Title:  Donjeta and the Sea -- Chapter Five -- The Uncharted
Isles

Codes:  Ff, viol, magic

Summary:  Far off any map, Donjeta must brave the most 
dangerous seas.


*****


Any direction was fine that the wind might blow, as long as 
it blew.  We had no idea where we were or where safety might
lie.  It came from the west, strong and steady.  We set our 
sail and let it speed us along.

We passed among rocky islands, but we did not beach our 
ship.  We had too few men to work the oars and put to sea 
again.  One of the sailors, the oldest, Agapios, carefully 
steered us, keeping to the free channels.  We studied the 
coasts, looking for a harbor, other ships, a village, any 
signs of civilized men.  We saw grass, birds, and the 
endless gray sky -- and little else.

We passed into a cluster of islands with one clear way out, 
a narrow channel between two sheer cliffs.

"Do you think it's deep enough, Agapios?"

"Aye Donjeta, cliffs that go up like that always go down 
too.  Plus they channel the wind.  We'll shoot right through
that like an arrow."

Maybe he was right about cliffs, but he was wrong about this
place.  As we drew near we heard a high lilting sound, 
strange, spooky, and alluring.

"Don't worry.  That's just the the wind blowing over the 
caves.  I hear stuff like that often."

I had a dim memory of a story I once heard.

"Agapios, can we turn back?"

"No Princess.  Even if we take down the sail, we're moving 
too fast.  If we tried to anchor or throw a line, we'd 
likely crash into the rocks."

The sound grew louder, reaching a series of little 
crescendos, like a chorus of many voices singing to the 
gods.

"It's actually very beautiful," he observed.

"Yes."

The remainder of the men had stopped their duties and were 
listening to the song.

"I'm going to take us a little closer."

"Yes.  Please do.  I wanna hear."

I noticed we had left the main channel, and he was steering 
us toward the tallest island, the source of the song.  It 
had high beetling cliffs.  I could see the mouths of caves 
and the wispy hints of figures looking down.  The rocks at 
water level were cruel, with the bleached skeletons of 
broken ships scattered among them.

We slammed into the rocks.  The ship tore asunder.  The 
singing stopped, and the men cried out in terror.  Too late.
Figures shot down from the caves above, women, beautiful, 
with long tawny hair.  They landed on our ship and laid into
the men with their claws.  The bloodshed was remarkable.  
Then they ate the men.

I stood watching, letting a particularly lovely passage of 
music replay in my head.  The girl who had landed on the 
stern and eaten Agapios looked up at me, her face covered 
with blood.  She had the prettiest blue eyes.

"Hi.  I'm Berenice."

"Hi Berenice.  I'm Donjeta."

"Pleased to meet you, Donjeta."

"Likewise."


*****


Berenice brought me a cup of wine.  It was the Achaean wine 
from my slave price, which the sirens had taken from the 
ship along with the rest of the treasure.

"Thank you sweetie."

"No problem."

She lay next to me on the couch, wrapped her arm around me, 
and gave me a long kiss.  I returned that kiss, then sipped 
some wine.

"Donjeta."

She gave a toothy grin -- very toothy in her case -- and 
walked her clawed fingers over my breasts.

"Yes?"

"Can I eat you again?"

"Of course, Berenice...uh...you do mean eat my pussy, 
right?"

"Of course, sweetie.  I wouldn't eat you up.  I like you 
this way!"

"Fine.  You're not just saving me for later?"

"Aw, num num, my delicious little Donjeta."

I found it difficult to completely relax among the sirens.  
She went down and ate my pussy.


*****


"Berenice."

"Yes?"

"Do other ships ever come here?  I mean, besides the ones 
you lure to their deaths."

"No, not really.  Why?"

"Just wondering."


*****


"Berenice, I noticed that supplies are running low."

"Yeah.  I hope another ship comes soon.  It's so hard to go 
hungry."


*****


I decided to leave the sirens, as soon as I figured out a 
way.  Getting a ride on a passing ship seemed likely, if one
would come, and if I could stop them from sinking it.  I 
prayed to Pallas to send a ship, hoping I'd figure out the 
second part in time.  Weeks passed, and I grew desperate.  I
even prayed to Poseidon and Zeus.  I don't know if they 
listened, but a ship came.

"A ship!  A ship!"

The sirens were very excited.  They were flitting around 
between the caves making sure everyone was ready.  Several 
were practicing scales.  Berenice came in.

"How do I look?"

"You look very nice, Berenice."

"Do you want to sing too, Donjeta?  Maybe just a little 
part?"

"I don't have a good voice."

"Aw, just try.  Please.  For me."

Each siren went to the mouth of her cave, leaning out 
watching for the ship.  I stood next to Berenice.  She had a
huge smile.  She was so excited she was hopping a little 
bit.  She clapped her hands and looked at me.

"Oh Donjeta, this is going to be great.  I'm so glad you're 
helping!"

She kissed me.  I looked out over the dark water and saw the
black hulled ship.

They began to sing their sweet lilting song.  Back into the 
caves their voices rang, reverberating in the deep chambers 
and projecting out to the ship.  That was their secret.  
Their voices alone were intoxicating, with all the beauty of
their dark, immortal souls, but it was the caves that let 
them carry so far.

As soon as Berenice joined the chorus, I fell to my knees.  
Such a melodic trill came from her, it ripped into my mind.
My body responded.  Every nerve tingled.  She looked at me 
and beamed.

"Now you, Donjeta, sing for me."

I couldn't.  My mind reeled.  I grabbed her around the waist
and pressed my face between her legs.  I pushed up her gown,
exposing her.  I began to kiss and suck.

"Oh Donjeta."

I knew it would hit her fast.  With all the music swirling 
around, and with her bloodlust up, she couldn't hold out.  
And when she came she cried out -- all the sirens did -- not
surprisingly.  I began frantically licking her clit.

It hit her.  She squirted all over my breast, and she cried 
out -- completely off key.  It bellowed through the caves, a
bizarre warbling sound.  The song faltered, voices stopped, 
then started, trying to adjust to a new song.  This way and 
that they went, but never landing on a pleasing tune.

I kept licking, but eventually Berenice got control of 
herself and covered her mouth.  I released her cunt and 
looked out the cave.  The ship had turned away.

"Donjeta!"

I ran back into the cave, then I turned and got a good 
running start and dived far out over the sea.  It took 
several seconds to hit the water.  I prayed to sweet Pallas 
as I fell.


*****


The siren's island was not so far from the narrow channel 
where the ship must pass.  The long dive took me a third of 
the way there.  Now I had to swim the remaining distance 
before the vessel reached it.

I popped my head out of the water and took a deep breath.  I
got my bearings, the ship, the channel, the island.  I swam.
I prayed and I swam.

I heard cries of anger from behind me, from the siren's 
caves, shouting and chaos.  A few unfortunate voices tried 
to rise in song, restore the magic, but the spell was 
broken, the chorus in disarray.  Several dove from their 
caves in my direction.  I took another deep breath and swam.

I got closer.  So had the ship.  I could hear the voices of 
the men, angry and fearful.  The captain's voice bellowed 
over the others.

"To it men!  In rhythm!  Pull!"

Another voice cried out, "One is swimming toward us!"

I popped my head up again.  They were reaching the channel, 
but only thirty yards away.  I cried out.

"Save me!  I'm a girl!  Please!"

A spear hit the water near me.

"Take that murderous witch!"

"Stop the ship!  Bring her aboard!"

That was the captain's voice.  Chaos erupted, men shouting 
in fear.  The ship groaned as oars bit the water.  I put my 
head down and swam.  I reached the ship, grasping at the 
side.  Strong hands pulled me up.

"Now, row like the devil was behind you!"

I looked back at the water.  Three of the sirens were 
swimming hard, nearing us.  The shipped lurched as the oars 
bit.  We pulled away.  They pursued for a few hundred yards,
then gave up.  I didn't see if one of them was Berenice.

The captain grabbed me and stood me up.  He was a tall 
bearded Greek.  There was a glint of humor in his dark eyes.

"Alright girl, what's your story?"

I wasn't sure where to start.


*****


I told him I was a Thracian slave purchased at Pylos by the 
Ephesian crew.  I didn't mention anything about the prince.

"This storm, Donjeta, how long ago was it?"

"Uh -- I was with the sirens four weeks I guess, maybe five.
It was several days before that.  Say six weeks ago."

"I see.  We were caught in the same storm.  Go on."

"So, the ship went down, and I got hold of a piece of the 
keel and rode it out."

"A girl like you?  When so many strong men perished?"

"Would you believe me if I said a nereid rescued me?"

"I may.  I may not.  Are you saying that?"

"Uh -- can I just say I found myself on a piece of the 
keel?"

"You can say that.  Go on."

"So -- I was washed ashore on Aeaea, Circe's island.  There 
was a ship beached there, but no crew.  I went to see the 
witch, but...well...I had an elixir that removes magic.  Did
I mention that?"

"You seem to have overlooked that detail, but it's noted 
now.  Go on."

"So -- the witch had turned the crew to swine.  Anyhow, I 
talked her into giving them to me, changed them back to men,
and we sailed away from Aeaea."

He peered at me.

"You talked the dreaded Circe into giving you the crew?"

"Yeah.  She said they grunted too much anyhow."

"Ah.  So you sailed out -- to the sirens next?  Or did you 
first pass through the crashing rocks and retrieve the 
golden fleece?  Maybe ride Pegasus to the sun?"

"No, the sirens are next.  We came to their island, and -- 
well -- you've seen it.  Their spell came over us and we 
crashed into the rocks.  They killed all the men and took me
as a slave."

"I see."

"Well -- so I had to escape.  I figured out a way to make a 
siren go off tune, and did that at the next passing ship, 
which was you."

He sat there on the edge of the deck thinking for a bit.

"That's quite a tale, Donjeta.  I won't say I believe it, 
but I won't say I don't.  There's gotta be more to it, but 
that's enough for now.  Say, why don't we scare up a meal on
that island I see."

I looked over and saw that a large island had come into 
view.  There were steep rocky hills and a long curved beach.

"Men!  To your oars!  We're beaching her on that shore!"


*****


The island was thick with wild sheep, born without fear of 
man.  The crew trudged up one of the stony ridges and found 
a grassy glade where a small herd grazed.  A few arrows 
later, and the panicked cry of the sheep with their new 
knowledge of death, we had a meal.  They dragged it back to 
the beach.

I sat by the fire watching them roast the mutton.  The 
captain was by me.  He had called himself Miltiades.

"Captain Miltiades."

"Yes Donjeta?"

"Where do you sail from?  How did you end up lost at sea?"

"It's a simple tale, dear.  We are from Argos,  the younger 
sons of lesser families.  No gilded halls for us, with 
beautiful slaves serving succulent treats and deep ruddy 
wine.  We are the men who row the ships and man the lines in
war -- and die while the captains get the glory."

He took a stick and poked at the fire.

"So, we seek adventure, to make our name, maybe earn a great
treasure in some foreign land."

I looked at him.  His cloak was not finer than the others.

"I see.  How about you?  Aren't you a rich man, to own a 
ship?"

"Ha!  She thinks I own the ship!"

There was laughter.

"No, Donjeta.  We all own the ship.  We each sold what 
piddling share our families left us and pooled that money to
buy it.  My share was not the largest.  In fact, it was 
quite small."

A voice came from across the fire, "But men need a leader."

"Yes, men need a leader.  We chose by lots, Donjeta, who 
should command the ship, and I was chosen by the gods.  
Right men?"

They rang out, "Aye Cap'n!"

"So there, Donjeta, that's who we are and where we're from.
We are adventurers sailing the seas for our fortune, poor 
men, hungry men, led by the sad Captain Miltiades, who's no 
better than another, 'cept by chance of the gods."

There was a murmur around the fire.

"So now, girl, this mutton smells good."


*****


The day drew on, and we realized we'd be sleeping here.  The
men pulled the ship further up the beach and tied it to 
anchor stones lugged from the hold.  Then they took bedrolls
from the ship and spread them around the fire.  Miltiades 
tossed a blanket to me.

"It'll have to be enough girl, not many spare bedrolls on 
the ship."

I'd slept plenty a night on the hard ground under the open 
sky.

"I'll be fine, Captain."

"You should set down near me, Donjeta.  These are good men, 
but they're still men, lonely and at sea."

There was a murmur and some laughter.  A few men called out.

"No!  Come sleep by me, Donjeta."

"Ha!  That old goat couldn't please you.  If you get cold I 
got room."

They went on.  They laughed, and a few got to wrestling, but
in the end I lay -- unmolested.

The beach faced the western sky, and the captain and I 
watched the sun go down, fiery red against the brilliant 
blue.

"It's quite a sight girl, praise the gods."

"Indeed."


*****


"Captain?"

"Donjeta?  Aren't you asleep yet?"

We lay in the chill night, me watching the stars wheel 
across the sky.

"No.  Are you pirates?"

"Well...we haven't done any pirating yet, but we may."

"Oh."

"You don't approve?"

"I dunno.  I don't care when men fight men.  Would you ever 
sack a town?"

"Donjeta, it's the way of the world.  The strong rule the 
weak.  Years we've lived under the thumbs of selfish kings.
Kings by what right?  That they have the strength to take 
what they want?  That they have the will?  Why shouldn't we?
We're strong, if we choose to be.  So yes, if we find a fat 
town ripe for plunder, ruled by a weak prince, why shouldn't
we?"

"The women.  When you men fight, what of the women?"

"Ah...I understand Donjeta, you poor thing.  Your town was 
sacked.  That's how you became a slave."

It wasn't true, but I let him believe it.  I lay quietly.

"You know what I'll do, Donjeta."

"What?"

"When we get back to civilized lands, I'll make sure you get
a good husband.  A strong man who can protect you.  You'll 
never again be a slave."

"Oh."

"Don't sound so glum.  You're a beautiful girl.  You must 
know that.  No doubt many men have told you.  It's true.  
You could win the heart of a great man, better than me or 
mine.  I could make introductions, to princes, kings.  It 
could be a good life for you."

I said nothing.  I heard his breathing and the crackle of 
the fire.  Across the way a sailor snored.  Time passed.

"Donjeta."

"What?"

"Is your family alive?"

"Yes."

"We could send you home, or maybe take you there, if fate 
leads us that way."

The night got quiet.  The stars turned and the sea lapped 
against the shore.

"Please.  Please take me home."


*****


Sometime in the predawn hours the clouds drifted in, and we 
woke to gray skies and a clinging mist.  The air hung heavy.
The fire had burned low, but they stoked it and fanned the 
flames.  We reheated what remained of the mutton and warmed 
some gruel.  After putting aside our hunger, the men pulled 
the heavy ship back to the sea.  I stood on the rear deck as
they worked their oars.  The captain spoke to me.

"Donjeta, no wind today, and my senses tell me there won't 
be.  A hard day's rowing."

"Ah."

"So, we can't have you lazing around while these men work 
themselves bone-weary.  You're no queen or princess with 
delicate hands to sit sipping wine while other toil."

He was half right.  My hands were hardly delicate.

"You're gonna need to earn your keep on this ship."

I gave him a dim look.  I wore my knife on my belt.  He 
smiled.

"Oh, don't fear Donjeta.  It'll be good honest work -- 
always plenty of work on a ship.  Tying lines, scrubbing the
deck, stripping paint, putting the paint back, plenty to do.
Today, since there's no wind, we'll mend the sail.  It won't
be like working the delicate fabrics you're used to, but 
you'll have busy hands."

I smiled.  I'd never worked delicate fabric in my life.  
Horsehide and fur were my materials.

"We'll lay it out by pieces on the rear deck.  It's heavy, 
but you're a strong girl.  We'll do it together."

Captain Miltiades taught me how to mend a sail.


*****


As evening fell we were still in deep water.  The men tossed
an anchor stone to slow our drift.  We each found a spot and
lay down for the night.

"That was a good day's work, Donjeta.  You have strong 
hands, and you learn fast.  You wouldn't make a half bad 
sailor, and that's the truth."

"Thanks."

"And think!  When you're an old women sitting at the loom 
with your friends, spinning long tender threads, you can 
tell them of the time you were lost on the high seas, and 
the cruel captain forced you to mend a sail."

I said nothing.  Then sun crept below the horizon, its 
tendrils of light fading away.  The clouds stretched across 
the sky hiding the moon and stars, leaving the ship, and the
sea, the deepest black.


*****


We rowed for three days, spotting neither land nor ship, not
even a bird -- only the constant haze and the endless gray 
sky.  Supplies drew low.  The men began gazing at the vague 
horizon praying to Poseidon for a hint of land.

"Hard times, Donjeta.  Each day we grow weaker.  Pray we 
find land."

I prayed quietly to sweet Pallas with her lovely gray eyes.


*****


"Land!  An island!"

An island drifted into sight, with rugged hills topped by 
forest and sharp, rocky shores.

"We must find a beach."

The men rowed along the island, miles and more, until a cove
came into view with a gently shelved beach.  We entered it, 
the men rowing hard, like a burst of energy had come on 
them.

"Praise the gods!"

A figure sat on the beach, a man in form, but not size.  As 
we drew near we peered at him.

"By Zeus!  How big is that monster?" a sailor cried out.

I looked at the crags behind him, and the size of the trees.
He was taller than the ship was long, easily, and that was 
sitting.  As we drew nearer he only grew in my estimation.

"What are we gonna do, Captain?"

"I dunno.  He doesn't seem to notice us.  He just sits 
there."

"Is he alive?" a sailor yelled.

"Can we find another beach?" said another.

The captain looked at the faces of the rowers, and they 
looked back to him.  He called out.

"He has the form of a man, even if of great size.  Perhaps 
he worships the gods.  Perhaps he knows of Zeus's laws, and 
the ways of hospitality.  I shall ask him."

The men were silent, their faces grave.

"Ah, don't fear men.  I'll not ask you to row to your 
deaths.  I'll go over the side here.  It is not too far to 
swim, not for me.  I'll parley with the giant, find his 
story, beg his aid.  If he's welcoming, and only then, will 
I make a signal for you to come ashore."

The crew erupted.

"No Cap'n!  You mustn't.  I'll go."

"No, send me!"

"We cannot lose you!"

The captain bellowed over them, "Quiet men!  I am no better 
than you, and I don't even do good honest work like pull an 
oar.  If I die, choose again by lots.  Each of you is as 
good as me."

While they argued, I removed my tunic and dove from the 
ship.

"Donjeta!"

I began to swim toward the shore.

"Donjeta!  What are you doing?"

Twenty yards out, I turned to them.

"Captain!  You're wrong.  The gods chose you to lead.  It 
wasn't chance, and your men -- their lives depend on you.  
They know it!"

"Aye Cap'n!"

Many voices rang out.

"But I -- I can't even pull an oar either, or much else.  
I'll go.  I can swim that far.  You've seen me.  And if he 
proves cruel, well let him squash poor Donjeta, as easy for 
him as squashing any of you."

"Donjeta!"

"Captain!  I'm no better than you."

I turned and swam, pulling with all my strength.

"Donjeta!"


*****


He was an ugly thing, this monster.  I reached the shore 
fifty yards from him and strutted toward him through the 
sand.  He must have heard my footfall, for he turned my way.

I looked at him and gasped.  He had one gigantic eye in the 
middle of his crude twisted face, and that single eye was 
blind -- pierced, weeping with a festering wound.  His voice
boomed.

"Who goes there?"

"Hi. I'm Donjeta, a girl."

"Don't disturb me girl!  I'm dangerous, a terror, feared by 
even the gods!  I'm the mighty Polyphemus.  Come close, and 
I might eat you, gobble you down, little girl though you 
be."

I kept walking toward him.

"Polyphemus, my ship is off shore, full of hungry, desperate
men.  May we beach here and search the island for food and 
water?"

"Aye, silly girl.  Bring your ship, right here before me.  
Have the men line up in rank and file.  Count them.  How 
many on your ship?"

"Thirty souls, friends of Zeus who commands hospitality."

He rumbled.

"Don't speak to me of wicked Zeus!  Nor his hospitality.  
Cursed men, demanding my goods.  Thieves!  I call Zeus the 
god of thieves."

I made a note not the mention Zeus.

"Perhaps we could pay?  Do you a service of some kind?"

"Ha!  Yes, I open my mouth, and you have the crew march in!
My tummy rumbles, and it's been many a year since I've dined
on a nice juicy sailor."

I got closer.  He began reaching down, fumbling, trying to 
find me in the sand.  I easily dodged aside.

"Polyphemus, what happened to your eye?"

He made a sort of shriek.

"Arrr!  Curse you girl!  And curse the race of men!  Blinded
I was.  Yes, I remember that day.  Blinded!  By that 
wretched Odysseus, man of cheats and lies, and knives in the
back!  Cursed Odysseus blinded me."

I smiled.

"Polyphemus!  Oh this is good news, for you and me.  It's 
great news!  No, wait and hear what I say.  Cruel Odysseus 
is no friend of mine.  I hate the man."

He stopped and listened.

"No, I've never met him.  I assume he's dead, at the bottom 
of the sea or on some distant shore, his bones picked clean.
Ah, but his son, his cursed son who has dogged me across the
sea.  Polyphemus, if you're an enemy of Odysseus, that makes
you my friend."

He seemed to smile.

"That's fine girl, and you do have a lovely voice.  Come 
closer.  Crawl into my hand, so I may bring you next to my 
ear.  Tell me of Odysseus's son, and what he's done to you."

"But Polyphemus, how can I trust that you won't eat me up?"

"Oh little Donjeta, won't you trust your friend?  Without 
friends, we're all lost in the world."

"I'm sorry Polyphemus, but I'm so small, and you could just 
gulp me down.  I cannot trust you.  I wish I could."

He sat quietly.  I did wish I could trust him, somehow.  I 
wished he could submit, make himself safe, any way -- for in
the belt of my tunic, I still had the elixir Circe gave me, 
the one that heals all wounds.

"I could fasten myself with rope."

"Would any rope hold one so great?  And anyhow, who would 
tie the rope?  You?"

He groaned.

"Oh father!  Oh great Poseidon!  Send this girl a sign.  
Tell her that -- oh -- tell her that this one time I'm true.
Aye, I'm not one to be trusted.  Odysseus blinded me, but I 
deserved it.  I was eating his crew.  That's the truth girl,
the truth of poor miserable Polyphemus.  I'm a murderous 
rogue, deserving no one's trust.  But this one time, just 
once -- I'm so alone.  I'd do anything for a friend.  Trust 
me, dear Donjeta.  Trust me."

"Alright Polyphemus, if I'm to trust you, you must trust me.
Lay back and open your eye."

"What?"

"Remember -- trust me.  I'm gonna climb your face."

He lay back, his body crossing the beach, his head resting 
on a dune.  I walked up and climbed his thick, wiry beard, 
each whisker like the branch of a tree.  I scurried around 
his mouth, his lips slightly pursed, his breath reeking 
fierce.  I got up by his nose.  He squirmed, pitching me, 
but I grabbed a long stray hair jutting from a nostril.  He 
cooed a gentle whisper, which pealed like the pounding of 
drums.

"Sorry Donjeta.  That tickles."

"No problem."

I got up by his gruesome eye.

"Keep your eye open.  This may sting a bit."

He kept his eye open.  I took out the elixir, leaning, 
stretching, reaching over the festering gash.  I poured.

Then I leapt as far as I could, landing among the dunes and 
the sea grass, pitching and rolling.  Then to my feet.  I 
ran like lightning through the brush to a rocky outcrop 
spanning down from a craggy hill beyond the beach.  I found 
a nook I could squirm into, and into it I squirmed.  I 
peered out at the giant.

He sat up and blinked his eye three times.  He looked 
around.  I could see it was whole.

"Oh Donjeta!  Where did you go?  Donjeta -- thank you!  
Praise you!  Let me see you.  Let me look at you Donjeta, 
the one who restored my sight.  The gods sent you.  My good 
father has answered my prayers.  Come out."

There was a enormous smile stretched across his craggy face.
I yelled from my hidey-hole.

"Polyphemus, I have given you your sight, to see the world, 
but not me.  I'm invisible.  Yes!  I was cursed by Zeus.  I 
refused him, his advances.  I said no, and I said it again.
I prayed night and day to Athena, clinging to my chastity, 
and I was the first -- the first of all mortal women to hold
him at bay.  Yes Polyphemus, I too hold no love for Zeus.

"So he cursed me!  My prayers were answered by the good 
goddess, by only halfway.  She could not defy her father's 
final command -- to erase me.  Yes!  He made her do it 
herself.  And now I cannot be seen.  All my beauty goes to 
waste.  So I creep among the world of men, making my way as 
a thief."

The giant began to cry.

"Oh Donjeta, surely my father has sent you.  Our meeting was
ordained, our pains so perfectly matched."

"Indeed my friend.  But this crew, the crew of this ship, 
they accepted me.  Pirates to the last, cruel men, hard men,
men cast aside by their families, they knew my pain, and 
they are my family now.  We cast our lots on the uncertain 
sea, seeking a life of plunder and fame."

"Donjeta!  Bring them to shore.  I will praise these men, 
these good men!"

"Oh, but it cannot be.  They will fear you.  You are too 
big, too mighty.  What can mortal men do, next to one such 
as you -- a god yourself after all.  No, they will not come.
They will sail away, even if I swim out and beg them to 
shore, and we will perish, me and my brothers on the lonely 
sea."

He sobbed.

"Polyphemus, can I ask you one favor, in exchange for the 
sight I gave you?"

"Yes Donjeta.  Anything."

"Walk away across the isle.  Leave this beach.  Go far, so 
the men will not be afraid.  Go with my blessing and love, 
good Polyphemus."

"I will do it Donjeta, and I will never forget you!"

And he did.  He stepped up the rugged crag and trudged away.
After a bit, I climbed up and looked.  I saw him far in the 
distance, just his head over a ridge, still walking.  I went
to the beach and lit the fire, the signal it was safe to 
come.


*****


We stocked up and put to sea, rowing hard from the island.  
A few hours out, the sky cleared, the clouds blown aside by 
a fresh wind from the southwest.

"Set the sail men!  This is a perfect wind!"

The wind grabbed and the ship lurched forward, scudding over
the waves like a galloping horse.

"No work for you today, Donjeta!  You have brought us such 
good luck.  No, today you laze away on the deck, sipping my 
very best wine."

"Thanks Captain."

"So, did the giant really say his father was Poseidon?"

"I'm not sure.  I kinda got that impression, but I didn't 
want to directly ask."

"And you healed his eye?  Really?"

"Yeah."

"You're a remarkable girl, Donjeta."

I smiled.  It pleased me to think so.

"Anyhow, yes, I think he was Poseidon's son.  What else 
explains this clear sky and fresh wind?"

I didn't have an answer.  I lay back, sipped his wine, and 
felt the steady motion of the ship as it skipped across the 
waves.  By mid-afternoon, we came across an island with a 
harbor, a town, and many ships.


*****


(To be continued ...)


*****


Tell me what you think: (badfred99@gmail.com)

Read my other stories: http://www.asstr.org/~badfred

