Page 79 of The Last Viking

He cocked his head. “Oh. Mayhap so. Well, it must have been the Dr. Ruth Show, then.” He waved a hand airily. “Leastways, ’tis a well-known fact that when the sap runs, the sap must run. Denying the body juices their free course clogs the pores and muddles the mind.”

“You are incredible.” She laughed.

“I know,” he acknowledged, beaming at her.

Actually, Meredith was glad to have the day off. Once she’d vented her newfound assertiveness with Jeffrey last night, she’d gone whole hog and called her parents, telling them in no uncertain terms that they were unwelcome in Maine. Despite vehement protests at their carefully laid plans being destroyed by her insensitivity, she’d held firm.

Rolf had been so proud of her.

Thus encouraged and under the influence of a rush of adrenaline, she’d called Jared and given him the same message. Much more conciliatory, he said he was buried in work anyhow.

So, with her schedule unexpectedly free, Rolf proclaimed a vacation day for the project, inviting her to go on a calendar event with him…a date. Since it was Saturday, she agreed, but only if Thea, Mike, Sonja, and Teddy could go with them, sort of a four-pack of chaperons.

They decided to visit the zoo.

Meredith’s first date with Rolf was a disaster.

As they headed for home later that afternoon in the pink mega-car, a morose Rolf stared blindly out the window, watching the landscape pass by. Mike was driving, with Thea in the front seat beside him. Meredith sat in the back with Sonja and Teddy on her right and Rolf on her left. They’d put the top up when the air turned cool and talk had been impossible over the roar of the motor and the wind, not to mention the mortifyingly loud muffler.

She slipped a hand in Rolf’s—something she didn’t often do. “I’m sorry, Rolf. It never occurred to me that a zoo would upset you so much.” They’d all observed from the beginning that the zoo experience revolted Rolf, but Teddy had been enjoying himself so much they’d stayed.

Rolf turned bleak eyes on her, the bourbon color flashing with outrage. “How could civilized people torture animals? ’Tis surely an affront to the gods, caging wild beasts so.”

She pursed her lips pensively. “I never thought much about it before, but The Silver Oaks Zoo is one of the most reputable in the country. Believe me, there are zoos that treat their animals in an inhumane way, but this isn’t one of them.”

“Don’t they have zoos in your country?” Mike asked over his shoulder.

Meredith tensed. Rolf had never discussed his time travel with anyone but her, though she sometimes caught Mike looking at him strangely. Who wouldn’t? Despite his mastery of the language, he used enough ’tis’es and ’twas’es to make anyone suspicious. And some of his ideas were definitely archaic.

Rolf made eye contact with her and took heed of her unspoken warning. “Nay, we don’t cage our animals.” It seemed that was all he would say, but then his jaw jutted out angrily. “You are Christians. Your Bible says all creatures have dignity and a reason for existing. What dignity do you leave animals when they are gawked at day and night, with no privacy for body functions? Even their mating is observed, for the love of Freya!”

“It’s not all entertainment, Rolf,” Meredith told him gently. “Scientists study the animals in captivity. And sometimes they learn things that help mankind.”

“Then I say ’tis too high a price to pay,” he stormed. “Damn the scientists!”

Meredith cringed, wondering if he put her in the same class as those scientists.

“But you have nothing against hunting, do you?” Sonja inquired, sincerely trying to understand.

“’Tis different,” he said, folding his arms over his chest and slinking lower in the seat with exasperation. “All animals, man and beast alike, fight the battle for survival. There is no shame in the hunt and chase.”

He gazed imploringly at Meredith. “Didst you see that aged Bengal tiger, Merry-Death? His eyes spoke to me. ‘I have no pride,’ the beast said. ‘Warrior to warrior, I ask you. Give me peace.’”

“That is so totally awesome,” Thea interjected. “Like I never heard of anyone talking to animals before, except maybe Walt Disney.”

“If I’d had Brave Friend with me, I would have put my trusty sword through the tiger’s heart. ’Twould have been a blessing, too.”

Mike and Sonja exchanged worried glances. Thea chortled, “Wow!” And Meredith breathed a silent prayer of thanks that she’d laid down the law when Rolf had suggested going back to the antiques dealer to buy a sword.

“Many a time have I seen polar bears in their ‘natural habitat,’” he continued. “Tell me true, Merry-Death, dost think that regal white-furred creature in the zoo was fooled by a mock glacier?”

“Some sociologists contend there are layers in all civilization,” Mike speculated tentatively. “You know, animals and humans fall into classes—by wealth, or birth, or physical fitness, or whatever. Aren’t some species supposed to dominate others? Isn’t that what the whole Viking way of life was about?”

Rolf inhaled sharply. “You haven’t studied enough, Mike, if you conclude thus. ’Tis true that Norsemen invade other countries and subdue their peoples, but that is because our own lands have become so over-crowded or are terrorized by brutal kings. We seek new lands to settle. This raping and pillaging word-fame is unearned by most Norsemen, I tell you.”

“But the Vikings took captives, Rolf, remember that,” Mike reminded him with reckless bravery.

“Ah, but we don’t put our slaves in cages. We don’t treat them as freaks of nature. We allow them to earn their freedom. And best you remember that the Saxons and Franks take captives, as well.”