The Twelve Labours of Hercules
Page 26
the wharf and headed down river towards the sea, everyone had returned to their usual business without giving the visitors a second thought. Before Hercules and his friends reached the mouth of the river, they dropped the Barter Master on the bank, and instructed him to take a message to the queen.
“Tell her that we have her daughter,” said Hercules, “we will release her in return for the girdle. The queen will find us at anchor near the mouth of the river. She should send the girdle to us in a rowing boat, we will return Calyope in the same boat.”
The old man was very unhappy with his mission, fearing that the queen would punish him, but he knew that he had no choice. He set off at a run, while the galley headed out towards the sea. Once they were at a safe distance from the shore, the captain dropped anchor and they waited. Calyope had been released from the amphora, and having shouted and screamed at Iolaus for over an hour, now sat sulking in the hold.
After what seemed like an age, one of the sailors spotted a rowing boat emerging from the mouth of the river. Two Amazons were at the oars and they made steady progress across the sea to the galley. Some minutes later they drew alongside, and one of them produced Hippolyte’s girdle.
“Where is Calyope?” she asked with a growl, “She had better not be harmed.”
“She is in good health,” replied Hercules. Then he raised his voice and shouted, “Iolaus, bring the princess, she is to be released.”
Iolaus and Calyope emerged from the cargo hold, and headed for the waiting rowing boat. Calyope climbed in with as much dignity as she could manage, then the Amazon threw the girdle to Hercules. He had completed the ninth challenge.
What Hercules didn’t realise was that the cunning queen Hippolyte had hidden her ten fastest war canoes along the shore. As soon as they saw that Calyope was safe, they burst from their hiding places and raced towards the galley. Each canoe was rowed by ten Amazons, and on the prow stood an eleventh Amazon, armed with a bow. The canoes were long and slim, and they sliced through the waves like spears. The captain saw them coming first, and began to shout orders to the men. Some scrambled to hoist the sail, while others sat down, readied their oars and prepared to row. Hercules went to join the oarsmen, until he felt Perseus’ hand on his arm.
“Follow me, and bring your bow,” he shouted to Hercules, above the roar of the wind and the waves, “we must slow the enemy down, and buy some time for the sailors to get the galley moving.”
Perseus then ran to the bow of the ship, and began to unbuckle the straps on his shield.
“Everyone,” bellowed Hercules, “close your eyes - and if you value your lives you’ll keep them shut!”
The crew did as they were instructed, and Hercules was amazed to see that they were so familiar with their ship and their duties that every man was able to continue his work as if their sight was as clear as day.
Now Perseus undid the last strap, he held the shield aloft, and shielding his own eyes, pointed it towards the oncoming canoes. As the cover dropped away, the Gorgon’s head was revealed. Every one of the Amazon archers was now caught by the Gorgon’s gaze, and immediately they turned to stone. Its job done, Perseus covered the shield again, and called out to say it was safe. But when Hercules opened his eyes, he was dismayed.
“The archers, who faced us, are turned to stone,” he said, “but the rowers face away from us. They are unharmed, and the canoes will soon catch us.”
“Now it’s your turn,” replied Perseus, “Those statues will be heavy, but a well-placed arrow should knock them down.”
Hercules grunted and drew his bow. Although the galley was rocked by the waves, the wind was blowing and his target was moving, it seemed to Perseus that Hercules only hesitated a moment before loosing his arrow. It flew in a long arc through the air before striking the forehead of the statue on the nearest canoe. The statue wobbled, then tilted, then fell with a crash back into the canoe. It was so heavy that its impact must have cracked the boat open, for it soon started to drop lower in the water, and then sank altogether, leaving the Amazon rowers to swim for the shore. When Hercules sank a second canoe in the same way, the other crews realised what was happening. Some turned back, others paused to push the statues overboard. The confusion amongst the Amazons gave the sailors time to get the galley underway, and once they were under full sail there was no catching them. They were finally safe.
The voyage back to Troezen was swift and uneventful. When they arrived home, Hercules and Iolaus were both happy and sad. They had completed another challenge, but they were not sure they would see the captain and their other friends again.
“Once we sell these Amazon weapons,” said the captain, “we’ll all be rich men. I might settle down and try my hand at farming, or just find a quiet place to build a house and relax. The sea’s in my blood though, so if you need me –“
“or us,” shouted the other sailors.
“—you just have to ask,”
With that, they said their farewells, leaving Hercules and Iolaus to take the girdle to Pittheus.
The Tenth Challenge: The Cattle of Geryon
With the end of the year less than ten weeks away, it was difficult for Hercules and Iolaus to relax. The marriage of Pittheus’ daughter, however, provided a welcome distraction. The whole city was invited to celebrate, with the fields outside the city set out for the festivities, and everyone was in a fine mood. The day after the wedding the newly married couple, together with a large group of volunteers, departed to start a new colony. Iolaus recognised some of the sailors among their number and shouted his best wishes as the procession passed the city walls. He supposed that the idea of a long retirement and a quiet life did not appeal to everyone, some still needed new adventures and excitement. Secretly he knew that he felt the same way, and so it was with glad steps that he answered the call from Pittheus the next morning, knowing that the king had dreamt once more of Zeus. Entering the throne room he saw that, apart from the king himself, the captain of the guard was also present. Hercules arrived less than a minute later, fully clothed but dripping with water.
“I have been told of your next challenge,” said the king, quickly and without preamble, “you must steal the Cattle of Geryon. It will not be easy. The cattle are guarded by a herdsman who is the son of Ares, god of war. The herdsman has a dog, Orthro, a giant of an animal with two heads and crushing jaws. Geryon himself is a giant with three bodies, three heads and six arms, but even that is not the worst of it,” Pittheus paused, licking his lips before continuing, “the cattle are pastured on the island of Erytheia, which sits halfway between Africa and Europe at the very mouth of the Mediterranean. It is at the very edge of the known world.”
“We must go and fetch the captain,” Iolaus said, turning to the door, “and the sailors. I saw some of them departing yesterday, we must fetch them back.” Hercules said nothing, his eyes blank and his body sagging with weariness. “I know it’s a long way,” said Iolaus, “but something will come up, it always does. We must try.”
The words sounded hollow, because they both knew that the journey itself would take more time than was left, and there were still two more challenges to complete. Hercules gave himself over entirely to despair.
“Zeus,” he called, his voice echoing in the empty throne room, “my father, why do you mock me with this impossible challenge? Lend me your divine aid, at least make the journey possible.”
The echoes of Hercules’ voice died away, and there was no answer.
“Hera,” called Hercules in despair, “Ares, Athena, Poseidon. Will any god answer my prayer?”
As soon as he had uttered these words, Hercules regretted them. The throne room seemed to darken, and began to fill with an oily mist. Shadows moved around at the edge of his vision and the air itself grew colder. Beside him he heard Pittheus gasp, and the rasp of metal as the captain of the guard drew his sword. Then a voice came out of the mist. It had a hollow sound and seemed to come from everywhere at once, filling even the huge throne room.
There was a shimmering in the air in front of Pittheus, who shrank back in fear. Slowly a figure materialised, starting with the head and moving to the feet, until there, in the throne room, lifting the helmet of darkness from his head, stood Hades, brother of Zeus and Lord of the Underworld.
“Lord Hades, forgive me,” said Hercules, “I had not expected you to answer my call.”
“I understand,” said Hades, with a sinister smile, “the lord of the dead is not often welcome in the land of the living. I know I can be quite intimidating.”
As he said this last word he reached out with lightning speed and caught the captain’s sword gently between his thumb and forefinger. At once the sword turned red, then black, then crumbled to dust. Hades smiled wickedly at the shocked soldier before turning back to Hercules.
“But today,” he resumed, “I have been given special permission by my brother to visit the world of light and to offer you my assistance. I understand that you have a long way to go, and wish to avoid a slow sea voyage?”
Hercules nodded, unsure what to expect. Everyone knew that Hades thought that he should be the leader of the gods instead of Zeus, but