The God of Olympus (30 page)

             
In the time that followed many people desired to construct statues of Hercules, Meg, Philoctetes, Milo, and all of their great God heroes.  But Hercules did not like such a thing.  He was reminded of Meg’s palace and the peace that prevailed where there were no statues to Gods.  Instead, Hercules said the greatest symbol of the God they were to be was to be found in their heart.

             
The people of Greece were surprised to hear Hercules say such words.  “But you are our great God?” they said.  “You are now our God just as Zeus and Hera were our Gods before you.”

             
Hercules shook their head.  “No, there is one greater than I and it is he that you must keep in your hearts.”

             
And so the Greeks did not construct a great statue of any Gods any more, but tried to keep their memory in their hearts.

             
The truth was that Hercules did all this because he knew that everything they would or could construct would eventually be torn down, or erode with the passing of time.  Hercules knew that his legacy would eventually leave the minds of all people.  He knew that mortals so easily forget and their lives were so short.  But in the end he knew that his own legacy was not the legacy people should live by.  He knew that the legacy people should truly live by is the legacy they create for themselves.  His job was to give people hope in their ability to great their own great legacy.  And he had done that.

             
Hercules’ eternal legacy was meant to be with his family—with Meg as his wife and the many children he would have in the future.

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              The celebration continued the rest of that day, until Poseidon led Hercules, Meg, Philoctetes, and the rest of the Gods to the sea to the west of Athens.  There Poseidon said, “The time has now come for our departure.  I will go to the oceans where I must be.  Athena, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hermes and all the rest of the Gods will return to their lands.  But you two will be able to rule the land of the Gods, and in turn, this mortal world, from afar.”

             
Hercules and Meg suddenly saw a gate open, a gate glittering in gold, all elegantly decorated.  Beyond the gate was a bright light, a light so bright that Hercules could see nothing else through it.  “This the only way from the land of mortals to the land of the Gods, although once a God on Mount Olympus you may take any path to the mortal road.”

             
Hercules looked to Meg and Meg looked back at Hercules.  Meg said softly, “I shall show you what I saw in those moments when I died.  It was far grander than you can imagine—far grander than this world.”

             
“Go,” said Philoctetes, with tears in his eyes.  “I will miss you, but you belong there, up on Mount Olympus.  I will take care of things here.”

             
Pegasus, of course, was not going to abandon Hercules.  Hercules was eternally grateful for this.  Hercules and Meg both mounted Pegasus and looked back at the Gods and Philoctetes.  Tears of joy streamed down Philoctetes’ face.  Hercules then flew away through the gate and into the land of the Gods.

Epilogue

              This epilogue is devoted to telling what happened after Hercules and Meg departed the mortal world for the God world, to rule Mount Olympus forevermore.

             
Although Hercules did not desire it, the people built a great statue to him and placed it up in the center of their city.  Why?  So that they could remember their hero, and so that their own children, and their children’s children could remember their hero.  Stories would certainly be told of Hercules, and not every story would be exactly the same, but it is certain that the message would be.

             
With almost the entire city gathered together in the courtyard of Athens Philoctetes spoke some great and powerful words: “Hercules and Meg did something for us that we could not do for ourselves—they restored our confidence in the mortal man and woman, thus restoring our confidence in ourselves.  Worship the Gods we still should, for we are far from them in progression.  However, we should believe that we, like Hercules and Meg, may someday become one of them!  You see, the hero really doesn’t belong on the earth, but makes himself belong, at least for the period of his service.  None know him fully, although everyone knows him in part.”  Then all looked up into the sky and watched as a bright star shot across the night sky.  “The future is bright for our city and for all of Greece!  Three cheers for Hercules and Meg, both the great Gods of Mount Olympus!  May they ever be ever blessed!”

             
The entire city erupted in cheers and a great and new future began.

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