The Argo Goes West

89, Interview with Prometheus, part 1

Suddenly, Pegasus snorted.

"Hide!" cried Prometheus briefly.

"Why?"

"A bird has come."

Dorothy saw a bird coming towards her from the northern sky. It was the giant eagle that carried railroad carriage with Dorothy up into the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Dorothy hastened to hide behind a rock.

The giant eagle's body blocked the sun's rays, making the area pitch black. The flapping of its wings caused a strong wind.

Dorothy heard Prometheus scream. The voice was so heartbreaking that Dorothy put her hands over her ears.

Dorothy knew what was happening without looking. Written in Greek mythology. A giant eagle ripped Prometheus through his stomach and ate his offal. As punishment for him giving fire to humans.

After a while, a strong wind blew again and the sky brightened. The giant eagle flew away.

Dorothy stepped out from behind a rock and approached Prometheus. Prometheus' bare belly was cut open, revealing bloody, mutilated organs.

"Does it hurt? I'll help you now."

"Don't worry," Prometheus forced a smile. "Tomorrow the wound will be completely healed."

"You are eternally punished for being human, aren't you?"

"What?"

"It says so in Greek mythology. You gave fire to men."

"I don't understand what you mean. Did I give fire to humans? I don't remember doing that."

"Isn't what is written in Greek mythology true?"

"In the first place, what is Greek? I've never heard of it."

"Isn't your homeland Greece?"

"Our homeland is Barsoom."

It was a place name that Dorothy had never heard of. where is the land? Perhaps the Greeks called their country by that name instead of Greece.

"By the way, where am I?" asked Prometheus.

"America. United States of America."

"I see."

"What is going on?"

"I think," said Prometheus. "Our world, Barsoom, and your world, America, have merged."