Alyx had to struggle to keep a straight face. "You need my paddle for your Viking ship??" Well, you have to get the brat credit for creativity, she thought.

"Okay," she agreed. "We can paddle a Viking with it." She sat down next to Ash and rolled her over...ONTO her lap.

"No, wait! I said to go Viking paddling, not paddle Vikings!" the brat said in a panicked voice.

"Viking paddling, paddling Vikings -- what's the difference?" Alyx said with a shrug.

As a teacher Ash was going to point out the very important difference, but before she could speak the very hard wooden paddle came down sharply on her bottom.

*whack!* *whack!* *whack!* *whack!* Even through her Viking armor, the pain was intense.

"Hey, this Viking paddling is fun!" Alyx said, getting into the rhythm. "I am beginning to see why you wanted to borrow my implement."