engine with high RPMs.

I throttled back to idle and circled on one of the Greek planes that looked like a SPAD as he turned to the right to make another strafing run. Following him in the circle I was able to get on his tail and waited until I got close to open fire. I could see my rounds hitting his left upper wing which made him take note he was under attack, making a hard left bank. I followed giving full throttle waiting to get him in my sights as I pulled back on the stick, forcing my head back then down with the G-force. He straightened out slightly to keep from slipping into the ground, only a few yards away, and that put him in my cross hairs again, I fired a long burst. My rounds started at his tail then worked towards the cockpit and wings when his upper wing disintegrated, with pieces of it slamming into my propeller with such a force my face hit the instrument panel. I saw blackness at the edges of my eye sight so I fought hard not to lose consciousness by taking deep breaths. Oil had glazed over my goggles and I could hardly see so I wiped them with my neckerchief as I glanced over the side and saw snow covered trees and small patches of open ground very close to me. Then I saw the tops of trees were straight to my front! I pulled back hard on the stick and tried the throttle but the engine was out so all I could do was glide, looking for an open area on the other side of the tree line. Just as I cleared the tree tops I found a short open field and had to wing slip to a landing which caused the plane to slide sideways into the snow then tip over onto its back with a loud crash once my wheels touched the ground. Snow covered me in a heavy blanket but I was already cold from flying and hardly noticed it.

Light headed and upside down, I unfastened my harness and seat belt then fell out onto the snow and hard ground and began to crawl out from under it as I felt the heat from the fire on the back of my legs. When I tried to get up I felt extreme pain in my left leg, then fell to the ground and crawled further away as the plane burst into flames. I felt a loss at that plane because she was the first to climb into the air of this world but all I could do is watch it burn. I heard an airplanes engine roar overhead, looking up I saw one of our planes fly low over me with Yngvildrs markings on it. I waved as she flew over then she turned to get back in the fight as I heard machine guns and aircraft engines roar not far away on the other side of the tree line. All I could do with this broken leg is sit and wait for someone to come get me, hoping we didn’t lose any other pilots. I did make a mental note that the Greeks were flying not only a SPAD design but also the Neuport seventeen design as well and I wanted to take a good look at a Neuport to see if they were using a rotary engine or not.

With our design of the Albatross, we had only one plane to make in a variety of designs, unlike the Greeks which made it more difficult to build and had many different dies and factories they had to use for two different airplanes. We can out produce the Greeks in aircraft, I thought but we had to make a stronger one. An aircraft that can end this war forever so we can have peace and begin building a nation.

The Skipper was in the Great hall when he got a message from the Norwegians and Swedish leaders that they wanted a meeting with our King. He sat at the long table in the back of the large room and looked around at how it has changed over the past few years. He still remembers when he and the Gunny arrived and were invited to their Faining, their first introduction to the Viking society. He remembers all of it from the last seven years they have been here and he also sees how far they have come. But something the leaders of Norway and Sweden said that he has not heard of before is the celebration they want to do now. Something about nine human sacrifices every nine years? He sent word to the Gunny and was waiting for a reply when he got the message of the plane crash he was in but was reported that he was alive on the ground. Now, all he could do is wait for the King to arrive so he could deal with this, this; human sacrifice. He wanted nothing to do with it.

Hagan was overseeing the outfitting of his new boat with the help of Mac and Greg as they carefully lowered the new engine into the aft of the boat frame. He noticed the engine looked a little different so he climbed down into the engine housing to take a closer look.

“This looks bigger then my last engine.’ He said as he leaned down lower to see the bottom.

’”Yes it is, Hagan. It has a turbo installed to it so you’ll have a burst of speed AFTER you get to top speed.” Mac said as he wiped his hands on a dirty rag.

“Really? More speed than TOP speed?” he asked with a frown as he climbed out of the engine compartment. “How?”

“A turbo is an engine booster,” Greg said as he squatted down near the compartment opening, looking down at Hagan.

“It gives you something extra, we used it for racing back home.”

Hagan smiled as he looked the engine over.

“All we need is better guns and we’ll sink anything the Greeks try to throw at us.” Hagan climbed out of the boat onto the deck with Macs help then stood there just looking at his new boat.

Hennison came into the Great Hall and up to the Skipper with a questioned look on his face. He stood there until the Skipper turned around to see what he wanted.

“What can I help you with, Hennison?” The Skipper asked.

“I just heard about this human sacrifice we are expected to do with our new allies. Any truth to this?” he asked.

“Well, yes but it’s coming from the Norwegians and Swedes.” He told him. “And you know as well as I do that the Gunny outlawed human sacrifice of any kind so I wouldn’t put too much stock in it.”

“But the Norwegians that are working for me say they DEMAND it!” he said with a frown.

The Skipper turned and looked at Hennison again, this time he was confused.

“How many work for you?” he asked.

“I have at least two or three dozen in each shop and they are all up in arms about this sacrifice NOT going through.” He was demanding an answer.

“I’ll get with the Gunny when he gets back and see what we can do about it. In the meantime, keep the peace because we need these people right now. Without them I think our lines would crumble with all the losses we have been taking.” The Skipper turned back around taking a deep breath as Hennison walked out, satisfied he had somewhat of an answer.

I was in the field with snow up to my chest as I sat holding my broken leg when I saw a team of two horses pulling a large sled filled with logs coming in my direction with an old man standing on the front of it holding the reins. I waved at him as he came closer and halted his team to get off, picking up his Danish ax as he did so, he came through the snow at a fast pace with an angry look.

“Hold on, old timer. I’m on YOUR side!” I yelled out, unable to move.

“You don’t look like you’re on my side,” he said as he stood only two feet from me, the Danish ax held high ready to strike.

“I just shot down a Greek plane and his wing hit my engine, knocking it out. And, well, here I am.” I said, hoping he would not strike me with that ax.

“You look like a Greek!” he said angrily.

“How so?” I asked then remembered my clean shaven face.

“OH! Wait!” I said, then took my gloves off and pulled up my sleeve revealing my oath ring to Frigg.

He lowered the ax and his face became softened at the sight of the oath ring.

“I thought you were one of those damn Greeks I have seen around here lately.” He said as he leaned his ax against his sled then helped me onto the top of the logs for a ride.

“You’ve seen Greeks around here?” I asked.

“Yes,” he stepped onto the front of the sled and slapped the horses with the reins as we lurched forward.

“What were they doing around here?” I asked, wondering how the Greeks got past our lines.

“Looked like they were looking for food.” He said as he slapped the horses with the reins again going over a rise in the ground.

“Food!” I said with a frown as another bump in the ground made me winch in pain.

“Yes. They had several deer they were carrying with them towards their own lines.” He said without looking back at me, his long beard flowing in the cold breeze.

If they were forging for food that means they have a supply problem, something we had no problem with but if that was the case we have them by their butts.

“Did you chase them away or did they leave willingly?” I asked.

“They saw me and ran.” Was all he said.

“Well. The hunting around here must be pretty good if they sneak behind enemy lines for food.” I said, hoping to get more information out of him but he said nothing.

“My sons and grandsons are fighting up there with the King,” he said absently. “I hope you are killing as many of the Greeks as you can.”

“When was the last time you saw your family?” I asked.

“My three sons I saw nearly a year ago but my two grandsons were killed three months ago.” He said, again without looking at me.

“And yet you still support the fight?” I said.

“If this King says we need to fight, then we need to fight. Everybody trusts this King, unlike the last few we have had and this one seems to tell us the truth AND he has good ideas with things.”

“So you trust this king?” I asked out of curiosity.

“More than we all trusted the others,” he said as we turned onto a snow covered road.

“I hope this King can end this war soon. I’m getting tired of the fighting.” I said to see his response.

He turned to look at me as the sled sped down the road.

“Yes!” Was all he said, then turned back to the front.

From that moment I knew I had to end this war, even if it was only a cease fire, we had to end it.

“I’ll let the King know of your concern. I’m sure he will listen.” I said to try to reassure him.

“I KNOW he will listen!” The old man said as we neared a small village.

I felt I wanted to tell him who I was but I knew better. If he found out who I was, I may not get straight answers so I kept quiet as we entered his small village and pulled to a stop next to a small cottage covered with snow.

“I’ll take you inside so my wife can take care of you then I’ll go send word for your troops to pick you up.” He helped me to the door where his wife was waiting for me to put my arm around her shoulder as we entered.

I sat inside his house for the rest of the day drinking tea and broth until a team of soldiers arrived with Yngvildr at the lead in a wagon. She was all smiles and told me I was now an ace with five victories.

“Well, at least you’re catching up to me!” She laughed as I was put into the back of the wagon. She had a total of seven victories in the air so far.

A few days later I was in the hospital again, with Doc chewing me out, again and I laughed at him and his bedside manners. This time I didn’t have to stay with him but went to the Great Hall and spoke to the Skipper about this meeting with all the leaders of Norway and Sweden over an upcoming ceremony. I told him I wanted to see ALL of the leaders and not just the main ones because this had to be discussed at length and gotten out of the way of we wanted to get this war over. He sent word for a meeting and for them to all meet at the great hall.

Several days later the Great Hall was packed with people from both countries, all milling about, drinking mead or ale and discussing the ceremony. I came out of the back room to stand near the two high backed chairs at the front and raised my arms for them to quiet down. All eyes were on me as I began to speak.

“I have asked you here, not ordered you here, asked you here because we have a need to overcome our old ways and move forward if we want to expand and survive.” I said loudly as they stood motionless, looking at me. The Skipper and Hagan were right behind me.

“I have heard of this ceremony the Gods demand on us for human blood. Every nine years you sacrifice nine men along with nine of every living creature you have, to the Gods.” I could see them glancing at each other then back to me.

“There is an old saying, and all of you have heard it before.” I continued. “The Gods will do nothing for you that you can do for yourself.” I waited for a response but none came.

“That means we are on our own, according to the Gods...am I right?” I asked and most nodded in agreement.

“Then WHY do the Gods need us?” I looked across the room, trying to see all the faces and their expressions which showed me they were confused.

“The Gods give us life!” One voice said from the middle of the room.

“Yes they do!” I said, looking at him, a short man with long hair and beard.

“They created us! But to what end did they create us for?” I asked. “When the earth was young, they needed us to cultivate the land, to build the earth into a living, breathing being. But did they ever help you with tilling the land when you had a broken leg? Did they help you when your wife or child was ill and died?” I paused.

“The Gods will help...sometimes. When it pleases them and when they need...YOU!” I said as I still stood on the platform looking out over the crowd.

“But the Gods demand this sacrifice every nine years!” Someone yelled out.

“What will happen if we do not give the Gods their blood?” I asked them.

“The King has spoken to the Gods many times. This I saw with my own eyes.” Hagan yelled out from behind me.

There was rumbling among the crowd.

“We have outlawed all sacrifices in my land several years ago and the Gods are still pleased with us. We have grown into a society envied by everyone, even you.” I told them as I looked around the crowd.

“What have the Gods given you?” I asked, then fell silent.

“They gave us a good harvest last year!” Someone yelled out.

“Did the Gods give that to you or did YOU make it happened with your hard work?” I said loudly.

“He’s right!” Another voice said and that started grumbling among the crowd.

That’s when I saw him standing near the wall on my left side. The one eyed God, Odin. He leaned against the wall, dressed as the others in their home spun clothing, still carrying an ax and Gungner, his spear.

“We will have to discuss this among ourselves,” one of the main leaders yelled out.

“You may. But remember this!” I yelled out as I scanned the room.

“If you join our alliance, you will have what you see here in this city. Everything you see!” I was hoping they would join us for more than just the war. To form something that would grow into a larger country.

“You can still have your own country, your own laws and even your own leaders, but you will be part of something even larger than you ever dreamed of.” I was hoping, with all the other tribal leaders here, they could agree on this alliance.

“We would have everything we see here?” A voice yelled out.

“Yes! The hospitals, the trains, the strange lights you see and even the airplanes. We will teach you how to use them.” I seemed to be getting through to some of them.

“But human sacrifice will have to be abolished!”

After a few seconds of them murmuring among themselves, a voice yelled out.

“I agree with this!”

“So do I!” another said followed by many others. There were those among them that wanted to stay with the old ways but that was to be expected, I thought.

“We have to talk!” I turned and saw Odin standing straight and tall near the wall and others glanced at him without notice. By the look on his face, he was not pleased.

“It’s agreed then?” I asked then looked around the room.

“We will talk about this with ourselves but yes!” One of the higher leaders said and they began to leave the Great Hall. "We will return with our answer."

That is all but the lone one eyed man who stood where he was until the room emptied other than the Skipper and Hagan. Odin walked slowly towards me with Gungner in his hands, stopping in front of me as I stepped down from the higher step.

“We have a need to talk about this!” his face was wrinkled with a frown as he pushed past me towards the back room.

As we entered he smaller room that held several desks and chairs, the Skipper and Hagan entered as well and stood near the door wide eyed.

Odin turned to glare at me, slamming Gungner on the floor with a loud thud.

“We have a need for this ceremony and it’s more than you could comprehend in your simple mind!” At that I noticed his image flicker slightly, as if a television screen had a brief interruption. I was taken aback but I smiled slightly.

“You’re not even here!” I told him as I took a step towards him and he did not move.

“You’re a three ‘D’ reflection like a science fiction movie! A hologram!” I said with a broad smile as I took another step forward and ran my hand through his image.

The Skipper stood there with his mouth open holding a slight smile but Hagan seemed terrified.

Odin’s face seemed to grow pale with a blank stare as he looked at me.

“Where the hell are you and what do you REALLY look like?” I asked. “This is NOT your true image!”

Odin took a step back as if stunned, then looked behind him at something I did not see, then back to me.

“I would even bet my life that YOU are Zeus!” I said as I pointed at him.

I looked at the Skipper and Hagan but Hagan was too terrified to do anything but lean on the door to keep from falling down. The Skipper took a few steps towards me as he looked at Odin.

“Where if Frigg?” I demanded. “I want to see Frigg. I took an oath for her and I want to see her....NOW!”

“We absolutely NEED this human sacrifice. It’s much more important for us then you could possibly imagine!” Odin said.

I then remembered what Frigg told me about the nine years where they had to see Idun for regeneration.

“That’s it!” I said louder than I expected to. “You need human blood every nine years to survive!”

Odin’s face seemed to grow angry as he his teeth became visible n a snarl.

“You can’t touch humans! Can you?” I said as I took another step closer to him.

“What is it? The prime order? You can only observe?” I asked.

“I want to see Frig!” I yelled at him “I will only negotiate with her. You have broken the bond between us.” I said as I turned my back on him.