Jason and the Gorgon's Blood (12 page)

Keep still and play dead,
he thought.
Be ready to grab the advantage of surprise.

Without shifting his position he slowly opened his eyes. All he could see was the cave wall in front of him. Inch by inch he gradually turned his head toward the entrance.

What he saw made him jump up and step back.

Standing there, lit by some unknown light, was a beautiful, majestic woman. She seemed too tall to be standing upright in this tiny place, yet she did not crouch. She had a high, pale brow, above which a jeweled diadem crowned her black ringlets. Her eyes were large and dark as the night sky. Draped over her shoulders was a cloak made of peacock feathers that flashed and gleamed like a thousand multicolored eyes.

For all her beauty, she was as frightening as the harpies—yet there was something familiar about her.

“Jason, son of Aeson.” Her voice filled the cave like a trumpet blast.

Jason was astonished at the power in her voice, and even more astonished that the others didn't waken. He nodded dumbly.

“Do you know who I am?” she demanded.

“I think I should,” Jason replied hesitantly.

“Then think harder.” Her voice, though cold, had a hint of humor.

He closed his eyes and thought hard. “I think … I saw a statue of you last night in a dream.”

“A dream
I
sent you,” she intoned. “Thus do we prepare mortals for our coming.”

His eyes sprang open. “You're one of the gods of Olympus.”

The goddess's eyes flared like pools of oil catching fire. She said angrily, “Not
one
of the gods, mortal. I am Hera, bride of all-powerful Zeus, queen of all the gods.”

Startled by her sudden anger, Jason pushed backward till he was up against the stone wall. But it was farther away than he had thought. Then he realized that the walls had expanded around Hera, forming a huge vaulted cavern, the sides of which reflected her gleaming peacock cloak.

Chiron had warned him that the gods demanded awe and respect and despised cowardice. He was already awed to the point of terror. He would try respect as well, and maybe that would disguise his fear. Drawing himself up, Jason made a respectful bow.

“I'm honored, mighty queen,” he said. “But why should you want to visit me? Here in this cave? I am no one of importance.”

“You are important to me, Jason,” Hera said. As she spoke he could see himself, small and fragile, reflected in the polished blackness of her eyes. “Did you think that storm”—and she flung her left arm wide to encompass all that was outside the cave entrance—“came from nowhere? It was I who rescued you from the harpies.”

“I d-didn't know.” Jason was shocked to find himself stammering. “But if it was you, I thank you, mighty one.”

“You have a great destiny ahead of you,” Hera continued. “That is why I have watched over you. But to claim what is yours by birth, you must first kill the prince—Acastus!”

The words echoed about the cave like a crash of thunder. Jason's ears rang with the sound.

He bowed his head and then looked up again. “I've no reason to kill Acastus,” he said quietly. “He's done nothing to me.” Though he could not forget the look in Acastus' face and the sword that did not shake in his hand.

“Aeson's son, it is your fate to claim the throne of Iolcus, the throne Acastus believes is his by right.” Hera's face was at once beautiful and terrible.

“Why does my fate matter so much to you, O great queen?”

“Not your fate, Jason. What matters to me is the fate of Pelias, Acastus' father. All that I can do to bring about his downfall I will. Do you recall the dream I sent you last night?”

Jason nodded. “The woman in the temple, and the man who killed her,” he whispered.

“That dream was a true one. That man was Pelias.” Hera's lips curled in contempt. “The woman was Sidero, who had cruelly mistreated Pelias' mother. She fled to my alter and sought sanctuary there, but Pelias slew her anyway. I would have struck him down there and then for such a dishonor, but Poseidon, the sea god, stayed my hand. Pelias was under his protection.”

“Ah.” Jason shook his head.

“We gods must not war among ourselves. My husband, Zeus, brother of Poseidon, has decreed it. And so I need a human instrument to carry out my revenge.” She loomed over Jason, seeming to grow even larger.

“Me?” Jason's voice squeaked, and he pressed back hard against the rocks.

“I have watched you these many years, Jason. I have seen Chiron train you in the arts of combat and hunting.
You
are the weapon I have been waiting for to visit my vengeance on Pelias and his house. In a few more years you will go to Iolcus, kill Pelias, and take the throne that is yours by right.”

Jason was horrified at the thought. The throne might be his by right, but would right be served by murder? He knew what Chiron would say. “No, there
must
be a way to become the king without killing.”

Hera's laughter was brittle and mocking. “How little you understand your own mortal world.”

“Perhaps I could perform some feat of daring instead,” Jason said, “something that will win me the respect of the people of Iolcus. If they choose me as king, Pelias will be forced to stand aside and then—”

“Only a fool puts his trust in the mob,” said Hera. “You can injure Pelias now by killing his heir. That way he is but half a king. Easier to dispose of later.”

Jason swallowed and tried once again to meet Hera's gaze. “Acastus may make fun of me, goddess. He may challenge me and call me names. But that's not reason enough to kill him.”

“I command it. Is that not reason enough?” Her voice was cold.

“I'm no murderer, great one.” He held up his hands to her, pleading.

“I saw him draw his sword on you. I saw how strong his arm is. He will not always be stopped by others. Kill him now, while you have the chance.” Hera's voice was pitiless. “Pitch his body down the mountainside. Lynceus will not awake and see it, I promise you. I can even make him forget Acastus was ever here in the cave. Everyone will assume the harpies caught up with him.” She smiled.

Jason turned his head away, unable to face Hera's terrible gaze. “No. Never.”

Hera's whole body was now ablaze with a crimson light. It seemed as if the very walls of the cave were catching fire.

“If you do not kill him now, he will surely try to kill you.”

“I can't do it.”

“Spurn my advice and you may find you spurn my favor,” she cried. “No one lasts long, young mortal, without the gods' protection!”

Jason fell to his knees. “I honor you, goddess, but I can't kill a companion in cold blood.” Now he dared to glance up at her.

“I will remember that,” she said. In the fiery light her face was a mixture of anger and something else. He hoped it was understanding.

There was a sound like a thunderclap, and the goddess was gone.

D
AYLIGHT 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.

“Come on, Idas, answer me,” he muttered. “I know you're all right.”

“I believe that, too,” Jason told him, putting a hand on Lynceus' shoulder. It was well meant, but the boy shook the hand off and moved away, though not before Jason saw how he was fighting back tears.

Then Lynceus cupped his hands around his mouth again, but before he could call out, he lost his footing on some loose shale and went slithering down the slope—straight into the arms of Idas, who had just rounded a bend a few yards below. Admetus was with Idas, and the other boys scurried down to join them.

“I
thought
it was you making that ridiculous noise,” Idas told his brother.

“If you heard me, why didn't you answer?” Lynceus demanded. “You know how to make the call.” The tears were running down his cheeks, but now—it seemed—such a display no longer mattered.

“I didn't see any point in both of us making fools of ourselves,” Idas answered in deadpan fashion.

The other boys started giggling, then fell back and erupted into gales of laughter. It was a relief to find something funny after all they'd been through. None of them gave a thought to the harpies.

“Where
were
you?” Lynceus asked when they'd quieted at last.

“We found a cleft in the rocks that gave us some shelter,” Idas replied.

“Some, but not much,” Admetus added.

“At least we're all safe,” said Jason, “and from now on we only have to go downhill.”

Admetus suddenly looked up at the sky. It was a clear blue without a single cloud. “Do you think the harpies will come after us again?”

“The rain will have washed away our tracks and our scent,” said Idas. He sounded more hopeful than sure.

“They've probably forgotten all about us,” Jason reassured them, “and gone in search of easier prey.” He didn't mention Hera's hand in their escape, but he could feel the peacock feather warm against his chest.

They had not gone much farther when from somewhere above them came a deep, threatening rumble.

“Not more thunder!” Lynceus groaned.

Jason turned and looked up. The sky was still a clear blue. “It's not thunder.” He pointed.

On the slopes above them, the mountain itself was coming to life, the earth and mud shifting like a blanket being tossed off by a slumbering giant. Great boulders were slipping out of place, crashing and banging off one another as they rolled downhill. They collided with other stones farther down, sweeping the smaller stones along in a growing tide.

“Rock slide!” Acastus cried.

Already loose pebbles were rolling past their feet, and they could feel the mountain shake beneath them.

“We've got to get out of here!” cried Admetus. He began to run downward, away from the danger.

Lynceus tugged urgently at his brother's tunic. “Come on! This isn't the kind of enemy you can fight!”

They fled in a wild panic, sprinting and jumping, but it was hard to run without taking a fall on this steep, uncertain ground. The rumbling behind them grew louder, the bouncing stones growing larger, like wild dogs snapping at their heels.

As he drew even with Admetus, Jason saw Lynceus and Idas disappearing from view off to his right. Acastus was racing away to his left, bounding over obstacles, as startled as a deer.

“We'll never get away!” Admetus gasped.

Some wordless sense of danger made Jason turn his head. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a boulder the size of a haystack bearing down on the two of them.

“Look out!” he yelled, shoving Admetus out of the path.

He himself veered left, but the boulder clipped his shoulder as it crashed past. The impact tossed Jason headlong down the slope, and he tumbled and bumped over the rough ground.

At last he rolled to a stop and scrambled onto his hands and knees. Looking ahead, he almost screamed out loud. Less than ten feet away was the edge of a precipice. He stood and turned, trying to get clear, but he was no sooner up than a tide of earth and stones whipped his legs out from under him and swept him toward his doom.