Page 10 of The Very Virile Viking

"So?"

"I think I could talk him into filming the movie here."

"For five hundred thousand dollars? Is he nuts?"

"No. He offered two hundred thousand—tentatively—conditional upon a personal tour and approval by his film crew. But I think I can negotiate him upward once he sees the place."

"When would this be? And for how long?"

"August… possibly into September."

"Angela! That's prime growing season… maybe even harvesttime. We can't have strangers stomping around here then."

"Maybe I could negotiate a time deadline, and put a limit on the number of people. It's the only way, Grandma."

"Oh, Angela," she sighed. "I can't believe we are reduced to this."

"It's not such an awful thing. Really. Lots of vineyards rent themselves out to movie studios… even to cooking shows on TV. In fact, we might be able to get you a bit part in the movie."

She pretended to brighten up. "Like Sophia Loren."

"Yeah. An older version of Sophia Loren."

"Ha! Sophia Loren is no young chick."

"I forgot."

"Any chance you could negotiate George Clooney into this movie? That would be the clincher for me."

Angela smiled warmly at her. She knew she had won. They were going to have a film crew here at the Blue Dragon.

"Just one thing, Angela."

"Anything."

Ha! Smart women know never to say that. "If I'm willing to give in on this point, I want you to agree to something."

"Anything."

Yep. Very unsmart of you, sweetie. "I want you to try to look a little harder for a man. You need someone to love, who will love you in return."

"And give you great-grandchildren?"

At least Angela wasn't offended. "An added bonus," she conceded.

"Okay, I'll look harder. I promise. It will be at the top of my list." She pretended to be writing herself a note on the palm of her hand. "One… good… man."

"Oh, I don't know about good. Virile would be better."

Angela had just begun to take a last sip of wine from her goblet and she started to choke. When she was able to talk, she asked with an arched eyebrow, "Virile?"

"Very virile."

Vinland, a month later…

Drowning in children…

Magnus and his nine children had been at sea for two sennights. Furthermore, he had not lain with a woman for eleven months. He wasn't sure which of those facts was driving him the barmiest.