The large transport ship was almost submerged in the water. During the long voyage, the people wearing it prayed that there would be no storm.
Arik and his people just want to return to Roseburg on the other side as soon as possible and live a comfortable life with their treasure.
The weather is unpredictable after all, the sky is getting darker and the rain is falling in drizzle.
This group of hundreds of people had no choice but to take shelter on an unknown island in the Åland Islands, but once they stopped, facing the still hazy sky, they continued to take risks, even if they were not far ahead. This is my long-lost home.
Until this time, they showed off the flag of the Ross tribe, and the dyed totem made the nearby fishermen heave a sigh of relief in surprise.
The rain is short-lived, but everyone has the same attitude, that is, the ship must wait until the sun is seen before the ship can continue sailing.
For those who have just experienced a battle not long ago, it is also a good thing to find a safe place to rest.
Even for many people, they control the abducted women and have sex with them again.
They don’t care about the Gotland status of these women. They need money and a wife. They are eager to have their own sons. If possible, this abducted woman must give birth to ten of them. son!
Everyone can get a large share of the looted materials, and the once slightly poor life will definitely be improved.
Once upon a time, having too many children was a disaster for a family because there was simply no financial resources to raise so many children.
The so-called raising children, in the final analysis, means eating. Now that there is more money in the bag, the food problem seems to be solved.
On average, each person received more than two hundred silver coins. For the young people who were just starting out, their minds were shocked, and they accepted the reality of receiving a huge sum of money in shock.
The first success made them forget about the dead on the battlefield.
Everyone built a wooden shelter on the shore to protect them from the rain and wind, lit a bonfire and discussed the possibility of continuing the crusade against the Gotlanders next year.
On the third day of landing and rest, the stench from the ship transporting the bodies of the dead finally alerted these guys whose minds had turned from revenge to robbery.
Stink means poison!
Even if the stench is caused by his brothers who died in battle.
The sky was still hazy. Nearly seventy brothers died in one action. In the cool north wind, Arik felt an unbearable desolation.
He covered his mouth and nose with his sleeves and led several of his brothers to inspect the boat containing the corpse. They pulled back the canvas that had been covered for a long time, and everyone saw the black and purple face of the corpse, as well as the stench that hit their faces.
Aric, he looked down upon everything on the battlefield, even when he killed the enemy and made his own face bloody, he was not afraid.
Arik sat on the ground in shock, and it took him a while to recover.
He stared and covered his chest slowlyHe stood up, then held on to the hilt of his sword and hurriedly found Harold Johnson.
"What's the matter with you? Did you see a worldly python at the beach?" Haro Zuosen gnawed on the baked wheat cake and held a woman's neck with one hand.
After looking at Arik, Harold Johnson lightly kicked another woman who continued to bake cakes on the hot stone. "You go bake another one and make one for my child."
Because in terms of age, Haro Zuosen is indeed one generation older than Arik.
Arik immediately sat down and was roasted by the campfire for a while, and his spirit still calmed down.
"What's going on?" Harozov continued to ask.
"Yes...it's those corpses."
"Huh? It's really strange. You have killed so many enemies on the battlefield, and now you are afraid of corpses?"
"No! It's not." Arik suddenly raised his head, with fear still in his eyes. "Those are our brothers, they died. But they...their souls really went to Asgard? Their faces were gray, as if they had gone to the underworld. They are no longer our brothers, just Like...an evil spirit from the underworld."
Hearing this, Harozolson put down the wheat cake and reached out to knock Arik on the head.
"Hey! Silly boy, what are you thinking? You haven't seen a corpse that has been dead for a long time, what else do you think of the underworld. They are still your brothers, just because we didn't bury them early. ”
Aric’s story reminded Harold Johnson. Looking at the child’s frightened face, he believed that the people he led would soon know the news.
"It seems we must take action." Harold Zuosen stood up and motioned to the two captured women to continue making wheat cakes, while he shook his neck: "Aric, go and find as many brothers as possible. , let’s go to the beach.”
After a while, more than two hundred people gathered, and they soon saw the horrific corpses.
The gray-black face was truly terrifying, and the stench caused many people to cover their noses.
Even though Harold Johnson was not good at words, he still shouted at the top of his lungs in the north wind: "Don't be afraid! These are our brothers! We should have returned to Fort Ross to bury them. Now , we must bury them. Now, let’s take the tools and dig the graves for our dead brothers.”
Haro Zuosen’s order was implemented.
The young warrior pulled some strips of cloth, covered his mouth and nose with the salty seawater, and then dragged out the bodies of the deceased in a reasonable manner.
Enduring the stench and witnessing the pus and blood oozing from the wounds, the warriors carried the bodies of their comrades on the cut canvas. The body was temporarily wrapped in canvas, forming a draggable shroud.
They made do with small shovels and even axes kept in the boat to dig shallow pits.
The boat specially used to hold the corpses was also chopped into pieces with axes.
According to the usual funeral,The deceased was placed in a small boat and the entire boat was filled with earth. This boat is the coffin of the deceased.
Time was running out, and the Russians did not give up the body of their dead brother. They decided to leave the deceased on this unknown island, using only uneven wooden boards to stick to the pit, as if it was a road. Boat.
The body was placed inside.
Since a batch of gold coins were snatched, no one raised any objection to using the gold coins as funerary objects.
Each black corpse had two silver coins stuck on its eyes and ten silver coins on its body.
Although he did not know the weapons of the deceased, Harold Johnson instructed that an axe, an iron sword, and a suitable helmet must be placed in each tomb.
In this way, the dead warrior lies in his wooden boat, and the black soil fills the tomb. People believe that even if the soul of the deceased is not selected to go to Asgard, it can continue in the underworld. Row your boat and fight unknown monsters.
Finally, a rock from the seaside was erected on top of the seal as a tombstone. There is a stone on every tomb.
For a time, a huge cemetery appeared in the woods, and more than sixty war dead rested here forever.
Until dark, the living people completed the work.
After doing this work, everyone was in a bad mood.
Another night, they washed their hands on the beach, then returned to their respective bonfires and talked about burying their bodies.
Perhaps it was really because he was laid to rest, that Arik's originally depressed heart felt much more relaxed now.
His tired body was roasted by the bonfire, and the wheat cake in his hand filled his stomach.
He said to Harold Johnson, who was still obsessed with women: "Now many brothers are buried here. Now that we have done this, we can no longer abandon them."
"I I understand what you mean. I have the same idea as you."
Arik sighed slightly: "Is it really appropriate for us to build a stronghold here?"
"What is it? "Improper?"
"This matter is not approved by the big leader."
Harold Zuosen nodded slightly, and then smiled bitterly: "Even if Otto is here, he will agree with your decision and mine."
"Really?"
"The warriors who died in battle are buried here. Since this place was originally unclaimed land, we Russians took possession of it. Because of the tomb, this should be our stronghold in the future. We should even stay Some people really built this island into a stronghold.”
Hearing these words, Arik felt that it made sense.
Looking at Harozov’s old face, he seemed to think there was something profound in it.
"Uncle, when we establish a stronghold, we shouldn't be looking at the graves of the dead." Arik asked.
"Of course. We do need aa new base. Arik, the large fleet led by your uncle will return soon carrying supplies and even a large number of Novgorod women. Why not find a resting place on the long voyage? I have followed the big leader and your uncle on many expeditions. In the past, we would just randomly find a beach to stop and rest.
Especially seven years ago, that damn fog made us lose our way.
It was because we rested on the wrong island and were discovered by Gotland fishermen that your biological father died in the battle. "
The sad thing immediately entered Arik's mind.
Suddenly, the young man who had just grown up suddenly remembered why he was so frightened that he fell down when he saw the horrific corpse not long ago.
Because his biological father Ogier's blackened body was brought back by the tribe, and the horrific scene really stimulated Arik's young heart.
When relatives die in the war, children either become dull and timid, or become aggressive and aggressive. Arik is one of the latter.
Arik selectively forgot that his biological father became terrifying. Face, until he saw the new corpses that had been piled up for a long time, the terrible memory was instantly awakened
Hallo Zuosen looked at Arik thoughtfully, and then continued: "Build a stronghold against us. The benefits are too great. This way our people don’t have to sail for ten consecutive days when they go to Novgorod! We can accumulate supplies here early and build a port. In this way, the journey from this small island to Fort New Ross is only a maximum of four days. Child, can you really understand the benefit of this? "
"I..."
Does Arik understand? No. He actually doesn't know very well. In any case, Arik's world view is still narrow, even if he A thousand years in Novgorod
“You are so young. "Hallo Zuosen shook his head, and then reminded him in particular: "The distance from here to Gotland is only three days' flight at the shortest. Boy, we can obviously accumulate troops on this island. We can organize a fleet at any time and go to Gotland to plunder again. In the future, looting will be the norm, and the enemy can only passively accept it. "
As he spoke, Haro Zuosen's eyes flashed with lust for wealth: "Child, is just one heroic feat enough? You can obviously do more. ”
Aric was shaken up as he sat down. He felt that the old guy’s implicit message was to encourage him to fight for the position of leader.
Competing with his cousin for position?< /p>
In other tribes, brotherly rivalries abound, but in the Ross tribe, Rurik is the one blessed by Odin!
Aric shook his head. : “I love my brother. "
Hallo Zuosen immediately understood what Arik meant: "Oh. I'm not asking you to compete with your brother for position. Neither you nor anyone else is qualified. If you dare to compete with the Son of God for power, you think your death is not miserable enough. I mean, you can make excellent wars laterChief, your brother serves as our great chief.
Listen, before Arik grows into a true warrior, our tribe needs one of the bravest men to lead us to victory in all external battles. This person is you! ”
Hearing this boast, Aric couldn’t help but feel excited.
In this way, without Otto’s approval, the two generals who attacked Gotland made a decision. A Russian settlement was established on the nameless island.
However, the decision was made, and the nameless island was given a name.
The next morning, the sky was still in bad condition. Well, everyone is still worried about sudden strong winds and heavy rains on the future journey.
People's worries are not unreasonable. Harold Zuosen himself is an old guy with a calm mind, which is why he was appointed by Otto. The war leader, also known as the "big general", came to scare young people to avoid their recklessness.
Harold Johnson would not criticize the so-called timidity of young people. After dinner, he ordered everyone to gather. He got up and explained an important decision to everyone.
He stood on a raised low stone on the beach, facing a group of blond young people, and explained the decision to establish a stronghold in detail.
He even emphasized the strategic value of the stronghold, especially that with this stronghold, the army will be able to attack Gotland frequently.
Halozossen has a proud reputation. Exquisite logic.
This is because this small island is located in the north of the Åland Islands, and there are some small fishing villages of the allies of the Melalen tribe in the south of the islands.
This is really a stronghold. Retreat, attack and defend.
If the enemy finally decides to fight back, the enemy will first have to face the massive Melalen tribe to fight back bravely. At that time, the Ross tribe will act as an ally. Participate in it. The alliance forces formed must be stronger than the enemy! In this way, the young people of Ross can gain both fame and fortune.
After all, what is Harold Johnson saying? The convenience of looting also made everyone believe that the enemies of Gotland would become fat sheep waiting to be slaughtered.
The inexperienced young people listened to Haro Zuosen's talk while standing on the stone, and they immediately jumped. They all agreed.
After all, everyone can get more than 200 silver coins in this operation, and each person has already carried their own personal wealth. If you grab it based on your ability, then you won’t participate in the spoils sharing meeting held in Roseburg.
When the weather clears, most people will still leave.
As for who will stay. Harold Johnson asked those who stayed to sign up, and soon someone came forward and announced that they were willing to stay.
Who did not want to return to his hometown in Roseburg immediately?
It is true that someone stayed. They have their own reasons for admiration.
Because among the deceased are their brothers and brothers. The graves of their relatives are here.
Besides, young people. AllKnow the big leader’s attitude towards everyone. That is, Roseburg has limited the development of the tribe, and all young people should try to get out. Everyone believed that even if they did not stay on this small island, they would go to the east to settle in New Roseburg.
Isn’t it the right thing to stay near the graves of relatives and build a settlement and a port?
In the end, more than fifty men decided to stay. Another thirty abducted women also stayed to run the settlement as "wives".
What should we call the settlement?
Tombstone Island is the new name of this uninhabited island.
The name was proposed by Harold Johnson and immediately attracted everyone's recognition.
In fact, this so-called Tombstone Island is a slightly larger island in the northern part of the Auckland Islands: Osendet Island (osu). Even a thousand years later, the island is still uninhabited.
Halozossen, after all, was experienced in sailing. He chose the island as a stopping point precisely because he discovered its strategic value.
Today Tombstone Island is full of pine and oak trees, and there are some grassy desert areas near the beach.
Its greatest geographical advantage is that it has a fjord that is 400 meters long and about 100 meters wide. With the size of a traditional Viking longship, it is truly unique for such a miniature fjord to develop into a port!
In addition, there is another smaller fjord next to this fjord that can be developed. There are still a number of smaller islands near the island.
A large number of micro-islands serve as barriers. Even if strong winds blow, these fjords are the best shelter.
Furthermore, Tombstone Island is also close to the immigrants of the Melalen tribe at the southern end of the archipelago. Although those immigrants mainly fished, they also cultivated a small amount of land and planted easy-to-live onions and cabbages. It is vegetable crops such as peas. As for growing wheat, the islanders did not try it.
This way, the settlers could also trade with these southern allies.
The weather will eventually improve. Before the sun breaks through the dark clouds, Harold Johnson takes all the young people to start building a house vigorously.
Some young people even took off their coats, jumped into the shallow sea of the fjord, and struggled to insert felled pine trees into the mud.
The hemp ropes they carried to tie up the loot came in handy. In just one morning, a small dock platform was built. From then on, some ships would dock at the trestle and tie ropes to wooden piles to dock smoothly.
Another batch of wooden houses began to be constructed. Thanks to the help of a large number of people, ten simple wooden houses had been completed by the twilight reward. Although it is simple, everyone believes that it can completely protect against wind and rain.
A preliminary settlement was thus completed.
The tired people lit bonfires on the beach again, while a beautiful and magnificent red glow appeared in the west.
Some gulls were flying and singing, and people sitting on the beach warming themselves by the fire could hear the sound of the sea in their ears.The sound of waves lapping.
Arik has been busy for another day and has eaten food. He is now quite lazy.
The magnificent red clouds in the west fully illustrate a good thing.
He said to Harozov: "It seems that it is the day we set off."
"Yes. Tomorrow will be a sunny day. We will set off tomorrow morning and we will leave in three days." , when we see the sunset three days later. My child, we should go home." "Oh! Go home." Arik lay on the beach, looking at the orange sky. My uncle, my wife, they should be on their way back as well. I'll go back by myself and go back home... I might as well go to my brother and tell him that as an elder brother, I'm in Gotland. The achievements of the island."
"I have to say, you really need to educate your brother. You used to live as brothers." Haro Zuosen reminded. "Do you understand? A leader must have excellent fighting ability. You have killed many enemies, so you should tell your brother some experience. Help him become a good leader in the future."
"I understand! That's right. "Aric held the back of his head with his hands, "I miss my Peravina. I will be a father soon. I hope she can give me a son."
"Son? What if it's a daughter?" Haro Zuosen deliberately teased.
“Daughter?” Thinking of this, Arik’s heart skipped a beat, and he immediately said, “They are all my children, and I raise them. Some people throw their daughters into the woods north of our Roseburg. I am not such a bad person."
"The bad people you said were abandoned because they couldn't afford to raise them. Now, Alik, be kind to your children. "Hallo Zuosen gave the order slightly, and the two women who were still making wheat cakes came over obediently.
After a period of contact, the two young women have become completely appointed. They understood that this old guy's purpose was very simple, just to have more children. Other than that, the person meant no harm. He was even willing to provide adequate rations for himself and his daughter for this purpose.
For a moment, Harold Zuosen happily hugged the two women's necks, faced Arik and said proudly: "Life should be like this for me, because of these two women, I feel that I am young again." "Arik, you will be a father soon. I think when the ice melts next year, I will have two new sons." "What if it's a daughter?" He retorted with a smile.
"This...haha. You are very smart." Haro Zuosen thought for a while, "Then I will choose a brave young man like you and marry my daughter to him."