Kris (22 page)

I counted the members of every family, and named the children in scribbles off to the side of my journal entries for each town and village. Names of those who I thought would enjoy something special as well as those who needed extra care and consideration in the delivery of their gifts were circled on my list. My journal was filled with information I needed to identify their houses and make my secret deliveries.

On the tables across from me, the piles of toys grew. As I whittled new pieces that required assembly, Pel collected them and blew the shavings away with a magical blessing to thank the raw wood for surrendering such beautiful toys.

Pel continued to have difficulty disguising his clumsiness with the carving knife. On occasion he would yelp and squeal in response to a nicked hand or cut finger, which he tried to hide by jamming his bloody fingers into his mouth.

We spent many hours searching the forest to find the right trees, of good form and quality, from which to make our toys. Locating them was only the beginning of our tasks, for then they must also be cut and trimmed and hauled to the workshop where they were stacked awaiting further sizing, routing, carving, and fitting into final form.

Much of the time I had help from the Sami, but on a day when they were caring for the reindeer, I chose in my hubris a massive log to tow from the forest alone. As my fists clenched the thick rope, I pulled with all my strength but was only able to inch my way forward. I lurched again with another mighty tug and fell flat upon the ground, face first into the snow. I lay exhausted and laughed for thinking myself up to the task.

To my surprise, the towline became taut once more, and I looked up to see Sebastian with the rope between his teeth. He had freed himself from his tethering to help me transport the log. I pulled myself up by Sebastian's bridle and together we hauled the massive tree from the forest.

In considering the ways I could increase the speed of toy production, I first sketched and later bartered with a village blacksmith to build a sturdy lathe that would allow me to turn large sections of logs and cut spiral rings formed to a consistent thickness. I devised a router blade that aided me in gouging out portions of the rings to make crude shapes that I could cut into uniform blocks and carve into a series of toys of the same design. This device assisted me in maintaining the quality of the toys and the accuracy of the design and speeded our assembly process.

Pel directed his men to assist us in cutting the blocks and rough chunks of wood that we would carve in greater detail.

Baldur and Roald worked on a series of blocks destined to become toy horses and reindeer pull toys, and they pursued their assignments in the same dedicated manner they employed as they tended to their herds.

Vidar and Flem cut the blocks we would later shape into wooden nutcrackers. Haakon and Eilif cut blocks of wood that would soon become throwing tops and yo-yos. I began working on a series of stackable dolls carved in the shape and likeness of Pel. Each new doll was slightly smaller than the one before, and each smaller doll fit into the next larger size, in several successive steps of growth. Pel had a mighty laugh when he saw these dolls being fitted together. He said they showed he had the strength and spirit of many good men.

Sarah suggested we add curved beams to the larger wooden horses so they might rock in place. She had seen similar toys and knew how much children enjoyed riding on the rocking animals.

We also built magnificently simple steeds meant to take the older child on glorious quests by combining our beautifully carved horses' heads with rods shaped like broomsticks that children could mount and run with as they wished and to the fullness of their pleasure.

Each day we advanced our efforts and added to the variety of toys we produced.

There were many types of dolls and puppets suspended from strings, which were moved by wooden control arms to which the strings were attached. There were games of chess and checkers whose pieces were placed upon colorful boards made up of wood tiles cut from many different trees, revealing their interesting grains and diverse colors.

Much to the delight of the men, I also designed a wooden puzzle that depicted a scene in which reindeer were grazing in a meadow. I affixed my drawing to a thin board and cut it into a variety of shapes that could be scattered and reassembled. Pel and his men laughed and exchanged notes as they moved the reindeer pieces about and decided where they should stand and how they would fit together.

Enok guarded us with dedication as we worked, and so I carved him a wooden bone that he could carry about and gnaw on as he sat with us in his role as protector. Gabriella's abundant meals and flavorful cakes were the fuel that kept us all going as we kept pace with our demanding schedule.

Our work was directed by our desire to create well-made toys that represented the pride of our craftsmanship while at the same time
bringing joy and wonder to their recipients. And the types of toys were as varied as the children that would play with them.

We toiled together, and our collection of toys grew to an impressive size. The workshop became overloaded beyond our capacity to work around what we had already made. But Pel had a ready solution and offered another of his huts as a safe haven for our gifts. He and his men worked to safely transfer groups of toys to our temporary storage area.

Pel also became our primary toy tester as he pulled on strings, tweaked levers, rode rocking horses and hobbyhorses, and danced with puppets to our amusement and delight in the workshop.

One day as I began assembling the pieces of the great sleigh I had designed, Sarah watched me through the window. She was quite heavy with child and I could see the added difficulty she sometimes had while moving about our home.

When I had hammered in the last of the pegs securing the coach to the body of the sleigh, I cracked the reins and sent Sebastian bolting forward. His massive strength ripped the front half of the sleigh right off, pulling the runners and the floor out from under me. Still holding onto the front of the sleigh, I slid for half a dozen paces, then lost my grip and tumbled in the snow. In his enthusiasm he continued to run, and I had to chase him down to get him to return.

I could see Sarah laughing heartily as she watched us through the window despite the fact she tried to hide her amusement.

In the coming days I completed the sleigh and tried another test run with Sebastian. Our efforts were a glorious success and I knew I would soon be ready to begin my incredible journey.

After a long day's work, sleep seemed a welcomed relief. But I remained restless and agitated in my dreams as I considered the great delivery I was about to make and all there was remaining to do.

I hadn't noticed when Sarah left our bed, but I awoke when she returned as the light of the lantern shone briefly in my eyes. She curled into the bed beside me and wrapped herself in the sheets as she drifted off to sleep. I watched her lying there for a moment and reflected on all the love I felt for her, then raised my groggy head and decided to return to the workshop to see if I could finish still more of my toys.

Though my sleep was short, I felt a new sense of energy as I entered the workshop to stoke the fire and set about my duties. Then what to my eyes did appear but little bundles of toys, wrapped in bright red knitted material.

The bundles were scattered throughout the workshop, organized by village. Each bundle had a name to identify its intended recipient, written on a tiny wood plate salvaged from the shavings that Gabriela and Sarah had collected. Some lay on table tops, some in bags, some in great piles on the floor. And there was Pel wandering amid the toys, tapping each present as if counting.

“You have big, big, big herd of toys,” Pel stated proudly.

“You wrapped them?” I said with astonishment.

“Sarah,” Pel beamed.

I began tapping the presents as Pel had done, and he looked at me as if to question my motives.

“Just checking twice,”

Pel began digging in his pocket and pulled out a wooden doll he had constructed. He proudly set the simple doll, with its large, roughly
carved wooden head and a body made from straw and sticks bound by cloth, next to the rows and piles of wrapped toys.

Dejected, he compared his present to the other beautifully wrapped gifts set about the room.

“What's the matter?” I asked him gently. “What's troubling you, Pel?”

“Doll have no blanket like other toys,” he said.

I thought for a moment, then walked over to the stove and lifted one of the socks left on the belly to dry. Pel watched me with curiosity. I retrieved his toy, opened the sock and dropped the doll inside. I then tied a clever knot in the top of the sock and set it down upon a pile of toys.

Pel smacked the table with delight, pulled another doll out of his pocket, and grinned at me.

With the help of Pel and his men, all was ready and loaded. When my massive team was harnessed four-in-hand with Sebastian at the left lead, I climbed into the sleigh and took a deep breath of cold night air. I could feel the excitement coursing through my veins and my heart pounding with anticipation. Pel looked up as if remembering something almost forgotten, took off his steeple hat, quickly stuffed it with hay from the floor of the barn, and pulled it down over my head.

I was sure I looked the fool, but he was right. Without a head covering, I would lose much of my warmth to the long winter's night and endanger my well-being. Despite the aversion to my outward appearance, I left the hat on and gave a polite smile. Pel laughed so hard, he fell to the ground kicking and holding his tummy. I wondered how long he had waited and planned for this moment. I knew he loved the
hat, and he knew I hated it. But I vowed in that jovial moment that he would never get it back.

Pel pushed the door of the barn wide open. I waved good-bye and threw kisses across the breeze to Sarah and Gabriella who were watching from the windows. I stood chariot-style on a stand behind the sleigh and commanded my team of magnificent horses as they launched their weighty cargo out into the wondrous night and down the tree-covered path. Their thick, long manes and tails and the white feather anklets dancing above their massive hooves, shone in the glimmering light of a moon that cut through the trees as we raced forward.

The horses ran with strength, pride, and determination. The sleigh's lantern that hung above and in front of them from a long pole swayed in response to their speed as the first snow flurries of Christmas Eve began to fall.

I gripped the reins tightly in my hands as we dashed ahead across the countryside, standing behind the sleigh urging my beauties forward, my cape buffeted by the wind.

Ahead I could see a small village nestled among the foothills, and from the windows of cabins spread across the land the twinkling light of lanterns spilled into the night. Above the village, a star-peppered sky cast a majestic dome that brought the heavens and the earth together in a glorious scene.

As I arrived at the edge of the village, I steered Sebastian to a secluded spot and pulled the sleigh to a halt.