Once in a while a Neo Viking would find his way into the mall, to buy something they could not get in the more traditional outlets at the Exchange or in town. Since they were here to get something they ignored each other and what they believed to be off world girls.
I found a new favorite drink. Coffee was unlike anything I had tasted before and it was my new favorite taste.
They simply took me in their middle and I never knew how fun it was to go shopping browsing or to go to a real Entertainment Virtu.
***
This time was like a dream. I did not have to go to the burg, except on those occasions I was officially invited to the Arnske Clan or when Sif visited our Burg for the first time. She came accompanied by her father and Isegrim put on an almost sickening show of false affection. Even Gretel found words of praise and as father told Litfas Arnske about his troubles with the Union bank, without of course mentioning the real reason, Sif's father immediately insisted that father took a sizeable advance on the dowry along with a new Hunting Sub. He actually put his hand on my shoulders as the Arnske flyer disappeared into the clouds." This develops nicely and you did well today. You kept your mouth shut and only opened it appropriately."
If Hel's slimiest demon of the lowest pit had put its claws on my shoulder, it would not have been as disgusting as I felt as he touched me.
Sif of course knew the truth but she said her father would never listen to her anyway. She was his daughter, but nothing more and since she did have an older brother. It was he who got all the attention. She liked her brother and she was certain he liked his sister, but he was now so more important as he was about to take the ancient challenge.
***
Hedda, so I learned was the daughter of a free man without clan association, who was the manager of Silver Falcon Mining. The company my grandfather founded and Mr. Silverzweig sold to an Off world Corporation. Her mother worked at the local branch of the Union bank. And they considered themselves the "New Nilfeheim". Her parents had nothing against Hedda going to the mall and or bringing home friends. Since she lived in Outskirts actually not far from Hogun's Inn we often went there for the afternoon and I could change there. I would use the Longnight tunnel that connected the houses to a second front door underneath the surface. Most houses and all businesses had a basement level with a second front door that would be used when the snow was pilling up to the roofs during the long winters. It was more practical and less dangerous than digging snow tunnels as it used to be done. It would still be 15 month before the first snow and the begin of another seven Years of long night and the tunnels were deserted and officially closed, Hedda had given me the key code to a basement room meant for storage but empty, where I could keep my things and change unseen and undisturbed. I also could leave her house unseen and emerge at one of the never used emergency exits in the sea wall and walk to the Inn. I usually took a short swim before I went home to get rid of any scents not proper for a Neo Viking Warrior,
One afternoon we sat in Hedda's room. Hedda got lots of money for allowance and had a sizeable wardrobe. One of the favorite past times was comparing outfits, talking about Virtu Show stars and music.
Elnna took her mask and red wig off and somehow I was certain I had seen her before and dismissed the idea since I had no contact to any girls before this happy time. She said to me." Would you do me a favor?"
I shrugged and nodded."Sure if I can."
"I love diving and fish hunting but girls are not allowed to do that or own a spear gun. Could you buy one for me at Nils Supplies and show me how it's used? Nils won't think twice if a guy buys one."
Hedda said." I got a flyer and we can go to my Uncles rock. It has a secluded overhang and since he has not yet the money to build his own burg it is empty and no one but my family is allowed there. I too would love to learn how to use a harpoon."
"Harpoons come in lots of sizes and varieties. Usually quite expensive, but I got a few different models stashed away at Uncle Hogun's Boat shed. No need to buy one from Nils."
Elnna said." Do you have a Cape town 313 or something like that?"
"You sure made yourself knowledgeable, Cape towns are not bad, but they are made by an off world company and as good as much stuff from Off world is. When it comes to harpoons and spear guns you want something that works in our cold oceans. The mist and moisture can freeze to ice outside the water and your gun won't release when you're under water. I got a Friesenheim Trishot I gladly give you, made by the Friesenheim clan. They also make the Slayers and you can rely on those."
She sighed." All a girl can do is look up catalogs. Where would we get such experience?"
She looked at me out of her blue eyes framed with tick black mascara and long lashes and I could not shake the feeling that I had seen her somewhere before.
Perhaps I stared a little too long and she said." It's the mascara; want to try how it looks on you?" And before I could really say anything she unfolded her make Upper and placed it over my face.
Sif got caught in the spirit and placed the red wig on me. "There you go; you look like Elnna's twin sister now!" I found the look as exotic and combined with the black PVC face mask very mysterious. I forgot all about Elnna and that strange feeling of déjà vu when I looked in her eyes."
***
I had brought the girls spear guns and explained them how they work and how one was used and reloaded. I told them the difference between exercise, hunting and explosive tips for Rock sharks and other larger prey and warned them that these could not be used against Tyranno's or Three-Finners. Not that they would run in any Three Finners up here, but an occasional Tyranno was quite likely. All four girls were eager to learn and decent swimmers but it appeared to me they spend maybe too much time at the mall as they seemed to still learn to be underwater and really dive and learn how to return in stages from deep dives and not simply swim back up. I had my hands full to keep them below until and explain to them in hand signals that rapid decompression was quite dangerous, even though we did not use our lungs directly.
Somehow we never went again and I was too absorbed being Freya to notice it.
***
Time flew and in less than a week there would be summer break again, and in another 15 month Shortsummer would be over and the Planet would prepare for the seven long cold years. How much had happened in in just one year? I went to Hasvik, the Grandfather I meet only twice in person dead and burned, his House and name no more. I had discovered so much more about our planet and society and I had killed another human being. My visits to the mall and my female friends became less frequent. Sif would not call as much anymore and explained that the girls wanted to get ahead in life and concentrated on the their grades and the big tests before the school year ended, so it came that we sat there at the mall and our favorite table at the Coffee place. Elnna and Hedda browsed a fashion magazine while Astrid looked over their shoulders to occasionally brush over an image to call up the Holo of a hair doo or a shoe. All the girls liked shoes but Astrid was not exaggerating when she said she was addicted.
Sif suddenly snapped her fingers and said. "Elena do you have that mask of yours with you?"
Elnna took it out of her hooded sweater pocket and handed it over with a question mark on her face. Sif said. "Quick Freya put that on!"
I was as puzzled as her about that, but did it and just in time as a voluptuous woman, with Harkun behind her rushed by and into the Coffee shop. It was Gretel! Harkun remained outside and tried hard not to look at us, but as Lothar my brother strolled by. He stared at us and I was glad Sif was so quick thinking. Gretel barked from inside the store."Harkun, don't ogle at that Off world garbage and get your behind in here to pay the bill!"
Dutiful he went inside. Lothar decked out in Olafson red and expensive fur picked his nose unabashed and kept staring at us."Off World Garbage!"
Sif said loud enough:" I think I am harassed, let's call Port security!"
Gretel came out the store like chased by a hungry
Fangsnapper, grabbed Lothar by the hand and said." No need to bother security. It is a local custom. You Off worlders are so easily offended." Then she actually waddled as fast as she could to the malls exit. Sif knew of the warrant and Gretel was quite aware of it as well, as it became evident. As Harkun went by, following his mistress with a box of Sweet meats. He grunted ."Don't let me catch you girls outside. I would have to teach you a painful lesson." He laughed cold and left
Elnna said silently. "The next time I see Harkun or anyone from that household him I kill!"
I was about to ask where she knew Harkun from. When Astrid interrupted me before I could say a word." I think it is time for you to leave now, Eric!" It was the first time she used my real name when I was with them and it was like an ice cold shower. I felt exposed and betrayed despite the mask. Hedda first gave Elnna a withering look and then said to me." I am sorry, Eric but Astrid is right, I don't want you to be with us anymore either!"
This came so sudden and unexpected, and my outfit suddenly felt heavy and wrong. I got up Elnna turned her head away from me and Sif had tear in her eyes and her chin trembled but said nothing. "I do not know what I did to you, that caused this but if I offended I am sorry. Don't worry I won't stay where I am not wanted."
I left. Strangely enough Sif had me met them here and not at Hedda's house. As if they had planned this. It was a Thursday and the Space Bus would arrive at midnight, still the Lobby was deserted and would not see any passengers until one or two hours before it arrived. I was stunned by the sudden rejection and changed back. What felt like a part of me was suddenly a disguise. Before I felt a little euphoric every time I became Freya, now it was as if I had woken from a surreal dream. I was almost done when Sif appeared and she said." It is not as you think it is. There are things we did not tell you and I can't tell you. It is better for you if you don't know. We did not want it to end this way, but it had to end. Maybe we will meet in private in the future and I can tell you why we did what we did."
I handed her the bag with the dress and the things." I understand. What I did is wrong and I am somehow sick and I don't belong with you or anyone. You are right it had to end I guess. Tell the others thank you for the time we had, I was happy and carefree for the first time in my life and I thank you for keeping my sick and twisted illusion up for so long."
She cried and I felt I did something terrible, without really knowing what caused it." I am so sorry Eric. You will never know how much. And yes I care very much for you and Freya was more real than you want her to be. Please don't hate me. If things were different I would have gladly married you!"
"You deserve a real man not a joke like me. Whatever I did to hurt, forgive me I did not do it on purpose."
With this I let her behind and left.
***
It was a bleak time and I did get a message from Sif on my PDD , but I deleted it. It was unnatural and I was afraid of myself the most. I liked being Freya way too much. This had nothing to do with a rouse or a trick as Thor did, but it provided me with tingling pleasure and that was wrong.
I concentrated on my final tests, worked harder at the Inn and focused on my training with Richard. Everything to make me not think about Sif and the last weeks. Everything to forget and push Freya into the back ground and it seemed to work.
Chapter 29 Mother
It was the last hour of our last school day. Mr. Walters handed out the final grades and said." This is the last time I am doing this for you. When you return next year, Mr. Flensburger will try to pound some knowledge into your thick skulls. I am going to be transferred to another school, still on Nilfeheim but they thought I be best suited to try my hand on the even wilder Neo Vikings of the South Pole."
He then shook everyone's hand and said a few words. When he reached me he swiped my grades into my PDD." Your grades have improved, but there is much room for improvement."Quieter he added." It is sufficient for the Academy Pre entry test however so keep it on this level, good choice and good luck Mr. Olafson."
I was only a little surprised that he knew as he was a frequent guest at Hogun's and I was sure he and my Uncle had talked.
He dismissed us and we went down in the basement past the Cafeteria where Fight Class would take place. Our Instructor was of an Eastern Clan that was far enough away not to have too many ties with the ones in our region. Balder of the Darken Clan and he was especially proud of his first name. It was very rare that someone was named after the Gods. As no one felt they could live up to the name. No one I knew had the name Thor and it was taboo to be called Odin, but I knew a few girls named after Loki. I myself had chosen Freya for my alter ego and thinking of that made my mood sink to the bottom.
Balder was a fair fighter and well skilled in all traditional weapons. Due to my training with Richard I was without being self confident way past his level and he admitted that freely, but there was no such thing as wasted training as Richard would say, while he passed out wooden swords and padding he said as he came to me." Go home Eric Olafson. There is nothing I can teach you. Gunter Eikson has returned to their rock already and won't be here until next period, so there won't be any swimming and diving."
"I don't mind training, Sir."
"You train too much in my opinion. It is worthy of praise for a New Viking to excel at these skills, but you're turning not even fifteen yet, fighting should never be an obsession."
So my school year ended rather un-ceremonial and I had no real plans for this summer break, but I had not heard from father or any orders to return to the Burg.
After an extended swim, I went back to the Inn. Uncle Hogun was not there and Hein one of his helpers said he went to the Exchange to get fresh fish and other supplies. I actually met Aunt Freydis who was as usual in a hurry to leave. She wore her blue dress and the white apron. She had a basket with her things on the counter and smiled with her rosy face." Oh good my favorite nephew, just the person I need."
She had never talked to me much so I was surprised but came closer."What can I do for you?"
"Oh I am about to fly out to the Bredenbergs. Snøfrid is soon delivering her first and it's going to be twins. She is a delicate woman you see and in this case I rather rely a little more on Med Tech than usual. She took two devices out of the basket. This is a Sterilization field generator and this one is my Medical Expert PDD. I use it but it has to be updated somehow and I don't know how. Without the PDD the Field Generator won't operate. I had to hide my surprise to learn my simple aunt was using a SII Gynecology Expert Advisor. Not that I had ever seen one but it said so right on the housing."Let me have a look, Aunt Freydis. I am no real expert in Off world things as you know but I can give it a try."
It was a wonderful and somewhat frightening tool as it, when activated showed Holos of various reproductive processes and problems my appetite for a nice piece of fish was suddenly gone. It combined a variety of scanners and med sensors and finally I found, all you had to do is ask the device to go into the self diagnostic and upload cycle.
It connected to GalNet via Uncles console and I was absorbed in deleting the entries on non human races as I was sure that was not needed and added a few things from the wide catalog of related subjects. It took only a few minutes and wanted it to hand it back to her." All done, Aunt Freydis. I set it to automatic update so this won't have to be done again."
She was no longer standing there but by the door arguing with a drunk who wanted to get more and she refused him, saying the Inn wasn't open for business. Hein came from out the kitchen where he was scrubbing the floor. Without Hogun to compare her was neither weak nor small. I didn't feel alarmed or anything. This sort thing happened more often than not and the drunks usually went their way. But the voices became louder." No woman and no low man can refuse my will! I got up just to see better and try to find out who it was, when Hein screamed."Nooo!"
Aunt Freydis stumbled back and fell to the floor. She was clutching her stomach and the man in the door held a long skinner knife!
The man growled."Let the wench die! I am a Lord and require mead! Serving me is all you concern!"
It was one of the men who had held me while father beat me to an inch to my life. I did not remember his face or his growling voice at first, but kneeling by my Aunt I recognized the boots! He recognized me as well and roared laughing while he kicked me! Oh how delightful, Lord Isegrim will reward me for every bone I break!"
I avoided the second kick and said." You are still but a lackey in the House of Olafson and I am for ill or curse the first born. Stand now or be spitted by Mördaren!"
He did stop as I stood there, the sword drawn and I said."Hein you take my Aunt now to the Doctor by all haste. He will not stop you. This is a coward who hides n corners, stabs women and kicks those helpless to defend."
I actually had to raise the sword against Hein." Do as I told!"
He struggled with her body but carried her out the door. The lieutenant of my father's clan still eyed the sword and then his knife. From the outside I heard more voices and the usual rough laughing and talking when a bunch of men had a too much to drink and felt they has to prove to the world how strong they were. Another man in Olafson red stuck his head in Vanslow what is keeping you? You said you be right out with a tankards and bottles!"
Eric Olafson Series Boxed Set: Books 1 - 6 (The Galactic Chronicles Series) Page 189
