Hammer of the Gods Read online

  He could feel a tug, perhaps from the amulet, or just something in the back of his mind. “Mikki, I’m going to need your help with something.”

  The young woman’s eyes widened with surprise. “Whatever you need, Sugah!”

  What Thor really needed was to figure a way not to get everyone killed.

  * * *

  Chelsea’s heart was breaking as Thor faded from the garden. He was going to have a very difficult time, and the little she had done to help him was all she dared. Some of the more dangerous paths had vanished into nonexistence, but there were plenty left. Too many. Other paths had been created, some with… interesting prospects. She would have to watch those carefully, and, perhaps, give a gentle nudge here and there.

  She sat down on a large boulder. This existence was nothing as she had pictured; seeing the endless possibilities was exhausting. When this was over, she would sleep for a thousand years. And maybe hit the snooze button a few times, after that!

  “You are walking a very fine line, child,” a feminine voice said behind her.

  Freyja stood amongst the wildflowers, and Chelsea fell to one knee as the goddess approached.

  Freyja was statuesque, tall and beautiful, with a mane of golden waves flowing past her shoulders. She had full red lips that were quick to smile, and piercing blue eyes that could search the farthest reaches of your soul. The Goddess glided toward Chelsea as gracefully as a swan on a still pond. If she noticed Huginn and Muninn circle once overhead before landing in a nearby oak, she gave no indication of it.

  Chelsea, however, noticed and gave a sigh of relief.

  “And I will decide when that line is crossed!” a male voice bellowed. “Stand, child, no warrior need bow to anyone.” The statement irritated Freyja; she felt a knee to the ground in her presence was merely a sign of respect due. Odin, on the other hand, disagreed vehemently. He did, however, feel the need to prove his ultimate authority to the beautiful Goddess now and then, much to Freyja’s dismay.

  The God bore little resemblance to any image Chelsea had ever seen in her lifetime. He was tall and lean, with long limbs and powerful hands. Tinges of white streaked his flowing red-gold hair and beard. Deep lines etched his handsome face, as if the weight he carried was too heavy at times. One eye was ice-blue, and could freeze your blood with a stare; one had been replaced with polished obsidian that sent chills down Chelsea’s spine, every time she gazed into its depths.

  Chelsea hid her smile before she rose to her feet; and she avoided making eye-contact with Freyja. That would definitely not be wise at the moment; the Goddess of love and beauty had a temper, as well.

  “Do not forget whence you stand,” Freyja snapped. “This is Fólkvangr, not Valhalla. I rule this domain.”

  “And you rule it well, Freyja,” Odin said with a smile. “None are more qualified that you. That is why you were chosen.” It was an obvious move to placate the Goddess, and it worked. Freyja beamed with pride. Odin sacrificed his right eye for a drink from the well of wisdom, and he used that wisdom very well to keep the peace.

  “What is it you wish, Allfather?” Freyja asked in a softer tone, and a slight bow of her head.

  Chelsea silently observed, all but forgotten. He just played her vanity like a second-hand guitar, and she’s thanking him for doing it!

  “Merely to speak with the young warrior,” Odin said with a slight bow of his head, “if it pleases you?”

  “It does,” the Goddess replied with a self-satisfied smile. “I have important matters to tend to.” She turned, fading into the trees, like a mist burned away by the sun.

  Odin smiled at Chelsea. “Never strike with the back of your hand, when a gentle stroke on the check will gain you more.”

  Chelsea nodded. “I will remember that.”

  “You remember too much, already, for Freyja’s liking,” Odin said with a chuckle. He placed a hand on her shoulder. “You have done well, Child.”

  “I wish I could do more.” Chelsea’s face showed her frustration.

  Odin gestured toward the footpath leading to the orchard. Chelsea rested a hand on his sleeve as they strolled beneath the clear blue sky. The two ravens flew high in the air as they made a wide circle. From here, they looked like black specks floating on a breeze, and could be easily missed. Fortunately, Chelsea rarely missed anything anymore!

  “Please, Allfather, tell me what you see?” Chelsea pleaded.

  “Despite your great faith in me, I see no more than you.” Odin stopped to examine the ripening apples. He plucked two from the tree, dusted them off, and handed one to Chelsea. “Many dangers have been eliminated, but the greatest danger still lies ahead. If he solves your riddle in time, he may yet survive. ” He smiled at Chelsea. “I may be spending too much time with you, after all,” he said with a laugh. “You keep me explaining myself more than Frigga.”

  “Help him, please!”

  Odin took a bite from the apple, then smiled. “I have already given the greatest assistance I could.” He noticed Chelsea’s confused look, then kissed her hand. “The warriors of Valhalla are bound to Asgard. Only the warriors of Fólkvangr are able to touch Midgard.” He laughed heartily. “The day you died, I told Freyja I would trade two of my finest to have you in Valhalla. It became three, then five.” He laughed again. “Freyja still boasts of how she cheated me!”

  “If Freyja finds out I’ve interfered, then I must leave. What good am I then?”

  Odin finished the apple, tossed the core to a squirrel, and watched the grey rodent scurry away. “It’s been my observance that the magician’s assistant performs most of the tricks, but gets the least attention.” He gave Chelsea a wink. “Fear not, child. I have many ways to keep Freyja occupied.”

  Chelsea nodded slowly. “You do realize, even if Thor succeeds, it only buys more time… Ragnarok is inevitable.”

  Odin breathed deep, staring off into the distance. A tear seeped from the shiny, black eye, as if the obsidian saw more than the real one ever could. “Ragnarok is inevitable,” he said quietly. He looked Chelsea in the eye. He seemed suddenly older, less hearty. “Your friend will eventually learn the truth. If he had not left the celebration with that maiden, the two of you would have married two years later. Today you would be carrying your second child, a daughter, in your womb. Yet, you lied to spare him from further pain and guilt.”

  That was a blow Chelsea never saw coming, not from Odin. The Allfather could be overly confident at times, even smug. This was the first time he was cruel. She felt weak in the knees. “Thor’s pain would have been a lot worse when I fell overboard, and drown with our newborn daughter in my arms. The pain of his wife and daughter dying would have broken him.”

  “Then you understand my dilemma completely.” Odin kissed her on top of her head, then turned. He held the great spear Gungnir tightly, and seemed to be resting his weight on it as he walked. Huginn and Muninn flew out of sight, and Chelsea swore she saw Odin stumble once just before he vanished. This is taking a toll on him, too!

  The bell tolled, signaling the evening feast, and cheers rose to shake the ground. Freyja would seek her out, inquiring about Odin’s latest visit. Chelsea took a bite from the apple, wiping the line of sweet juice running from the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand, deciding exactly what she would tell the Goddess. It was time for the magician’s assistant to go to work, and it was exhausting.

  Chapter 14

  Thor waved to Felix standing on the dock. The big man he called brother was not taking his leaving well; the grumbling had started from the second Thor broke the news. The two of them had, already, hatched several plans to visit the old stomping grounds, and see if they could cause a little mischief along the way.

  Thor never lied to Felix. He merely explained he had to go to Romania on an unexpected business trip, and would be gone for a few weeks. That was true; just a few of the details were left out. If Felix knew the entire story, he would have gone along, even if he had to fly there; but Thor, a
lready, had enough to worry about, without that added stress.

  “Don’t forget what we talked about!” Felix shouted. Once he found out Thor was going to Romania, and the brooding had subsided, the “entrepreneur” in Felix kicked into high gear. The next thing Thor knew, he was agreeing to bring back as many cases of Tuica as he could manage. Thor had never even heard of the plum liquor before Felix mentioned it, but he would do his best to accommodate his friend’s wishes.

  “I won’t forget.” Thor chucked. If I ever go to prison, it will be due to an A.T.F. raid while doing Felix a favor!

  Nwabudike – the other women, finally, confirmed that was his name – watched his men carefully as they prepared to cast off. Every now and then, he would cast a stare toward Thor, sending chills down his spine.

  I still don’t understand what the Hel I did. Thor made his way toward the women, occasionally glancing over his shoulder.

  The whistle sounded, and Julia shouted “cast off” over the speaker. The song Ride, captain, ride followed. Thor knew it would, though Julia seemed to be in a foul mood. Superstitions and sailors went hand in hand – Julia more than most. To not play the song, would be bad juju, and the woman felt Thor needed all the help he could get for some reason.

  Thor sang along with the women. He never considered himself to be superstitious before; but, before a few days ago, he never thought he would see Chelsea until he died, either. From the corner of his eye, he watched as the crew stowed the mooring lines before heading below decks. Nwabudike paused on the stairs, giving Thor a thoughtful glance and a nod before leaving.

  That’s new, too!

  They appeared the day after Thor got word of his grandfather’s death eight years ago, and have been quietly performing their duties while avoiding him like the plague ever since. Now they were everywhere; two had even spoken to him! If it hadn’t been so shocking, I would’ve thought to ask where their hiding spots are.

  Thor sang louder, and he took Jennifer’s hand, twirling her twice before dipping her low. The redhead laughed, her eyes wide with surprise. He may be rushing headlong toward his own death, but that did not mean he could not have a good time till it happened.

  Four hours later, he was in the engine room, with Iona peering over his shoulder as he watched the computer screen. They were in open water, and Thor was making the preparations to kick the turbines in the ass.

  “Eight point five, is that good?” Iona asked. This was the first time she had been willing to learn how to do this.

  Suddenly everybody’s spreading the love! I am going to die! “Eight-five’s, okay. Eight-eight is better. We’re shooting for nine, though.”

  “What about nine-five?”

  Thor shuddered. A woman after my own heart! He turned, and stared into those beautiful brown eyes. “The most intense orgasm you’ve ever had,” he said smiling. “Better than that!”

  “Oh, my!” she mouthed soundlessly, her cheeks turning red. She flashed a devilish look. “Let’s go for it!” her fingers flashed eagerly.

  “Whenever you’re ready, Bwoy,” Julia called down from the wheelhouse.

  Together they watched the numbers climb to nine point two, then nine point three. Iona was getting positively giddy! She’s drunk with power, already! May the Gods help us all!

  “Before we do anything else, we flip these five green switches, one at a time.” He flipped the first three, and instructed her to finish.

  “What does that do?”

  “It makes us invisible,” he said keeping an eye on the screen. “It jams radar and satellite imagery for a radius of ten miles. We wouldn’t want to freak-out anyone watching us.”

  Iona shook her head. “No, we wouldn’t want that. We should keep that experience for ourselves!”

  The numbers rose to nine point four, then nine point five.

  Thor smiled at Iona. “The last time I did this, Julia pissed on herself.”

  “I don’t remember that.”

  “You were recovering from your eighth… no, ninth surgery.” He gestured for Iona to press the enter button. She did.

  The third and fourth turbines whined as they came to life. The drive gears engaged with a loud “clunk” and the entire ship jolted forward at a growing pace. There was a loud rumble from below, and the ship’s bow began to rise. Thor held onto the desk and Iona onto him, as they picked up speed. Thor grabbed the ashtray before it tumbled to the floor. Iona held her arms tightly about his neck as her feet slipped. For a few seconds, Thor was sure they were going to be thrown against the bulkhead. Mjölnir shuddered for a time before leveling out.

  Iona’s face lit up with delight. “Rock my world, baby!” She fanned herself with her hand as she breathed heavily.

  “Goddammit, Bwoy!” Julia’s voice cracked over the speaker. “I told ya not ta do dat, again!”

  Thor chuckled, then cleared his throat before answering. “Sorry Grandma. Is everything okay up there?”

  “Yeah, just gotta make a few adjustments.” A few seconds passed before she added: “Don’t tell anybody, but dat was fun!”

  “I won’t,” he said with a smile. “She’s all yours. Try to stay away from the cargo ships, we don’t need any more ‘ghost ship’ sightings!”

  “Bah! Ya couldn’t even tell what was in da pictures, dey was so blurry!”

  Iona looked shocked by Julia’s statement; but then, Iona never saw the way Julia could make a jet-ski dance, or listen to her as she laughed and taunted the gang of machine gun wielding poachers chasing their speedboat halfway down the Congo, either.

  Ah, good times! If that helicopter hadn’t appeared from nowhere and blown those poachers out of the water, Julia and I would be dead right now!

  “And that’s all there is to it,” Thor said with a shrug. “If you’re ready to take over, I’ll scan you into the security system.”

  “Yes,” Iona said with a nod. “I can do it, but what about repairs?”

  “I’ll help with those, because that’s where things get freaky.”

  “You say that like it’s normal for a ship this size to do more than ninety knots.”

  Thor relit his cigar, then patted the bulkhead. “For Mjölnir, it is.”

  Iona straddled Thor’s lap, kissed his cheek, and wrapped her arms around him. She rested her head on his shoulder, breathing softly in his ear.

  “What was that for?” he asked.

  She leaned back. “For the other night. Things got crazy, after you left Felix’s club.”

  “So I hear,” Thor said with a chuckle. From the way Felix described the evening’s events, it was an act of the Gods, no one was killed and the club did not burn to the ground. “How did it go with your new…friend?”

  Iona made a so-so gesture. “It was good, don’t get me wrong! I was just hoping for someone a little more…avant garde. You know what I mean?”

  “I think so.” That was not entirely true. Given the things Iona read, avant garde might mean a near death experience, role playing, or something totally bizarre!

  “What can I do to repay you?” she asked, running her fingers through his hair. There was no way in Hel he was falling for that shit, today!

  Without hesitation, Thor said: “Hook me up with Maria Sharapova!”

  “What happened to Marzia Prince?”

  “Either of them would be great!” Thor smiled. “Both if you can work that out!”

  Iona rolled her eyes. “I’ll get right on that.” She gave him a thoughtful look, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “First, it’s Jessica Anderson. Then, it’s Marzia Prince. Now, it’s Maria Sharapova. I think you have some deep, unresolved Bryndis issues to work out!”

  Thor sat silently glaring, as Iona shook with laughter and wiped tears from her eyes.

  After getting Iona squared away, Thor made his way to his cabin and closed the door behind him and kicked off his sandals. One day, Iona’s going to go too far! The truth was, she crossed several lines daily, mainly because she knew there were no real repercus
sions.

  He straightened the things that had fallen over, which was not much; a few papers from the table, a curious envelope he stuffed into his gun case, a glass left on the nightstand, and sheet music from the piano. After the second jump to the turbines, he bolted the furniture to the floor and lamps to the tables; even the picture frames had Velcro on their bases.

  Sunlight flooded his cabin, but seemed to be focused on his collection filling the wall opposite his bed. Everyone has something that makes life special; his grandfather had relics and old photos, Iona has her porn, for Thor it was the music memorabilia he went to great lengths to collect.

  Twin Olympic-White 1961 Fender Stratocasters – one autographed by Jimmy Hendrix, the other by Stevie Ray Vaughn – flanked an extensive collection of autographed concert posters. The colorful wall included Queen: News of the World; performed in Pavillon de Paris on April 23rd, 1978, Joan Jett: Bad Reputation, and a dozen more. However, his two absolute favorites were an autographed Go-Go’s: Prime time poster; complete with guitar picks, a pair of Gina Schock’s drumsticks, and Belinda Carlisle’s lipstick on the VIP pass, and the framed leather jacket signed by the members of No doubt that had started him collecting.

  He heard a toilet flush. A few seconds later, Mio lumbered out of the bathroom. Getting Mio’s three toilets designed, fabricated, and installed was easy. It was training the behemoth to use them that drove Thor mad. Now if I could get the dog to brush his own teeth, that would be something.

  The dog whined until Thor scratched his head. After giving Thor’s hand a thick coat of slobber, Mio sat down on the floor and stared at him. Thor often wondered what the dog was thinking. Was it some deep knowledge of the universe only dogs had? Love? Or was it simply getting close to lunch time, and he was willing Thor to move faster?