Read Online SOME YEARS AGO I came upon the historical story of the discovery of America by Leif Ericsson in A by prefered - Free Book Online

head and shoulders shot of an old lady, Thorgunna's mother; she nods slightly, without smiling.)
    (The smoke grows thin and dies down, disclosing the wood fire and the stone hearth, and the black night beyond. Thorgunna is exhausted with mental strain, she passes a hand wearily across her eyes. )
    LEIF (Hoarsely) What did you see?
    THORGUNNA (Piteously) I don't understand. It must have all meant something. There was a waterfall, but so enormous that it never could have been; it was as if all the sea was pouring down into one place. Then there was a sort of whirling thing, in a house. It might have been a temple. Then I saw you talking to an uncouth man about some ears of wheat, and then it was all wheat as far as one could see, more wheat than all the people in the world could eat. And then there was a dragon. There was an island with stone houses like tall cliffs, taller than any house could ever be, all white and shining in the sun. You were mixed up in all of them in some way, Leif, because I saw you in your ship. And I saw Mother.
    LEIF Were you with me in the ship?
    THORGUNNA (Sadly) No. I wasn't with you.
    LEIF (Gently) Don't think about it any more now. Lie down here for a bit, and try and get some sleep. I'll wake you when it's time to go on board.
    THORGUNNA I must think about it. I've done this several times before and it has always made sense in the end, even if one didn't understand it just at first.
    LEIF You'll have a quiet time to think it over in the ship. Lie down now and rest.
    THORGUNNA (Slowly) Leif, I'm not coming with you in the ship.
    LEIF Not coming with me?
    THORGUNNA No. I do not understand what I have seen but I know this about it; that there is no evil in it, that in some way it concerns your destiny, that it is terribly important, and that it is true. You must go on alone without me, and do what you have to do.
    LEIF But you can come with me.
    THORGUNNA (Getting to her feet) If I come with you, you and all your people will be killed in battle with my father. If it were ourselves only, we might take the chance, for life without each other isn't going to be much fun. But there's more in it than that.
    ( She is standing now, and speaking regally. She is no longer a shy girl, but a responsible woman and the daughter of a king.)
    —I do not understand what I have learned about your fate, but I know this about it. It is more important than you, or I, or anybody in this place. I will not tamper with such matters, Leif, or bring about your death before you have fulfilled your destiny. You must go on alone. I shall stay here.
    LEIF What will your father do when he finds out about the baby?
    THORGUNNA He will be very angry, but he will not dare to hurt me or your son. I shall not tell him till some months have passed.
    LEIF Thorgunna, all this is based on fancies, wreaths of the wood smoke, no more than that. Come down to earth. We can get away soon after midnight and be well clear of the island before dawn. We'll sail out to the north; your father will not think of that. Let's go on board now.
    THORGUNNA No. I am not coming with you.
    LEIF Is that your firm decision?
    THORGUNNA Yes.
    LEIF Then I say this to you. (He takes a gold ring from his finger and gives it to her. ) Take my ring, and when your child is born show them this ring and say that I, Leif Ericsson, am father of your child, and I acknowledge it.
    THORGUNNA I will do that, Leif. This child that I shall bear for you will be a son. When he is old enough to travel I will send him to you in Greenland.
    LEIF I will treat him as my very son. ( He turns to one of his packs and produces a belt of walrus tusks and shows it to her. ) My father sent this belt as one of the presents that I was to give to King Olaf. Walrus tusks have a strong charm; a belt like this makes the wearer valiant and manly. I think it is a better present for my son. Give it to him, and let him wear it when he comes to me in Greenland, so that I may know it is my own son and no