Chapter 59

"What's so great about living? There's nothing for me. I've lived to this day... and nothing good has ever come of it."

- Thorfinn

Snake (蛇) is the 59th chapter of the Vinland Saga series.

Overview
At the guests' fortress, Thorfinn says Olmar can cut him down, but that Einar should be allowed to get back to work. Fox asks him if he understands he will die, and proceeds to tell him the guests deal with the commodity of death, which everyone is scared of. Fox slashes at him with his sword, but Thorfinn doesn't even flinch even as he is cut and bleeds. To Einar's dismay, Thorfinn asks Fox why he should be afraid to die, since he's lived this long with nothing good having come of it. Fox angrily slices off the tip of Thorfinn's left ear. A man named Snake, the leader of the guests, intervenes and tells Fox to stop. He introduces himself to Thorfinn and apologizes for the guests' behaviour, then suddenly attacks him, prompting Thorfinn to reflexively go on the defensive. The guests, Olmar and Einar are dumfounded at Thorfinn's impressive display. Snake tells Thorfinn that his body clearly wants to live and Thorfinn wonders if that is the case and what he'd accomplish by living. Snake tells the guests to see Thorfinn and Einar back safely if they know what's good for them.

Summary
A dark-haired man wakes up in a cabin with a book above his face. He calls out for an “old man,” then realizes he is not there. Noticing an empty bowl on the table and an empty cooking kettle, he yells out for the “old man” again, asking him where his breakfast is. He steps outside; the old man yells at him from the nearby field and asks him to come and help him with the harvest once he’s eaten, telling him he can take care of breakfast himself. The dark-haired man grumbles to himself that he’ll just “go back”. At the guests’ fortress, Thorfinn is held at swordpoint. He says that Olmar can cut him down, but that it’s a busy day and that Einar should be allowed to get back to work. Einar, tussling with Olmar, is momentarily distracted by Thorfinn’s statement. Olmar takes the opportunity to kick him in the stomach, then runs away. Fox asks Thorfinn what his name is and asks him if he understands that he’s going to get his head cut off and die. Thorfinn replies that he guesses so. Fox tells Thorfinn that he has to consider the value of the commodity they deal in before they let Einar go, and asks Thorfinn what he thinks the commodity the guests deal in though. When Thorfinn replies that he does not know, Fox specifies that they deal in death. He tells him that death is scary for everyone, and that there’s value in it regardless. He slashes at Thorfinn with his sword, cutting his tunic and drawing blood. Thorfinn doesn’t flinch, but Fox states that he has some fear in him and that he is scared. The dark-haired man arrives at the fortress. He hears the commotion from the yard and wonders what mischief the guests are up to. In the yard, Fox keeps slashing at Thorfinn and cutting him, while a restrained Einar yells at him to stop. Fox tells Thorfinn to be honest with himself and beg for his life, before his small body gets even smaller. The dark-haired man sees the scene and is impressed Thorfinn isn’t so much as blinking, even when Fox cuts him across the left cheek. Thorfinn asks Fox why death should be feared and what’s so great about living, since he’s lived to this day with nothing good coming of it. Fox angrily slices off the tip of Thorfinn’s left ear. The dark-haired man intervenes and yells at Fox to stop. Olmar recognizes the man as Snake. Fox sheepishly asks Snake when he got back – Snake asks him to come closer and punches him in the face, then asks Badger to explain what happened. As Thorfinn gets bandaged up, Snake calls the guests idiots and asks them what they thought they’d get out of tormenting slaves. Badger tells Snake that Thorfinn is impudent. Snake approaches Thorfinn, introduces himself and asks for his name, then suddenly glares at him and attacks him with his scimitar. Thorfinn unconsciously reacts and aims a high right kick at Snake’s face, then flips away when Snake blocks it, getting into a defensive position. He thinks to himself that Snake is on the same level as Askeladd, if not even better in terms of power. Snake laughs and tells Thorfinn that his body is saying it wants to live. The guests, Olmar and Einar are all dumfounded at Thorfinn’s sudden display. Snake yawns and says he is going back to sleep, telling the guests to see Thorfinn and Einar back safely if they know what’s good for them. Thorfinn wonders if he really wants to live and what he’ll accomplish by living on.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Snake
 * Sverkel (only referred to as "old man")
 * Thorfinn
 * Fox
 * Einar
 * Olmar
 * Badger