Short Story: Viking Ship

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Viking Ship

By Amy Moloney

Maxwell sat on his favorite chair staring at the computer screen. It just stared back at him, blank. He wanted to write it all down, to broadcast it to the world. But the words just didn’t come. He had the most incredible experience of his life and he couldn’t tell anyone. Not even his cat Barnabus would believe him. And Barnabus had been there, as his guide. But now the lazy cat slept at his feet and was again a cat.

“Barnabus, you were there. You saw that Viking ship. You met Odin. We sailed to Valhalla. Tell me you are not just a cat again?” Barnabus just blinked up at him. There was no sign of the spirit guide he was just a few hours ago. Maxwell sighed.

Maxwell put his fingers to the keyboard tentatively. “I have to write this down, Barnabus. I have to.”

But there was some sort of internal censor stopping him from writing it. He could feel it sending pain to his fingers as he tried to type the words. He got as far as the words, “I was taken by invisible gods to Valhalla tonight” before his brain shot electrical current into his fingers. His computer completely shut down.

Maxwell sat there staring at his hands. Barnabus was unmoved by the commotion putting his paw back over his eyes and went the sleep.

“Ok, I can play this game. I can’t type? How about speak? Can I tell the story to my cat? Who was there.” Maxwell was speaking to the air, but he knew Freki was listening. The wolf was breathing down his neck. Invisible, but there.

Freki had befriended Maxwell when he first arrived on the ship. An uncharacteristic move on Freki’s part. For some reason this man had a familiar feel to the wolf. And that feeling is what saved Maxwell from being tossed into the churning sea beneath the ship. Freki was the only creature on the ship to recognize the endless journey was finally nearing a real destination.

Maxwell rose from his chair, tossing the laptop aside. Barnabus padded off to a corner on the other side of the room, miffed at being disturbed again. Freki stalking behind the man nudged his nose into Maxwell’s palm. Sensing it was useless to remain hidden from his friend.

“Freki, I thought I was abandoned again. Why can’t I see you?”
“Because I am not of this world. I still sail with Odin. I am here to bring a message and protect that which is sacred.” Freki’s voice resonated within the small room with a deep, etherial tone.

“Odin has a message for me? I thought he kicked me out of Valhalla after kidnapping me there in the first place. Dealing with him is worse than my last crazy girlfriend. Can’t he make up his mind?” Maxwell was irritated to say the least. He had lived a lifetime in the past few hours.

“You insult Odin? You are brave and stupid. I knew there was a reason I liked you. His message is simple. You may tell your story, but not write it.”

“What the hell does that mean? Why can’t I write it?” The questions were answered inside Maxwell’s head. By Odin. Which hurt Maxwell more than the hand electricity bit.

Odin was not exactly what Maxwell had read in his mythology books. He was a crank old man who couldn’t find his way home. He had accidentally kidnapped the young man and now was trying to tie up the loose ends of his mistake. Odin had once been the most glorious Gods in history. Now he sailed in circles looking for a place he had forgotten. Valhalla was always eluding him and he was uncertain why. This is why he distorted time and perception in order to keep his crewmen from knowing the truth. Odin was lost.

That was until a few hours ago when a man named Maxwell mysteriously appeared on his ship and stole his wolf. This man then had the nerve to disappear and attempt to tell the world that Odin was a senile old man. The fury boiling under Odin’s skin was visible. His crew avoided being within ten feet of him. They had found the halls of Valhalla alright. But those halls had aged and turned to dust. Odin was beside himself for allowing so much time to pass. The rage that was at himself, but Maxwell was going to be the target. And that damned cat was going to pay for being the soul vehicle that brought the man to his ship. Odin new never to trust a cat. They were always in too many dimensions at once. It was too easy for mortals to cross the planes if they used cats.

Barnabus stood and stretched. His hackles up. He growled low in his throat, sensing another presence in the room. The cat circled Maxwell’s legs then caught sight of the wolf on the other plane of existence. The cat hissed and clawed toward the spot where Freki stood. But the veil protected the wolf from physical harm. He could not cross into Maxwell’s world at this time.

“Why is the wolf here?” Barnabus spoke.
This was the first time Maxwell had ever heard his cat speak. He just stared, mouth open. The man drew a deep breath then rationalized that he was already talking to an invisible wolf, why not a talking cat.

“Have you always been able to talk, Barnabus?”

“Of course I have. You just haven’t always been able to listen. Again, Why is that wolf here? I am not going back to that cold, wet boat. If that’s what he wants, leave me out of it this time.” Barnabus walked away with his tail in the air making sure that the wolf had a full view of his opinion.

“Barnabus, he isn’t taking us back. Whoa, are you?” Maxwell suddenly was worried too. He agreed with his cat. No way did he want to go back to Odin’s world.

“You are not being invited back. Do not worry. However, you may want to inform THE CAT that it was him, not Odin who transported you to our world in the first place.” Freki was teasing the cat.

Barnabus sat at attention in the middle of the room, watching. He did not like being called out for doing what cats are supposed to do. When something comes through the veil, a cat’s job is to catch it. They were proud of keeping the world safe from mischievous visitors from other realms. The mischief on this realm was for cats to claim. He was only doing his job when that spirit bounced through the veil. He and his human were not supposed to be sucked into a portal. And he was not meant to be a spirit guide once on the other side of that portal. None of the events of the evening were his fault. It was Odin who cast that faulty spell.

Barnabus opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by a loud knocking on the door. Maxwell wasn’t expecting visitors, so he was caught off guard as well. The knocking repeated, this time with an authoritative, “Mr. Karnes, this is the police. We need to ask you a few questions.”

Maxwell froze. Why were the police at his door? He went to the door and peeked through the hole. There was a small uniformed officer and a taller man in a suit waiting. He opened the door with the chain still in place. “What can I do for you Officers?”

“Have you seen this woman?” The man in the suit showed the picture of a young girl to Maxwell. She looked familiar, but he couldn’t place why. Maxwell shook his head no.

“She was seen having coffee at your cafe. You spoke with her for a long time yesterday. She is missing. And sir, we have reason to believe that you went missing for a some time this evening as well. Would you like to answer again, have you seen this woman?” Mr. Suit was pressing at the door.

“Sir, I do not recall this woman. If I spoke to her at work I probably was telling her about our specials. I have been home all evening, alone. So if you do not mind I am quite busy.” Maxwell tried to close the door but Mr. Suit was still holding on to the other side. He leaned into the gap between the door frame and the door, looked Maxwell in the eye and smiled. He let go of his hold on the door a moment later and walked away.

The woman had looked familiar. Mr. Suit looked familiar too. Neither the uniformed officer nor Suit had identified themselves. They did not show ID. Maxwell doubted that they were actual cops. His paranoia began to grow. This had to be about Valhalla. Freki had mentioned that Asgard still had human operatives in this plane. They were around to protect the gods from being forgotten, but also to protect them from being known. Maxwell frowned when he thought about how everyone he has encountered recently spoke in riddles. Even, it seems, his cat.

“That was Thor’s Hammer at the door. Of course he goes by Jorgen in this world.” Freki said it very matter of factly.

“Thor’s Hammer? Thor’s Hammer is a person? Why was he here?” Maxwell looked at the empty space where Freki’s voice emanated. He was hoping to see his friend standing there, reassuring him that what happened wasn’t all in his head. That he isn’t going insane.

“Thor’s Hammer has many meanings and many incarnations. This particular Hammer is the most deadly of them all. He is an assassin, as spy, and very dedicated to Asgard’s secrets.”

“Great. This just gets better. So now I have a Viking assassin to contend with. Does he want to kill me?” The fear was hard to hide from his voice. The adventure which started out exciting was fast becoming a nightmare he couldn’t wake from.

“He is fishing for answers. You must have set off alarms in Asgard. I fear many will now be trying to figure out what you were doing with Odin. The others have long been suspicious of him. Loki will be the next to track you down. I will stay with you after I tell Odin that you won’t betray him. Until I return, do not leave your home.” Freki retreated into the void once more.

“Don’t look at me for answers.” Barnabus shook his head at Maxwell then walked away mumbling, “Humans, what a helpless species.”
It was midnight when Maxwell felt Freki’s breath on his hand. “Welcome back, Freki.”

Freki just nuzzled his hand. It was a show of affection that was unfamiliar to the wolf. Affection that was genuine. Maxwell was the closest thing to a friend Freki had encountered. He had no obligation to the human. The human asked nothing of the wolf other. Freki felt loyalty to Maxwell. At times, he felt more loyal to Maxwell than he did to Odin. Which was a dangerous realization. Odin had once been a very sound master. But time and misspent magic had eroded the God he had loved into a madman.

“First things first. Who was the woman in the photograph that Jorgen showed me?” Maxwell was ready to unravel the mystery and get on with his life. Without interference form Norse Gods.

“Freyja”

“Freyja? The goddess Freyja was in my cafe before all of this happened? That cannot be a coincidence.” Maxwell’s eyes twitched. His hands clenched. He was beginning to feel as if he’d been set up. “You said the others were suspicious of Odin. What if they had set this whole thing up to draw him out of the time loop he created?”

Freki processed that idea. “You may be on to a logical explanation of how you ended up on Odin’s ship. Maybe it wasn’t the cat’s fault after all.” At that last comment, the cat perked up.

Barnabus looked directly into the wolf’s eyes, through the veil, before he spoke. “If that is an apology, it is a poor one. However, I accept.”

“We are partners in this you two. Stop the hostility. Now, to figure out why I was chosen to cross the void and out Odin. And is Freyja really missing?” There were now more questions than explanations. “How about we go out to get something to eat, I need new air to breathe.”

As Maxwell ate his greasy diner steak he fed every other bite to Freki. The waitress pretended not to notice that the meat disappearing into thin air as she poured a second cup of coffee, almost overflowing the mug. Maxwell just smiled and said, “I have an invisible friend.” She walked away looking confused.

Maxwell pulled out his notebook and pen and began making notes. This time there were no electrical shocks.

The little bell over the front door tinkled the arrival of a new customer. Maxwell looked up and saw Freyja walk in. She headed to his booth and sat down across from Maxwell.

“Hello Freki, I wasn’t expecting to see you here.” She nodded toward the invisible wolf. “Mr. Karnes, I believe you have information that is pertinent to Asgard.”

Freyja was more beautiful than he remembered her in his cafe. She was stunning without trying to be. She wore simple jeans and an Iron Maiden T-shirt. Not what Maxwell expected of a goddess. Though, he had never expected to meet a goddess at a diner before. Nor had he ever expected to be the center of a conflict between Norse Gods. One of them losing his mind.

“I’m not sure what you mean. I have never been to Asgard.” Maxwell didn’t think deflecting the question was going to do him any good, but he tried anyway.

“I know where you have been. I know that Odin is not himself. What I need to know from you is how unlike himself he is. He has let Valhalla crumble, his warriors are trapped on that ship circling the sea, he has lost his wolf to a human. You cannot tell me he is well. Quit playing the fool, I will show you a goddess if need be.” She was matter of fact. He caught the treat, took her seriously.

“He swore me to secrecy. I cannot tell you exactly what I saw. I can tell you that his warriors no longer sail aimlessly.” That was the truth.

“I can tell you, Freyja.” Freki began. “He is beyond Asgard’s help. His magic has distorted and he sails without the winds to guide him. He is lost.” Freki sounded as if he were crying.

Freyja nodded at the wolf knowing the courage it took. Odin would not easily forgive the wolf for betraying his secrets. “I am not your enemy, Maxwell. Neither is Jorgen. We are doing what is best for Asgard. Also, for humankind. If things continue to spiral out of balance in our world, your world is at risk of destruction. Ragnarok will happen in your world if we do not stop Odin’s madness.”

“You are saying that Ragnarok is really going to happen? Here, in my world? What does any of this have to do with me? It was no coincidence that you showed up before I was whisked off to his ship. Why me?”

“Simple. You are Odin’s offspring. His great-great-great-great-etcetera etcetera etcetera grandson. A human grandson with Odin’s blood. You were the only choice to reach him.” She stood to leave then turned back around. “And Maxwell, take care of that wolf. He is in your care now.” She walked out of the diner with another tinkling of the bell.

On his way back home Maxwell noticed that he was being followed. He kept hold of Freki’s fur. Freki walked close enough to knock Maxwell sideways more than once. Until Maxwell finally stopped and turned around to face his shadow.

The man following thought Maxwell was drunk. He walked up and handed Maxwell a pouch. “This is a gift from Jorgen.” Then the man vanished.

Inside the pouch was a dagger. An ornate dagger with runes carved into the blade and a green stone in the hilt. Wrapped around the handle was a note that read: Use to free a soul from it’s own prison.  

When Maxwell arrived home Barnabus met him at the door impatiently. “Odin was here. He looked angry.”

“He was here? He came through the veil?” Freki asked, cutting the cat off from his retelling of the events.

“As I was saying, Odin was here. He wants you to return to Valhalla immediately Freki. He said that you should bring the man-child. And that he will unleash his fury if you do not obey at once.” Barnabus did not like gods walking through his home. He took great care to keep the walls between the worlds in place around his human. Now all the rules had been broken and his job was becoming near impossible.

“He’s right.” Maxwell said. “We have to return to Valhalla. That is the only way to rebalance Asgard. I have to free Odin’s soul. I know what I must do. How do we get there?”

“I guess that’s where I come in,” Barnabus was beyond annoyed about having to do what he was about to do. Maxwell was right, he had to return. This time however Barnabus was not crossing through, only holding the gate open until Maxwell’s return.

Barnabus began circling his human’s legs, drawing a tight circle around Maxwell. A small vortex of energy rippled at his feet. Then he was standing on the ground where the halls of Valhalla should have been.

Standing in the center of the rubble was Odin. He looked old, weary, lucid. He looked lucid. Only for a moment, then the crazed look returned to his eyes. When he spotted Maxwell the veins in his temple began to visibly grow. “I see you have returned. I demand that you give back what you have stolen.”

Confused, Maxwell looked at his grandfather more closely. “What have I stolen from you?” He decided to play along. It wasn’t going to be easy to get to him with Viking warriors surrounding him. And they were. The entire field was filling with Vikings. They didn’t seem to be threatening Maxwell. But he hadn’t pulled his dagger out as of yet.

“You stole my wolf. I demand you return him at once.” Odin came closer to his grandson, oblivious to the fact that Maxwell was his only living heir.

“I did not steal your wolf. He is right here. He can go where he desires. I lay no claim on him.” Maxwell tried to sound confident as he spoke. But his voice cracked at times betraying his fear.

Freki stood between the men, afraid Odin would act rashly and crush Maxwell. Odin looked down and noticed the wolf. A smile creeping onto his face. For a moment he looked young and happy. That faded when his glare met Maxwell’s eyes. “Who do you think you are? My wolf has changed allegiance. I can smell it.”

With Odin’s attention on the wolf, Maxwell drew the dagger quickly, hoping he was right about what the note meant. He plunged the dagger deep into Odin’s chest. Blood pooled on Maxwell’s hand. He felt the pain of his actions instantly. As he withdrew the blade a wisp of black smoke came with it. It circled the two men then flew toward the trees, disappearing.

Vikings descended upon Maxwell, pinning him to the ground. He didn’t fight back. He just waited for what he hoped was about to happen. It did.

Odin sat up slowly, holding the hole in his chest. He looked around and saw what had happened to his great halls. Odin sobbed. His grief a palpable thing. The Vikings let Maxwell up. Odin reached out and threw his arms around his grandson in an almost suffocating embrace.

“You did it, boy. You freed me. I knew you could do it.” Odin was happy, young, vibrant. He was himself.

“You knew I could do it?”

“Why else would I send Freyja to find you? I’m still upset about my wolf. But then again, you do have my blood running through your veins. Consider him on loan. For your safety. The others know you are kin. That may not bode well for you in the future events. Now, if you don’t mind finding your way home, it seems I have a lot of work to do rebuilding my halls.”

Moments later Barnabus appeared, opened a door, and escorted Freki and Maxwell home where Freyja was waiting with take out from the Chinese Buffet.

Life had suddenly become complicated for Maxwell Karnes.