Catla and the Vikings by Mary Nelson Page B

water before the village? We haven’t got…”
    â€œEnough, enough.” Hugh’s voice held a command.
    Edith sounded exasperated. “We’ll follow Catla’s path. Listen to the girl! She may be young, but she knows what she is talking about.”
    â€œNow, now, don’t fret yourself, Edith,” Hindley said.
    Hugh cut off further discussion. “We’re going to use Catla’s idea.” He asked her to go over the plan again, and this time she felt more confident. There weren’t any objections when she was finished. A few people patted her on the back.
    â€œI agree that Catla’s plan is sound, but what if a few of us who know about nets go around by the cove and gather their nets to use like we did at Aigber?” Matthew asked. “Catla, do the fishermen leave their nets by the shoreline?”
    Catla nodded.
    â€œYes,” Hugh said, after a pause while he considered the idea. “Good thinking, Matthew. Get a small group and plan it. Come at them from the cove side. Anyone else have another idea?”
    â€œWhat about a few of us using Sven’s path to make sure none of them escape over the heath?” Rufus, the smith, asked.
    â€œGood. We’ll discuss any changes at the standing stones,” Hugh said. “Now, go and talk it over with everyone, especially the guards. Everyone should know the exact location of the peat hut, the goat pen, the clearing and the path.”
    â€œIf you think of anything, we need to hear about it now before we begin,” Edith said. “Don’t keep your worries, fears or ideas to yourself. We have one chance to make this work. Everyone is part of it.”
    â€œOne thing has occurred to me,” Catla said. “When we reach the standing stones, we should gag our prisoners so they don’t yell warnings.”
    â€œThat’s the idea. This is what I mean,” Edith said. “Speak out if something occurs to you. It doesn’t matter if others have thought it, saying it out loud helps us think of everything.”
    â€œCatla, thank you,” Hugh said. “We’ll see to that. Matthew, do you have wadding and extra lengths of leather thongs?”
    At Matthew’s nod, Hugh waved his arm in dismissal. “Aye. You know what to do. Make sure everyone understands what will happen when we arrive in Covehithe.”
    Some people’s eyes grew wide and wary, while other folks narrowed theirs to slits, but everyone seemed satisfied. They knew the dark would help them by hiding their movements, but Catla wondered if anyone dreaded being out of their cottages at night. Did they fear the unseen like some of the people in her village did? Catla had felt that fear last night. Thinking about her mother had helped her sleep, finally. This night many people would keep each other safe. Would she hear the wolves howl under the roof of the stars in a plaintive chorus? This would be her family’s second night in the goat pen. Would they post their own watch? Would the women rub themselves with goat’s turds so they were repellent to the Nord-devils?
    Mother had told her stories of famous women warriors like Queen Boudicca, who had won battles against the Roman centurions. Mother said it gave her courage when she went into battle, to know other women had done the same thing. Aethelflaed, Queen of Mercia, had led her army to battle and won. Mercia lay some miles to the south of them on the other side of the River Humber, but close enough that Mother felt connected. Thinking about those brave women now gave Catla courage. Mother and Father would be doing everything in their power to keep the family and villagers safe. Surely the slave-raiders would keep them whole and strong. Oh, if only she knew for sure. Her heart pounded again, and she tasted bile. Tears threatened to gush until she shook her shoulders. Do not give in to these evil fears. No one is aided by them , she told herself. She