The Saga of Erik the Viking Part 1 An Explorer is Born

Like any young man of the fiercesome Bøårsk tribe of northern Sweden, Erik always aspired to become a famous viking warrior. But as he grew from being an adolescent to a grown man, he grew tired of the same old raiding, looting and pillaging of neighboring tribes. Pretty soon, he didn't want to be involved in any more raiding parties, but he went anyway, because he didn't want to arouse suspicion among the other warriors.

During quiet days, Erik started to wander around the surrounding areas of his home village, each day venturing a little farther. He found he loved these little explorations. And then one day, when there wasn't much more exploring to be done around the village, he went to the coast and looked across the vast expanse of water. What lies beyond those waters? he thought. His curiosity grew stronger each day. Between raids, he started spending more time with the tribe's fishermen as well, and became fascinated with their boats. Even going on a few fishing trips with them. He asked them all sorts of questions on how to build boats, how to fish, how to navigate...he wanted to know everything!

He quickly became good friends with the fishermen. But then he said something that shocked them all. "I want to see what lies beyond these waters. Maybe there are faraway lands that no one has seen before." A stunned silence followed. One of the fishermen became upset, "YOU FOOL!" He pointed at the horizon, "CAN'T YOU SEE, THE WORLD ENDS THERE AT THE HORIZON. ONCE YOU GET TO THAT POINT YOU FALL OFF THE EDGE!! Also, before getting to that point SEAMONSTERS will eat you alive. We must never speak of such things again."

Having seen how he upset his friends, Erik decided to drop the subject. However, he wasn't convinced of seamonsters and of the horizon being the edge of the world. Besides, if they were right, he was one of the most fiercest warriors of the Bøårsk tribe, he didn't fear seamonsters. Also, he figured if the edge of the world was the horizon, he thought he could always turn around before he got there.

With each day this urge to explore the open seas became stronger, and he had his fishermen friends help him build a boat, he told them it was for short fishing trips. He started planning for his long trip. He estimated how much food he would need, the types of clothes he would wear on the voyage, the weapons he would take, he even planned to take a gift of a pig's head with him as a gift to present to the people he might meet in those faraway lands. He decided he would soon embark on his voyage of exploration. One night while the Bøårsk warriors were celebrating a succesful raid of a nearby rival tribe, Erik decided to share his decision with the tribe.

"Fellow tribesmen," he yelled, "I have made a big decision, I've decided to explore the wide open seas with my new boat." The crowd murmured, didn't he know of the dangers of seamonsters?! "I shall go next week. I know of the dangers, but I shall be well prepared. But, I realize that I may have a very small chance of survival. But do not be worried, Once I reach the faraway lands I believe may be across the horizon, I shall claim these lands in the name of the Bøårsk tribe, and we shall be the most powerful tribe in all of Sweden. Before I go, I shall make a sacrifice of a 1,000 cows to ødin. Do not try to change my mind, I've made my decision and it's final." The tribe knew that once Erik made a decision, it was fruitless to try and argue with him. His father thought he was foolish, but he was proud of his son's bravery. The next day, Erik started making preparations...to be c0ntinued.