Say Cheese, Medusa! by Kate McMullan

Author:Kate McMullan [McMullan, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Legends, Myth-O-Mania, Myths, Fables/Greek and Roman, Humorous Stories, Social Issues/General
ISBN: 9781434246790
Publisher: Capstone Press

A smile spread slowly across Polydectes’s thin lips. A smile that told me Perseus had fallen into the evil king’s trap!

Polydectes wanted to be rid of the boy. If Perseus found Medusa and looked at her, he’d be turned to stone. That was the real present the king was hoping for. Then King Polydectes would be free to marry Danaë. But, if Perseus somehow managed to bring the king Medusa’s head? Then Polydectes would have his dream weapon. It was a win-win game for old Poly-D.

“Yes,” Polydectes told Perseus. “This is what I most desire. But tell me, boy. How will you find Medusa? No one knows where she lives.”

“I shall go to the oracle at Delphi and learn the location of Medusa!” Perseus declared.

I winced. Where had he gotten this brilliant idea—from his grandfather, King Acrisius?

“The sibyl will tell me where to find the Gorgons,” Perseus went on. “I shall travel to their hideaway, however far it may be. And I, Perseus, will cut off Medusa’s head and bring it to you!”

My ichor started boiling all over again. These mortals! They were shameless!

“Go!” said Polydectes.

Perseus turned and walked quickly out of the ballroom. I circled by the buffet, scooped up one last handful of cheese puffs, then followed Perseus into the night.

Perseus headed down to the beach and began untying a rowboat. I thought about just astro-traveling to Delphi and meeting Perseus there when he arrived. But as I watched him struggling with the rope, I realized that he needed my help—even to get his boat untied! So I lent my invisible fingers to the task, then leaped from the shore into the boat.

“Ye gods!” exclaimed Perseus as I landed with an invisible thud. “What strange winds blow this night?” He steadied the little craft and began rowing away from Seriphos. The waves were high, and Perseus was a lousy oarsman. With all those cheese puffs sloshing around in my gut, it took all my godly willpower not to get seasick.

“I can do it!” Perseus mumbled to himself as he rowed. “I will bring Polydectes the Gorgon’s head. Then he will marry Halia and leave my mother alone. I can do it!”

This, from a mortal without a sword. Without a helmet. Without a plan. Only a son of Zeus could have so much misplaced confidence.

Perseus rowed on. Finally, I spotted the shore of Greece and not a moment too soon. If I hadn’t been invisible, I would have been a sickly shade of green.

Perseus pulled the boat ashore and headed toward Delphi. I trudged along beside him. After a while, my feet began to hurt, and I was reminded of the old days, when the only way we gods could get anywhere was on foot. We even had to hike up Mount Olympus. Then we learned how to astro-travel, and that was the end of blisters on our godly feet. Sometimes I think it’s the little things like astro-traveling that make being a god so worthwhile.

Three days later, Perseus and I arrived in Delphi.

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