Jane (speaking to the class of children who are sitting on the floor): The ship that we have built is the finest my eyes have ever seen, and that is down to you. Now as you know, our ships are our livelihood, our life. Without them we would get nowhere. We would not be the people we are. Our skills have built this wonderful boat, and it will carry us to our new life. And so it is fitting that we hold a ceremony. So, women, you are going to go now for the last time to your longhouses, and you are going to make the sun-shaped loaves that honour our goddess [BRAE]. Women, you must place in those loaves every single type of seed that we have grown here on our land.

(The scene switches and the children are standing in a circle. Jane holds up her hands to signal silence.)

Jane: Men and boys carefully carry your jugs of ale and place them around the bread.

Jane: It is now my task to pick one loaf and to find the woman who baked it so that this loaf can be broken and used at our ceremony.

Jane (Distributes bread to girls): These women will come round, Zofa this way, Thora this way, and give you a small piece of bread. As you eat it, will you thank the gods and pray for a safe journey. Children this is to be done in silence. Watch your parents; they will show you how to behave. Go share the bread. (Girls distribute the bread to the others, who are standing in a circle.)

Jane: Thank you, Thora and Zofa. Now I shall choose what to me seems to be the finest ale. It was between these two, but I shall choose this jug. Which man grew this beer?

Child: I think it was Brusi.

Jane: Ah, as I expected, a fine leader, (walks toward Brusi) you deserve this honour, Brusi. Would you please
choose a man who you trust.

Bruse: Dag.

Jane: Dag, would you carefully walk round the offerings? Good. There's your jug, Brusi. There's yours, Dag. Brusi will go this way, Dag will go this way, and they will pour just a little ale in each one. We will drink silently and respectfully, no noise at all, and in our minds thank the gods for providing us with food and drink.

Jane (to girl, both kneeling on the ground): Remember this year that you plant the seed loaf. Clear a little space in the soil, plant the loaf in it and cover it well, and water it with some of the ale. Good. Thank you, [Catlin]. We'll take this with us on our ship.

Girl (stands and says a prayer aloud in front of the group): We pray to our god that this ship may come happily upon the water and to no man's hurt.

(Sound of trumpets is heard.)

Jane: The ship is now ready to sail; the trumpets have sounded. (Music starts.) And we are ready to leave our land on this ship and go from Denmark over to England to our new life.