Re: Ragnar and Marta: Museum
Ragnar liked having someone to talk to. He wasn't sure if Marta would tell him to be quiet if he was boring her, but she didn't appear to be bored. She was obviously smart, obviously she knew things that he didn't have to tell her, but it was still pleasant to talk about it. He liked that Marta knew enough that she could comment and chip in.
"It's like some of the Eastern and African religions that asked for the wife to be buried with her husband. Or burnt with him, if they were the type to build pyres. I couldn't imagine it, either. I wouldn't want someone to die with me. I wouldn't expect anyone to-" not anymore. Many centuries had passed since he'd had that notion.
They moved through into the Scandinavian section. "My own personal favourite," Ragnar said quietly. "I have a greatly invested interest in this, being Danish myself," he nodded. "I don't know if I'd like a burial like these. A cremation at sea-" There was a large picture on the wall of an artists sketch of a viking body displayed in a boat to be burnt. "Or burial. Not that I have a ship I could be buried in. Some Vikings, too, had people and animals buried with them. Put in their ships and covered over with soil. I think I would prefer the cremation at sea. But I'm quite sure I won't be allowed to actually be burnt on a boat. I would like to do another exhibition on the afterlife, and where different cultures believe we go. I would like everyone to end up where they hope they will after death. A vast pantheon of all of the gods hanging around together. That would be ideal."