Sokni's incredible run a Hellas part two

Author: * Sokni Hvitaskald - 4 Posts on this thread out of 1,199 Posts sitewide.
Date: Mar 12, 2006 - 01:47

As I rounded yet another bend in the road, I found myself blocked by a large flock of very large sheep. I was trying to get around them when a huge, one eyed head appeared , followed by a large body. He called out to ask my name, and I said ‘Outis’. That was a name someone in the marketplace had told me to use - he said it meant ‘no-one’. He invited me into his cave for the night, so I accepted. Once we and all the sheep were inside, he closed a huge door, and showed me where I could sit. He said his name was Polyphemus We ate and shared drinks from a large amphora of wine he had there. I was careful to let him have at least two drinks to each of mine, and I made mine small. I had heard him muttering that I would make a tasty meal, so I was anxious to leave. I thought if I could get him drunk enough to fall asleep, I could sneak out. He fell asleep, alright, but those be-damned sheep blocked my way to the door, and wouldn’t move.

I didn’t really want to kill him after sharing meat with him, but I wasn’t about to become his dinner. Then I saw a long, thick, sharpened stick leaning against the cave wall. I took it, heated the point in the fire, and rammed it into his eye. Then I crawled under the sheep. He woke, of course, and started bellowing at the top of his lungs - and he could really bellow! I realized that he was calling for others like him to come to his aid, and they would be able to see me. He was flailing his arms around, moving among the disturbed flock, trying to find me. I stayed under the sheep until he gave out. Then I searched for some means of escape, and found a coil of rope and a skein of very fine yarn. I thought I’d take it with me and give it to a fine weaver I know in Celtia. I wound it in among my wine skins, making sure it was secure. By this time it was nearly morning, so I tied myself under the belly of the largest ram with some of the rope, and waited until he opened the door to let the flock out.

Polyphemus finally opened the door, and then stood so the flock could only exit one at a time, and he felt each back as it went by. To my surprise, he didn’t notice the rope, so I escaped. I waited until my ram was some distance from the cave before I untied the rope and let myself drop to the ground. Once on my feet, I was off at a run - that was one neighbourhood I didn’t want to linger in, that’s for sure!

Well, that was three down and one to go, according to the information I was given. I decided to find a quiet place to sit and have something to eat and drink. As I sat having a last drink, I heard a cackling, and an ancient voice saying “Oh, look, sisters, a stranger in our land. Let me cut his thread, and get rid of him.”

I looked up to see three old crones, one pointing at me with a wicked smile. I saw that one was a weaver, so I quickly loosened the skein of yarn, and offered it to her. “Please, my lady, take this fine yarn and let me go. I am too young to die, and if I must, I would like to be at home, among my kin, when I do.”

“Clotho!” shrieked the one who had pointed, “Let me have him, don’t lower yourself by bargaining with such a barbarian!”

Clotho looked at the skein I was offering. It was beautiful, multicoloured with gold and silver threads winding through it. The she took a good long look at me, and turned and said “Atropos, it is not his time to go. Cutting his thread would ruin the pattern. Besides, this lovely yarn will make the pattern very beautiful.” Turning to me, she said “I accept your bargain, young man. Go, and good health to you.”

I thanked her, and bowed. Then, taking no chance that Atropos would nag until she got her way, I gathered a bow and quiver that were lying there and took off. About an hour, and many miles later, I saw a palace off to one side of the road. This must be the place they said I would meet my last challenge. I turned off the road and approached.

As I neared, a voice shouted a warning. If I came any closer, he would shoot me. I kept on walking, stringing the bow and knocking an arrow as I went. As soon as I was within bowshot range, I raised the bow and let fly at the figure on the battlements. He let out a shrill cry, and toppled out of sight. Knocking another arrow, I made my way up to the gate. I pushed on it, and it swung open with a creak. I moved cautiously in. There were no other soldiers around, the one I had hit was lying dead on the ground.

I went on and entered the palace, and made my way through a large, lushly decorate hall to a pair of doors at the end. Just before I reached the door, I spotted a rectangular shield of bronze hanging on the wall. It was so shiny I could see myself clearly in the concave side, the convex was also shiny, but highly decorated. There was also an ornate helmet hanging there. I tried it on, and when I looked into the shining side of the shield, I couldn’t see myself. Remembering what the people in the market had told me, I kept the helmet on, and carried the shield with me, as I opened the door and looked in.

There was a woman seated on a divan, looking at a statue of a warrior, and smiling. The smile was evil, and I realized that this was one who had been unable to avoid her gaze. That was warning enough for me. I called out “Pardon me, madam, I wonder....” she turned, looking for the speaker, but I was ready with the shield. The light of the lamp behind her reflected in the bright bronze, and even as she tried to find me, she looked at herself in the mirrored shield. She immediately turned to stone. I went over and looked at the man standing there, but could think of no way to help him. Muttering an apology, I turned away and made my way out of the palace leaving the helmet and shield where they had been..

The rest of the run was easy, the winged sandals making the miles pass quickly, and soon I entered the city of Athens. Before long I had run through the city and up the hill to the beautiful building on the top. Throngs were there cheering me as I arrived., and officials to mark off my name, and what things I had used to defeat the challenges. Once that was over, I gave back the winged sandals, and went off to find a convivial pub to celebrate my incredible run.