East

Neddy

THINGS HAPPENED very quickly after Harald Soren arrived.

Sara's health began to improve. She grew a little stronger each day, and before long she was joining us at table, her appetite restored. The doctor said she might always be more prone to catching cold but otherwise should live a healthy life. Mother was overjoyed, but she never said anything more to me about owing Sara's recovery to the white bear.

Father and Soren spent all their time together, poring over maps and charts.

One evening, after a long day spent shut up in the storeroom that served as Father's work area, they came into the great room, and I could tell at once from the expression on both their faces that something important had happened.

Father cleared his throat. "It has been decided ... that is ... Well, you ought to tell them, Harald."

"Of course. The long and short of it is that I am setting Arne up in his own business. The business of making maps," he said grandly.

Mother let out a glad cry, and Sonja and Sara went to Father, hugging and kissing him. I stayed where I was but gave Father a happy grin.

Soren laughed and barreled on. "I have spent much of the day trying to convince Arne that you should all move to Trondheim; I own a splendid house there that would be perfect for you, quite close to my own home ... But your father would not hear of leaving this farmhold, though I can't for the life of me figure out why."

I knew why. It was because of Rose. Father wanted to keep everything just as it was before she had left us.

"I will be honest in saying that I would much prefer the work to be centered in Trondheim," Soren continued, "but for the time being I have deferred to Arne. We have begun making plans for the storage room to be enlarged so that Arne will have an adequate workshop. And as soon as I return to Trondheim, I will order all the supplies Arne will need and have them transported by wagon."

Over dinner that night Father and Soren went on to tell us the rest of what they had planned for the mapmaking business.

"You know that ingenious little device that your father invented, the one he calls a strip map? Well, I want your father to make more of them, many more. Unless I am much mistaken, there is remarkable potential in those strip maps."

We were all well familiar with Father's strip maps, as were most of our neighbors. Each map was carved onto a narrow strip of wood and was thus far easier to consult than a large piece of vellum, as well as being considerably more durable. It showed landmarks, bends in the road, crossroads, and the like, and as such a strip map was ideal for short journeys, for well-traveled and possibly confusing routes between villages. Over the years Father had made many strip maps of the lands radiating out from our farmhold.

"I have even drawn up a contract." Soren held up a sheet of parchment. "It gives Arne a generous share of any profit that might accrue from those strip maps of his."

"Will you have to travel a good deal?" I asked Father, knowing how little he liked this aspect of the mapmaking business.

Father nodded.

"Oh yes, he will have to do a great deal of journeying," put in Soren. "I must insist on that. In truth it is my goal to eventually map all of Njord." He laughed. "I know, I know. Never let it be said that I lack for ambition."

I was surprised at Father's easy acceptance of this condition, given his strong dislike of travel, but he explained it to me later.

"I mean to search for Rose," he said.

"Then I will go with you," I said at once.

"No," he replied firmly. "You must stay here and watch over the family. You and Willem will run the farm. Soren has come up with a simplified plan of fewer crops that will mean less work. He has also promised new seed and a new, healthy plow horse."

And so, before we knew it, building had begun on Father's workshop, and Father himself had departed with Soren on the first of what was to be many journeys.

Several weeks later a whole wagonload of crates arrived with all the supplies Father required to start his mapmaking business. To my surprise and joy I found that tucked in among the inks and vellum and tools were some books for me. Apparently Father had told Soren of my interest in scholarly pursuits, and I marveled all over again at the kindness and generosity of this man who had become our guardian angel. We were indeed very fortunate.

Our neighbors must have been astonished at our sudden reversal of fortune, but they were happy for us. To thank neighbor Torsk for his previous generosity, Mother invited him to dinner when Father returned from his first trip, a journey that had been extremely productive mapwise but had yielded no clues as to where Rose had been taken by the white bear.

As Mother served a thick potato soup, Torsk earnestly congratulated us on our good fortune.

"You'll be able to send for Miss Rose now that things are going so well for you," he said with a large smile.

Father stood up suddenly and left the table, his face pale.

Mother tried to smooth things over, offering Torsk some bread. "Rose will indeed be returning to us soon," she said. "You know, I was just speaking with Widow Hautzig, who heard from a skjebne-soke down near Andalsnes that the winter will be a mild one..."

Father, who wasn't to have departed for a fortnight on his next exploratory journey, left the next morning. He assigned me the task of setting up his workshop and said he hoped to return with good news.