The Island Pt. 03

They did have a custom-made aluminium casing made for the bodies and grave goods. It would eventually be sealed to preserve the conserved remains for eternity.

Now they just awaited the last pieces. It had taken some convincing, but eventually research institutes and museum had agreed to have casts of jewellery, armour, and weapons.

It was important to both Bryn and Sunny that the grave would end up being as

undisturbed as possible.

One evening in the spa, Bryn asked the archaeologists about the results.

Essi replied: "We have pretty much extracted what we can from the skeletons. They are four females and the youngest was about 28, and the oldest just over 40. They were in good physical shape and very strong. They also had a lot of old fractures and damages to their bones. Most of which can be attributed to some kind of violent action. We have several broken femurs, ribs and arms that had healed during their lifetime, judging from the condition they were in. As I said when we found them initially they were a tough lot. Not someone you would like to have an argument with."

"Well! How did they die and end up in our mound here?" Said Bryn.

"You know one had a damaged skull with a corresponding damage to her helmet. It has now been established that an axe or heavy weapon struck across the front of her face. Definitely a mortal blow. Number two had the side of her rib-cage damaged by what is believed to be a sword. Several ribs had aligned and clean-cut surfaces. Number three had a skull that was bashed in by a nasty pointed weapon. Maybe a kind of axe or hammer. The last one proved to be a bit of a conundrum.

At first look she seemed undamaged, but then Essi shook her cranium and it gave a strange, rattling sound. We had it X-Rayed and there was a pointed, triangular piece of iron inside the skull. Probably a spear point. Then we looked closer and it seems like she had had a spear thrust through her left eye and into her brain. Then the tip of the spear must have broken off."

"Poor women," Bryn said. "What a way to die! Any other 'fun facts' you have

discovered?"

"Yes. They each had a small leather pouch round their necks. We have had the contents examined and they will be restored and given back to them as soon as we get the last bits back from the labs."

"I suppose it was the only personal items on any of them then?"

"If you don't count their weapons and armour all of an excellent albeit worn and repaired quality, then yes! In the pouches we have found Byzantine coins, a couple of gold rings, lucky charms in the shape of small bones from animals, and a few pieces of jewellery. Some Nordic, some from faraway places."

"Ok. I am sure you will put everything back as it was. We want them to go back to their peaceful eternal sleep."

"Of course. We have photos that we use to place everything quite precisely and may I suggest, we have a little ceremony when we are done and before we cover the grave again. I am sure their Gods will appreciate that."

"Of course. That will be very appropriate."

--

Next day two major events happened on the island. First Sunny came back red-faced and excited, and told Bryn she had been to the Church and found the old registry and volumes, which would provide her with many hours of interesting studies, and the Vicar had generously let her take the tomes along on promise of returning them after use.

The second thing that happened was that Aino and Essi had been to the last unexplored corner of the island. They had found a very old and very large oak tree and suspecting activity around the tree, they had used their metal detectors and found some buttons and buckles that were definitely medieval. They had also found the ruin of a smaller brick build house with the remnants of a rusty construction of some kind almost next to it. This was definitely modern and they wanted to examine both sites as soon as they had finished with the Viking mound.

For some weeks everyone was busy with their own interests.

Then came the day of the closing of the mound.

They gathered an early, sunny morning and Aino led the ceremony.

First she raised her hands in the air: "We call upon the Gods. We call upon Freja. We ask for forgiveness for disturbing these four brave warriors and now we will commit them to their grave again - and may no man or woman ever disturb them again. We are grateful to have had this chance to look into their lives and wish them eternal joy in Valhalla."

She lowered her hands, took out a small knife. Punctured the tip of her right index finger and let blood drip into the grave. Then she stepped back and handed the knife to Sunny: "May you rest in eternal peace - and thank you once again!" She also punctured her index finger and dripped blood into the grave.

Bryn and Essi made similar statements and also dripped a little of their blood into the grave.

Then they helped each other closing the large aluminium lid and sealing it.

It took the whole day to cover the grave again. At sundown they had placed the last turf and smoothened the surface. Then they dragged the rune stone to the top, and placed it exactly like it had been originally.

They left the packed tent, scaffold and other excavation gear to be taken home the next days.

As they walked away, Sunny turned to Bryn: "You know something strange about this corner of the island, Bryn?"

"Apart from having four shield maidens buried here, no my dear. What?"

Sunny pointed back at the mound: "It is the only place on the island we have Ravens."

"Might be coincidental. Maybe the conditions are best for them here?"

"I'm not at all sure about that," Sunny said as they turned and walked away. Followed by the squawking of the Ravens in the nearby trees.

That night Sunny again had strange dreams. Everything was pitch black and then a small pin-sized light appeared in the middle.

The light grew and came closer and turned into a blazing shine. Filling her brain.

Strange shadows moved in the light, and she could not see or identify the shapes.

Slowly the moving and flickering light turned into a number of figures. All were smiling.

From the centre one figure stood out and from its wide open mouth words seem to come without the lips moving: "I'm Vigdis. The Rune-maker. We thank you for taking care of our friends. May you be forever blessed."

The figures stared a slow, rotating dance. It grew wilder and wilder until they disappeared in a spiral like water running out of a sink, leaving only blackness.

She woke covered in sweat.

Slipped silently out of bed and had a tepid shower before cuddling close to Bryn in the bed again.

She was not going to tell anyone. Bryn already thought she had an 'over sensitive' mind, and would probably have some 'natural' explanation, which she definitely did not think was the reason for her dream.

Chapter Twenty-Eight - 1943 AD - Friends and Enemies

by o_girl © 2024

"Get up, Lillian. Time to rise and shine."

"Hmph. Already my time again?"

"Yes, and I made you a nice "Island dinner". Come and get it while it is hot."

"Steak, Yorkshire pudding and veggies again?" Lilian giggled.

"Sorry my dear: Spam, baked beans, dry bread and eggs."

"Oh. Well! What have we done to deserve such a life in luxury?"

While they small-talked and made more jokes, Lillian got out of bed and into her khaki boiler suit and stuck her feet in the clumsy and heavy boots.

Susan undressed and crawled up and into the top bunk bed.

As she moved to the table in the middle of the room, Susan cried after her: "Don't forget your tin hat and gas-mask, dear!"

She picked them up from the floor by her bed, went to the table and sat down.

The meal was as uninspiring as announced, but at least hot. She gave the white-yellow jelly mass made from egg powder on one side of the plate a few pokes with her fork, but then dug into it. It was food.

There were four of them. Lillian, Susan, Lois, and Melanie. They were posted on this desolate bump of an island off the main coast and lived in a one room, quickly erected brick house.

Just outside stood a metal observation tower poking up into the air. A little to the side and just on the edge of the low cliff was their cannon. Behind sandbags and pointing out over the sea.

The gun was a 6-pounder relic from the last war, and was worn down even before they got it.

They had had some firing exercises and tried to hit a float placed about 500 metres out in the water for that purpose. Since the barrel was so worn they never actually hit the float, but the Gunnery Sergeant that instructed them had just shook his head and returned to the mainland again.

They also had a Lewis machine gun. Also, more of an antique than an efficient modern weapon, and of course they each had a standard issue Lee Enfield rifle.

Their job was to do a 24-hour watch over the sound between the island and the mainland.

They reported by radio once every evening.

For a very long time there had been nothing to report and the days went by monotonously in six-hour shifts.

Lilian finished her meal, tied her red hair in a ponytail, put her helmet on and grabbed her gas-mask.

She poured the last of the thin tea into a thermos, went outside and climbed the tower.

It was a full moon and vision was clear all around. Not much chance of anyone with the full use of their senses would try to sneak through the sound or in the open water on the other side of the island.

It was all dreary routine. Nothing ever happened.

She placed her things in the usual places on the little bench and on the floor. Then did a quick scan of the horizon with the binoculars and sat down with a cup of tea.

It was a chilly evening and it was going to be a long six hours before midnight when she could climb down and get some sleep.

In the full moon and as the sky was clear she could see the village on the mainland even though the blackout did not make it possible to distinguish anything in detail.

She followed her usual system: Every time her head began nodding, she got up and made another check of the empty sea with the binoculars.

It was almost midnight when something caught her attention. At first, she had passed it with the binoculars, but then something made her swing them back.

She blinked and strained her eyes and was not sure. Found the small rag they all had in their pockets and wiped the lenses of the binoculars. Then took another look.

She pointed the binoculars at a small, black point in the distance.

The point grew as it came closer. Very slowly, but soon she could clearly identify the conning tower of a U-boat sailing in surface mode.

She was happy they had passed the identifying course, so she almost immediately knew it was an enemy one.

The profile was just like one of the types she had seen on the instruction pictures at their basic course.

It was clearly in trouble: Sailing very slowly and in surface mode. The small waves behind were replaced by the smooth surface of a long slick of diesel oil tracing after the hull.

She grabbed the handrails for the stairs on each side, lifted her legs up and placed the boots on the smooth surface of the rails. Then slid down in one fast movement.

"Hey girls. Wakey, wakey! The enemy is here. Get up!"

The three more or less sleepy and swearing women climbed out of their bunks and into their boiler suits.

A few minutes later they were all in the observation tower. Taking turns with the binoculars.

"It is leaking fuel. Look at the stream behind it. Maybe that's why it is in surface mode and sailing very slowly. I think they are trying to sneak by close to us?" Said Lilian and handed the binoculars to Susan.

"Yes, and I can read the side of the conning tower U534. It's definitely an enemy. What do we do now?"

Go into action," Melanie said. "Susan go try if someone is listening to the radio. We'll get the cannon ready. Let's move. On the double, girls!"

They all slid down on the railing in fast succession.

Lillian pulled the cap off the muzzle, jumped over the sandbags, and sat down on the left side of the cannon. She tore the canvas bag off the aiming device and tried turning the handles a few times. It seemed to work smoothly in all directions.

Melanie and Lois ran the few meters into the forest. To the sandbag hideout where their ammo was kept.

The shells were two to a wooden box. They grabbed two of the boxes, rushed back to the gun and broke open the lids.

They could hear Susan faintly in the house using their calling signal, but as it was around midnight no reply was heard. Susan cursed and started over again and again.

Melanie went and got the Lewis and its bag of magazines, while Lois sat down on the other side of the cannon and tested her levers and handles.

Lillian whispered: "We'll wait till it is right outside here. Then let's go for the conning tower. Seems to be the easiest part to hit. Ok?"

Melanie whispered a faint 'OK' back.

She was testing the height adjustments, while Lilian did the left-to-right one.

Melanie turned the lever on the lock at the back of the cannon 45 degrees and swung it open. Grabbed a shell and pushed it in the barrel. She was careful not to make too much noise in the quiet night. She tapped Lillian on the top of her helmet gently as a sign that all was ready.

They all tensed up.

The U-boat was now around 200 metres from them and the low hum of its diesel engine was clearly heard across the water. They could also see a couple of persons with binoculars in the conning tower.

"OK. Here we go!" Lillian pulled the lever and the world exploded in a cloud of cordite. Melanie opened the breech and cursed as she broke two nails and burnt her fingers removing the used shell case. Then shoved another shell in, and locked and tapped Lilian on the head.

"Bloody hell! We missed!" Lillian cried out.

The shell had passed close by the conning tower and created a pillar of water where it landed. The U-boat came to life. People started pouring on to the deck and it was obvious that a group was trying to get the aft machine gun and the front cannon ready.

Melanie grabbed the Lewis and crutched down by the sandbags on the side of the cannon as she shouted out: "Susan! Drop the bloody radio and get your ass out here! Now!"

She sprayed a whole magazine indiscriminately over the conning tower and on each side. Then reloaded and emptied another magazine.

It had the desired effect: Shouting and screams rang out over the water and a couple of persons fell into the water, others collapsed on the deck, but the remaining few continued their frantic work with the weapons.

Lillian pulled the lever once more and this time it was a hit. The exploding shell hit between the conning tower and the hull in a big flash of lightning. The U-boat tilted slightly from the impact.

Lilian looked over her shoulder and saw Susan working hard to open the second box of shells and getting one loaded into the cannon.

"Come on, come on. Be quick, girl!" Lillian almost jumped up and down on her seat impatiently until Susan slammed a flat hand on her helmet. Then she pressed the lever once more and this shell exploded on the side of the U-boat just below the conning tower.

The crew had abandoned their efforts to get the cannon and machine gun ready. Now they were trying to bring a rubber dinghy up through an open hatch on the foredeck.

They almost had it inflated and into the water, when a small flame erupted from the side of the hull. Then everything happened fast. The flame grew and ignited the diesel spill around the U-boat and the sea became a flaming inferno. The rubber dinghy

disintegrated and men screamed and jumped into the burning sea.

It was a scene from hell.

Even after the U-boat had stuck one end high into the air and then slipped down under in a gush, the water kept burning.

Slowly the sea went silent. One by one the sailors either drowned or were burned to death.

The girls on the island knew that they had no chance of running to the sandy beach, starting up the 4HP engine on their small aluminium boat and sail round the island and save some of the doomed sailors.

So, they just sat in silence in the remaining whiffs of cordite. Watching people die.

They left the gun as it was, took the remaining shell back to the storage in its box, grabbed the Lewis and walked back slowly and in silence to their brick hut.

They left Lillian in the observation tower to finish her shift and keep an eye on the ocean.

Just once she used the binoculars to look at the wreckage and corpses drifting in the water. Then she leaned over the edge of the tower and threw up.

For the short remainder of her shift, she just sat freezing and shocked.

--

None of them slept for the rest of that night, and at first daylight Susan and Lillian went and got their little dinghy and sailed over to the site of the wreckage.

They picked three bodies out of the water. All wearing life vests, and all badly burned and smeared in oil. The rest had either sunk or drifted past the island into an unknown fate in open water. They left the debris and wreckage where it was.

None of them said a word.

Lois waited for them as they landed and together they lifted the three bodies out and placed them beside each other on the sand.

Lois said what they all thought: "They are so young....and we killed them...."

No one had any answer and they stood for a while.

Then a faint hissing sound came from one of the corpses.

"That one is alive I think!" Lillian kneeled and wiped his face with her handkerchief.

"If he is it probably won't be for long," Melanie said.

"We'll see. Give me a hand and try some heart massage!"

Susan and Lois pulled his life vest off and ripped his shirt open. Then they took turns in doing a series of rhythmic presses on his chest.

Lillian wiped more oil off his face and started slapping him: "Come on! Breathe! Breathe! You bloody idiot!"

"Keep going, keep going", Lillian slapped his face harder and the two others now joined forces from each side of his chest and moved up and down with increasing speed.

Just as they were going to give up, a gargle came out of his mouth, followed by some dirty water and then he started coughing.

They stopped and turned him sideways. He threw up in the sand and coughed again.

Lillian sat up in a kneeling position and got his head in her lap.

He was obviously breathing now but with a nasty, rasping sound.

Lines of oil filled water ran out of the side of his mouth. Made dirty stripes on his cheek and the legs of Lillian's boiler suit.

"Check the other two!"

Susan and Lois tested for pulse, heartbeat, breathing or signs of life. There were none and they could not decide if the cold skin and the discolouration was from the oil spill, or if they were cold and dead.

After a few minutes of trying they gave up and carried the two bodies into the cave and went to get their standard issue stretcher from the hut.

Lillian stayed with his head in her lap. Her handkerchief was now so wet and soaked with oil that there was no point in trying to wipe him clean. That would have to wait till they got him back to the hut.

His strained breathing seemed to have s steady rhythm now and even though he coughed in short intervals, his chest moved up and down slowly.

Back at the hut they put him on the table and undressed him. Then got the kettle boiling on their little stove and washed him down all over with carbolic soap.

He was breathing a lot better now. His chest moved visibly up and down. Still very slowly.

They wrapped him in blankets, lifted him off the table and on to one of the lower bunks.

Leaving Lillian behind to watch over him, the others went down to the cave and sewed the other two into each a bag made of surplus canvas from their store room.