Jason and the Gorgon's Blood by Robert J. Harris & Jane Yolen

Author:Robert J. Harris & Jane Yolen [Harris, Robert J. & Yolen, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, Action & Adventure, General, Family, Legends; Myths; Fables, Greek & Roman
ISBN: 9781480423381
Google: IaTrnyAH3dQC
Amazon: B00DBLRFFS
Goodreads: 18078802
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2004-02-17T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

THE MOUNTAIN WAKES

DAYLIGHT SPILLED THROUGH THE cave entrance, and everything was back to normal. Jason rubbed his eyes.

“Is it morning already?” Lynceus groaned, rubbing his belly. “Yes, it must be. My stomach’s demanding breakfast.”

Acastus sat up, stretched his arms, and stared at Jason, who still had his back pressed to the wall. “What’s wrong with you, Goat Boy? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“No, not a ghost,” said Jason. “Just … a bad dream.” But he knew that wasn’t true. On the stone floor at his feet, he could see the broken feather, though neither of the others had noticed it. He put his foot over it.

“When the days are as rough as ours have been, I don’t see the point in bad dreams,” said Lynceus. “I was dreaming about soft beds, warm fires, honey cakes, and roast boar.” He hugged himself tightly. “With my brother nearby.”

“Well, it’s water for breakfast and that’s all,” said Acastus bluntly. “Unless one of you two dreamers went out hunting during the night.”

When Lynceus and Acastus stepped outside the cave, Jason bent over and picked up the broken feather. Its lustrous greens and purples gleamed like jewels. Had Hera left it for him on purpose? And if so, was it a promise or a threat?

Stashing the feather safely inside his tunic, he joined the others in the open air.

The sky had cleared to a brilliant blue. To the north they could see the snowy peak of Mount Ossa, its lower slopes no more than a day’s march away. Far beyond Ossa, Jason knew, lay the third of the great peaks, Mount Olympus itself, the home of the gods. He wondered uneasily if Hera was there now, watching him from her throne. The peacock feather he had stuffed down the front of his tunic felt warm against his skin.

A promise, he thought.

As they started down the slope, Lynceus raised his head and yelled, “Ho, Idas! Admetus! Where are you?”

Acastus silenced him with a shove. “Not so loud, you fool! You’ll bring the harpies down on us again.”

Lynceus looked to Jason. “Do you think so?”

“I don’t know,” said Jason, “but it’s best to be careful.”

“If we don’t shout, how will we find them?”

“We may never find them,” Acastus said bluntly.

Lynceus thought for a moment, then said, “I know! When we were boys, Idas and I used bird calls to signal each other. I remember once when we were raiding our neighbor’s orchard, I stood lookout, and if I saw anybody coming, I made a noise like a thrush to warn him.”

“You were stealing apples?” Jason exclaimed.

“Well, we weren’t old enough to steal cattle.” He cupped his hands around his mouth and made a low, warbling noise that carried far across the mountainside. When he had finished, he cocked an ear, but there was no answering call.

“Come on,” said Jason. “I’m sure they’ll turn up.”

Acastus shook his head but said nothing.

They made their way down the mountain, finding what trails they could. Every few minutes, Lynceus stopped to let out a bird call.

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