The Great Experiment

When I was chosen for this voyage, I received accolades from friends and family alike. My crew-mates and I hadn’t even left on this great adventure and people talked of our prodigious courage, unflappable demeanor, and boundless desire to explore the unknown. In reality, we are just a group of people with specific skills, setting out to do something no one else had done.

Ingolfur, our captain, made no promises but hinted at the opportunity to garner great wealth. All we had to do was cross a body of water and claim what was on the opposite shore. Of course, not knowing exactly where that shore is in relation to the edge of the world is worrisome, but that’s why I’m part of the crew. I am the only person in our clan that has figured out how to interpret the North Stone.

I’ve attached this magic stone to the end of a piece of rawhide lacing. When I let the stone dangle from the lace it always points to the North Star, even when it’s being hidden by the clouds. Some say the stone is cursed, but I say it’s a gift from Odin himself. Where it came from really isn’t as important as the power it possesses.

The day of departure has arrived. Our longboat, constructed of sturdy oak and fully provisioned, is launched into the cold sea, every man straining against his oar as we free ourselves from the churning surf. No man is the ocean’s master, but we have learned to take advantage of the good days and survive the bad. Only the sea monsters, some longer than our longboat, will keep us from our destination.

Seven days have passed since we last made landfall in Eire where we pillaged a Celtic village for supplies. The Celts are good fighters but no match for the fury we unleash on our opponents. It felt good to be on solid ground, but the respite was short and seven days have passed since then. Some of the more superstitious crew members have expressed concern about sailing over the edge but Ingolfur will not be persuaded to turn back. The vastness of the roiling ocean surrounding us, we press on into the unknown.

On day ten an agitated sea erupts into a tempest of such enormity even our captain shows signs of concern. No safe harbor in sight, we desperately cling to our craft praying to Oden for relief. Two days passed before the storm subsided with the rising of the sun. The lookout climbed the mast and hollered down, “Land Ho.” Beaching our craft took skill as the water was still agitated from the waning storm and the shore was strewn with boulders. Once everyone was ashore, we gave thanks to Odin and explored our new home.

Virgin forests, volcanic rock-strewn plains, bubbling hot springs, flowing lava streams, and glaciers dotted the landscape. Ingolfur surveyed this new and untouched land and declared it his new kingdom. Many more trips followed my initial voyage as the rest of our clan along with livestock was transported to our new home. The ocean was accommodating for most of the voyages but exacted a tragic toll on others. Our great experiment was a success and flourishes as Iceland today.