Historical Setting, 631 C.E. Traveling northward on the Rhine
This next stopover is in another Roman city on the Frankish edge. Here a river crossing with horses can be done with a boat made by the Wends to transport war horses on these northern rivers. Theoretically, these boats can also be carried or dragged over land to the next river. How many of these boats would it take to move an army? Gaillard is figuring that out. An army traveling by river is fast and quiet. [Footnote]
Each of these two boats ferries two horses and the riders, so dividing ourselves, Greg’s and Gaillard’s horses go with Greg on the first boat, and Gaillard and I and my horse and the pack mule follow. Gaillard uses this crossing to chat with the oarsmen who aren’t hurried right now, since the heavier boat is ahead of us rowing slowly. Gaillard spends the whole crossing chatting in small talk about boats – “Small talk” that is actually pointed with lots of little questions of detail for the oarsman. That’s how he’s learned of the portage possibilities for these boats. He’s found people glad to share details, like how the keel is protected when the boat is dragged over land, and how the loading and unloading is quick and quiet.
By the time all three of us and our horses are on the other side of the river Gaillard knows the Wends are fully prepared to maneuver the rivers with a large army on horseback. And also, he knows the Wends aren’t doing all this preparation just to visit Metz on the Moselle. Greg releases the bird with the yellow feather, and the code for the king says not to worry about the Wends.
So why all this preparation for wars that aren’t happening? It is “rumors of wars” that pay for the boats that carry war-horses. It is “rumors of wars” that send the artisans in metalwork to work as the armorer and not the plough-smith. It is the “Rumors of wars” that are the spies’ domain. This fear of war is the source of riches. But actual wars offer no profit. The riches are found in the rumors and the robbers. The royal price is paid for fear.
And with “no fear in love” [I John 4:18] is it any wonder the peaceable garden gate is narrow and yet, welcomes poverty?
“You seem so grim from your prayers, Papa?”
“I thought my prayer was silent. I guess listening and looking for that love in all this war stuff must give me a grim face.”
[Footnote] The history of the warring Baltic region, like most histories of Europe, is not as faithfully recorded for English speakers in this early medieval period, but a You-Tube Video, “Wends, the Slavic Pirates that the Vikings Feared” (retrieved 7-20-24) is packed with historic detail, and the source of this information about boatbuilding. Also, the sparse bibliography, and more of this basic information is found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wends# (retrieved 7-20-24)
(Continues tomorrow)
Lazarus Ink 