GOLDEN FLEECE QUEST:THE STORM

The following morning, after a big royal breakfast, the sailors went down to the Argo, accompanied by Cyzicus, Megara and Iona.

“What a magnificent ship,” said Megara.

“Thank you, your ladyship,” Heracles said.

“The finest one Heracles has ever built, your ladyship,” said Atalanta.

There was silence for a moment.

“This is goodbye then,” Cyzicus said.

“It is, your lordship,” said Heracles.

“Thank you for everything, your lordship,” Jason said. “We’ve all had a most wonderful time.”

Jason wished that he and the Argonauts were able to stay longer, but he knew that the voyage had to go on.

“You and the Argonauts will pay us a return visit, won’t you, Jason?” asked Megara.

“If we succeed in our quest and make it back, your

ladyship, then yes, we will visit again.”

“We’ll be waiting,” Iona said.

With that, Jason and the Argonauts exchanged present farewells with the royal family. They then got back on board the Argo and left the island.

“That was a most pleasant stay,” said Jason. “Such wonderful hospitality.”

“There aren’t many royal families in the known world, that are as loyal,” Atalanta said.

“You were most fortunate to have met one of them,” said Heracles.

Indeed Jason was very fortunate and he felt so too. However, Heracles and Atalanta had told him, not to expect a warm welcome at every stop.

“I wish we could have stayed longer,” Mopsus said.

“And me,” said Orpheus.

“So do I,” Butes said.

“And me,” said Meleager.

The rest of the oarsmen nodded and spoke in agreement among themselves. Hylas agreed too.

Jason couldn’t argue.

“I do too,” he said. “But we will visit again, if we succeed in our quest and more importantly, if we survive what is to come.”

Jason’s concerns on that matter were very strong and he had need to be concerned.

“From now on, we must focus on what lies ahead,” said Heracles.

“Yes,” Jason said. “And remember that we won’t receive

a warm welcome at our next stop.”

“Not from King Amycus,” said Atalanta.

Heracles and Atalanta had told Jason of a king, called Amycus, when he was younger and it hadn’t sounded at all good.

“That bridge, we shall cross when, or if we come to it,” Heracles said.

“For the time being, we shall focus only on getting to the island,” said Atalanta.

“And show a little spirit too,” Jason said.

So the sailors got back into the rhythm of things again. They sang sea-faring songs, shared stories, ate, drank, rested and slept, as well as rowing.

Fortunately, no trouble arose during those days, but on the eighth day, things changed weather-wise.

“The wind’s starting to get stronger again,” said Heracles.

“The sea’s changing too,” said Jason.

That wasn’t all, because a blanket of thick grey clouds was approaching along with the sounds of rolling thunder and flashing lightning. The Argo was starting to rock too.

“A storm is on its way,” Atalanta said.

Jason looked up at Hylas, who was clinging to the mast in fear.

“HOLD IN THERE, HYLAS,” he said.

“IF IT’S ALRIGHT WITH YOU, JASON, I’D RATHER COME DOWN.”

“OKAY, BUT BE CAREFUL.”

Jason watched Hylas climb out of the crow’s nest and down to the deck.

“It’s best if you stay down here,” said Heracles. “This storm I feel, is going to get very rough.”

“I feel it too,” Atalanta said.

They were right too.

The grey clouds came nearer and nearer and the sounds of thunder and lightning grew louder and louder.

Then it was upon the Argo – a ferocious storm.

Torrential rain cascaded, lightning flashed, thunder rolled louder still and the wind increased.

The sea became wilder and wilder. Mighty waves crashed onto the deck, sending spray everywhere.

As for the sailors, they were having an awful time.

The oarsmen fell off their seats and rolled about all over the place. Mopsus, Castor, Atalanta, Pollux and Jason, all nearly ended up overboard. Heracles lost control of the steering and half the oars ended up in the sea.

For three days and nights the storm raged – three long days and nights, of turmoil and dread.

The sailors lived in mortal fear of their lives.

In the end however, the calamity ended.

The sailors were no longer in high spirits though. They were hungry, thirsty and most had received, not to severe wounds.

Fortunately, they had all survived. No one had been hurled overboard.

Most of all, the Argo was still in good shape.

“Well, Jason,” said Heracles. “That was a sea storm for you.”

“It sure was terrifying,” Jason said.

“Many times, Heracles and I have ended up in storms

like that,” said Atalanta.

“Unfortunately, we lost half the oars,” Mopsus said.

“At least we didn’t lose any arms,” said Pollux.

“Or food,” Lynceus said.

“Or water,” said Orpheus.

“Where would we be without food or water?” Butes said.

“Not in a good situation,” said Mopsus.

Hercules, who was getting annoyed, lost his temper.

“SILENCE!” he roared. “I know we’re in a bit of a mess, but just be grateful that we’re all still here.”

The oarsmen fell silent. Not one of them dared utter another word, while Heracles was in an angry mood.

“Now I don’t want to hear another word out of any of you,” Heracles said angrily to the oarsmen.

Atalanta and Jason had their own concerns.

“I wonder where we are,” said Atalanta.

“We may be way off course,” Jason said.

Heracles was thinking along the same lines.

“It’s too dark to look at the compass now,” he said.

Atalanta thought that it was just as well.

“It’s best if we stay where we are until the night is out,” she said.

Jason agreed, as did Heracles, who was too worn and spent to steer.

“We’ll stay here until first light,” he said.

Conditions were perfect the following day.

“Let’s find out where we are,” said Jason.

Heracles checked the compass.

“Are we off course?” Atalanta asked.

“Yes, by twenty miles.”

“That sure is some way,” said Castor.

“Not to worry,” Heracles said. “We’ll still reach the next stop.”

“First, we’ll have to sort this mess out,” said Jason.

Indeed there was a mess to fix. There were forty rowers and only twenty oars. Most of all, it had to be decided who was going to row and who wasn’t. Jason had an idea about that.

“The oarsmen will have to take it in turns to row,” he said.

“Take it in turns?” asked Atalanta.

“Yes. With only twenty oars, they won’t all be able to row at once. We’ll have to split them into two teams. That way, they can take it in turns to row.”

“Good thinking,” Heracles said.

Jason faced the oarsmen.

“Now listen up,” he said. “We’ve lost half the oars, so you’ll have to row in two separate teams. That way you can take it in turns to row.”

“How long do you expect us to do that?” asked Mopsus.

“Until we reach the island,” Jason replied.

“Until we reach the island?” groaned Idas.

“You expect us to take it in turns all that way?” asked Admetus, who was far from impressed.

“Give us strength,” Meleager moaned.

Atalanta was not impressed with the way the rowers were behaving and neither was Jason.

“This is appalling,” she said.

Heracles on the other hand, was fuming.

“ENOUGH OF THIS COMPLAINING,” he bellowed. “CALL YOURSELVES SAILORS.”

The oarsmen fell silent at once.

“Now then, let me sort this out,” Jason said to the rowers.

He divided the oarsmen into two teams, then ordered Hylas to climb back into the crow’s nest.

“Now let’s get underway,” he said crossly. “And no more complaining.”

Everything went according to plan.

The conditions held good and the two teams took it in turns rowing on a daily basis.

Then finally, Jason and the Argonauts reached another island.

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

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