Chapter 6
The coroner released Number Nine's body a few days later. Captain Dogooder had informed Iceland's government of their situation. They promised to send some of their agents to help and to pick up their dead hero.
Stephanie was worried about Sportacus. He hadn't said much of anything for the past few days. Captain Dogooder had placed them in protective custody until the shooter was apprehended but Stephanie doubted that it would make much difference. People like Hăkon and the person who killed Sportacus' father would always exist. They would never be completely safe. As long as she and Sportacus were together, Stephanie didn't care. Things were bad but they always got better.
An Icelandic Coast Guard jet landed at FunTown's airport. Þórir's casket was brought out to the jet and the Icelandic flag was draped over it. Six impeccably dressed Coast Guardsmen, in their dress uniforms, approached the coffin. Saluting Sportacus, they stood three to a side and marched Number Nine's casket aboard the plane. Stephanie and Sportacus boarded behind them. It would be a long silent flight back.
When they aircraft landed in Iceland, it was met by the President and the Prime Minister. They shook hands with Sportacus and explained what would happen. Þórir would be buried next to all those who had fallen before him. His home would become government property and Sportacus could decide what to do with it at some later date.
The cemetery wasn't far away and soon the small group was standing above Þórir's final resting place. In the tradition, Sportacus would perform the ceremony. The Coast Guardsman placed the coffin down.
Summer has come and passed,
The innocent can never last,
Wake me up when September ends;
"Sko there gera ÉG sjá minn faðir," ('Lo there do I see my father,$)
Like my father's come to pass,
Seven years has gone so fast,
Wake me up when September ends;
"Sko there gera ÉG sjá minn móðir og minn systir og minn bróðir," ('Lo there do I see my mother and my sisters and my brothers,$)
Here comes the rain again,
Falling from the stars,
Drenched in my pain again,
Becoming who we are;
"Sko there gera ÉG sjá the lína af minn fólk bak til the byrjun," ('Lo there do I see the line of my people back to the beginning,$)
As my memory rests,
But never forgets what I lost,
Wake me up when September ends;
"Sko þeir gera kalla til mig," ('Lothey do call to me,$)
… Ring out the bells again,
Like we did when spring began,
Wake me up when September ends;
"Þeir tilboð mig taka minn staður á meðal þá," (They bid me take my place among them,$)
… As my memory rests,
But never forgets what I lost,
Wake me up when September ends;
"Í the forstofa af Valhalla," (In the halls of Valhalla,$)
…Like my father's come to pass,
Twenty years has gone so fast…
"Hvar the stríðsmaður mega lifandi að eilífu." (Where the brave may live forever.$)
Wake me up when September ends.
The Coast Guardsmen were ordered to fire their weapons. Three times: BANG, pause, BANG, pause, BANG, and then silence. Another Guardsman played "Amazing Grace" on a bagpipe. Sportacus was handed the folded flag. Slowly everyone left, until only Stephanie and her husband remained.
"Can I have a minute?" he asked; his first words in days. Stephanie nodded and walked away. Straightening his dress uniform, Sportacus swallowed hard.
"Dad, I'm sorry we spent so much of our lives apart. I'm sorry I brought you into this. It's my fault for what has happened. I miss you and wish you were here to tell me how I'm supposed to move on. You're with mom now and I just hope that someday, I'll be as great as you. There is one thing that you have to know. I will find the person who did this. They will face justice. That I promise."
According to the Microsoft Encarta, as of 1997, Iceland has no armed forces with the exception of 120 coast guard personnel. Yet Iceland is a member of NATO.
$The 13th Warrior. Prod. Crichton/McTiernan. Dir. John McTiernan. Perf. Antonio Banderas, Vladimir Kulich, and Omar Sharif. DVD. Buena Vista Film Studios, 1999.
To Be Continued…