Odysseus in the Serpent Maze by Robert J. Harris & Jane Yolen

Author:Robert J. Harris & Jane Yolen [Harris, Robert J. & Yolen, Jane]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781439511008
Publisher: Open Road Media
Published: 2001-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 16: THE BRONZE GUARDIAN

“I KNEW THIS WAS a death ship,” Helen moaned. “Knew it the minute I saw it. Surely we’ve found the Underworld, and this is the River Styx.” In the pitch black her voice seemed much too loud.

Odysseus wanted to dismiss her fear, but any words of comfort stuck in his throat.

“Perhaps it was Hades himself who made the ship. To steal me away as he stole Persephone,” Helen continued. Her voice was strangely calm, as if such a fate were almost appealing.

“Not everything that happens in the world hinges on you, Helen,” Penelope said with sudden anger.

Just then the ship made a deep turn, and they emerged back out into the light. They could see they’d just travelled through a narrow cave that opened into a small bay. Ahead the shoreline was studded with jagged rocks rearing up like monstrous fangs. Thrusting from the midst of the fangs, like a giant tongue, was a stone jetty.

“Not the Underworld, then,” Penelope said dryly.

“Not yet,” Odysseus said.

The ship showed no sign of slowing down, and they were heading so fast towards the rocks that none of them doubted that the ship would be dashed to pieces. Wordlessly, they each grabbed on to the ship’s sides, ready for the fatal impact.

At the last possible moment, the oars snapped down, back-paddling, the flat of the blades set firmly against the wave. A huge spume cast up on either side, filling the ship with spray. In an instant, the momentum of the ship was stopped so suddenly that the four passengers were thrown forward.

Penelope’s head cracked painfully on the deck, and Helen became so tangled in her skirts, she looked bound. Odysseus did a rolling flip. Mentor was flung into the air, landing on the boards like a fresh-caught fish.

For a long moment none of them moved.

Then Helen moaned.

Raising his head, Odysseus was the first to realise that the ship had stopped. He pulled himself up and looked over the side. They were only a few yards from the rock pier.

Glancing up at the sky, he said aloud, “I hope you gods are enjoying the joke.” He gave Penelope a hand, then Helen. At last he started over to Mentor.

“I’m all right,” Mentor said, though a large bruise was already purpling the side of his knee. He stood without help.

“Can you walk?” Odysseus asked.

“If I have to, I can even run,” Mentor answered.

“I suggest running, then,” Penelope said. “Before the boat changes its mind and carries us back out to sea.”

Odysseus went first, dropping over the side into thigh-high water. He held his arms out, and Mentor helped first Penelope, then Helen down, and Odysseus caught them.

At last Mentor jumped too, a grimace on his face when he landed on his bruised leg.

They waded to the stone pier and looked back at the ship, still riding high in the water.

“I wish …” Odysseus began. For a moment he was silent.

“What do you wish?” Penelope asked.

“I wish …” He couldn’t say it

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