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Subject: {ASSM} Demeter's Pet {Varkel} [18/19] (MF Mf Mg mF mf mg Fm Fb Mm Mb mb bb oral anal pedo fantasy
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Date: Fri, 07 Nov 2008 01:10:04 -0500
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Demeter's Pet
a Novel by Varkel
Fall, 2008


Chapter 18: _Zeus's Throne_


They transferred to a very large room in a massive building.  Sam, 
Pester and Demeter stood amid his collection of nymphs that had preceded
them.  Beyond them stood many other people or gods.  Presumably the ones
clothed in togas and gowns were gods, but no few naked adults were also
present.  The men were heavily bearded, mostly in black, matching heads
and pubes.  As many women appeared, typically plump and bosomy.  None 
sported tails or oddly shaped ears, so far as he could see.  A few 
satyrs and nymphs stood interspersed, because of their shortness visible
only in the nearby ranks.  A satyr with green hair caught Sam's eye.  
Dobbit?

The room was lit from outside.  The four walls consisted of large
columns, Doric from their fluting and taper, silhouetted against the 
bright outside blue.  Sam recalled reading that the Parthenon in Athens
contained 17 columns on each of its two longest sides with additional 
lines of interior columns to support the roof.  The side columns here 
numbered about 40, he guessed, not wanting to take time to count them, 
so this was a larger interior than the Parthenon, but it still needed 
two rows of internal columns to support the roof.  It was a magnificent
structure, Sam decided, when compared to an undamaged Parthenon, but 
could fit under the bleachers of the Houston Astrodome.

At the rear of the room a large opening in the roof admitted a beam of 
sunlight that limned a human-like figure seated upon a marble chair that
was elevated to twice the height of a man.  Red and blue veins were 
visible in the marble.  The god -- His groin was swaddled in white -- 
was the size of a husky man.  Midnight black hair curled from head and 
chin and laced His chest.  His expression was an angry glower.  He 
seemed to be looking directly at Sam or perhaps Demeter.  As a first 
approximation, Sam decided this was Zeus.

The crowd was quiet with none of the coughing, cleared throats and 
whispering that mars even operatic performances on Earth.  When Zeus 
spoke, His bass voice carried well with unmistakable majesty.

"DEMETER, IS THIS YOUR UNRESTRAINABLE PET?"

The goddess straightened stiffly.  Her hand fell on Sam's shoulder.  She
declared in a loud voice, "Lord, this is Sam, and I do love him.  His 
lack of restraint has served my mission."

"YOUR MISSION INDEED!  WHAT MISSION IS THAT?"

"To reduce sexual inhibition in the Human Preserve.  After all, I _am_ 
the Goddess of Fecundity."

The god cocked His head.  His expression and voice took on an 
incredulous tone.  "DO I UNDERSTAND YOU CORRECTLY?  YOU WANT TO INCREASE
THE NUMBERS IN THE HUMAN PRESERVE?"

"Yes, Lord."

A bolt of lightning crashed to the marble floor between the god and His
worshippers.  Despite the ringing in his ears, Sam was able to 
understand the divine rant.  "HOW OBDURATE AND PERVERSE A MISSION!  DO 
YOU NOT KNOW THAT THE HUMAN POPULATION HAS DOUBLED _FIVE TIMES_ SINCE 
THE GREAT AUGUSTUS TOOK THE THRONE OF ROME?"

"Five times?  That does not seem too much, Lord."

"_DOUBLED_ FIVE TIMES, I SAID!  NOW IT HAS REACHED 7000 MILLION OF THE 
DEVIOUS CREATURES."

Demeter drew Her shoulders back.  "I recently lived a while in their 
most prosperous herd.  True, they clump tightly in spots but great open
spaces still remain.  Why are You so exercised?"

Sam expected another lightning bolt but Zeus laughed hollowly instead.
"HOW LIKE A GODDESS TO NOTICE ONLY BALLS AND WOMBS!"

Most of the crowd laughed at the divine sally but stopped as if a switch
were thrown when Zeus continued.

"YOU WERE PRESENT DURING THE REPORTS OF OUR AGENTS.  DID YOU SEE IN THEM
ONLY PROOF THAT YOUR PET IS UNRESTRAINED?"

She licked her lips.  "Also, Lord, that human mores have taken a blow 
that may loosen their curbs on procreation."

"YOU WERE GONE ON YOUR SEARCH DURING THE MOST RECENT REPORTS.  ALIPHAT,
RENDER YOURS AGAIN."

A nude creature stepped forward and prostrated himself before Zeus's 
towering chair.  Unfortunately he pressed himself onto the marble 
recently heated by the divine thunderbolt.  He rose quickly, rubbing his
chest.  Sam's chin fell with astonishment.  This thing was formed in the
image of a Christian devil: hairless and red of skin with short horns, 
pointed ears, spiked tail, cloven hoofs and cock dangling half way to 
the knees.

"What's that?" Sam whispered to Pester, who was hanging on his arm.

"One of the shape-shift demons.  They spy on the Human Preserve or the 
aeries of other gods."

"You wouldn't suppose heat would bother him."

Demeter whispered fiercely, "Hush or you'll feel it next!"

The thing began his speech in a voice that was a high tenor, causing Sam
to notice the lack of visible testicles.  As the demon talked he rotated
sideways, turning his head to look askance at Demeter.  Clearly you 
didn't turn your back on Zeus, the king!

"In the Human Preserve I am a scientific adviser in human disguise, on 
the staff of the American president.  I obtained that august position as
the result of many achievements in predictive analysis of statesman 
behavior, revealed by the prescience of mighty Zeus and published in 47
papers over a period --"

"JUST THE REPORT, ALIPHAT!" Zeus interrupted tiredly.

"Thy will be done, Lord.  At a dinner meeting of the White House 
scientific caucus, after all the marveling at the unprecedented behavior
of women while in the public view, speculation arose concerning the 
cause.  Dr. Walen of Columbia, one of those on my own level: that is, 
near the apex of authority, suggested that the women were possessed of 
demons.  I believe he meant it facetiously because as you know 
demonology is not today an accepted doctrine of the American government,
but other learned scientists fell upon the idea, not of possession in 
the religious sense, but in the sense of pollution by subtle chemical 
and radiological elements.  They conjectured ways to study the 
phenomenon and determine its cause.  Already the first gleaning of 
factual information was available, conveyed by the ubiquitous media: for
example, that some women were reporting recovery from a powerful but 
temporary 'obsession.'

"Instead of treating this explanation as a patent excuse for female 
lewdness, several scientist advanced a theory of external manipulation.
They insisted upon advising the president to take such women into 
custody for thorough examination."

He turned back to face Zeus.  "I decided, Lord, to retire from the 
meeting and inform You immediately in view of the nature of the proposed
investigation.  As I left, feigning illness, they were about to approve
the proposal.  If You will lend me the services of my brothers, I may 
perhaps block any formal pursuit of that theory."

"BUT CAN YOU DO SO WITHOUT ADDING TO THEIR EVIDENCE?"

"With my brothers' aid we can redirect those who might infer too much 
from our interference."

"AND WHO WILL REDIRECT THOSE WHO INFER TOO MUCH FROM THAT REDIRECTION?"
Zeus raised a restraining hand.  "DEMETER, DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE 
PROBLEM?"

"Lord, I confess I do not understand all the shape-shifter's words.  Can
he not speak more simply?"

Zeus's glance swept the entire assembly.  "TOO MANY OF YOU HAVE CEASED 
TO FOLLOW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE HUMAN PRESERVE.  WHEN STEAM ENGINES BEGAN
TO APPEAR THERE, YOU TURNED AWAY, CLINGING TO YOUR SEXUAL RIVALRIES AND
CLASSICAL AMPHITHEATER.  'TOO COMPLICATED TO BOTHER WITH,' YOU SAID.  
BUT THE COMPLEXITY ONLY INCREASED.  I HAVE OBSTRUCTED IT WHERE POSSIBLE,
BUT MY AGENTS WERE NEVER NUMEROUS ENOUGH TO SUPPRESS IT NOR SKILLFUL 
ENOUGH TO REMOVE ALL TRACE OF THEIR INTERFERENCE.

"NOW HUMAN POWER AND UNDERSTANDING GROW BEYOND IMAGINATION.  MANY OF YOU
WITNESSED THE TWO ASIAN CITIES DESTROYED IN AN INSTANT, ACTS BEYOND THE
POWER OF ANY GROUP OF YOU.  YOU EXPRESSED AWE BUT FELT SAFE BEHIND YOUR
25 UNIVERSES.  SINCE THEN HUMANS HAVE WALKED ON THE MOON AND CONTINUE TO
ADVANCE APACE.  WHERE MIGHT THEY WALK NEXT?  HOW CAN YOU STILL BE 
UNCONCERNED?"

Zeus waited, glowering darkly.  The room was deathly still.  "DEMETER, 
WILL YOU ANSWER THE QUESTION?"

She gulped.  "We are still safe behind our 25 universes."

"YES, WE ARE."  The glower became a fierce frown.  "BUT FOR _HOW LONG_?"
On the last word a second lightning bolt struck to the side, well beyond
Aliphat, who jumped back into the ranks of common worshippers.  His tail
encircled his legs.  Sam smelled ozone.

Demeter flinched but straightened and declared loudly, "I do not see how
they can cross the universes, and our thunderbolts would crisp them even
if they did."

"WHAT IS THE WEIGHT OF A THUNDERBOLT AGAINST A HYDROGEN BOMB?"

"No hyder ... ah, hydro ...  No such weapon exists on Olympus."

"_YET_!" the god thundered.  He leaned forward in His high throne, 
glaring down at the crowd.  His flashing eyes seemed to stare into 
Sam's.  "THE QUESTION YOU SHOULD ASK IS, WHAT WILL THEY LEARN FROM 
EXAMINING YOUR PET'S VICTIMS?  I SHALL PUT IT TO HIM.  _SAM_, IS IT?"

Sam cringed, turning pale.  Demeter tilted Her head toward him and 
whispered, "Do not cower!  Answer truthfully."

The god thundered warningly.  "WOULD YOU TELL HIM WHAT TO SAY, DEMETER?"

She answered loudly, "Only to tell You true and not to fear."

"NOT TO FEAR?"  Zeus chuckled.  "BUT THE FIRST IS CERTAINLY GOOD ADVICE.
SPEAK, SAM!  WHAT DID YOU MEAN TO ACCOMPLISH WITH THE MINDS OF 57 NYMPHS
LOOSED IN THE HUMAN PRESERVE?"

Sam took a very deep breath and pitched his voice to carry across the 
room.  Its baritone timbre pleased him.  "Only sex, Lord."

The crowd seemed to sigh.  Zeus's chin rose.  "DESPITE DEMETER'S 
ADVOCACY, YOU ARE NOT AN OLYMPIAN.  DO NOT CALL ME 'LORD.'"

"As you wish, sir."

"ONLY SEX?  EXPLAIN YOURSELF."

"Nymphs love fu-- ah, to have sex but human girls are stingy with their
favors.  I only thought to motivate a lot of girls."

"IT SEEMS YOU SUCCEEDED.  OR DO YOU CONCLUDE THAT YOUR PLAN WORKED?"

"Yes, sir, it sure did!  And it taught me something I never suspected 
about women and girls.  They are like sheep.  When they see many other 
females doing a thing -- having sex, at least, and screaming 'Freedom 
for women!' -- many of them want to join in."

"THAT IS NOT TRUE ONLY OF FEMALES.  SO YOUR PLAN WORKED BETTER THAN YOU
EXPECTED: MANY WOMAN JOINED YOUR ORGY WITHOUT THE AID OF NYMPHS."

"Yes, sir, a great many, though I think it was the nymphs who spread it
to other cities."

"SPREAD WHAT?"

"The idea of women assaulting men."

The god thought a moment.  "DEMETER, I SEE WHY YOU APPROVE HIS ACTIONS."

She said stoutly, "Lord, I do."

"BECAUSE YOU ARE AS THOUGHTLESS AS HE.  SAM, HOW DID YOU PLAN TO PROCEED 
AFTER YOUR SUCCESS?"

"Your honor -- ah, sir, that was a major failing, I fear.  One of my ...
girls even accused me of not planning for the afterwards."

"ASTUTE OF HER!  WHAT WILL YOU DO NOW?"

"Sir, I don't know."

Zeus was still, eyes boring into Sam's.  At last He demanded, "ALTHOUGH
YOUR ONLY OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENT OF NOTE IS GIVING PLEASURE TO DEMETER, 
YOU ARE AT LEAST A MODERN HUMAN.  DID YOU UNDERSTAND ALIPHAT'S REPORT?"

"Yes, sir."

"ALL OF IT?"

"I think so."

"THEN YOU AGREE WITH OUR APPREHENSION THAT AN INVESTIGATION OF THE 
PHENOMENA YOU GENERATED IN THE HUMAN PRESERVE THREATENS DISCOVERY OF THE
OLYMPIAN REALITY?"

"Umm ...  Not entirely, sir."

The god's eyes widened.  "EXPLAIN YOURSELF!"

Pester's grip on his arm tightened.  Feeling that he stood before the 
abyss, Sam managed to straighten his shoulders and raise his chin.  "I 
agree that what I have done on Earth could lead scientists to rediscover
Olympus, especially if they ask certain people, but I don't agree that 
it threatens You.  The Greeks worshipped You for thousands of years, 
then the Romans, changing only Your names.  Were they threats?"

"THE ROMANS DIDN'T HAVE H-BOMBS.  YOU BELIEVE THAT MODERN HUMANS WOULD 
WORSHIP US?"

"Oh, yes.  Humans love religion.  Most of them."  Sam grinned.  
"Especially if they have gods they can actually visit.  Governments 
don't love it, unless they are in charge of the temples.  But yes, 
humans would love You, once they saw a few miracles.  The man I parked 
here for a few weeks wanted to take a satyr and a nymph back with him.
With them he might have been persuasive enough to restart Olympian 
worship by himself."

In the bright light beam the god's face abruptly reddened.  "I NOTED 
YOUR MENTION OF 'CERTAIN PEOPLE' THE INVESTIGATORS MIGHT CONSULT.  HOW 
MANY HAVE YOU BROUGHT HERE, SAM?"

"Two, sir."  Demeter stiffened beside him.

"TWO."  The divine eyes shifted.  "WITH YOUR AID, DEMETER?"

"Ah, My Lord ..." began the goddess.  Her voice faltered.

"IF YOU APPLIED THE SAFEGUARDS, HOW COULD SAM EXPECT THEM TO BEAR 
WITNESS AGAINST US?"

"Well, My Lord ...  In fact ...  I ..."

"IS IT POSSIBLE, MY ABSENT-MINDED ADVOCATE OF FECUNDITY, THAT YOU NEVER
EVEN APPLIED THE SAFEGUARDS TO SAM, MUCH LESS ANYONE ELSE?"

Demeter's flawless cheeks exhibited the red spots of an aroused female.
"You have so many safeguards, Lord!  I reminded nymphs and satyrs they 
should not tell Sam how he arrived here.  Beyond that ...  I have found
censorship of personal experience to inhibit not only disclosure but 
also the experience itself.  I would not have wanted to inhibit Sam's 
pleasure even if ... even if I knew what he planned."

"EVEN IF YOU KNEW!  IF YOU WERE IGNORANT OF HIS DEPARTURE WITH 57 
NYMPHS, DID YOU EVEN NOTICE HIS UNINVITED GUESTS?"

Demeter stood silent, eyes lowered and head bowed.

This female figure was a derivative of the most beautiful pubescent girl
Sam had ever seen in his life.  Unable to tolerate her humiliation, he 
pressed shoulder and hip against hers and shouted, "Sir, it was my 
fault!  She had nothing to do with it."

"I EXCUSE ONLY THE NYMPHS.  MAN AND GODDESS ARE EQUALLY AT FAULT!"  Two
lightning bolts struck the floor in rapid sequence.  Despite the ozone 
saturation and the ringing in his ears, Sam easily followed the divine 
verdict.

"HEAR THE JUDGMENT OF ZEUS!  DEMETER AND SAM, WHO MAY YET HAVE PUT 
OLYMPUS TO GREATER HAZARD EVEN THAN CHRONUS, MY DEVIOUS FATHER, SHALL BE
THROWN INTO TARTARUS, THE DEEPEST PIT OF HADES, TO REMAIN WHILST THE 
CONSEQUENCES OF THEIR MEDDLING IN THE HUMAN PRESERVE PLAY OUT."

For the first time comment arose in the assembly.  Sam heard, "How 
terrible!" and "No one has been cast into Tartarus since the Age of 
Heroes."

Zeus stood up on the step before his throne.  He extended his hand, 
pointing down to the two miscreants, and roared, "Sinners, begone!"  
Curiously his voice seemed to have lost much of its power.

Sam felt a powerful wrenching that included Demeter on his right and 
Pester, still holding his left arm.  Suddenly the bright light was gone.
He could see nothing, but he could still feel the goddess's body on his
right and Pester on his arm.

He was also aware of a heavy male presence, located before and above 
him, and clutched it with all his mental strength as a point of 
stability in a world gone haywire.  He felt the force pulling at him as
resistance that tried to shuck him off.  It strengthened, grew 
overpowering and generated a bolt of fear that redoubled his own effort.
For long seconds the conflict was in doubt until abruptly the resistance
ceased.

Beside him in pitch blackness Demeter gasped and Pester squeezed his arm
tightly.  Slowly a bit of light returned.  His eyes accommodated to it 
enough to make out the figure on his right, a smaller on his left and a
large one ahead of him that collapsed to the dark ground with a thud.

"What ... what has happened?" called a male voice apparently from the 
being before him, momentarily on his knees but soon standing erect.

The light was too dim to discern features, but Sam could detect 
blackness surrounding a slightly paler oval where the face might be: 
Zeus's full head of hair plus beard?  And the voice was deep: Zeus's 
timber but with none of the majesty.

On his left Pester giggled shrilly.  "You've done it again, Sam!"

"Who's there?" called the man or god before him.  Apparently Zeus could
not discern features either.

Demeter asked quietly, "Done what again, Sam?"

With growing amazement Sam said, "Pan cast Pester and me to Hades once 
before and I accidentally pulled Him with us."

"In truth?"  The goddess chuckled.  "And that is Zeus stumbling before 
us?  Oh, Sam, you wonderful being, you know not what you've done!"

"Is this Tartarus?" asked Sam, looking about.  A dark gray, featureless
sky shed what little light existed.  Surrounding them in the distance 
were black hills with irregular surfaces and vertical slopes.  In one 
was set a huge gate made of a lighter, smooth material.  Barely 
detectable lumps lay scattered on the ground.  Some nearer ones seemed 
to be rising up, perhaps to study the newcomers.

"_I_ have never been to Tartarus!" declared Demeter.

"They say it's very, very dark," mused Pester.  "And that thing yonder 
might have many heads, like Typhon.  Yes, I think it's Tartarus."

"T-tartarus?" mumbled the presumed Zeus.  His tone was incredulous.  
"_I_ am in Tartarus?"

Demeter said calmly, "I believe so, Lord."

"Who or what put me here?  I shall ... shall ..."

"Yes, Lord, what will You do about it?"

The dim figure seemed to shrink.  "P-please don't call Me _lord_!"

The goddess giggled maliciously.  "What if I shouted out Your name 
instead?"

The figure dropped to its knees.  "Please, if You love Me!" it whined.

Sam whispered to Pester, "Why doesn't He just transport back out?"

She whispered back, "You can't transport from inside the bronze gates."

Sam tried it.  He pictured Zeus's throne room and pushed himself and the
nymph.  Nothing.  Then the high-school auditorium: again nothing.

"See?" she said.  "I could feel you trying.  It's how Tartarus can 
imprison the gods."

"Can't He open a gate?"

"The Hecatonchires guard the gates and allow none to pass."

"It sounds like Zeus has never been here either.  Would they recognize 
him?"

Pester swung directly before him.  "Can you recognize _me_?"

"Not if I didn't know you.  The light is too poor."

"Hecatonchire eyes are no better than yours."

Sam chuckled slightly.  "It's poetic justice, isn't it?"

"Justice?  What's that?"

"I ... seem to remember a Greek who stole fire from the gods.  Zeus 
could use some of it, couldn't He?"

"Ah, yes: fire makes light!  But Prometheus was a Titan, not a Greek.  
Ironic indeed!  Zeus punished him and banned fire from Olympus."

"Well, if we could find some flint and dry leaves, I might make fire."

"Leaves?  Nothing grows in Tartarus."

"Maybe Demeter's gown."

Demeter said, "What of My gown?"

Sam shook his head.  "I also need flint."

"Now is not the time to remove My gown, though you have a point.  I 
always wondered if Typhon had as many cocks as heads."

"How many heads does he have?"

"He was born with a hundred, but Zeus knocked most of them off in their
last battle."

"Knocked them off?"

"With his thunderbolts, then cast Typhon into Tartarus."

One of the massive lumps had shambled close.  Several masculine throats
cried in unison, "Who calls the name of Typhon?"

The kneeling figure scrambled over the ground to hide behind Demeter's 
skirt.

She stepped forward and declared, "Demeter, Sam, Pester and one other.
Do you call yourself Typhon?  I can hardly make out ten heads."

At close range the apparition seemed to possess a body thick as two men,
with but two arms and legs and one dangling cock.  A thicket of thin 
necks rose from the huge shoulders.  Atop several perched swollen knobs,
each with a mouth and a single eye.

The heads snarled in unison, reminding Sam of a stereo system.  "That 
forever undamned Zeus is the reason.  He continued to fry me while I lay
singed.  Even in Tartarus most wounds heal, but 91 of my heads failed to
grow back.  Still, you can almost see before you the remains of the only
being ever to defeat Zeus."

"Not the only one!" the goddess said brightly.

"If I'd only thought of sending him here!  Ah, well, water under the 
bridge.  Demeter, you say?"

"The goddess of green field, grain and fecundity.  I have misplaced my 
sheaf and scythe."

"I know of you.  Zeus is your full brother.  Are you also my enemy?"

"I do not wish to be."  She crept forward to stand before him.  One 
shoulder lowered slightly.  "Typhon, you are certainly built to please a
goddess."

The heads bent forward to see what her hand did.

Demeter said over her shoulder, "Pester, here's one you'll like."

The nymph whispered, "He frightens me, Sam.  Must I obey Her?"

"Apparently not here."

Some of the heads rose to look past the goddess.  Only the raised ones 
spoke, producing a thinner sound.  "Who are you?  Is that a child?"

The man said, "Sam and Pester, a nymph; not a child."

"You are no satyr.  And who is that squatting on the ground behind you?"

Sam thought, _When one monster asks, give him another._  "Zeus, king of
the gods."

The bent heads rose and all shrilled together.  "Zeus?  Can it be true?"

Behind him Sam heard a rustle and the thuds of running feet, quickly 
terminated in oaths.  Apparently Zeus had stumbled over a reclining 
inmate.

Flight was evidence enough for Typhon.  The monster roared, flung 
Demeter to the side, bowled Sam over and dashed into the gloom.  
Additional roars and thuds sounded.  "Praise the gods, I've caught you!"
called Typhon.

While helping Sam rise, Pester asked Demeter, "How can he be sure it's 
Zeus?"

"Of course you know," the goddess answered, getting to her feet.

"What does She mean?" Sam asked.

"His smell," Pester answered.

"His smell?"

"You never sucked his cock."

Demeter beckoned.  "Come, let us petition the Hecatonchires."

Sam and Pester followed her towards the gate, weaving among the figures
that remained prone, dodging the ones that were rising to attend the 
tumult behind them.  The cry, "To battle, to battle!" rose on all sides,
along with "Typhon and Zeus!"

The gate was a metal door twice the height and span of a man, set into a
metal frame.  Sam rubbed the frame and sniffed his fingers: bronze.  The
door had an opening at head height, large enough for a small man to 
crawl through if someone boosted him up.  A bearded face was discernible
in the opening.  Glittering eyes watched them approach.

"What is that commotion?" asked the face in a deeply masculine voice.

Demeter said, "Can't you hear?  Typhon and Zeus are fighting."

"Zeus is here?  Our lord Zeus?"

"Yes, the very one whom Gaia advised to free you."

"Cottus and Gyes," called the guard, turning his head.  "Come quickly.
Typhon assaults our lord!"

With a great crash the door fell backward out of the gate and three huge
beings stomped over it, rushing past the goddess's little company too 
fast for Sam to gauge their shape -- except that each seemed to be 
accompanied by a ... cloud of arms attached all over his torso, hands 
clutching hammers and axes.  The one peering through the opening had 
obviously needed to bend down.

"Quick!" cried Demeter.  "Through the gate!"

They pushed through the gateway.  Sam's bare feet appreciated the smooth
metal.  The doorway had no hinges.  Demeter bent at the fallen top as if
to lift it.

"Help me!" she ordered.

"Shouldn't we run instead?" asked Pester.

"Do you want Zeus to return to Olympus?" asked the goddess.

"Don't You?  Who will be king of the gods, You?"

"Whoever She is, She can hardly be worse than Zeus.  Now lift.  Come on,
Sam!"

The three of them together could not budge it -- until Sam realized that
they had escaped Tartarus.  When he applied the push that had 
transported four nymphs at the time through 1,473 universes, the door 
rose easily and set itself into the gate with a loud clang.

He could make out Demeter's eyes regarding him in seeming awe.  "Oh, 
Sam, I had no idea you were so strong!  But we must block the door."

"What held it closed before?"

"The Hecatonchires are strong as they are ugly."

He grumped, "Then they'd rival Superman.  How about a really huge 
boulder?"

"If you can find one."

"Stand well back from this gate."

The top of the wall rose into the heights above the gate, seeming almost
to touch the dark gray sky.  He selected a portion near the top, feeling
its shape with his extended senses, finding the beginnings of a 
fracture.  He grasped the great lump with his mind and pushed hard.  As
he had hoped, the fracture lengthened.  He rocked it back and forth as 
small stones thudded invisibly to the earth around them.  At last it was
free.  He pulled it toward him and let it fall with a crash that shook 
the ground.  A black cloud of dust obscured the results.  Impatiently he
shifted the dust away.  Now the gate was invisible behind a huge mound 
of broken rock.

Demeter declared, "Sam!  Your power is back, isn't it?  And so much 
power!"

"Is this the only gate?"

"It is now.  Typhon destroyed the other one trying to escape.  Why has 
_My_ power not returned?"

Sam took both females in his mind and tried to transport to Zeus's 
throne room.  He felt as if a bit stronger push would accomplish it, but
he was clenching in full exertion.  Giving up, he said, "It seems mine 
doesn't work at long range either."

"Tartarus's influence extends beyond the gate.  Maybe if we walked some
distance ..."  The goddess's voice trailed off as all three contemplated
the bleak, nearly black flatland before them.

Pester suggested, "How about a shorter range, Sam?"

"Such as?"

"Your pile of mud."

"His what?" asked Demeter with a sniff.

He concentrated, recalling the long ditch and wall of excavated mud he 
had created after the confrontation with Pan.  Gathering the women, he 
pushed with all his strength.

Though still mostly gray, the scene brightened immensely.  They stood 
before a moat, glittering with seeped water, with a head-high berm 
behind it.  Looking over his shoulder, Sam saw the still, so-called 
river: the gateway to Hades.


* * *


Demeter glared around her.  "Wh-what is all this?"

Pester answered with a certain pleasure in her voice.  "Sam's mud pile."

"His _what_?"

"He made it to mark this spot when Pan sent us here.  Isn't Sam awesome?
He smells good and his cock is barbless!  What a lover!"

"But do you know where we are?"

"Of course.  We are on the shore of the River Acheron, gateway to hell."

"Good god! ...  But then ..."

The goddess vanished.

Pester said, "She's gone to Zeus's throne room.  You'd better chase her,
Sam, before she takes over."

"Would that be so bad?  And how would I stop her?"

"A female in charge of Olympus?  The only female I'd trust with that 
much power is _me_!  As to stopping her, you're the stronger, Sam."

"You think so?"

"I know it.  _She_ could not've blocked that gate!"

"Before we go -- what happened to Zeus?"

"Good question.  If He and the Hecatonchires fight off the rest of them
--  But Typhon is stronger than any Hecatonchire.  If Zeus fights them 
off, I say, then we may see him again -- if He can dig through that rock
you piled on the gate."  She chuckled.  "Seeing the other Tartarus 
dwellers is a slightly better chance."

"Aren't they ... evil?"

"Unlucky, for sure."

Sam thought a moment.  "As Demeter said, I know not what I've done."

"I'm more concerned with what _She_ may do."

"Then let's go see."

In the marble-pillared throne room Demeter was standing on the ledge of
Zeus's high seat to harangue the restive crowd.  Sunshine through the 
roof opening lit her brightly.  She waved her fist and shouted over the
babble in a piercing soprano.

"I tell you, Zeus is as good as dead!  You can't see much in Tartarus, 
but Zeus immediately saw what fate would befall Him in that place where
He had put so many others.  When Typhon learned of His presence, Zeus 
tried to run away but tripped over an old lag.  Of course the monster 
caught Him.  You know that all god power is inhibited in Tartarus, so 
its dwellers may fight only as humans once did, before they discovered 
fire and metal.  A great battle began as we left, involving everyone in
earshot."

"I want to see Demeter's face!" complained Pester, standing on tip-toe 
and shouting up into Sam's ear.  He caught her under the arms, lifted 
her high and let her soft buttocks plop onto his shoulder.  Her arm 
encircled his head.  He enclosed her hips with his forearm resting on 
her thighs.  Her agitated tail soon tickled his back.

"Just how did _you_ leave?" demanded a figure in the front of the crowd.

"I told the Hecatonchires that Typhon was assaulting their lord.  They 
opened the remaining gate and took to the field in His defense.  We had
only to walk through the door."

"With the Hecatonchires behind Him," shouted the figure, which Sam now 
saw as the demon, Aliphat, "Zeus might well win free.  He did once 
before.  You'd better get down from His perch."

"It matters not," she declared.  "I caused the gate to be closed."

Somehow Pester managed to bounce up and down on Sam's shoulder.  She 
screeched in a surprisingly powerful voice, "Tell the truth, Demeter!"

"I always tell the truth."  Shading her eyes, the goddess in the sunbeam
peered into the dimmer crowd.  "I see you, Pester.  This is not the time
for your untidy wit."

But the nymph disagreed.  "Let's have the whole truth from Your slippery
goddesshood!"

Nearby a taller nymph shouted, "You tell us, Pester!"  Sam recognized 
Tolis.

"I shall!  The whole truth is that _Sam_ did it, not She.  Sam did it 
_all_, from pulling Zeus into Tartarus with us, to betraying him to 
Typhon -- _She_ only threatened to -- to closing the bronze gate and 
making sure it would stay closed."

The elevated goddess grimaced and pointed toward the nymph.  Before she
could speak a comely person with a full beard and close-cropped curls of
aquamarine, wearing a white toga, suddenly rose to half His height above
the crowd, impressing Sam until he understood that it amounted only to a
continuous push.  The hovering one held a tall pitchfork in one hand.  
The fact that he was clothed ...

The god said loudly, "Sister, that's a house of a different color."

"Horse," Sam corrected automatically, adding in a whisper, "Who's that?"

"Poseidon, god of the sea.  And that's a trident, not a pitchfork."

"I didn't say 'pitchfork!'"

"Yes, you did.  If you don't want to talk, quit waving your arm."

Demeter was speaking.  "I told only truth!  Sam may have done the work 
but I inspired him."

"Who is this _Sam_?" Poseidon inquired.

"He stands there with Pester on his shoulder.  Ask him about it -- after
I deal with his pestering Pester."

Her arm straightened, finger pointing directly at Pester.  She cried, 
"Begone, noxious nymph!"

Sam felt the fringe of Demeter's grappling force as it began to lift the
nymph from his shoulder.  Deliberately he interposed his own push as a 
shield, deflecting the goddess's thrust.  Pester's buttocks sagged again
to his shoulder.

Demeter's eyes enlarged.  "And traitorous Sam!"

Her push widened to include him.  To his pleased surprise he found that
he could fix it between them, holding it away from himself and the 
nymph.  More than that --

Suddenly the goddess stood on the floor before him, her body having 
shoved aside the several persons between him and Zeus's throne.  She 
staggered, turning pale.

"Sam!" she cried.  "What are you doing?"

All around them the crowd backed fearfully away.  Closer individuals 
peered in wonder at the goddess, not understanding her obvious unease.

"Sam," she cried again, "how can you be stronger than the throne?"

He shook his head.  "I don't know about that, but I do know I'll let no
one hurt Pester."

"You fool!  She but uses you -- even as a seat!"

Pester giggled.  "You flustered up, Demeter."

The goddess looked puzzled.  "Flustered up?"

"I think she means 'fucked up,'" explained Sam.  "How so, Pester?"

The nymph lowered her voice.  "She was standing up when she tried to 
overcome you.  Zeus only got the extra power when he sat down."

Demeter's eyes widened.  "Are you certain?"

"I watched him for thousands of years."  Pester giggled again.  "You 
mean no one else noticed?"

Sam felt the goddess lunge toward the high seat, but still holding Her,
he easily nullified the effort.  She tossed her head angrily but froze 
as Her eyes narrowed.  Then Her expression cleared.  Goddess and gown 
all shrank to the size of a nymph.  Sam gasped.  The unbearably lovely,
pubescent Demi had returned!

She cocked her head and smiled up at him.  "I think I should be what you
love, Sam."

He pulled her to him, using the god force to lift, reverse and seat her
on his other shoulder.  Her hand tilted his head back and she bent to 
kiss him.  His cock twitched toward erection.

In the opposite ear Pester urged, "Take the throne, Sam!"

Why not?  He was tired of standing and the seat was currently empty.  In
fact it was the only seat in the room.  He lifted the three of them, 
retaining the females on his shoulders, reoriented them and collapsed 
into the high seat, apparently the only one on Olympus with decent 
padding!  The sunlight nearly blinded him, rendering the crowd a dim 
mass below the blue sky peeping between the many columns.  His eyes 
quickly adjusted.

Poseidon, the hovering god, shouted, "Sister, how dare you desecrate the
throne of Zeus with a mere human?"

Demeter whispered, "May I clothe you, Lord?"

He nodded and a white cloth swaddled his loins, hiding his lingering 
erection.  Sam's mental senses saw how it was done: by wishing with a 
certain intensity.  Perhaps this was the _Creation Spell_?  He was 
certain he could do it too.

Demeter -- Demi -- was shouting.  "Sam is no _mere_ human!  I give you 
Sam, king of the gods.  The old king is dead; long live the new!"

"That is outrageous!" declared Poseidon.  He pointed a finger.

Sam expected the pull and rejected it easily.  With an effort comparable
to snapping his fingers he expelled Poseidon to the "mud pile" on the 
River Acheron.  His mind's eye followed the god, saw Him stagger and 
glare around in confusion.

Pester clapped her hands and said in his ear, "Wonderful, Sam!  Now 
challenge them all."

Demi said in his other ear, "When you dispatch someone, point a finger.
It's more impressive and the crowd knows you meant it."

Challenge them?  Many persons in the crowd wore clothing to one degree 
or another.  They were _gods_!

"You can do it," urged Pester.  "Seated on Chthon's throne, you can whip
them all together."

But first ...  He needed marble, not a lot, and almost asked Pester 
where to find it before realizing that it surrounded Him.  He peeled a 
seat-shaped chunk from the interior of a column behind Him and grafted 
it onto the throne at his left, then did the same from another column 
onto His right.  Gently he lifted Pester off his left shoulder and put 
her into the left seat, followed by Demi into the right seat.  For now 
they must sit on bare marble.  He resolved to find them padding soon, 
even if he must fetch it from Earth.

He gathered his muscles to stand but Pester pulled on his shoulder and 
advised strongly, "No, You fool, keep Your seat!"

Oh, yeah!  He straightened, squared his shoulders and cast his voice out
over the crowd.  To his surprise it resounded with the power of a 
megaphone.  "LISTEN UP, YOU GODS AND GODDESSES.  I DIDN'T WANT IT BUT IT
SEEMS I MUST TAKE THE THRONE TO KEEP THESE TWO CUTIES SAFE.  SO YOU HAVE
A NEW KING, ME: SAM, THE FIRST, AND HIS ASSISTANTS, DEMI, THE GODDESS IN
CHARGE OF ESTHETICS, AND PESTER, THE NYMPH IN CHARGE OF EVERYTHING ELSE,
ESPECIALLY THE GOD POWER WHEN I AM INDISPOSED.

"I UNDERSTAND THAT SOME OF YOU BELIEVE A HUMAN UNWORTHY OF THIS THRONE.
THE FACT THAT IT SUPPORTS ME AND LENDS ME ITS POWER SHOULD ANSWER THAT.  
IF NOT ...

"THOSE OF YOU WHO ACCEPT MY REIGN: KNEEL TO ME NOW.  TO THOSE WHO DON'T
KNEEL I'LL GRANT A HOLIDAY ON THE RIVER ACHERON."

Demi smiled up at Him, stroking His arm.  "What a nice speech, Sam!"

"Almost eloquent," commented Pester with a smirk.

He said softly, "I wasn't a fiction-writer for nothing!"

But His eye was on the crowd.  Slowly a wave passed through it, 
beginning with the demon Aliphat in the front row, spreading and 
continuing to the rear, caused by persons dropping to their knees.  At 
first all the kneelers were naked.  Belatedly a few in clothing sank 
also, but not all of them.

A goddess on the right, fully draped except for face and arms and 
wearing a tall golden crown, spoke loudly in a smooth contralto, "Listen
to him: a mere human charlatan -- and I should know."

"Who's She?" asked Sam softly.

Pester whispered, "Hera, goddess of womanhood."

The crowned goddess continued, "Shall We band together and test His 
claim?"

That was enough for Sam.  He pointed at her and with another equivalent
of a finger snap sent her to His mud pile.  Glancing around on that 
shore, He saw no Poseidon remaining.  His mental search quickly located
the god -- here at the rear of the crowd, now on his knees instead of 
hovering!

"STAND UP, POSEIDON, AND TELL US HOW YOU ENJOYED THE RIVER ACHERON."

When the god stood, all the crowd turned to regard Him, kneelers looking
over their shoulders.  His face reddened, perhaps with embarrassment, 
but He spoke gamely.  "I did not, Lord.  It was dim and muddy."

A moment after his comment all those who had remained standing fell to 
their knees.  The crowd sighed collectively.

Demi declared brightly, "You're king!  Now the real fun begins.  Tell 
them to rise."

Pester leaned over him, plucking at his loin cloth.  "May I suck your 
cock, Lord?"


Contact:
Varangian: ludmax11@hotmail.com
Kellis: kellis@dhp.com

-- 
Pursuant to the Berne Convention, this work is copyright with all rights
reserved by its author unless explicitly indicated.
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