Viking Camp
Mark Fitzgerald
Copyright 2010 by Mark Fitzgerald
Smashwords Edition
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Chapter One
It was to be spoken of for fifty years to come. Twenty years already now, since it happened, it is retold to each incoming group their very first night. It was historic. It was heroic.
But we'll get to that part later.
First, we have to do what they call in high school English, "the exposition of the antecedent action". I have to tell you about the things that happened before "it". The other things that happened on that island in Texas.
Two summers before, Parker took the job, not to be part of the rugged outdoors but, to be close to Carla; who was also going to spend five blistering weeks at this Boy Scout camp by a lake in North Texas. As were a good half dozen other theatre students from Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth.
Not that they saw much of each other over the five weeks, in the end.
The program had a number of "outposts" which the Scouts would visit, one after the other, until they had completed their week in the wilderness. Parker's was "Viking Camp".
Parker didn't know "jack" about Vikings. That was the province of Steve. Steve was the college professor who came to the island every year to teach the boys and girls all about Vikings; just as he did for university students the rest of the year. But at Viking Camp you also ate like a Viking. And slept like a Viking . And probably smelled like a Viking. AND you fought like a Viking…. to the death!
That first year Parker was the second in command, after Steve, and before his three assistants. Which meant he did most of the hard work. The hard work was clearing the battleground of the last years undergrowth and cutting the paths to the porta potties for a week before the first campers arrived. Followed, for five weeks, by preparing two meals a day for forty starving boys and girls, teaching forty boys and girls how to wield swords and shields and engaging them in combat on the training day and on the day of the "battle"
That was the program. Campers arrived at 2:00 in the afternoon; all conveyed to the island by canoe from the mainland. All afternoon was spent training them in the use of the swords, lances and shields; while keeping an eye on the huge cauldron of ham and barley as it festered over the open flame of the fire pit. Oh, and keeping an eye on the fire. It gets dry in Texas; lakeside or otherwise.Watch those campfires.
Parker by his own admission was not so effective a Viking warrior. He could explain it well enough. He talked a good game but he was vulnerable so, he had a plan that worked every single day.
As he told the tales of Viking lore and suited up the kids in their heavy vests and helmets, he keep his eyes open to determine who, among all the boys, thought he was the toughest. When they had all been shown the ropes, Parker announced it was time for a demonstration. "Who wants a piece of me?" Parker would taunt. And, before anyone could reply (know one ever volunteered anyway) he would point out the "tough" guy. And give him a good whipping. Which was easy at this stage. Probably harder in the following morning, if a rematch were made.
The next morning was the "battle". Half of the combatants would defend the beach. Half would arrive in the authentic but scaled down wooden Viking Warship; that Parker and his assistants would row out to sea fully loaded with warriors and then right back to shore to meet the defensive might of the islanders.