The Odyssey
“Odysseus freed us!”
“How do you know?”
“I was at the mansion watching, when I came here to tell you what was happening, and beckon you to the mansion.”
“ The mansion!” I exclaimed. Oh no I’m not going…”
“ Listen Mentor! I’ll explain as we travel, but we have to make quick time, so we can summon all the men…”
We started hiking up the mountain, when I turned my head to Mellicus.
“So…what happened?”
“Well It was rather simple…Odysseus came to the mansion prevailed Circe’s test and…”
“Wait a second prevailed her test? What is that supposed to mean?”
“ Don’t you know anything, Mentor? It means that Hermes gave Odysseus a plant to eat that would make him Immune to Circe’s spell. Hermes also gave Odysseus instructions to use his sword against the maiden and order us, men to our true forms.”
“Then what happened?”
“Um…Well I um…. I’ll tell you that ah…um later, ok?”
“Sure…” I said a little suspiciously.
We continued the climb up the mountain and at the top Mellicus promised to tell me, whatever it was that he was so nervous about.
***
“Ukk! I can’t believe Odysseus could be so treacherous to his wife! Ohhh man he is soo…”
“Shh! Mentor! We don’t want to embarrass Odysseus; you know he did manage to transform us into our real forms, even though he had to be with…. Besides,” he pointed at the doorway, “you’re going to love it here!”
And I did, much to my surprise! It was paradise; every day all the crew had oil baths, messages…. It was definitely the life! Ohh and the women! We could have lived there for years!
Well one year to be exact. How did I know this? Well let’s just say that one day Odysseus raged! Screaming with all his might, he managed to raise us out of our comfort and into a digging realm. The task: To unbury the ship.
The whole time we did this back laboring work, Odysseus barked. While barking he told us that we were going to the underworld to ask advice of the blind prophet Teiresias, the north wind would guide us.
I wasn’t very fond of the idea in traveling into the underworld. From all the stories I had heard about it, it seemed a very dismal place. Yet…it was the only way to benefit hope of sailing home. Perhaps this blind prophet would tell us the dangers that would come, that way we could maneuver our course!
I was still puzzled by Odysseus’ sudden order to descend into the underworld. Where did it come from? Who spoke [of] Teiresias? The only person who had known such a thing was Circe! But was she that willing to help us?
I gazed up at the stars. The only constellation I could make out was The Hunter…
There it was! The entrance to the Underworld, by the stream of Oceanus. I still, had not the clue on how we were going to speak to this prophet. I had needed not worry, for Odysseus told us some startling news.
“My crew, my life, my love, there is no more you must do I am going into the underworld alone.”
A cry of protest rose from the crew, including me.
“Don’t go Odysseus!”
“ I will come with you!”
“What will happen to you?”
“You can’t leave us!”
“What will we do?!”
We were like helpless puppies whose owner was leaving for the first time. The owner was sympathetic but firm.
“I Will Go Alone! You, my crew will stay here, as I said before, there is nothing more for you to do. I will face the underworld alone.”
This was too much for me and I sprang to my feet, leaping onto Odysseus and clinging to his feet.
“Don’t leave me master! I will come along! Anything but having to stay here, without you!” I started to sob.
“STAND UP!” barked Odysseus. “NOW!!!”
I sprang to my feet.
“Let leave of me!”
My hands settled to my sides.
“ Look at yourself, “ Odysseus commanded. “
I looked….
“You are standing on your own two feet, and you do not need me for support. THE Ram.”
A couple of crewmembers scrambled for the Ram we brought on our journey. What its purpose was for, I wasn’t sure.
“But Odysseus what will we do while you’re gone?!”
“ You will wait, and if a day has passed and I haven’t returned, then you will sail back to Ithaca!”
“And leave you? NEVER!” I cried.
Odysseus looked up at me, his eyes calm and restrained, “ What must be done, must be done, “ and carrying the black ram over his shoulder he waved a farewell to us. I was desperate, “ At least tell me one thing! What is the ram for?”
“ It is for Teiresias! He must drink a ram’s blood in order to speak,” and with those words he faded into the blood red fields.
That was too great a burden for me, and I started to sob & sob. The whole trip I had been waiting and waiting, Odysseus was like a brother to me, I wanted to follow him everywhere…anywhere. He was always there for me, ever since my parents passed away. I did everything with him, and now he might never come back! What would happen to me if he left? But…I straightened up, Odysseus (and Beverly Cleary) were right, I had to stand on my own two feet. Till then I would wait.
***
He came with terror in he eyes. He came with a satisfaction in a glimpse of him. Quite a contradiction. His voice favored his eyes in terror and horror.
“Get this ship out of this * place!”
We did this hurriedly trying to glimpse this stranger as we went. Much to our surprise it was Odysseus, who sat on our plank.
“Odysseus!!” I cried running towards him, my arms outstretched. He did not take my welcome, but pushed me away, screaming…
***
When we had finally calmed Odysseus down, he told us, what made him so frightened:
There were spirits everywhere, spirits I had known, men that fought with us in the Trojan War. Some men had eternal punishment, they could not drink or they could not eat. I saw spirits of women, lovely Chlouis, Lede, Iphimedia, endless amounts of spirits swarming.
The first thing I did after looking around, was cut open the ram so blood spilled out of its flanks, and then… This was the most horrifying part! The Spirits started to Swarm around me!
He looked at us terrified.
Each of the spirits sought the blood, but I kept them back with my sword held high! It was only Teiresias that would take the blood from me! Then I saw my mother, and tears came to my eyes.
‘Mother,’ I cried. ‘Why are you at the underworld?’
She answered me and told news of back at home: ‘I am here because my son… I was too grieved; I couldn’t stand being without you any longer so I walked straight into the sea, to here. I thought you might be here a shade as I am, but I was wrong.
Back at home you say? Your loyal wife still clings to you. Even though the palace is full of suitors asking for her hand in marriage. They are ruining your house, Odysseus! They are drinking your wine, living on your floors, and they just play all day! It’s…awful. And every day they ask (noisily drunk) for Penelope’s hand again! It is just too awful! These, who were your fellow countrymen, are now spoiling your home, and claiming you dead!
Your son you ask? Your son is angry with them as I am, and I’m dead. When I left the world above, your son had also left, but not for the underworld, don’t get me wrong, but for a journey! To go to the island of, ‘ she put a hand to her forehead. ‘ I don’t remember the name, but an island of a friend of yours who fought in the Trojan War. He went to ask this friend if you were alive!
Of Penelope you ask? She is worried sick about you, but she won’t marry. No, not her, BUT she did promise one thing to the suitors…’
‘What,’ I was petrified.
‘That she would marry once, Temelacus, your son, grew a beard, but that is all I know from back home. ‘
I was so happy of the news of home and my mother, that I tried to embrace her three times, but three times she fell back. So I had to continue my trip to find Teiresias, which I did. “
Odysseus shifted his position, and looked at us, raising his fingers.
“There were three dread he spoke of. Three dreads:
* The Sirens
* The Scylla
* And the Charybdis
The Sirens are beautiful women, whose song beckons travelers, unknown of their waters. If you step on the island of that the Sirens sing from, you will be killed.
The Scylla is a vicious beast that lives on the rocky crag. Every time a ship travels by, she gobbles 6 men on board, with he six heads, and three rows of teeth.
The Charybdis is a whirlpool that sucks in the sea, and spits it out so powerfully that it can destroy a whole ship.
So now that you know these three dangers, and mind our way across them, let us continue our journey!
***
How we managed to sail out of the Underworld, I will never know. But somehow we managed to, and while we did, Odysseus told us how to protect ourselves against the three dangers in our journey. SO Teiresias told him.
Well at least he told us how to protect ourselves from the Sirens, but we never expected what would happen with the Scylla, and Charybdis.
When we passed through the Sirens, Odysseus commanded us to fill our ears with wax, making it impenetrable for the Siren’s song to reach our eardrums. Odysseus on the other hand, was tied to the ship’s mast, by his commands. I was surprised that he did not want to fill his ears with wax too. But Odysseus wanted to hear their lovely song, although their intention was not lovely.
As we traveled past the Siren Island the crew and I did not look at the island, and we tied a piece of cloth over Odysseus’ eyes, so he too, could not see. We also secured Odysseus’ ropes, ready for his pleading.
To us the island seemed like any other island, but the whole time we passed by Odysseus pleaded and pleaded. I, always wanting to help my master begged the crew to let him go.
“Look at the way Odysseus gestures. Look at the way he tugs! It is obvious that he wants to go to the island, Maybe we should just let him on the island…for a little bit.”
“Come on Mentor! Don’t you remember Odysseus’ orders!? He told us he would plea and he told us not to give in!”
How the crew heard me at all was fascinating! I was surprised I even dared to speak with so much wax in my ears. When I spoke, it was as soft as the wind blowing, and when someone else spoke it was merely a thought. Somehow we were able to communicate, and I realized my mistake in wanting Odysseus ashore. So I continued rowing.
When we were out of harms way, we each helped the other, retrieve the jammed wax out of his ears. Then we unwrapped Odysseus, or at least I did. He came out, aghast.
“Mentor! Did you hear their lovely song?! It was so beautiful, I wanted to…to…”
“Snap out of it Odysseus, we have a great many more dangers ahead, and we don’t need you babbling about some SIRENS!”
“Yes of course! Men shift the sails! I’m afraid we’ll have to sail past the other two dangers now.”
So we shifted the sails, and were what we thought ready, but we were soon to find, we were not.
We sailed past rocky crag after rocky crag. Each time I was certain that Scylla would pounce on us. It was when I least expected her that he did…
The first time she did he grabbed three men, including Mellicus.
“ Mellicus!” I cried. “Mellicus, my dear friend! I will save you!”
“ No Mentor! It’s no use. This is my time to die!”
“ Mellicus…MELLICUS! NOOOOOOOOO!”
Scylla threw up his bones, covered with blood, in my face. I took them and put them down safely at the end of the ship, reading for revenge! I was just starting to grab my sword to fight, when a hand held me back.
“ Mentor… I’m sorry about Mellicus, but… If you fight this animal, you risk further deaths,” just as Odysseus said those words Scylla came and grabbed this time six men.
This couldn’t be happening! More bones and blood were cast at our ship; I saw Odysseus murmuring, frightened.
I started to scream, the other men followed my lead. Later, I realized how, feminine we sounded.
Odysseus finally had a grasp on himself as we were all losing it, “ Men!” he cried. “ Hoist up your oars! We’re moving out!”
We did as told, and as we reached safety Scylla gobbled another three men. Now there were only a few of us left. Then it hit, I remember now, that I was right next to Odysseus, when it hit, and Eurydus was right next to me.
All the sudden out of nowhere a huge mouth in the water seemed to try to suck us in! It wasn’t just any suck though, it was huge…Charybdis'!
“ Oh no!” I screamed, as the ship started to slide in, Odysseus was clinging onto a branch of a tree nearby.
“ Mentor!” he cried. I reached my hand out toward his and clung onto it desperately. Eurydus saw that he and the rest of the ship would die, unless they clung on to our chain, so receiving the idea, he clung to me, adding an increased weight to my body.
After he had clung on, the ship fell in to the slurping mouth with a crash. Dare I look down? For all I knew was that there was a huge mouth, and like that of the Sirens, and the Scylla, where I didn’t dare look at them, for I feared them. But this time some curiosity moved me to look at the mouth, and what I saw was a striking sight.
There were huge teeth! Blue teeth, with a mouth full of waves, and our ship, that was now wood, and our men who were now a bloody mass of… I screamed, and looked back at Odysseus, who, I could tell, saw the sickening sight also.
The sucking air was becoming much for me, and Eurydus’ weight extradinary.
“ Odysseus,” I cried. “Pull us up!”
“ I’m Trying Mentor!” was his reply.
And those were the last words that ever met my ears, as Eurydus’ weight was too much for me… I fell… Eurydus was behind me, for I weighed more than he.
I was so stricken with terror, and knowing, that I was going to die, that I was speechless, and the only thing I could think of was chaos.
A thought sprang into my head! If I were going to die, then I would see my mother!
“MMMMMMMMMMMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMYYYYYYYY!” I cried, as I fell into the monster’s huge mouth.
Then all went completely black.
***
It felt like a nightmare, the kind when you fall from a cliff, and wake up, all sweaty and cold. Except this time it wasn’t a dream, it was real. I always expected myself to wake, but I never did, I was always walking in darkness…This was too painful, I was actually dead! I started to cry!
When my first tear touched the ground the world around me suddenly lit up, and I was on a bank by the River of death.
“Archon!” I cried, “Take me across!”
The deathly man that ran the rivers of dearth looked up, “I’m sorry Mentor, but I can’t take you across.”
I was astounded! “Why?!”
Archon glared at me, “Because you’re not buried that’s why! And if you want to come to the other shore, you must by buried.”
That would never happen! My bones would stay at the pit of the Charybdis forever! I started to cry again.
Archon seemed sympathetic, “How’d you die kid?”
I was on my knees, and managed to grumble, “Charybdis.”
“ Oh don’t worry kid, you’ll be buried in a couple hundred years.”
“What?!”
“When the ocean soil settles on your bones and…”
“ A couple hundred years! What am I going to do for that time?”
“Well you could hang out with the other dead unburied people.”
I jumped up. “No way! Probably all the dead people here, are from the ship.”
“Well there is one other thing you could do…”
“What?”
“ You sailed with Odysseus, right?” Archon came out of the boat.
“ Yeh…”
“Well how would you feel being his ‘guardian’?”
“Hmmm”
“ It’s like you watch him on his journey, and come to him in his dreams if he’s doing something wrong.”
“ Oh! I’d love to do that!”
“Then follow me…”
He walked on the shore his legs a little shaky probably from having to ride a boat all the time. I followed him through grounds of mists, we twisted, and turned so often that I lost track.
“ We’re are we going?”
“Here!”
He opened what looked like a fog curtain and showed me a round object.
“This will allow you to see Odysseus. To activated this ‘ball’ you must keep your hands on it at all times, this way you will be able to always see Odysseus, but if you take your hands off it, but once, then you will lose sight of Odysseus forever…I will come for you when your time being Odysseus’ “guardian’ is up.”
He was about to turn away, when I spoke up: “Archon, if I stand here with my hands on the round object for hundreds of years, what will happen to me? Will I die? When will I eat? Drink? How will I come to Odysseus in his dreams?”
“ Kid…” He looked at me. “ You’re dead! You don’t need to do anything! You don’t need food, or water YOU’RE DEAD! And how you come to Odysseus in his dreams, well you’ll find a way.”
“How!?”
“Hey, if it’s too complicated for you I can ask some one else if…”
“No, that’s okay! Thank you Archon.”
Archon faded into the mists.
Okay this should be easy, I looked around, I was in some kind of cave, and the ‘ball’ was glowing green. I put my hands on it:
Flashes of light sparked my brain, and I was traveling through millions of colors.
“Odysseus,” I yelped, and all the sudden I saw him. He was standing on as island crying on someone’s shoulder, a woman. He was telling her about us, his crew.
“They were so kind, and adventurous and now they’re dead!” he started to sob.
Now the woman was talking, “Have no fear Odysseus, you are safe here! Come lay in our beds of comfort.”
I looked around, I was now standing right next to Odysseus!
“Odysseus!”
He didn't hear me or see me.
“Odysseus!”
Odysseus was following the women and then there also were maidens giggling at what I thought was me.
“Hello,” I said towards them, trying to show them my muscles through my thickness, but as they giggled, I noticed that they were not looking at me, but Odysseus.
“ Come on Mentor,” I said to myself, “ I thought you figured this out already.”
No one could see me or hear me; I was just there to help Odysseus! All the sudden I was back in the underworld. I looked at myself; I was pure white, my skin, my hands, and my eyes-white! I had never noticed this factor before. Had I been like this before?! Probably?! I was dead, a shade.
I was thinking all these things with my hands on the ball! It was odd that I was now thinking and looking at myself when I was supposed to think of Odysseus.
The ball took me back with Odysseus! He was having fun dancing with the maidens in a castle. The rooms were furnished with red carpets, and the woman that I had seen before was watching Odysseus with love in her eyes!
Odysseus had grown a larger beard, and I realized a year must have passed by. I looked at Odysseus again, he was having a lovely time, and he too was gazing at the women with love. They were in Love! Oh what a sweet picture! Wait! What about Penelope?!
“Odysseus!” I screamed. “Snap out of it!”
I ran right in front of his face and waved my arms.
“ Odysseus, don’t you remember Penelope? You’re wife! The person you…loved? Don’t you remember?”
But he walked right past me to the tedious women and said:
“ Calypso!”
The women spoke, “Odysseus, how do you feel?”
“Right at home!”
I closed the distance between Calypso and I, hearing her murmur under her breath.
“ Perfect! Now he’s forgotten that Penelope! He’s all mine!”
I heard her, laugh, a wicked laugh in her mind. Now I understood! I had to warn Odysseus! Calypso was brainwashing the poor man! I had to warn him before he would be in Calypso’s power!
The only thing I knew what to do was pray, “Almighty Gods, of earth and sky, help me come into Odysseus’ dreams tonight, to warn him of…”
All the sudden I was in a room, or at least I thought that’s what it was. It was White, Too bright that I couldn’t see anything. A huge voice boomed in my head:
“Well, you wanted to be in Odysseus’ dream, Mentor, so why don’t you practice what you’re going to say, a little first?”
“Okay!” I replied to whoever was speaking with me. “I can accomplish that, I mean, it should be easy, right?”
“Just perfect your oratory, Mentor.”
So under the orders of “the voice” I started to practice what I was to say for Odysseus.
“Um..Hi Odysseus…This is Mentor.from the…underworld…um.. I …just came here…to tell you that.your…um…girlfriend…is trying to brainwash you.”
There was a burst of laughter, and one of the walls slid open to reveal, Mellicus! Who after walking through the door, collapsed on the floor with his eyes streaming with mirth.
Finally, after what seemed to be a long time, Mellicus stood and embraced me, wiping his eyes.
“Ah Mentor, you were always so naive.”
He snapped his fingers and two chairs appeared on the white floor.
“ Sit down,” he commanded.
“Now Mentor, where you are now, is called the Room of Dreams, for after you have figured what to say, you will appear in Odysseus’ dreams.”
I didn’t hear a word he was saying, my friend was with me. “Oh Mellicus, it’s soo nice to see you!”
“Yes nice to see you too! Now, when you appear in peoples dreams, as their guardian you must speak in long poetic verses such as…”
“But Mellicus, How did you come here? How were you appointed this job?”
“ I’m just special, anyway Mentor, he’s going to dream in a minute. Are you ready?”
“Well…”
Mellicus started to leave.
“Wait Mellicus! What did I do wrong?? I don’t know what to say…”
Then it hit me, I felt it, I was inside Odysseus’ head, and I had to say something…
“Hi Odysseus…Well I came here to warn you that….”
All the sudden, I was gushing forth with long poetic forces, telling him to remember his wife.
I still do not know what came over me at that time, but then I was done, and Mellicus was beaming at me, shaking my hand.
I was back in the cave, my hands still on the ball, my hands were sweating, and I looked around, it was the same cave, now the ball was glowing blue, I paused, I needed to catch my breath, before I saw Odysseus again. After a minute had passed by I yelped, “I want to see Odysseus!”
The ball took me right next to Odysseus side. His beard was now at least 2 feet long, spotted with white hairs, he was sobbing, and moaning for Penelope.
Yes, I thought, the dream worked! He remembers Penelope again! Now, where was Calypso? After many minutes of searching, I found Calypso, she was running to Odysseus with tears in her eyes.
“FINE! Odysseus, your wish is granted. You may leave for your wonderful wife. But I warn you, you could have been immortal with me!”
Odysseus slowly stood up. “I would rather spend one mortal life with my wife, than eternity with you. Now, where may I find a ship?”
“You may build your own with some wood in our caves down south.”
And with that, Calypso turned, her nose in the air.
I started to cheer. Suddenly, I was back in the cave. I let another minute pass before I came back to Odysseus. When I returned, Odysseus had the ship complete and he was ready to sail. * * *
* * *
The ball brought me back to the cave again. I was beginning to understand how it worked. The ball took me back into the Underworld whenever time needed to pass in the world above. Also, I was beginning to understand how to come into the world above. All I had to do was yell, “Odysseus!” But that was the only thing I could control. Everything else, the ball controlled.
I let a couple of minutes pass when I yelled, “Odysseus” again.
I was looking down upon Odysseus. He was sailing his ship. I looked around. He was jumping up and down with excitement. I discovered why. Right in front of him was Ithaca. Ithaca! My homeland. My mouth started to water. If only I could be with Odysseus now! This time the ball let me stay with Odysseus longer and put me right next to him in the ship. We were just ready to depart.
Those last two hours I felt like I was on Odysseus’ crew again. Alive. I helped fold the sail up and set the lines. All the normal things needed to be done to land the ship. The only difference between now and when I was alive was that I now had to do everything very discretely, or else Odysseus would realize that something was wrong. Unfortunately, a couple of times, I showed I was there.
Finally, after Odysseus rubbed his eyes many times (thinking he saw something) we landed on shore. The first thing I did was to kiss the ground at my feet and pray for Odysseus’ safety. Odysseus did no such thing himself. He began to climb the first hill that led to Ithaca. His father and his servant owned the first house he stopped at. When they saw Odysseus, they were so overjoyed, they cried.
After their moment of happiness was over, they offered Odysseus dinner. They dined and talked. How I wished to be part of this festival! How I wished to do anything, rather than sit in the corner and watch! But sadly, I was dead, a shade all alone in the Underworld.
In the midst of talking and dining, a strange shadow blocked the doorway and we all looked up. Odysseus servant bid the stranger forward. “Young Temelecus, you’re back from your journey. I have someone to show you Temelecus.”
“Who?”
His question was short and sharp. He looked miserable.
“Come here!”
The servant shoved Temelecus in front of Odysseus. Temelecus was dumbfounded. “Who’s he?”
“He’s your father!”
Temelecus hit the servant square in the mouth. “Don’t speak lies! My father’s DEAD! DEAD! DEAD!” He started to sob.
Odysseus stood and walked over to his son. He placed his hands on his son’s shoulders. All of a sudden I was back in the cave. Why had the ball done this to me? I cried, “Odysseus” and I was back.
I hadn’t lost that much time, but I failed to see how Odysseus proved himself. For now, he and his son were chatting merrily as if nothing had come between them. That night, Odysseus told his son, father, and servant not to spread news of his arrival. He told them, he had to find a way to punish the suitors.
And he did! That night, when he was the only one up and stirring the coals of the fire, Athena appeared. His Goddess Guardian. I was so struck by her presence that I could only gape. If she saw me, she ignored me. “Hello Odysseus. I have just the thing for you to disguise yourself among the suitors.”
With those words, she transformed him into an old man, with wrinkles and a long beard that stretched to his knees. It was too overwhelming for me and I fainted. The next thing I knew I was back in the cave. But I was too excited to let any time go by this time. I yelped, “Odysseus!”
I was sitting right next to Odysseus and Temelecus in a place I remembered well. So well, I had to kiss the walls and the floor before entering. This place was Odysseus’ home, a castle of memories. But when I arrived inside, I was cast down in sadness, for no more memories lurked. All there were, were men. Millions of men! Drinking, spoiling, ruining. Why had they done this to Odysseus’ house? Why? Why? These men were men I had known from childhood. Here they were as unpleasant as can be.
This was just too horrible to watch. I looked away, but had no time, for one of the men came forward and dragged Temelecus into the center of swarming bodies.
“Here’s Temelecus. Mighty warrior!” He mocked.
Then he turned to Temelecus. “So, kid, are you ready to fight?” He laughed to himself and turned away.
With mock indignation, he turned back. “Hey, Temelecus! Is that a beard I see? So, you are ready to fight, then. Come stand in the boxing circle and put all your anger out on me.”
I tried to hold Temelecus back, but he just slipped through my “shady” hands. He was too furious to back down now, so he stepped into the ring after introducing Odysseus as a beggar to the suitors and receiving good wishes from Odysseus.
Gloves were mounted on hands. The fight was on. Victim fought victim; hand struck hand. Neither could advance until the suitor decided to make Temelecus’ life a little harder. He punched him straight in the nose and caused it to bleed. This was too much for me and I fainted. Again I was back in the cave. Again I eagerly shouted, “Odysseus” and I was back.
To my surprise, the beautiful Penelope was speaking: “Suitors who have long awaited my hand in marriage. Here is your chance! I’ve kept my word, for my son has grown a beard and now, any of you may be my husband! I’ve appointed a task in which the one who can accomplish it can be my betrothed. Here is the task: You must string Odysseus’ bow and . . .”
There was a clamor of voices among the suitors.
“And shoot an arrow through the space of all these axes on the floor.” She pointed to the fountain that had an ax every two feet, carefully balanced on the fountain to create a circle.
“Ring the bell at the end. Thank you”.
At the end of her speech, Queen Penelope descended into her chamber that overlooked the fountain, to see her new husband to be.
All the men mocked, growled and bragged. But the head suitor was the first to the plate. His bragging subsided, determination taking its place. With all his might, this man tried to string the arrow. Time after time, he did not succeed. And so, gave up.
The next suitor tried. And the next. And the next. But none could string Odysseus’ bow.
Finally, after whispering to Odysseus, Temelecus spoke. “Men, this beggar now wants to try. And as a proper guest in my house, I allow him!”
The suitors mocked and mocked, but made way for the “beggar”, curious to see what he would do.
I was jumping up and down for joy when Odysseus stepped up. With all ease, he picked up the string and carefully pulled the loop at the end over the hook. Then, with great gracefulness, he lifted the bow and strung the arrow. A perfect stance for an archer.
By this time, I was so excited; I lifted up my hands to cheer, which brought me back to the Underworld. It was then when I realized my mistake.
“OOOOOOHHHHH NOOOOOOO!”
I screeched. Realizing I had lifted both of my hands off the ball. I tried putting them back on, but the ball glowed red and burned my hands.
This couldn’t be true!
I rushed out of the cave, screaming, “ARCHON! ARCHON!”
“What is it, Kid? You took your hands off the ball?”
“Yes. Oh ARCHON! ARCHON! What am I to do?!”
“It’s OK, Kid. I was just going to get you anyway.”
“Why?!!”
“Because, your time being Odysseus’ guardian is over. And your bones are buried. So you can cross the river to the other shore.”
“But I must know what happens to Odysseus!!!”
“I’ll tell ya kid, while we walk to the boat.”
We started to walk. I was becoming agitated. “So what happens?”
“Um, where did you leave off?”
“What do you mean, where did I leave off? Do you know his whole life history already?”
“Yup!”
“OK. He was stringing the bow.”
“Let’s see. Oh I remember. So he manages to get the arrow through. He turns back into his old self to kill all the suitors and disloyal servants. Then he, his son and his wife live happily ever after. Now, climb into the boat.”
“Then what happens?”
“OH MENTOR!”