TW07 The Argonaut Affair NEW (16 page)

"Sooner or later, we'll find out," Steiger said, "and I have a feeling when we do, we're not going to like it one damn bit."

"It will be interesting to see if the next event in the story takes place on schedule," said Delaney.

"The Symplegades," Steiger said. "The Clashing Rocks at the north end of the Bosporous. The special effects might be a little hard to manage."

"Just the same, I'll feel better when we've passed them," said Delaney.

That night, Tiphys lost consciousness and never recovered, dying of the injuries he had sustained in their battle with the giants. They buried him ashore at dawn. Jason treated Andre's wounds and those of Hercules, who seemed to think it was all highly unnecessary and would have been content to continue disregarding them had Jason not insisted. To be on the safe side, Delaney gave Andre some antibiotics from their medikit hidden in his pouch. The talons of the harpy had not done any irreparable damage, but she would be in severe pain for a while, so she was excused from rowing. Hercules merely waved Jason away when it was suggested he should also abstain from rowing and give his wounds some time to heal.

Jason seemed undecided about whether or not he should try ordering Hercules not to row, but Hylas settled the matter by pulling him aside gently and explaining in an apologetic manner.

"He is always like this," Hylas said. "As if it were not enough that he is stronger than any mortal man, he must also disregard any sickness or injury, to prove he is above such things. He allows me to tend to him as if to humor me. His wounds must pain him, but he would not admit it. At such times, he can be difficult. I have always found it best to let him have his way."

"Well, you know him best, Hylas," Jason said. He smiled and rested a hand on the boy's shoulder. "I will leave the welfare of the son of Zeus in your capable hands."

As the ship set sail up the Bosporous, Hylas appointed himself nurse to Andre, as well. He rubbed some balm into her wounds that he said always worked wonders on his master and he changed her bandages, made from some of the spare clothing the Dalions had given them. He brought food to her and fresh water to drink.

"How old are you, Hylas?" Andre asked.

"Sixteen, my lady."

"Indeed? You seem younger."

"It is because I am so small. I am as nothing next to Hercules. I am not as small and weak as I once was, though. I have grown stronger from carrying my master's weapons and from trying to work with them.

Hercules teaches me so that I might be an armorer one day. It seems it is not my fate to be a hero, like my master and the others."

She smiled. "You admire Hercules very much, don't you?"

"He is the greatest man alive!"

"How long have you known him?"

"Many years, my lady. Since I was but a child."

"How did you meet?"

"My parents were killed by bandits," Hylas said. "Hercules came and rescued me from them. With my parents dead, I had no one left. At first, Hercules told me I could stay with him until we found someone to take me in, but who would want another's child, one so small and frail that anyone could see he would be of little use, only another mouth to feed. When he saw that no one wanted me, Hercules said I could remain with him. He understood my feelings. It is because ..." Hylas lowered his voice, "... he sometimes has trouble speaking. Not all the time. Whenever there is hero's work to be done, his voice flows forth as befits the son of Zeus. But at other times, his voice often stumbles and fails him."

Hylas leaned closer to her. "I think it is because he is so big," he said softly, almost whispering. "He is a giant among men and the world was made for men, not giants. No matter where he goes, people cannot help but stare at him. Often, he must bend down and walk sideways to enter through a doorway. I have seen him sit down in a chair, only to have the chair break beneath his weight and send him crashing to the floor. Then he must pick himself up and as he does so, no one looks and no one laughs, for who would dare to laugh at Hercules? Still, I have seen his face burning with shame because he knows that they have seen. He knows that they will doubtless laugh after we have gone. You have heard his voice when he is roused to anger, how it rings out like thunder? Yet, at other times, his voice is soft and low and he falters in his speech. I think it is because he is afraid to loose that godlike voice. I think that he does not wish to seem too proud."

"And so you become his voice," said Andre. "It is because I have been with him so long, I know what he would say even as he thinks it. I know what is in his heart. You see, we are somewhat alike, but not in any way that you might notice. He is only half a god who must live in a world of lesser men and I am only half a boy who must live in a world where only little children can look up to me. Each of us, in his own way, does not belong with others, so we belong to one another."

Andre reached out and touched his cheek. "You may be small, Hylas, but in some ways you stand above most men."

He stared at her, puzzled. "In what ways, my lady?"

"You see things more clearly than most men do and you understand them better. It is the rarest of all gifts.

Perhaps that is why the gods have made you small. So you would not be envied."

"I had never thought of that," said Hylas. "Can it be true?"

"The greatest gifts are those that are not easily discerned," said Andre. "Those who have them are often not aware of them and if they are, they do not hold them up for all to see."

"You must be very wise, my lady."

Andre shook her head. "No, Hylas, I am not wise. But I have been to many places and I have witnessed many things. And I once had a little brother who was very much like you."

"What became of him?"

Andre sat silent for a moment. "He was killed."

"I am very sorry."

She nodded. "So am I, Hylas. You would have liked him. And he would have liked you."

"If I remind you of him, I am glad," said Hylas.

"Thank you," Andre said. "I think I will rest now and have some sleep. Wake me if I am needed."

"I will, my lady. If you need me, you have but to call. I wish you pleasant dreams."

They rowed slowly as they approached the end of the Bosporous. Between them and the Euxine Sea, rocks protruded from the water like jagged teeth, some small, some large enough to form small islands.

They had taken down the sail and Mopsus stood in the prow, taking soundings with a weighted rope and watching for rocks that were submerged. Even the smallest of them could easily tear the bottom out of the ship and the larger ones had jagged edges extending out just below the water.

"Slowly," Argus cautioned the rowers from his position at the tiller. "Slowly, now."

Mopsus kept calling out the depths, so that Argus could steer away from unseen hazards. The ship slid between the rocks as if cautiously picking its way through an obstacle course. They could hear waves crashing against the two giant rock formations at the far end of the stone forest, two towering spires between which they would have to pass.

"We are almost through," Mopsus shouted from the prow. "Once we pass between those two mountains of rock, we shall be clear and in the open sea once more."

"Remain alert!" Argus shouted from the aft end of the ship. "They may be wider at the base, below the surface. We must not scrape against them!"

"Or be crushed between them, either," Steiger said, wryly.

"Don't even joke about it," said Delaney as they rowed together. "Let's not tempt the gods, okay?"

"A storm is coming," Jason called out.

"But the sky is clear," said Orpheus.

"I heard thunder."

"You heard the waves crashing on the rocks," said Theseus.

"No, something else. Thunder, from far away."

"I heard it, too," said Idmon. "And I feel that it is very close."

The ship started to pass slowly between the giant rocks. No one could help staring up at the walls towering above them.

"There!" said Jason.
"Listen!"

This time, there was no mistaking the sound, a deep, far off rumbling which grew in volume as the
Argo
slid between the rocks. Small stones started to rain down on the ship from above, then, ahead of them, larger pieces of rock fell into the water, some quite close to the ship, sending up sprays which soaked them all.

"They're moving!"
Mopsus shouted hoarsely. Unmistakably, the walls of rock to either side of them were shifting, moving inwards, closer to the ship. "We'll be crushed!" Idmon shouted. "Damn it, you
had
to say it, didn't you?" Delaney said, giving Steiger a venomous look.

"Row!"
shouted Argus, leaning on the tiller.
"Put your backs into it! Row for your lives!''

He shouted out a fast cadence as the Argonauts pulled for all they were worth. Rock debris fell all around them, some pieces striking the ship and holing the deck in places. One large piece fell directly in their path, striking the figurehead and jarring it loose, sending a shudder through the entire ship. The figurehead fell into the water and another rock fell near it, the water displaced by its mass pushing the figurehead toward the shuddering, moving wall of rock. The outstretched arm of the figurehead struck against the rock.

The rock suddenly started to move the other way, settling deeper in the water, sliding back away from the ship.

"Look!" shouted Jason. "The goddess pushes back the rock!"

"Pull!
screamed Argus.
"Pull 'til your backs break! Pull! Pull!"

The ship shot forward, clearing the rocks and entering the open water of the Euxine Sea. Behind them, the thundering, grinding noises stopped and the rocks settled in the water, lower than before, no longer moving. For a few moments, smaller pieces continued to drop into the channel between them, then all was still again.

"The goddess saved us," Jason said. "Did you see? She pushed back the rock so we could pass through unharmed!"

"An earthquake," Steiger told Delaney. "An earthquake, that's all it was."

"Sure," Delaney said. "Probably volcanic action. The bottom shifted, the rock crumbled at the base and it was just a coincidence that it settled backwards just as the figurehead drifted against it."

"Yeah, that's what it was," said Steiger.

"Right, that's what must have happened."

They looked at each other.

"Don't even think it," Steiger said.

"Think what?"

"Nothing. Never mind. Shut up and row."

On their third day of sailing on the Euxine Sea, the winds began to strengthen and, noting the appearance of the sky, Delaney feared the worst. Jason wouldn't hear of going in toward shore and seeking a protected bay when strong winds were prevailing. All he could think of was Colchis lying ahead of them and he was determined to take advantage of the blow. He insisted that there would be plenty of time to head toward shore if the weather took a turn for the worse. Nothing Delaney or Steiger could say would dissuade him. Argus lent his weight to their argument, but Jason wouldn't listen.

"If we ran for shore each time the sky grew a little gray," he said, "we would never reach our destination.

We have fought fierce battles and emerged victorious. We have survived the Clashing Rocks. The gods watch over us. Are we to shake with fear at the merest threat of rain? "

"What's coming is a great deal more than just a little rain," Delaney said. "You've never seen a real storm at sea."

"If one comes, then I shall see it," Jason said, impatiently. "I grow weary of this journey. The gods have sent us wind to speed us on our way. I shall not fail to take advantage of their gift."

"You'll be calling it a curse before too long," Delaney said. I've been at sea before, Jason, and I'm telling you-"

"Enough!" said Jason. "Who is captain here? If you had not the nerve to make this voyage, you should not have come."

He turned away angrily and walked up forward to stand in the bow, looking out to sea intently, as if he could see Colchis just over the horizon.

"I ought to turn that kid over my knee and give him a good spanking," said Delaney.

"Well, if he wants to see a storm, he's about to get an eyeful," Steiger said.

"Get some rope," Delaney shouted. "Bring all we have. If it gets as rough as I think it's going to get, we're going to need it."

The winds continued to gather strength and the sky grew dark. The sea went from choppy to roiling and the swells grew larger, then the squall struck. The rain came down in stinging sheets and the waves crashed down upon the
Argo.
Jason quickly experienced a change of heart and ordered Argus to turn in toward shore. Delaney immediately contermanded his order. Jason turned on him furiously.

"You must be mad!" he shouted. "At the first sign of a little wind, you plead to go ashore and now you wish to head out for the open sea? You would take us from safety to disaster! What do you wish to do, drown us all? To shore, Argus!"

"You fool," Delaney said. "It's too late now. We won't even reach the shore in these conditions, whether the gods are watching over us or not! We'll be battered to bits by the waves or smashed upon a reef!

Our only chance now is to head out to open sea and ride the storm out!"

"And if your house were to catch fire, you would run into the flames? I have never heard such nonsense!

Argus, steer to ward shore!"

"Jason, my lad, I'm about to show you something else that happens at sea sometimes," Delaney said. "It's called a mutiny."

He dropped Jason with a hard right cross to the jaw. "Lash him down!" he yelled to Steiger. "The rest of you, take some rope and tie yourselves to something or you'll be swept overboard!"

He ran back to join Argus and they lashed themselves to the tiller together. The other Argonauts were in no mood for argument. The wind was screaming like a hundred banshees and the waves were crashing down upon the deck, soaking them all and knocking them off their seats. They moved quickly to secure the oars and tie themselves down.