The Stamford Bridge Report

September 5

I have successfully travelled through the chronic and spatial matter processing device or ‘time machine’. The year is 1066 C.E in a Viking port town in Norway. There are many ships and men preparing supplies for an invasion of England. Leading the invasion is the Norse king and one of the fiercest Viking warriors of all time, Harald Hardraada. He is of course trying to become king of England to restore the Viking line of kings but he is also competing for the throne with the incumbent king Harold Godwineson and William, duke of Normandy. Armor, men and supplies are ready and, typical of Vikings they are restless and anxious for a fight. If we don’t leave soon these Norseman will start drinking. The army is due to leave port at noon and we shall travel on the speedy Viking longships, which are shallow, lengthy, wooden, rowboats with a single square mast at the center and carvings of Scandinavian monsters at the end of the prow.