Trojan Odyssey Read Online Free Page A

rocky crags called the Wanderers. Nothing, not even a bird, can pass over them. Every ship except one that tried to pass the Wanderers met its doom, leaving nothing but wreckage and bodies of sailors.’
    â€œâ€˜And the vessel that got through?’ I inquired.
    â€œâ€˜The famous Jason and his ship the Argonaut. ’
    â€œâ€˜And then we’ll sail calm seas?’
    â€œCirce shook her head. ‘Then you will come to a second mountain of rocks that runs to the sky, whose sides are as polished as a glazed urn and impossible to climb. There in the middle is a cavern, where Scylla, a dreadful monster, strikes terror on any who come near her. She has six snakelike necks, extremely long, with frightful heads containing jaws with three rows of teeth that can crush a human to death in an instant. Beware that she throws out her heads and snatches members of your crew. Row fast, or all of you will surely die. Then you must pass the waters where the Charybdis lurks, a great whirlpool that will suck your ship into the depths. Time your passage when it is asleep.’
    â€œBidding Circe a tearful farewell, we took our places in the ship and began beating the sea with our oars.”
    â€œYou truly sailed to the underworld?” murmured King Alcinous’ lovely queen, her face pale.
    â€œYes, I followed Circe’s instructions and we sailed toward Hades and its frightful place of the dead. In five days’ time we found ourselves in a thick mist as we entered the waters of the river Oceanus that flowed beside the end of the world. The sky had vanished and we were in a perpetual darkness the rays of the sun can never penetrate. We ran the ship ashore. I disem-barked alone and walked through the eerie light until I came to a vast cavern in the side of a mountain. Then I sat back and waited.
    â€œSoon the spirits began assembling, uttering terrible moaning sounds. I was nearly stunned senseless when my mother appeared. I did not know she had died, for she was still alive when I left for Ilium.
    â€œâ€˜My son,’ she murmured in a low voice, ‘why do you come to the abode of darkness while you are still alive? Have you yet to reach your home in Ithaca?’
    â€œWith tears in my eyes, I related to her the nightmare voyages and the terrible loss of my warriors during the voyage home from Ilium.
    â€œâ€˜I died of a broken heart fearing I would never see my son again.’
    â€œI wept at her words and tried to embrace her, but she was like a wisp of nothing and my arms came empty with only a vapor.
    â€œThey came in bands, men and women I had once known and respected. They came, recognized me and nodded silently before returning to the cavern. I was surprised to see my old comrade, King Agamemnon, our commander at Ilium. ‘Did you die at sea?’ I asked.
    â€œâ€˜No, my wife and her lover attacked me with a band of traitors. I fought well, but succumbed from overwhelming numbers. They murdered Cassandra, daughter of Priam, as well.’
    â€œThen came noble Achilles with Patroclus and Ajax, who asked about their families, but I could tell them nothing. We talked of old times, until they too returned to the underworld. The ghosts of other friends and warriors stood beside me, each telling his own tale of melancholy.
    â€œI had seen so many of the dead my heart filled with overflowing sadness. Finally, I could see no more and left that pitiful place and boarded my ship. Without looking back we sailed through the shroud of mist until we were touched by the sun again and set a course for the Sirens.”
    â€œDid you sail pass the Sirens without distress?” inquired the king.
    â€œWe did,” he answered. “But before we attempted to run the gauntlet, I took a large wad of wax and cut it up in pieces with my sword. Then I kneaded the pieces until they were soft and used them to plug the ears of my crew. I ordered them to tie me to the mast and ignore my