Page 27 of The Caged Viking

She shrugged. “My father is an enlightened Viking.”

Did she imply that he was not enlightened, whatever that meant? At least she was not calling him a coward, as some might, or a weak specimen of a man. “And you…have you a husband waiting for you in the future?”

She shook her head.

“Dead?”

She shook her head some more. “No, I never married.”

“And you live with your father and his new family on this vineyard?”

“No! Of course not. Not anymore. I’m a college professor. I live alone in the city.”

He blinked at her with confusion.

“A professor is a teacher of high education. And a college is a place where students…boys and girls both…go to study for various professions after twelve years of high school.”

“Good gods! Are people so dumb in your time that they need twelve years of study?”

“Sixteen or more years, actually, if you include college.”

He rolled his eyes. “What could they possibly study over all that time? Never mind. What do you teach?”

“Ancient Nordic Studies. In other words, this time period.”

Is she saying I am ancient? He sighed. Talking with her was like swimming through mud. Hopeless. “If reverse travel through time is possible…” He couldn’t believe he was actually saying that. “…why did your father and your entire family, for that matter, not return to the Norselands long ago?”

“Because life in the future is so much better…well, easier.”

“No wars?” I have no idea why I mentioned wars first off. Vikings ever do love a good battle; therefore, a world without wars would not be “better” for a Norseman. What would a Norseman do with his time, if there were no wars? Ride his longship for trading only? Or visit foreign lands just to chatter with new people? Or farm? How boring! Holy Thor! I am blathering in my head now, as bad as my wife with her running tongue.

“Well, yes, there are still wars,” she said.

“Whew! Thank the gods for that.”

“In fact, three of my brothers are in the military.”

“More wealth then? Is that what makes your country…uh, time…better?”

“My father was wealthy enough here.”

“Adventure? Vikings are ever up for a good adventure on their longships.”

“Hah! My dad is pretty much land-bound. In fact, I can’t recall the last time he was on a boat.”

“And yet you consider it a better place…uh, time…to live.”

“It’s hard to explain. There are so many modern conveniences, like horseless carriages and, suffice it to say, inventions that would boggle the mind. Like…oh, never mind. I can tell you everything later. For now, all you need to know is that I was sent here to save you.”

And I was a dunderhead just sitting there waiting to be saved by a female? Hah! I beg to differ. Still, he wanted to be polite until he understood his path in this mire of confusion. “By whom, pray tell?”

“God, I think.”

He laughed. “The Christian One-God has a care for a pagan Viking? Why? What is so special about me?”

“I can’t explain why. I just saw you in my dreams and here I am.”

The dream story again! “I hope I performed well.” His mouth twitched with amusement.