Norseman

The giant Norseman stiffened and fell back into the collapsed spice bin with a final wallop.

He is, appropriately, imposing — a strong-jawed Norseman silhouetted against the western sun, surrounded by monolithic rune stones inscribed with the names of Ballard’s Scandinavian immigrant families, for whom he is a symbol of cultural pride.

The Norsemen worshipped many gods and each of them had various characteristics, weaknesses and attributes.

With light hair and light eyes and a profile that any Norseman would be proud of.

But he isn’t yet persuaded they were Norsemen.