Vinland the Good by Henry Treece

Author:Henry Treece
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Childrens
ISBN: 9780140304756
Published: 1967-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

13. Thorvald’s Voyage

In the spring, with a wind running free towards the west, Leif went down to the fjordside to see his brother off. Thorvald had taken on a crew of thirty, many of whom had sailed with Leif and who scoffed at any danger on such a voyage. Thorhall went with the youngest of Eirik’s sons and stood over him like a dark troll, snarling at all who came near him, even at Leif. Tyrkir the German did not go, but he had spent the winter months in carving the keel of the ship so that it should be more beautiful than any other to have sailed to the world’s edge.

Thjodhild did not go down to see Thorvald off; she said that she could do more good on her knees, praying for him in the church at Brattahlid. Gudrid kneeled beside her in a dark gown, the memory of that lonely reef too much in her mind to let her wave farewell to others who might run upon it.

Leif said to Thorhall, grim-faced like his father, ‘Take him there, and bring him back. That’s all I ask. You may have the use of the huts I built by the lakeside, but never forget that they are mine. I am the chieftain in Vinland, just as I am in Greenland. Is that understood?’

Thorhall looked round, then bent and whispered to Leif, ‘Can you remember when I dangled you on my knee? Or when I taught you to walk and put my hand out to keep you from knocking your head on the table-top?’

Leif said, ‘What are you trying to tell me, baresark?’

Thorhall said, ‘When you are older, you will know without being told. But in the meantime, you sit quietly here and take care of the women and their church. We men will tell you what happened when we get back.’

Leif was very angry at this, but he was a chieftain now and had to hide his feelings, so he waved to the ship and wished it luck.

Yet it did not seem to need Leif’s luck. Wolf-snout was once more at anchor by the lakeside in Vinland long before summer was drawing to its close. Thorvald laughed like a young boy as he waded in the blue waters and learned from Thorhall how to catch salmon in his hands. They were such sleepy fish, having lived under the sunshine with no enemies for so long.

Thorvald said, ‘Leif reckons himself to be very lucky, old Thorhall, and I grant you he is the chieftain in Greenland now that our father has gone into the ground. I swear to obey him in all things, when in Greenland; but, here, I feel that a true Northman has the right to look round and find himself a place of his own. I would like my own settlement.’

Thorhall smiled and said, ‘Who is arguing with you, boy?’

So they look the ship’s boat and two rowers, and went off down the coast, away from the pleasant blue lake, and all the way found while sand beaches, backed by thick and lush green woodlands.

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