by Per Holbo
Chapter 15: A new life
Tjalfe and Roeskva were ready in the lab, where Sif was preparing a machine in the middle of the room. She was crying and the kids concluded that she was probably upset because they were about to be separated again. They had mixed feelings. On one hand, they were sad to say goodbye to all of their new found friends, but on the other hand they looked forward to coming home to Earth, although everything would be very different than they were accustomed to.
”Hi, kids, are you ready yet?” Thor had just come through the door and stood gazing with pride at Tjalfe and Roeskva. They had been through so much together and Thor felt like a father to them.
”Yes, I think so,” nodded Tjalfe with a mushy voice. He looked Thor in the eye and asked him to take a message to Baldur, who had been called back to Asgard to be instructed on how to operate the new, big battleship and they hadn´t had a chance to say a proper goodbye. At Thor´s withdrawal the council had chosen to name the ship ”Miolner,” but he was nevertheless pleased to have both Baldur as his first officer and Freya as a security officer. Loki was put on another and apparently super secret assignment for the Aseir security service. At least that´s what they thought since he hadn´t said anything about where he was going and he had even declared that he had no clue what he was meant to do. That last bit was probably a truth with some exceptions. Loki usually knew how to acquire information about such things, despite the fact that he didn´t have the proper clearing.
”And Loki,” Roeskva said, ”you must say goodbye to Loki for us. Please tell him, we said hi and thank you for taking good care of us while we were aboard the Brimir.”
”I will,” Thor replied and then turned his eyes to Sif, who had finished setting up the machinery. She pointed towards one of the chairs. Roeskva was first to be put to sleep. Sif tucked down the helmet on the head of the girl and connected the cables.
”Is it going to hurt?” Roeskva wanted to know. Not because she was scared or feared pain. She just wanted to know so she could prepare for what was about to happen.
”No,” Sif said with tears running down her cheeks, ”you won´t feel a thing. The machine just reads everything you have experienced since you were born, and then it store it all deep inside your subconscious.”
”Is this really necessary?” Tjalfe asked Thor, ”I mean... I really think we have shown that we are pretty good at keeping a secret.”
Thor tightened his lips together and looked lovingly at Tjalfe.
”I know, Tjalfe,” he replied, ”but it would be way too hard for you to live a fairly normal life a thousand years after, you were born, if you remember everything that happened here. At some point your frustration will grow to an extend where it would be almost impossible for you not to reveal yourselves. We can´t take that chance. The Yetten will be over you in no time if they find out where you are - or, in other words: when you are.”
Tjalfe knew it already. Thor was right, it was just hard to imagine a life where they could not remember who they were. Would they even exist anymore? Were their experiences and memories not an essential part of who they were? He felt as if he was about to die as his personality vanished. But it wasn´t the worst of it all.
”Yeah, but ... I can´t cope with the idea that Roeskva and I aren´t going to be together, ”he said, wiping his cheek, ”we won´t even be able to recognize each other on the street... ”
”I know,” said Thor fatherly, ”and I wish it could be different, but if we put you together ...”
”Then our subconscious comes to the surface, I know ... You've said it before, Thor .... But still... ”
”Tjalfe, you will still have your personality,” Thor tried to comfort him, ”it will come to the surface because it is who you are. And everything you have experienced, including all that has happened these past few weeks, will remain inside of you. You will still be you. ”
Thor grabbed his shoulders the way his father used to when he wanted to assure him of his love.
”And I promise you, Tjalfe. I will work like crazy to find a way to prevent the Yetten from abducting you again. And as soon as I succeed, you can come home to your parents again, I promise!”
Tjalfe shook his head.
”If you succeed, Thor, if...”
”Oh, I will, Tjalfe, you have my word!”
Tjalfe nodded and hoped fervently that Thor would take it as a sign that he believed in him. The last thing he wanted was to discourage Thor, so he did everything he could to hide the truth. The truth that he knew better. If Thor had ever found a solution in the future, he would have gone back and give them the serum, so they did not need to be stuck in a time that was not theirs with a family, they did not know and in a world that would be so far from their own that it was beyond their imagination. He tried to smile as he sat on the chair next to his sister, but it struck him so hard that he could not help but wonder if Thor had noticed how his body language revealed his thoughts.
Sif rigged the equipment on him, just as she had done with Roeskva and then she took a few steps back.
”I will miss you,” she said and rushed forward to give them both a motherly hug. It lasted quite long and Tjalfe enjoyed every moment before Sif let go and Roeskva got the same treatment.
”We won´t miss you, unfortunately,” Roeskva said, ”we won´t even remember you. But still, you will always be in our hearts. Whatever this machine does to us, I´m sure love can´t be stowed away.”
”No, love can´t be stowed away,” Sif smiled through her tears and then she kissed her palm and blew it their way.
Sif went into the next room and looked at them both through the glass. From here she had to operate the machine, making sure it worked as it should, without affecting Thor and herself. When she had gone behind the glass, Thor stepped up to Tjalfe and whispered in his ear.
Tjalfe smiled and his smile rubbed off on Roeskva, who was now quite confident. She had no idea what Thor had whispered in her brother´s ear, but whatever it was, she knew it was something good.
Thor´s face appeared behind the glass next to Sif, who grabbed a microphone and spoke into it.
”Are you ready?” She waited for their nod and started the machine.
The last thoughts going through Tjalfe´s mind was the words Thor had whispered into his ear. It made him happy and he knew that Thor, Sif, Freya, Baldur and Loki would forever be his friends. And this certainly wasn´t a bad thing. Imagine having both Aseir, Vanes and even a Yetten for friends. That´s more than he could ever have hoped for less than a year ago.
”I was told to say goodbye from a mutual friend with a scar on his cheek,” Thor had whispered to him, ”and he asked me to tell you, that we will meet again sometime. And it will be before you know it. Remember, Tjalfe ... We will soon meet again... ”
***
About the author
Per Holbo lives in Denmark, Europe, with his wife and four children. Skrymer´s Glove is his first full novel.
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