The Age of Odin - James Lovegrove [129]
"Odin will already be mounting a defence," Freya went on. "We should get back there and join in. That's where we can be the most useful."
So we belted off in the direction of the castle. Freya led the way unerringly, and we soon overtook the mega-tank, which was going at little better than walking pace. It must have weighed several hundred tons, and no engine, however large, could move that much bulk at any decent speed. On foot we outstripped it easily, and we were back at the castle well before it got anywhere near.
As Freya had predicted, preparations were under way to meet it. Everyone was out, and armed. The Valkyries were gunning their snowmobiles. Skadi was on her skis, fully recovered now and looking as sprightly and agile as she'd ever done. Odin was marshalling the troops to form a defensive perimeter, with secondary and tertiary lines behind.
Freya and I went straight up to him and told him that men and guns alone weren't going to cut the mustard.
"Have you seen this thing?" I asked.
"Not yet. Huginn and Muninn are aloft, but..."
"Trust me, it's not going to be bothered by bullets. Not even an RPG'll pierce its armour, I don't think. It's just... mammoth. I don't know if it's got firepower. Didn't see. It probably has. But even without, it could roll right over us and we'd be nothing but roadkill."
"What, then? What do you suggest?"
"There's only one possibility. Is Sleipnir prepped?"
"It can be."
"Shit. Then we'll need a delaying tactic as well. Can you spare some trolls?"
"Of course. How many?"
"Let 'em loose. As many as possible. While they're, hopefully, holding that machine up, we get a small unit to tackle it from the only direction no one'll be expecting."
"Which is?" asked Odin.
"Above."
Fifty-Two
Thor begged to come with us.
"Gid - friend Gid - you need me."
Sleipnir's pilots had been scrambled. We were expecting the Wokka to arrive at any moment to pick us up. In the background there was a low, ominous growl. The mega-tank was now no more than a mile from the castle, according to Odin's ravens, who'd just returned from their scouting mission.
"No, you belong here on the ground," I told Thor. "Best place for you."
"But I can help."
"Help by being the backup, the Plan B if Plan A fails, which it might well. You're one of our heaviest hitters, mate, if not the heaviest. Together with your brothers you can hold the line, if necessary pick up where we leave off."
"Surely -"
"You just can't be spared," I insisted. "A few mortal troops, on the other hand... Well, if we fuck up we won't be missed, will we?"
"Besides," said Odin, "someone has to wrangle the trolls."
"Is that not your job, father?"
"It's now yours, Thor. I shall be accompanying Gid and his men."
This was news to me, but I took it in my stride. He was the All-Father, after all. The guv'nor. What he said, went.
"I may be old," Odin continued, "but I remain a warrior. My heart still beats to the drum of battle."
"Father, no," said Thor. "If I can't be spared, then you certainly can't."
"My son." Odin laid a hand on his shoulder. He had to reach up to do it. "I must go. I have no choice. What Gid calls a 'mega-tank' is, I believe, an ancient enemy of ours brought to life in another form. In which case, it is incumbent upon me to fight it and defeat it, not you. This is what I am fated to do. It is written. So be it."
Thor puffed himself up, then deflated. The look in Odin's eye said argument was futile. His mind was made up.
"If this is really your wish, father, it cannot be gainsaid. I am your loyal, obedient son and have submitted to your will at all times."
Odin laughed, shaking his head. "No, you haven't. You have been the most wayward and headstrong of all my children, Thor."
Thor laughed too. "That is true."
"But you have also," Odin said, "been one of my proudest accomplishments. Every inch the