Bjorn Amundson is under a curse. It begins a thousand years ago when the Rollo the Viking loses a battle and blames Amundson's ancestor. Rollo founds Normandy and forgets the curse. Bjorn's mine in the 1850 gold rush at Sacramento breaks the curse-or does it? The imposing young man sails from Norway to become a resourceful sailor, but cannot read. Sam Brannan, ruthless storeowner, swindles the mine away with a document Amundson does not understand. Outlaws, underpaid soldiers, and lawyers enforce the eviction. Can Bjorn lead a motley crew from the chaos of the gold rush against Brannan? Who will teach him to read? This is an inventive and humorous tale of a modern Viking. He lives old values of bravery, courage, and preparation to fight for a future.