Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 17
“Butareyoucertain?”sheinsisted.“Tellmeaboutit.Whatisitlike—yourimmortality?”
AndwhenIhadtoldherofNiflheimandMuspell,ofthebirthofthegiantYmirfromthesnowflakes,ofthecowAndhumbla,andofFenrirandLokiandthefrozenJötuns—asIsay,whenIhadtoldherofallthis,andofThorandOdinandourownValhalla,sheclappedherhandsandcriedout,withsparklingeyes:
“Oh,youbarbarian!Yougreatchild!Youyellowgiant-thingofthefrost!Youbelieverofoldnursetalesandstomachsatisfactions!Butthespiritofyou,thatwhichcannotdie,wherewillitgowhenyourbodyisdead?”
“AsIhavesaid,Valhalla,”Ianswered.“Andmybodyshallbethere,too.”
“Eating?—drinking?—fighting?”
“Andloving,”Iadded.“Wemusthaveourwomeninheaven,elsewhatisheavenfor?”
“Idonotlikeyourheaven,”shesaid.“Itisamadplace,abeastplace,aplaceoffrostandstormandfury.”
“Andyourheaven?”Iquestioned.
“Isalwaysunendingsummer,withtheyearattheripeforthefruitsandflowersandgrowingthings.
