GOLDEN FLEECE QUEST:THE ISLAND of PHINEUS

The homeland of King Amycus was far behind.

“Tell me, Jason, why are you heading to Colchis?” asked the king, who had barely said a word.

Jason had no objection in replying. In fact, he saw no reason now to keep anything from Amycus.

“To get the Golden Fleece.”

“The Golden Fleece?” the king asked in surprise.

“Yes.”

“I’ve always wanted to lay my hands on the Golden Fleece.”

The sailors found that very amusing.

“Well, you’re not exactly in a position to get it,” scoffed Heracles.

“Why do you want the Fleece, Jason?”

“I don’t want it, but my uncle, King Pelias does.”

“I’ve met Pelias,” Amycus said. “He told me that he was going to overthrow the kingdom of Thessaly.”

“Succeeded he did too,” said Atalanta.

“Aeson and Medea are my parents. They were imprisoned, but I was taken from the palace and raised to manhood, by Heracles and Atalanta.”

Amycus wasn’t at all surprised to learn that Jason was a prince. He didn’t even care.

“What does the Golden Fleece have to do with it?” he asked.

“Well, Pelias told me, that he will only hand the kingdom of Thessaly back to my parents, if I get the Fleece for him. I’m not at all convinced and neither are Atalanta and Heracles. Pelias only wants the Fleece.”

“If you don’t believe Pelias, then why bother getting the Fleece?” Amycus asked.

“I’m doing it, to give Pelias the impression that I believe him.”

“A clever move, Jason.”

“Thank you.”

“However, I have no interest in the matter. I don’t care what happens in Thessaly. It’s not my kingdom.”

The sailors were far from impressed by what Amycus had just said.

“You’re right,” Heracles said icily. “It’s not your kingdom. Now shut up. I don’t want to hear another word out of you.”

By nightfall, the sailors stopped for a rest.

Jason had something to take care of.

“Let’s get rid of him here,” he said.

“Yes let’s,” said Heracles.

“Phalerus, Pollux, untie Amycus,” Jason said.

Phalerus and Pollux untied Amycus, who knew that something was amiss.

“I have a very bad feeling about this,” the king said fearfully.

“Now cast him overboard,” said Heracles.

The king’s worst fears had been realized.

Phalerus and Pollux seized the king by the arms and dragged him squirming and cursing over to the side of the Argo. They then cast him into the sea.

After that, the sailors continued onwards and onwards, until they reached a passage opening along the ocean shore line.

“The shores of Colchis lie far away beyond there,” Atalanta said.

“We must go slower while going through there,” said Heracles.

Jason faced the oarsmen.

“Slow the pace,” he ordered.

The oarsmen slowed the pace and rowed the Argo into the passage.

The passage was no short one. It ran for six to seven miles, before opening into another body of water.

“Well done all of you,” Jason said to the oarsmen.

“We should give them a break,” said Atalanta.

“Alright, stop rowing,” Jason said. “Rest yourselves.”

The rowers did as they were ordered.

“Next stop from here, is the island of Phineus,” said Atalanta.

“After that, it’s Colchis,” Heracles said.

“How long will it take to reach the island?” asked Castor.

“About eight to nine days,” Atalanta replied.

“That is if the weather holds good,” said Heracles.

“We still have plenty of food and water,” Jason said.

After a short while longer, the oarsmen got back to work. They had a long way to row to the next stop.

Reaching the next stop, did as Atalanta said, take eight to nine days.

Within those eight to nine days, the sailors faced patches of heavy rain, strong winds and rough seas, but nothing powerful enough to drive the Argo off course.

They were relieved when an island appeared on the horizon.

“There it is,” Atalanta said. “The island of Phineus.”

The island was smaller than the first two. It had steep-sided hills, covered with trees, dark cliffs, headlands and one beach in sight.

“Phineus lives in a cave up in those hills,” said Heracles.

“I cannot imagine Phineus living on that island all alone,” Jason said. “With no one to talk to.”

“Well he has been, for a very long time,” said Atalanta.

“He’s sure to remember you and I Atalanta,” Heracles said.

“Undoubtedly, he will remember us. He’ll remember that club of yours.”

“And your fiery red hair.”

Atalanta faced the oarsmen.

“Now, remember what Heracles and I told you all,” she said. “Phineus, is a very kind and friendly man. So we won’t need to arm ourselves.”

“Bring her in slowly,” ordered Jason.

The oarsmen rowed the Argo slowly to the shore, then let her drift the last few metres.

Pollux and Orpheus cast over the anchor stone.

“All ashore,” said Jason.

The sailors left the Argo. Most of them carried empty food containers and skins.

Before Jason could say anything further, a man came onto the beach.

The man had long grey hair, turning white, a moustache, a beard and pale blue eyes. He wore torn grey robes, old boots and was holding a long, twisted staff with a lion’s head carved on the end.

0 Reviews

For more features, such as favoriting, recommending, and reviewing, please go to the full version of this story.