The Lost Gods Read Online Free PDF Page A

once, she thought fiercely.
    â€˜It seems we need—’ Woden’s brow furrowed as if he had just waded through sewage ‘—the worship of the sons and daughters of men.’
    Thor and Freyja wrinkled their faces in disgust and horror.
    â€˜This is so demeaning,’ muttered the Goddess. ‘So inglorious.’
    â€˜But you are still worshipped,’ said Freya. ‘My mother is your priestess. The Queen of England is head of your Fane. Britain is a Wodenic country. I go to a Fane school. Want me to recite the nine commandments?’
    â€˜NO!’ said Woden.
    â€˜Be quiet, you ugly herring,’ hissed Freyja. ‘The All-Father is speaking.’
    Freya resisted the urge to stick out her tongue at the snapping Goddess. Why oh why had she been named after such a mean shrew?
    â€˜I’ve sent my ravens far and wide to bring me news of what this world we created so long ago has become,’ continued Woden. ‘And what I have learned is that we are no longer woven into its warp and weft. How could this happen? Why has this happened? There is no fervent hum of worship and love and fear, no streamof savoury sacrifices reaching our nostrils. Our idols and temples are neglected. We are rarely in people’s thoughts. During our long absence, for reasons I do not understand, mortals began to live without us.’
    â€˜The ungrateful trolls!’ spat Freyja. ‘After all we did for them, this is how they thank us? They never pray, they never sacrifice, they—’
    â€˜We never gave the children of Heimdall much thought,’ interrupted Thor. ‘So long as they worshipped and built temples and brought offerings, all was well. We gave them good harvests – mostly – wealth to the lucky few, Valhalla for the brave, the chance to win glory which alone outlives death, victory to one side or the other in battle, and everyone seemed happy with the arrangement.’
    â€˜Actually, I blame you, Woden,’ said the Goddess. ‘Next time you create a world, do it better.’
    Woden glared at her.
    â€˜You think you’re so smart let’s see you try it.’
    â€˜I still can’t believe we have to kowtow to mortals,’ said the Goddess, flicking her hair and glaring at Freya. ‘
So
beneath us. How did we ever give the driftwood such power over us? Humans are so frail, so fragile, so momentary, and the Wolf and the Snake can swallow them all – and yet only their worship makes us truly divine. Aaarrrghhh! It seems we are fated to n-n-need them,’ she added, stumbling over the word.
    You’d think she was saying she needed a head transplant, thought Freya angrily.
    â€˜Gods without worshippers are just legends. Nothing more,’ explained Thor. He looked woefully at his hammer, trailing on the floor. ‘Fate is harsh.’
    â€˜
We
will not dwindle to stories told round a hearth fire,’ said Woden. ‘We have seen off other gods, false gods, those Greek weaklings – ha. And don’t get me started on those Roman and Egyptian sons of mares …’ He snorted and his one eye blazed. ‘Jupiter. Minerva. Osirus.Amun-Ra. They’re all sleeping with the trolls now. Our Temples built on top of theirs, as they should be.’
    Woden glared fiercely out of the window, as if seeing his mighty Temples looming above Jupiter’s crumbling stones.
    â€˜But now
we
are weak,’ whispered Woden. ‘We are lost Gods. We need worshippers. Lots and lots and lots of worshippers. We NEED to be revered and feared and idolised, and for our names to be on everyone’s lips and engraved upon everyone’s hearts. You must help us regain our followers. Once we recover our divine strength, no frost giants can withstand us. You will be our guide to this strange new world.’
    The three Gods looked at her expectantly, as if all she had to do was open the door and a stream of devotees would pour in. Freya