Page 41 of The Last Viking

Now his attention swerved in another direction. “Oh, Holy Thor, I think I am in Asgard,” Geirolf said enthusiastically. He soon learned that they’d entered Am-eric-hah’s version of Valhalla, a real man’s paradise—the power-tool section of the hardware store.

Mike hooted and sniggered at his fascination with the power tools, but Geirolf could not care. He would give his entire treasure chamber at home for half of these tools of the gods. In the end, it took Mike almost an hour to drag Geirolf away. Only a reminder of wasted time recalled to him the urgency of his mission. So, it was with a sigh of regret that they pushed their cart up to the wooden box…a counter…where the store worker took their money and put it in another box…a cash register.

Geirolf’s eyes were glazed over when Mike finally pulled him from the store with their purchases. ’Twas a miracle…all the extraordinary power tools that had been invented. There were saws that moved by themselves. Drills to bore holes in even the hardest wood with no effort. All powered by something called elect-rice-city, which Geirolf intended to research on the come-pewter when he returned to Merry-Death’s library. Mike had even told him of huge shovel machines, called backhoes, that could dig an entire moat in one day. Geirolf knew a few Saxon kings and ae-thelings who’d pay a fortune for such.

“Don’t look so glum, Rolf.” Mike’s lips twitched with mirth as he dumped their packages in the back of his wheeled box. Mike’s riding vehicle was different from Merry-Death’s. It was blue, and only the front seat was covered by a roof. The back portion was a long, uncovered box—What else!—for hauling things. “When we get back to Professor Foster’s house, you can watch those two videotapes we bought—Bob Vila’s This Old House and Tim Allen’s Home Improvement. They’ll teach you everything you ever wanted to know about modern tools.”

When they reached the dirt road leading up to Merry-Death’s keep, Geirolf convinced Mike to let him drive his box. After several rough lurches and skidding accelerations, he mastered the technique. And it was a truly exciting experience, speeding along at what Mike said was ten miles per hour. ’Twas like the rush of exhilaration after a fiercely fought battle, or the rush of another kind after a fiercely played bout of bedsport. By the time he came to a screeching halt in front of Merry-Death’s door, Mike was alternately bracing his outstretched arms on the dashing board and laughing uproariously.

Merry-Death stood on her front porch, hands on hips, eyes flaming angrily. Thea, in war paint that would do a Scot warrior proud, stood beside her, smiling from ear to ear.

“Isn’t she magnificent?” Geirolf said, inhaling sharply.

“Who?” Mike slanted him an incredulous glance. “Thea?”

“Of course not. Do you take me for a despoiler of children?”

“Professor Foster? You think Professor Foster is magnificent?”

Geirolf nodded, feeling the usual heaviness in his loins and a strange fluttering in his heart when he gazed at her.

“Professor Foster?” Mike repeated with stunned disbelief. “You’ve got the hots for my boss? You must be nuts. I mean…don’t get me wrong, I like Dr. Foster. She’s a really nice person. But magnificent? No way! Now Sharon Stone…that’s what I call magnificent.”

Geirolf shook his head adamantly. “You are young, Mike. Like a horse with blinders, you are. You weigh a woman’s value only with your eyes…and your cock.”

“So?” Mike grinned. “Works for me.”

“Foolish boy, there is more…much more.”

Meredith couldn’t believe her eyes. It was six o’clock and not only had Mike and Rolf been gone all afternoon, but Rolf was driving the truck. Even though it was Sunday, she’d decided to go into her office, where she’d run into Mike. She’d asked her grad assistant to go to her house and meet the new shipbuilder on the project. She hadn’t expected him to take off on some great adventure…and certainly not to put the Viking behind the wheel of a truck.

She was going to wring Mike’s neck. Then she was going to tackle the big guy, the one who’d been causing her grief all day as inquiry after inquiry brought no answers concerning his identity, only more questions.

“Where have you two been all day?” she snapped as the two men approached, laden with bags imprinted with the Bangor Hardware Superstore logo.

“Shopping,” Rolf answered blithely, leaning down to give her a quick kiss on the lips in passing. “I missed you, sweetling,” he whispered against her gaping mouth.

The casual gesture zapped Meredith speechless. She forgot momentarily why she was so angry and worried. He kissed me. Just like that. He kissed me. In front of Mike and Thea. Oh, Lord, he kissed me. As if he had every right in the world.

Mike just chuckled.

Thea giggled.

Rolf gave Mike a knowing look and winked.

“Aaarrgh!” Meredith said, coming to her senses. “I’ve been so worried.”

“’Tis e’er the way of women…to wring their hands when their men are off to battle.”

“Battle? Battle? You were shopping.”

Rolf waved a hand airily. “’Tis the same thing.”

Mike dipped his head sheepishly. “I’m sorry, Dr. Foster. I should have called, but we got sort of, uh, delayed in the power-tool section of the hardware store.”

Rolf sighed. “I am in love…”

Meredith’s heart lurched. He met some woman in the hardware store? And fell in love at first sight? Oh, isn’t that just like a man? Snag one woman, then go trolling for another. No, no, no! What am I thinking here? He hasn’t snagged me. Uh-uh!