‘This is too high,’ she shouted into the wind.
‘Wheeee!’ shrieked Bellerophon. ‘I’m joining the gods!’
‘I’m out of here,’ said Susan, closing her eyes and wishing. But the only mist swirling round her was clouds as they climbed ever higher through the mountain peaks.
Then Susan heard a harsh buzzing in her ear. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a gadfly buzz past.
What’s a horse-fly doing way up here? she thought.
Suddenly Pegasus reared and bucked madly, hissing with pain. Susan clung on with all her might. But Bellerophon spun backwards and tumbled shrieking back to earth.
Susan was alone on Pegasus. She buried her face in his mane and did not look down.
Higher and higher through the clouds they flew.
Then Pegasus slowed. Susan opened her eyes a fraction and saw gigantic portals and a sparkling gate. Standing at the entrance was a wild-haired giant, blazing with light, thunderbolts clutched in his hand.
Zeus, thought Susan, shrinking down on Pegasus’ back.
‘Come, Pegasus, Olympus is your home now,’ shouted Zeus, and the air boomed at his voice.
Then he saw Susan. He stared at her in astonishment and fury.
‘What are you doing here?’ bellowed the majestic god. He looked terrifying. Before Susan could answer, Zeus hurled a bolt straight at her. There was a sharp crack of thunder. Pegasus snorted and reared and this time Susan tumbled backwards. ‘Home!’ she screamed, falling down down down.
‘Whoaa, Nellie, whooaa!’
‘I don’t know what got into Nellie, she’s never bolted before,’ said the instructor, running up and grabbing Nellie’s bridle. ‘You did well keeping your seat for so long, though for a moment I couldn’t see you and thought you’d fallen off,’ she added, looking approvingly at Susan, who sat speechless and ashen-faced on Nellie. ‘I think you must be a natural rider.’
‘Were you scared?’ asked Eileen, bringing her pony over to them.
‘Believe me,’ said Susan. ‘That was nothing.’
5
MINDING MEDUSA
Susan sneaked downstairs. Her parents were watching telly in the sitting room with the door open. Could she tiptoe into the kitchen and grab some sweets from the jar without being seen or heard?
Susan inched her way forward. She’d made it! She was in the kitchen! Carefully she twisted the lid off the sweet jar and grabbed a handful. Stuffing two chocolates in her mouth, she quickly tightened the lid and turned to escape.
THUNK!
Her arm knocked against the door.
Susan froze. From the sitting room came a burst of laughter. She breathed again and edged her way down the hallway towards the stairs.
Suddenly her mother appeared.
Susan shoved the remaining sweets behind her back.
Her mother frowned.
‘Susan! Have you done your homework yet?’
Susan scowled.
‘No.’
‘Well, when are you going to do it?’
‘Soon,’ said Susan.
‘And have you cleaned Stinky’s litter tray?’
‘No!’
‘And tidied your room?’
‘NO!’ screamed Susan. ‘Leave me alone!’
Her mother sighed loudly.
‘I want you to go and do your work right now! Why do I always have to remind you?’
On and on her mother nagged.
‘I knew this would happen!’ wailed Susan. ‘I should have stayed upstairs!’
Up she stomped. Wouldn’t it be great to be invisible, she thought, hurling herself onto her bed? Then she could do what she wanted, and no one would bother her. That was the horrible thing about parents. Out of sight was usually out of mind. But the moment they saw you – bam! It was: ‘Go to bed!’ ‘Stop playing on the computer!’ ‘Do your homework!’
Well, she’d had it.
Susan went to her drawer and got out her magic coin. She flipped it over and saw that the picture had changed. Instead of Pegasus a winged boy appeared.
Icarus, thought Susan. The boy who flew too close to the sun. She went to her bookshelf and got down her book of Greek myths. This time she’d be well prepared. She quickly read the sad story of Icarus and his father, the inventor Daedalus, their escape from their prison on Crete, and Icarus’ tragic end when the wax holding his wings melted.
Now I’ll know exactly what to do, thought Susan. She closed her eyes and wished.
‘Boo hoo!’
‘Boo hoo!’
Dusting herself off, Susan saw a young man sitting on the hillside beneath a flowering almond tree, hugging his knees to his face. A brightly polished shield lay beside him in the grass, sparkling in the heavy heat of the sun. In the distance were several mountains, some so tall their peaks were capped with snow. Susan heard the tinkling of bells, as an unseen shepherd ushered his flock up the steep hill track.
I don’t remember this bit, thought Susan. Never mind, perhaps the story was wrong.
‘Hello, Icarus,’ she said, touching the young man’s shoulder.
He raised teary eyes to her.
‘Who?’
‘Aren’t you Icarus?’ said Susan.
‘No,’ said the youth, sniffling. ‘My name’s Perseus.’
Perseus? What was going on?
‘Just a minute,’ said Susan, fishing in her pocket for the coin. There was no longer a winged boy pictured. Instead a monster’s snake-covered head with bristling fangs glared up at her.
The coin had tricked her.
So much for being clever and trying to cheat, thought Susan, sighing and putting the coin away. Then she looked at the tearful young man sitting before her.
‘Why are you crying?’
‘Because I’m such a boastful idiot,’ he moaned. ‘King Polydectes, who’s a miserable, horrible creep, wants to force my mother to marry him. I said no way, then he tricked me into swearing to bring him anything he wanted, and he said to bring him the head of the Gorgon Medusa.’
‘So what’s so hard about that?’ said Susan unsympathetically.
The youth looked at her incredulously.
‘First, Medusa is so hideous that anyone who looks at her is instantly turned to stone. Plus, she’s protected by her two immortal winged sisters, who would catch and kill anyone who harmed her. So I’d need to be invisible and be able to fly away faster than they. It’s impossible. King Polydectes knows Medusa will kill me like she’s killed every single person who has ever ventured to the land of the Gorgons and then what will happen to my poor mother?’ And he started crying again.
‘Isn’t anyone helping you?’ said Susan.
The boy sighed. ‘Well, Athena did offer me some tips,’ he said. ‘She told me to seek the three Grey Women and make them tell me where to find the nymphs who keep the weapons I need: a cap of invisibility, winged sandals, a pouch to put Medusa’s head in, and a blade of the gods, a sword of sharpest adamant.’
‘Well,’ said Susan. ‘That doesn’t sound too hard to me. I’m the nymph, Susan, and I’ve helped many heroes. You seem worthy – I’ll help you, too.’
‘Thank you,’ said the boy, wiping his eyes and perking up. ‘I should warn you, the Grey Sisters are truly disgusting – they share one eye, and one tooth, and keep on the lookout for any humans they can fling into their cauldron and eat.’ His face clouded over again and his lips trembled. ‘Wait!’ he moaned. ‘How am I going to make them tell me where to find the weapons?’
‘Easy,’ said Susan, who had vast experience forcing Freddie to confess where he’d hidden her things. ‘All we have to do is sneak up and snatch something precious of theirs and not give it back until they tell us where those nymphs are. I’d guess they’d tell you anything if you pinched their eye.’
‘Eeeew, touch an . . . eyeball,’ choked Perseus. ‘Just the thought makes me feel sick.’
‘Don’t be such a wimp, Perseus,’ snapped Susan. ‘Just think of it as wobbly jelly.’
‘As what?’ muttered Perseus.
‘Never mind,’ said Susan. ‘Where do the Grey Women live?’
Perseus pointed to a nearby mountain.
‘In a cave at the foot of Mount Atlas.’
‘Let’s go!’ said Susan.
Perseus and Susan crept through the cool olive groves, stepping carefully over the nets spread below the trees, and taking care to hide themselves in case the hags should spot them. Soon they heard a high-pitched cackling.
‘Where’s the eye? Give me the eye!’
‘No, it’s still my turn!
‘No, mine!’
Peeking through the silvery foliage they saw three hideous, grey-haired women sitting at the entrance of a cave. Before them an iron cauldron bubbled. A dreadful stench rose from the pot. Susan held her nose.
‘All right, here comes the eye,’ said the second hag.
Perseus and Susan watched as she plucked the eye from her socket and passed it over.
‘Ah, now I can see my delicious food,’ sighed the third, crunching away, her filthy grey hair dangling into her bowl.
‘Hurry up! Hurry up!’ snapped the first.
Quietly Susan and Perseus sneaked up behind the hags as they passed the eyeball and tooth back and forth.
‘Wait till the eye is in one hand waiting to be passed,’ whispered Susan. ‘Then sneak up and snatch it while they’re all blind!’
The second one took the eye out of her socket with her clawed hand. Perseus stepped towards them.
A twig snapped.
‘Quick! The eye!’ shrieked the third sister. Perseus froze. His face looked pale green.
Susan leaped forward and snatched it.
Ugh! How cold and slimy and wobbly it felt!
‘Where’s the eye, you stupid crone?’ snapped the first.
‘I gave it to you, you old bag!’ snapped the second.
‘I have it,’ announced Perseus, coming up beside Susan but refusing to take the eyeball from her. ‘If you want it back, tell me where to find the nymphs who keep the weapons that can kill Medusa.’
‘Never!’ shrieked the hags.
‘Then your eye goes straight into Lake Tritonis!’ cried Perseus.
‘NO!’ howled the sisters.
As if he’d ever be able to touch it long enough to throw it in, thought Susan, starting to feel a little queasy herself. The grey eye in her fist wobbled about as if it were alive.
The Grey Women started howling, and then swore by the River Styx they would tell him truthfully how to find the nymphs and their magic weapons.
These were the most complicated directions Susan had ever heard. Long before they’d finished talking about journeying three days north, four days east, three days south, and back across this river and up over that mountain she was completely lost.
But Perseus nodded and smiled and thanked them.
‘A curse on your thanks, you wretch,’ they howled. ‘Where’s our eye?’
Perseus picked up a pebble and threw it at them.
‘There it is!’ he shouted, grabbing Susan and hurrying away, leaving the hags scrabbling over the parched ground searching and shrieking.
‘What am I supposed to do with this eye?’ said Susan as they ran.
‘Whatever you want!’ said Perseus.
I’ll keep it, thought Susan, slipping it into her pocket. Then I can prove to Freddie and Eileen I’ve been having magic adventures. She hadn’t wanted to say anything until she had proof. Now she did.
They ran until they reached the safety of an oak wood, then stopped, clutching their sides and gasping for breath.
‘So, which way?’ said Susan.
‘Three days south,’ said Perseus.
Susan frowned.
‘I thought they said three days north.’
‘South,’ said Perseus. ‘Unless it was four days north, then three days west.’
‘Don’t you know?’ said Susan.
Perseus hesitated. ‘Not really,’ he said. ‘I was hoping you did.’
‘Oh great,’ said Susan. ‘Why didn’t you ask them to repeat it?’
‘I was too embarrassed,’ said Perseus, blushing.
‘What are we going to do?’ said Susan.
‘I don’t know,’ said Perseus. He looked as if he was going to burst into tears.
Susan stamped her foot. ‘This is hopeless,’ she wailed. ‘I wish we were there right now.’
The swirling mist set them down in the midst of a glorious garden. Trees heavy with pears, pomegranates and figs stood scattered about the cool enclosure. The air was fragrant with apple blossom and sweet perfumes. A tall fountain bubbled forth in its centre, the water dripping over bright pebbles.
I don’t believe this, thought Susan. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the coin, which glowed warmly in her hand. The Greek words, TI ETHELEIS – what do you wish? – twinkled up at her.
I suppose the coin wants to make up for tricking me, thought Susan. It had better be full cooperation from now on.
Then she forgot her worries, as the nymphs came out to greet them. In their hands they carried a cap, a large wallet, winged sandals, and a sharp, sickle-shaped sword.
All of these gifts they gave to Perseus. He put on the cap of invisibility, and vanished from sight. He took it off, and reappeared. He strapped on the sandals and flew into the air, somersaulting and twirling and laughing above their heads as his sharp sword sliced through the breeze.
Then Susan spoke up.
‘Have you anything for me?’ she asked hopefully. Wouldn’t it be great to have my own cap of invisibility? she thought. Perfect for sneaking sweets and giving Eileen a good pinch without being caught!
The nymphs looked at one another.
‘We have only one each of those precious things,’ they said.
Susan felt bitterly disappointed.
‘I see,’ she said in a small voice. ‘I guess that’s it, then. Goodbye, Perseus,’ she said, holding out her hand. ‘It’s been fun knowing you. Good luck killing Medusa.’
‘Wait,’ said Perseus. ‘We could share the sandals. Here,’ he added, offering her the golden wings from off his right foot. ‘Put this on.’
Susan could hardly believe what she was hearing. A generous Greek hero?
With trembling hands, Susan strapped on the sandal. She suddenly felt as light as air.
‘Now, take my hand,’ said Perseus.
Holding hands, they flew up and wobbled above the fountain.
‘Hold tight,’ said Perseus. They waved to the nymphs, shouted their thanks, and flew unsteadily over the high stone wall enclosing the magic garden.
Then Perseus took off in one direction, Susan in another, and their hands pulled apart. Immediately they both wobbled and toppled backwards, flying foot first, upside down.
‘Eeek,’ squealed Susan.
‘Catch my hand,’ cried Perseus. They struggled to right themselves.
‘That’s better,’ said Susan, hoping she’d stop feeling so dizzy soon. ‘I don’t think I like upside-down flying.’
‘Me neither!’ said Perseus. ‘Now to find the land of the Gorgons!’
Over land and sea they flew, a few feet above the foamy white waves, seeking the Gorgons’ lair.
Time passed, but Susan felt as if she were floating in a dream. She was almost half-asleep when Perseus squeezed her hand.
‘Look.’
In the flat, rocky fields below them stood the scattered statues of men and animals. Then Susan realised that the rain-washed, petrified forms were those who had seen Medusa’s terrible face.
‘SSSSSSSSSSS. SSSSSSSSSSSSS.’
‘Listen, Perseus,’ whispered Susan.
The air was filled with the unmistakable sound of hundreds of hissing snakes.
Without a word they landed. Susan gave Perseus back the winged sandal, then he put on his cap of invisibility and vanished. Susan could feel his hand in hers, but could see nothing.
‘Did you know yo
u’re invisible too?’ spoke the empty air. Then his hand dropped hers. ‘Not any more. Only while you’re touching me.’
‘Wait! Perseus!’ shouted Susan. ‘Come back!’
‘What is it?’ said the disembodied voice.
‘We’ve forgotten something,’ she said. ‘Something very important. You’re invisible, so Medusa can’t see you. But we can see her.’
‘Obviously,’ said Perseus, reappearing before her. ‘That’s what being invisible means. We see them. They can’t see us.’
‘No need to be sarcastic, smarty-pants,’ said Susan. ‘That’s my point. If you look at Medusa, you’ll be turned to stone, invisible or not.’
‘Rats,’ said Perseus. ‘I knew this wouldn’t work.’ He sat on the ground scowling.
Susan thought. There has to be a way round this. There has to be. She stood silently, watching the sun shining on Perseus’ round shield. Her reflected face looked awfully sunburnt.
‘Perseus,’ said Susan. ‘I know just what to do. Fly backwards.’
‘So I can go crashing into those poisonous snakes and gnashing teeth? No thanks.’
‘No!’ said Susan. ‘Use the reflection in your shield to guide you. It’s polished as bright as a mirror.
‘You are a genius,’ beamed Perseus.
Susan smiled modestly.
‘Thank you, wise hero,’ she replied. ‘I wish my teacher thought that.’
‘Will you come and hold the shield for me?’ he asked. ‘I can easily carry you, and if you hold the shield that will keep both my hands free to chop off her head.’
Susan hesitated for a moment, then jumped on his back. Holding high the shield before them, they slowly flew backwards, heading towards the sounds of hissing snakes.
The terrible hulking shapes of the three Gorgons appeared in the shield. They were asleep. Huge, rasping snores burst from their fanged mouths. Their slobbery tongues lolled out into the dirt. Snakes writhed above their heads, hissing and rattling, their mouths dripping poison as their tongues poked the air.
Susan gasped. Never had she seen such frightful faces in her life. Her whole body stiffened and it took all her strength not to scream.
Slowly, cautiously, Perseus and Susan edged towards Medusa. Keeping his eyes fixed on her reflection, Perseus raised high his curved sword.
Helping Hercules Page 5
