Chapter 18

I got up once during the night and made my own rounds. I frightened two men badly but they had been close together and talking. I was polite and told them how an enemy would have killed them easily and then the rest of us. They were not soldiers and I told them so but they had to have at least some discipline.

We had stew for breakfast and I broke out the tools to start cutting some trees down. Some near the water had to stay for erosion protection and to tie the ships up to.

With most of the people busy, I got on a horse and surveyed the land to find the best areas for the school, the homes and the workshops. The latter would be near the water for transportation. The trees in the old farms were small, meaning that the farms had not been abandoned for more than ten years for the most part though. Later we found the trees much larger in older farms. Some areas had to be made ready for planting in the spring. There would be a lot of people to feed.

High ground turned out to be in the old growth forest. Here the trees were very large and perhaps nobody had turned this land before. Our small group continued to survey and made camp for the night. Rufus was the leader in my absence and he would protect the people, my property and especially his ship.

There were four men with me and we stopped every once in a while to dig to see what minerals were hidden beneath the soil. We found salt but this area was famous for that. Later we found some soft coal. It was three days later that we found potash and I felt happy because it was only a kilometre to the river.

We hunted but I usually stayed in camp. My senses and my bow usually found something and now I wanted to give others a chance. I smiled a lot and asked how the hunters had taken their prey as if I was an inexperienced boy.

We came across the tracks of man and horse but they were not fresh. They looked to be nearly a month old and then it was only me that could see them.

We found an even better place for the school and I decided that this was good enough. We hurried back by a different route and found some nice streams that could be dammed for mills. Steam engines once overcame waterpower and inturn were overcome by diesel engines. It was nice to have all of them if I could.

We came back near nightfall and found everybody happy to see us. There was a good pile of logs cut and stacked. Somebody had been hunting so we had stew once again but this time it was venison.

The girls were happy to wash my back and I had to do theirs. They had missed me a lot but we only made love for four hours that night. It was not just the level of testosterone that was doing this but because the girls inspired me to do my best.

We pulled up stakes and abandoned the wood until we could gather it later. We followed the river once more until I spotted the marker I put there. We tied up securely and began to remove some of the trees where our dock would be. Other trees were used to get some of the equipment out of the barge. The sawmill was what I wanted now.

I had planed on this but it was still a hard and awkward job to remove this large piece of machinery. It did come out successfully. We cut trees on a hill side and used the trunks to form an incline. This allowed logs to be fed to the mill by gravity. The roots had been left to hold the soil together and as handy tie points. There was very little open area and we simply topped some of the trees and knocked them down. Usually all the horses and the tackle were required to get the logs out of the way. A stump was hard to get rid of when in the ground with no stumper available so again we used axes and shovels instead of saws and pulled the trees down intact with their roots.

Once the area where the school would one day stand was large enough we burnt the branches and roots day and night and then leached them for the minerals.

The sawmill was set up and put to use. It cut logs all day long or as long as there was light. The boards were much lighter than logs and were dragged off. A road was made that would one day be long and graceful. The trees were simply put to one side now until they could be cut. Some thick and thin sections of oak were put on the barge because I knew they would be used soon.

I had standard plans for schools and they had long since been shown to the rest for their input. I wanted a basement and foundations on bedrock. We had to have a large septic system and a good, clean and plentiful water supply. We may not have microwave ovens but we would have central heat. Stone was the preferred building material but I had to use wood now and plan for the next renovation and the one after that.

Rufus was left in charge here because two of his crew, the sisters and I turned the Patricia around and then the barge. We were sailing back to Minden for my next sermon. We had been gone over three weeks and there were probably a lot of people to see me.

Lynet and Fianna stoked the fire part of the way but this was more for experience. They were smart hardworking girls and I did not want them to think they could get through life by being on their backs. Everybody could read now even if it was only a handful of words in Latin and German. I tried to make school fun and we passed notes and had charades and did some of the fun parts that was usually done in the lower primary grades.

Everybody with me had been hurt in the three weeks and everyone of them had been healed by me. There were no unbelievers here but they were not acting that oddly to me. I worked beside them but paid their wages. I ate what they ate but healed them. I was tired sometimes and showed it. My temper got away from me on occasion but I apologised after. They didn't seem to mind much.

The sawmill was planned as an educational toy to show people how it worked and by in large it was successful in this. Safety was much more important to me than to the workers. By the end of three weeks the rest were beginning to think for themselves or I would be on their back as the safety officer.

The girls had to throw the lead weight to record the depth as well as recording the contours of the river even though this had already been done. I intended to change the way the girls looked on life and gave them jobs normally given a man. Then again I showed the men how to cook and had them compete against the women. I just hoped that my two tomboys would be able to find suitable husbands. People were always odd.

We waved from the ship and many more waved back from the shore. Our steam whistle was put back into use and now the girls liked to use this along with their other duties.

When we came to where we docked before, we found the shore covered in people. Some were in full armour while mounted on horses. I looked closer and found the cadets and many more of the people I... loved I guess was the best word, from Hildestun. My pseudo sisters and Astrid stood with Fálki, Egill, Albrecht and Grímkell. There must have been a few left in Hildestun to mind the store.

We had difficulty turning the barge around and had to go down river a few kilometres and come back. I called out our intentions and Clovis nodded his head. I could see that he too was anxious to see what I had on the barge and investigate the barge and ship too.

People talked to us from horseback as we pulled the barge and they had to go fast and soon gave up this activity. Turning around was not easy and we had tie the barge to shore, slip the lines, turn the ship around and finally connect the lines once more.

We came upstream slower than down and I had to talk to all of my crew. They would know who was who because I was going to introduce them.

We tied up much quicker this time and without any theatrics or mud. I was the first off the ship and ran to Clovis. Part of me wanted to act like I was a boy and Clovis was my father and I let that portion rule and hugged the man. He hugged me back but I saw a questioning look in his eyes.

I went around and hugged and kissed those that needed it and hugged and shook hands for the rest.

The cadets I hugged all together for they were in a way my first family. I introduced the crew to Clovis and the family. Dagmar and Astrid gave the eye to Fianna and Lynet.

Instead of quenching my own desire I was compelled to talk about what had happened to me. Fidelis, Cing and Fib were here and part of the inner circle so I started from where Clovis left Hildestun instead.

Everybody had to get off their horses or at least get comfortable. They had to sit on the grass and my voice used to oratory had to be used so everybody heard.

I used names as much as possible and added the difficulty of dealing with them but also the good points. I did not know if Albrecht and Fálki had spilled the beans about powder so I pretended to do this with them standing guard and not knowing what I did. Cannon practice though was truthful and I talked about how bad some were but later mentioned some of their good shots.

The cadets were brought in and I mentioned how they made armour and weapons the proper way. The quarry was mentioned and I put in what I had made there in complete secrecy though the cadets knew differently.

The settlement of the dispossessed was covered next and the reasons for doing so. Humanitarianism was only part of this because I told my audience how different cultures, like what we had here today, would benefit all of us.

I described the destruction and capture of the legion and gave praise to the cadets again as well as the lancers. This lead to the Gauls I had captured and then their camp. I used the two methods to show that the Romans needed to be shown by death and destruction while the Picts could be peacefully converted. This pleased Gawain and Arthur because they were with the cadets and dressed the same as they were.

The reasons for my plan to lift the siege of Hildestun were given and then the way it was handled. Jón had been in charge here and I had to take the blame for the mistakes. The ambushes were listed and what we had done. I gave no casualty figures because I was not proud of this. 'Great many' was a term I used a lot.

The final battle was the most difficult to do and I gave what little of it I knew which was almost nothing. The damage to my head would destroy any short term memories I would have.

Later I gave a description of a wild human that was not very human, being nursed back to health by the Roman, Iulius. I talked now of the gods coming to me once more and curing me and clearing my mind. Much later they gave me memories that I had not known before. This was to explain about my new revelation about living sixty years in that other time.

The convalescence was long to me but I listed all of my wounds including the removal of my scrotum and most of my cock. The repairs that I had done to my body were attributed to the gods including the change in colour of my hair to represent a new beginning.

The next part would be difficult for Clovis and the other warriors so I prefaced this with a description of a world community based on trade. Rome had almost collapsed in the last century when cheap imports killed their businesses. This led to globalization in the fourth century.

I minimised what I had done in Germania Inferior but got the point across that I was casting iron and to a limited extent steel too. The houseware segment of my business was stressed and made sure everybody here knew that the Romans got no cannons made by me or any powder either.

My trip to Lutetia Parisiorum was said to be just expanding my markets and trying to get the Romans to see reality beside slaves and conquest. The slaves, schools, the people and the work had to be mentioned.

The surprising revelation that I could cure was told much more explicitly and I looked at the foreign priests most of the time. I listed my successes and how I was getting the people to believe in the old Norse gods. The god Aldúlfr was my mentor which put an entirely new wrinkle in the Norse religion.

My Tuesday healings and services were mentioned in a bit more detail and I said what I wanted to accomplish for those that listened and what the gods wanted done.

The brush with the pirates and the trip back up the Rhine were listed. The conquering of steam was recorded as the point when I could come back and bring with me the things we needed here. The school here was just a way of bringing the knowledge of the gods to those that lived here.

I took three hours to talk and now people had to leave to piss. Clovis came to me and said, "We have to talk."

"Let's go for a walk and bring the priests that know the truth."

He weighted my words and said, "We can do that."

It was difficult to get away and Clovis had to raise his voice. In a moment he said, "Tell me what you did not want told before."

"The last battle was truthfully not recorded by my mind, so all I know is what I am told. Most of the lifting of the siege was done by Jón not me. I was able to help some but the boy had to learn the same as any warrior does. He was over his head but still functioning. He had many good ideas and killed a lot of Gauls. I could have taken over but I loved Jón and wanted him to grow. He could not grow if he was too protected.

"At the end, we were hurt. I went into a coma because the damage to the head and brain. Long after the battle I came out to see what was happening and felt nothing but found pain like I had never experienced before. When I first woke up in Hildestun I worked on Jón's body to improve the sense of smell, sight and hearing. I used the same ideas to control the pain. This led to me actively repairing the body better than what the body would normally do.

"During this time, I searched for Jón but I could not find him. He may be in our head still but I do not think so."

"Jón is dead?"

"I think so. He has not shown himself in any way. The portion of the brain where he lived was damaged a great deal. I lived close and escaped most of the damage."

"You wanted a body and now you have one," he said angrily.

"I could have taken this body at any time but I did not. Fidelis talked about moving to another body but I think I could have done that if it was my wish. I am a friend of the next Augustus of the Roman Empire. I could take over his body and be powerful but I did not for many reasons. If I left this body it would die. There is nobody but me living here. Julian is a friend and I am trying to be an ethical person. I did not kill Jón but he almost killed us. He did kill himself and three cadets but most of the problems were with the rain not his skills."

Clovis was still angry and the priests now had to talk to him. I just hoped that they could talk some sense into him.

We walked back and while the priests and Clovis went off again I talked to the cadets. They had shining eyes and smiles but I still saw gaps in the line and tears came to my eyes. Their smiles faded and I asked about the final battle.

"Tell me all the details even if they are not kind. I need to know everything that happened."

Each of them gave their own rendition and I dug into some inconsistencies to find more. The battle I found was long and bloody and we suffered our first casualties. The lancers were killed to a man and Jón seemed to have gone crazy but then again I might have done the same thing.

This talk lasted another hour then they asked me about the gods and my healing.

Edana had a scar on her face and I said, "I can show you how it works if you want. Edana had a scar and I can remove it."

Edana hung her head and said, "I would rather keep the scar so I will always remember."

"It also shows that one scared little girl has turned into a battle-scarred veteran." She did not look up so I figured this was a more likely plausibility.

Each of the cadets were held by me and I searched out any problems. There were some diseases that I worked on but they would probably be defeated without my help. One though was special. Now was not the time to bring this up and I would see what I could do later.

We went aboard the ship and I showed them the engine and started a class just like in the old days. I reminisced about the old forge and then told them about the new one with the steam hammer, the train and the small locomotive that pulled the moulds around the track.

I took them to the barge and showed them what was in the hold. They liked the cannon and told me how the weapons were all taken from them by the men to use against the Gauls.

Klaasje said, "They don't even allow us to make the powder. We know a lot but they think they know everything."

I said, "Adults are like that. I was able to get away with it because I was letting them see new things. You are all warriors. They must respect you but they cannot help see you as too young to fight the way they did. For what it is worth, that will change as you get older."

We had a long overdue meal above in the rooms and the cadets had a chance to use the stove and the frypans. The family apart from Clovis was already here and I cooked for everyone. Prince Egill stayed near Dagmar so I figured that she was going to pursue a course that may lead to her being a a possible queen some day.

Astrid said, "Helga would love a device like this."

"There is a much bigger one below you for your home."

She had a big smile and said, "You always liked Helga a lot."

"She fed me, and boys are always hungry."

I offered to put up the family here and on the ship and Astrid diplomatically said, "We better check with your father first. He is acting strangely. Do you know why?"

"Yes, but I cannot tell you."

Dagmar and Prince Egill went to find out and came back with a sad look and said that they could stay here. Clovis must still be upset at losing his last son. He probably didn't understand that his son's body could still produce any needed heirs.

I insisted in having a watch and I paired myself off with Aagt though Dolf wanted this. Just before our turn came I whispered, "We have to talk even if that is against the rules." She looked at me seriously and nodded her head.

Later and in the dark is whispered to her. "Do you remember my talk about girls getting pregnant?"

She pulled back quickly and in a moment said, "Am I?"

"Yes."

She now moved forward and hugged me and started to cry. They were not tears of joy but people and especially women are odd. She finally pulled herself together and said, "Thanks for holding me. I was so afraid of this happening."

"Is Dolf the father?"

"Yes, I think but it could have been Klaasje or Tiebout. They are all important to me but Dolf would be the most likely."

"Aagt, I have the power to heal. The zygote is just started and looks to be just a month old. I can get your body to reject it. Nobody will know."

Her eyes were big but only I could see them. "Can you! Would you do this for me?"

"You are part of my family and I would do nearly anything for you. Do you want to have some more time to think about this?"

"No. Please do it now. A baby will be hard to deal with especially as I have to begin my education again."

"If that is your wish. Let me hold your hands." This was something new to me and I did what I must. In a moment I said, "Use some moss now as if it is your time."

"Oh, thank you... I want to call you something more than Jón now."

"Jón is best, Aagt."

We did the rest of the watch apart so we could both think but she really needed somebody to hold her.

The next day Dolf looked at me oddly. I did not know if he was angry at me for the way Aagt was acting differently. Aagt smiled one minute and nearly cried the next. In situations like this the girls protected their own.

The crew were given leave in the city and I had the cadets help me hoist the armour and weapons out of the hold with our portable crane. I brought out some of each size of cannon and laid them on the ground. The articles for the castle kitchen came out too but they were like the weapons and securely bound in wood cases.

The men were quick to come and investigate the cannons while the tools not relating to war were perused by the women. The cadets opened the boxes with care and checked out all the equipment.

Clovis did not come over but Fidelis did. He looked at everything quickly and then came to me. "Is it possible to have a short talk in private?"

"Uncles get a special treatment."

He smiled at this but then his smile left. I guess we were both thinking of Forni. We went on the same walk as yesterday and Fidelis asked, "Tell me more about your ability."

"I can see my body from the inside. With enough practice, I can see the small details. Where there are battles going on I am able to send more of my body's troops to that area to fight. I can martial other troops to do what is needed including changing the roots of my hair to produce a different colour. You never told me much about this when you were in Hildestun and I had to work out my own methods."

"I cannot do as you have done."

"I cannot call people from the future."

We both thought for a while and he said, "Can we learn from each other?"

"I don't see why not. You are much more secure now because there is a new religion out now and it teaches how its followers are to treat those of other faiths. Julian was told of his future but proof will only come from his cousin when he does what history said he did."

"Will this still happen since you are changing events?"

"I hope so but I am not sure."

"Will you look within me?"

"This is an abrupt change. I have to assume that there is something wrong."

Fidelis said nothing and we sat on the grass with me holding both of his hands. He had some type of shield that I had not seen before. I investigated it and found a way around. I was very carful to not miss anything and soon found a major battle going on. This had to be what Fidelis was worried about. This was in the liver and I closed off the blood going to and from that small area. There was more fighting going on in other places and in most places I could do the same thing. Some cancers were mobile and these had to be attacked differently.

I was surprised that when I pulled out the sun had moved quite a bit.

Fidelis said, "What did you do?"

"You had some form of protection but it was easy to get around. This was because I could see it fairly well and deduce its purpose and the way it was constructed."

"Really!"

"You had cancer of the liver and I cut off the flow of blood to just that area. The cancer cells are of no use to you so they are dying now. Your body will move in later and take them away. The cancer had spread to other areas and these too were treated. The cancers drifting around in your blood are being attacked. I think you may have a fever soon. You may spew up blood for a few days. I want to check again to make sure I got it all."

"Thank you... Do you want to be called Victor or Jón?"

"Jón is best."

"Then thank you, Jón. I was worried and thought I had less than a year to live."

"You are welcome Fidelis. What is the chance of getting Clovis cured so he can start on making more children?"

"That is a great idea. For some reason I had not thought of that. Possibly it was your father's age." He thought a bit and said, "Clovis is still angry but I think he is going to get over it. Doing so in the arms of a loving woman is the best."

Fidelis added, "Your body is that of his only son. A new son may inherit Clovis' crown."

"I personally have no right to the crown. Jón's body might but not Victor's. I would like to improve this world of ours and I need some standing in it but that can be as a religious leader. Managing a country or a group of people is not an easy task either. I am an engineer that makes chemicals not a political leader. I may lead some engineers in some projects but encouraging uneducated people to learn to count and read is not as easy or as appealing."

"I can understand that. I too have to work with the uneducated. They may be very good people but we usually have very little to talk about. I see that the two sisters that were with you were there for more than work."

"That is true in a way. They learned a great deal and have much more to learn. When the work is over though we have a chance to enjoy our bodies. There is nothing wrong with that. I talked to their father. They know I will not marry them. They will get the chance to meet interesting people and eligible men."

"I will go back and talk to your father or the father of your body if you will. When could we talk again?"

"We have lots of information to trade. I am going to be building a school though. How good are you at cutting wood?"

"Your father needs us less now."

"There is something else I have to say."

"What is that?"

"Julian was going to die in a few years while fighting the Persians. I want him safe and sound. He would have suppressed the Christians but I am only going to try to get laws passed that will separate the state from religion. The old gods will have equal footing with all other religions including Wodenism. Your religion may die out but it will not be from being inhibited by laws or threats."

"I can live with those kind of laws."

"Germans and the greater Germany I see in my mind will have to fight the Persians and others that threaten the new empire of Rome and Germany. Rome has gold and men while Germany has a very small army with cannons. We have to have a partnership. I want Rome to court Germany and Germany to want to be courted."

"I see what you mean and I think this is a wonderful idea. I do not think the secret of your powder will last very long. It is too valuable of a commodity."

"That may be true but there are many more powders. The one I made is the weakest of them all. Countries always spy on each others as men do. No matter what the outcome, the Germans are better fighters and the Romans better leaders. That is until the Germans learn to think like Clovis."

"So you are not going to take over the empire?"

"No. I am going to change it. The senate will be elected and do real work. All races will send representatives. Now the senate is just a club for rich Roman men."

"I think that too. I do not see how you will accomplish this without a war."

"This is easy. I educate everybody in the empire. They stand up one day and say they want a say in how things are run. All that oppose them will be a few very rich men."

"Those rich men can have you killed. They are not stupid."

"That is why I am going to have an army of old men and women with children and cripples to defend me. I am using religion the same way it has been used for thousands of years. I, at least, can tell you the truth. I just hope I have enough strength to keep the power I gain from corrupting me."

"I hope that too."

When we got back, we found the long barrel five centimetre cannon was taken to Clovis' tent. It took half of an hour until he came out of his tent. He had been drinking and looked like shit. I didn't think he got much rest. The death of his only remaining son was a heavy blow to take.

Clovis came to the pile of swords and beat some against a rock. He did so again from the side of the blade. He took another sword and stabbed and slashed at the armour as it the armour had killed his son. When it did not split he got angrier and beat it many more times until Fidelis pointed to the rows of cannon.

Clovis threw down the sword and compared the cannon to the ten centimetre bronze cannons I had made before. The ones I had now were not as flashy but they looked much more deadly for it.

I heard Clovis ask questions and soon Fidelis came to me and said, "Your father wishes to know how far they will throw a shell."

"I have no idea. I have not made powder and these cannons have never been fired. I have made shells though with my new explosives. Do you wish to test them?"

"I will find out."

Fidelis came back and said, "Clovis demanded that one of his patrols come. They have powder."

"There are farms all over this area. We do not have carriages for any of them. We might be able to change the barrels on the ten centimetre but it is better to make new ones. Perhaps there are some carpenters in Minden."

Fidelis whispered, "Why didn't you make them before?"

In my own whisper I said, "The barge was full with the things I brought."

A series of orders were given and men rode quickly to the city. In a half hour they brought some very frightened men back. I assumed they were carpenters but none of them had any tools with them. Fidelis got to them first and gave orders that they come to see me and do whatever I said. There were five men that where herded over to me.

"I am sorry for the way you have been treated. My father wants the three types of cannon mounted on gun carriages. I already have the wood sawn and laying on the deck of the barge."

One man said, "We never made a 'gun carriage'. Are they the things the warriors pull around?"