Vikings, he thought. That would be what they’d looked like in their longboats, fighting for their family. Did female Vikings fight? He had no idea, but it wouldn’t surprise him.

‘We’re getting closer. Do you see the lights?’ Ninni had to yell to be heard.

Jack turned his head. He spotted a few lights, blinking through the rain. ‘That’s Haugesund? Are you sure?’

‘That’s the town, yes.’

Jack checked on the dog again. He was listless. ‘You’d better hurry up then,’ he said.

Ninni didn’t say anything. The boat seemed to fly across the water.

Chapter 14

It took them another half an hour before the boat glided close to the harbour. They were below the edge and the concrete was lined with old tyres to protect the heavier boats when they moored.

Ninni grabbed hold of a metal ring hanging from the concrete.

Jack sat still, cradling the dog. He had no intention of standing up and falling into the black water. There were other boats close by, some tied directly to the concrete, others to each other. There were lights from houses on both the mainland and the two islands.

Over their heads was the bridge to Risøy Island.

Ninni secured the line and jumped off the boat. Jack discovered she stood on a narrow step. She pointed up.

‘The steps are slippery. Be careful when you climb out of the boat. I’ll go get a taxi.’

Jack held onto the dog for dear life and managed to get himself onto land. He stood for a second and looked around. There was no one in sight. Everyone was inside because of the rain, he figured. Now he also realised there were people in the boats. None of them paid any attention to him.

There had to be an anti-seasickness gene in these people, he thought.

He pulled back the hood of the raincoat and tried to see where Ninni had gone. There was no sign of her. Then he checked on Frikk. He was still breathing, but it was shallow and the wounds looked even more swollen.

‘She’d better get here soon, Frikk,’ he muttered.

When he turned around a car came down the road. It stopped next to him and Ninni threw open the door to the back seat.

‘Get in!’ she yelled.

The car sped off and Jack fell back against the seat. ‘Oof,’ he said.

Ninni looked at the bundle. ‘Is Frikk okay?’

Jack pulled down the corner of the blanket. ‘He’s not in great shape, but he’s still here.’

Ninni was fighting back tears. ‘I can’t believe he got into that thicket. I was just behind him. Damn curious idiot.’

‘How long until we get there?’

The driver answered. ‘A few minutes,’ he said.

He drove fast, so they were there in even less time. The veterinary surgery was fully lit.

Ninni opened the door and held it open for him. Jack realised she’d made no attempt to take Frikk from him.

Inside the surgery, it was nice and warm. A smiling woman dressed in surgical clothes came towards them and took a quick look at Frikk. The smile disappeared. ‘Follow me.’