Beth froze with fear. All she could do was stare at the sharp antlers.
Patrick’s heart all but stopped. The animals were coming too fast. There were so many of them. It would be useless to run.
Whoosh! A spear came flying through the air.
Thud! It landed right in front of Patrick.
“Where did that come from?” Patrick shouted.
“Who cares?” Beth shouted back at him. “Use it!”
Patrick pulled the spear out of the ground. He moved in front of Beth. He turned the spear sideways and faced the animals.
“Out of the way!” he shouted to the coming reindeer.
He waved the spear to his left. Then to his right.
The animals did not change their path. They charged straight at the cousins.
“Whoa!” he shouted louder.
Beth was sure they’d be trampled. She closed her eyes.
“Yaw!” Patrick shouted.
He braced himself for impact.
At the last second, the lead reindeer swerved to the right. But the animals were still close.
Beth could smell them. She could feel their heat. She breathed in to make herself as thin as possible. One wrong step or stumble and she and Patrick would be crushed.
The herd thundered past in seconds. Patrick closed his eyes in relief.
“Phew!” he said. “That was close.”
As soon as he opened his eyes, he saw two men on black horses. They galloped down the hill.
“Look,” Beth said. “I think those men were hunting the reindeer. One of them must have thrown the spear.”
The men wore tan tunics. Their capes were red. Their helmets were gold. One held a long bow. The other clutched a sword.
“They’re Vikings!” Patrick said. “I got my wish!”