Simon: So we just gonna ignore the bear then?
Ingemar: It's a bear.
Ulf: [shouting in Swedish] You're pissing on my people!
[to Pelle:]
Ulf: Your little fucking American friend! He's pissed on the Rotvälta!
Dani: Are these the May Queens?
Pelle: [turning away from Christian] Yeah! Right! Uh eh... You'll actually be here for that.
Josh: And - Who are your May Queens?
Pelle: Eh, every Midsummer we have this dance competition and the winner gets crowned, in this.
Dani: [laughing] Oh! Wow.
Beautiful.
Siv: On this, the day of our deity of reciprocity, we gather to give special thanks to our treasured Sun. As an offering for our Father, we will today surrender nine *human* lives. As HĂĄrga takes, so HĂĄrga also gives. Thus, for every newblood sacrificed, we will dedicate one of our own. That is: four newbloods, four from HĂĄrga, and one to be chosen by the Queen. Nine in all, to
die, and be reborn, in the great Cycle.
Stev: The four newbloods, have already been supplied. As for our end, we have two already dedicated... And two who have volunteered. Ingemar and Ulf.
[they step forward]
Stev: You have brought outside offerings, thus volunteering your own bodies. You will today be joined in harmony with Everything. And
to Pelle, who has brought new blood, and our new May Queen, you will today be honored for your unclouded intuition. And so, for our ninth offering. It is traditional that our fair Queen shall choose, between a preselected newblood, and a specially ordained HĂĄrgan.
Josh: Why 36?
Pelle: Well we think of life like the seasons. So you're a child until you're 18 and that's spring. And then at some point we all do our Pilgrimage, which is between 18 and 36, and that's summer. And then from, eh - 36 to 54, we're working age, which is *fall*. And then finally from 54 to 72 you become a mentor.
Dani:
What happens at 72?
[Pelle makes a comical throat slash gesture; Dani laughs]
Pelle: Hey, guys. So these are younger people from my village. They're also returning from the trips outside. Come on over.
[short pause]
Pelle: Hey! These are my friends from America.
Siv: Now it's traditional for the May Queen to bless our crops and livestock. And after the luck - you just inherited from that salt herring, we should all be doubly encouraged!
[laughter; pause]
Dani: Can Christian come with me?
Siv: Nej. The Queen must ride alone.
Dani: Has anyone seen Connie?
Christian: I think Mark saw her earlier.
Mark: I'm sure I saw her trying out for the *sprinting* Olympics earlier.
Dani: What, where?
Jarl: Sorry, but I can say what happened. Her boyfriend called the landline? from the train station and calmed Connie down.
She begged our pardon and I drove her to meet him.
[pause]
Christian: OK. That's really...
Dani: Why would Simon leave without her?
Christian: I'm sure it was just a miscommunication.