United States or Democratic Republic of the Congo ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
Gunnar shrugged and his face appeared sad and seamed. "My Freida and the boys will be here today. I want you to meet them. I have spent over half my days a-wandering, Jack Odin, but now I have a sick feeling inside me. And I think to myself if I could go back to the farm with Freida and the boys, I could work there, and die an old, old man as my father and his father did before me.
I will go out there to the stars, and I will always remember Gunnar. Faith, man, you owe us nothing. The debts are ours " But Gunnar shook his head. "I swore by my sword. And I go." A few hours later, they stood at the water's edge and waited for Freida and the boys. It was not long before a boat hove into sight. And soon Gunnar was helping Freida and the three sons upon the landing.
Oh, it was a grand fight. But Gunnar will sharpen his sword no more. There was a ford near my father's house where the clear water ran fresh over the stones. That might help me. But it is far away. And my father too. You tell Freida that we did not make the long trip in vain." "If I can," Odin promised. "Oh, you can. For we have won the stars and nothing is beyond us except youth, maybe."
But Gunnar ate little, grumbling at the food. Once he assured Odin that he had never had a chill in his life that Freida was too thoughtful about him "Sure. Sure." Odin agreed. Then, finally, Gunnar cleared his throat and spoke the things that were in his mind. "Friend Odin," he began, looking down at his plate as though he expected to see an answer there.
Johnson will be here in a minute," the latter added, cheerfully. "And then you can go to your room and wash." Still there was no word or sign from Freida. "She certainly isn't very appreciative," thought Marjorie; "but maybe she's homesick." "Would you like to try on your new things?" asked Miss Phillips. With a shrug of the utmost indifference, Frieda replied, "I don't care!"
Family meetings always made Odin ill at ease. He stood there, shuffling his feet. Freida was a short, broad woman, with big breasts and broad hips. Her eyes, the palest blue, were still beautiful. Odin guessed that when she was young her face had matched her eyes. But the face was worn and the hand that she offered him was calloused.
One of those family jokes that never seem very funny to an outsider. After that, Freida worked the conversation around to the voyage that Gunnar would soon be making. "They say it is cold out there," she ventured cautiously. "Oh, yes. Very cold." Gunnar agreed. "Then you wrap up good, Gunnar. We wouldn't want you to have a chill." Gunnar scoffed, "I never had a chill in my life." "Oh, such talk.
Odin fancied that he could hear the two Kalis purring contentedly like cats. Well, they had done a good job. Let them purr. He would like to have thanked them, but how can you thank two bowling balls with scalps of cat's whisker wire? Gunnar sat up and began grumbling anew: "Well, thanks. Now, get me some clothes. Freida would not like it if I sat here half-undressed before a young lady.
"The people you were working for; their name was 'Hess'?" he asked. She nodded as she finished fastening the cool compress about his forehead. "Henry Hess an' his wife, Freida, an' an' Max." Something in the quality of her tone more than her hesitation made him demand sharply: "Who is Max?" "Their son." Her voice was very low, but for the first time it trembled slightly.
But the wanderlust is heavy upon me. Freida understands. And I swore that I would go after Grim Hagen and after Maya. But this way, I die up there among the stars some day, and no one unless it be you and Maya will think of Gunnar." Odin slapped his arm across Gunnar's shoulders. "You are chief among the Neeblings. Stay here with your family.
Word Of The Day