Chapter 35

"That clears it up for me!! The wait is over, boys!! You can kill all of 'em except for Askeladd!!"

- Thorkell

Contact (両軍接触) is the 35th chapter of the Vinland Saga series.

Overview
Askeladd's old band throws down their weapons when they see Thorkell. Torgrim approaches Thorkell and tells him they were planning to hand Prince Canute over to him, but that their leader, Askeladd, let him escape. Thorkell ignores Torgrim and speaks to Askeladd instead. Thorkell is relieved when Askeladd tells him he put Thorfinn on the prince's guard and that he had nothing to do with the mutiny. Thorkell instructs his men to kill everyone except for Askeladd. They tell Askeladd's old band to pick up their weapons, since no one goes to Valhalla unarmed. Torgrim tells Thorkell they won't be able to get the prince if he kills them, but Thorkell is unconcerned and says they can catch him themselves. He hands Torgrim his dropped axe and tells him to swing at him and that he'll see he dies a warrior. As Thorkell goads him, Torgrim snaps, drops his axe and goes into shock; Thorkell notes he's "gone on the inside." Thorfinn crashes through the fray on his horse and makes a beeline for Thorkell, who's ecstatic to see him. Thorkell punches Thorfinns horse in the chest, sending them flying. Thorfinn lands safely and yells that he will kill Thorkell if he so much as lays a finger on Askeladd, who's his to kill. Thorkell is confused, as he thought Askeladd was Thorfinn's boss; Askeladd notes Thorfinn is an even bigger idiot than he realized, as he's like a mouse trying to fight a bear. Thorfinn tells him to hand Askeladd over or face his death. Thorkell gleefully replies that if that's the case, then he and Thorfinn will duel over possession of Askeladd, and calls on to all his men as witnesses. Askeladd laments that he has no say in the matter.

Summary
Faced with Thorkell and his men, Askeladd's old band drops their weapons. Torgrim comments on Thorkell's great size, then introduces himself and tells him that he intends no resistance and asks that Thorkell hear him out. Thorkell narrows his eyes when he notices Torgrim's discarded axe in the snow. Asgeir points out to Thorkell that Prince Canute is not there. Torgrim pipes in to tell Thorkell they were planning to hand him the prince, but points to Askeladd and says that he let him escape, though Thorkell ought not to worry since they sent a dozen of their best men after him. He starts to tell Thorkell they have a trick up their sleeve, but Thorkell stops listening to him and crouches next to Askeladd instead. Askeladd grins and Thorkell smiles, saying he looks clever. He tells Askeladd he cannot help but notice Thorfinn isn't there and asks if he already killed him. Askeladd says that he did not; that he put him on Prince Canute's guard and that Thorfinn had nothing to do with the mutiny. Thorkell says it's a relief, then turns to his men and says that it clears things up for him and that the wait is over. He instructs them to kill all of the men, with the exception of Askeladd. The men panic and tell Torgrim that's not what he said would happen. One of Thorkell's men tells Askeladd's old band to pick up their weapons and die like warriors; that they're doing it for them, since nobody goes to Valhalla unarmed. They pick up their weapons and charge. Torgrim tries to reason with Thorkell and tells him he won't be able to get the prince without them. Thorkell says they're fine and can catch him themselves. He hands Torgrim his dropped axe and tells him to give him his best swing, and that he'll see that he dies a warrior. While Thorkell stretches, Askeladd tells Torgrim he has his sympathies. Torgrim tells him to shut up and that everything is his fault. Thorkell tells Torgrim that his death is at hand and that there is no escape; he once again tells him to swing his axe and that he's there to help him die like a man. He goads Torgrim to come at him. Torgrim drops his axe. Thorkell takes a closer look at him and gathers that he may have put too much pressure on him and that he's gone on the inside; he taps Torgrim's head with the back of his axe, but Torgrim looks on vacantly with drool dripping from the corner of his mouth, giving no reaction. Askeladd notices a horse trampling through the masses of fighting men. Thorfinn comes through the fray screaming and makes straight for Thorkell, who smiles wide when he recognizes Thorfinn. Thorkell punches Thorfinn's horse in the chest, sending both the horse and Thorfinn flying. Thorfinn corrects in midair and lands safely. Thorkell, still smiling wide, tells Thorfinn it's good to see him well. Thorfinn yells at him to not dare touch Askeladd, as he's his to kill. He yells on that he will kill Thorkell if he lays a single finger on him. Askeladd, who was already flabbergasted by Thorfinn's entrance, comments to himself that he always thought Thorfinn was an idiot but hadn't known the extent of it, as he's a mouse trying to fight a bear. Confused, Thorkell asks about Askeladd being Thorfinn's to kill, as he had thought he was Thorfinn's boss. Thorfinn angrily says he's not his boss. Thorkell's men, still easily pummeling through Askeladd's old band, comment on Thorfinn's claims that he will kill their captain. They admire his spunk, but otherwise do not take him seriously. Thorfinn tells Thorkell to hand over Askeladd or face his death. Happy, Thorkell says if that's the case, he won't hand him over. He turns to tell his men that he and Thorfinn will duel over the possession of Askeladd and that they're all weaknesses. Askeladd is frustrated that he gets no say in it. Thorkell tells Thorfinn that if he wins, he'll let him escape alive with a horse. Thorfinn discards his cloak and readies his shortsword and tells Thorkell not to expect a repeat of London. Thorkell replies that it's what he was hoping to hear from the son of Thors, last of his warrior's blood.

Supplemental Material
The end of Chapter 35 includes a Map of Thorfinn's Travels (including information boxes for "Gainsborough", with images of King Sweyn and Floki; the "Village in Mercia", with images of Askeladd, Thorfinn, Canute and Ragnar; and "Gloucester in Mercia", with an image of Thorkell.

The Afterword talks about how a millenium of history separates Yukimura and the Vikings; he wonders if the Vikings thought about what life would be like far in the future, and if so, how they conceptualized life in the 21st century.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Thorfinn
 * Torgrim
 * Thorkell
 * Askeladd
 * Asgeir