Defying Fate

Chapter 10 p1

Odysseus stared at the cyclops for about three seconds before running to where Cassandra had fallen. She was already picking herself up and dusting herself off, though she had a new scratch on her cheek, and a rip in her tunic.

"Cassandra!" Odysseus gasped, grabbing her shoulder and looking her over for injuries.

"I'm not hurt," she said, wheezing a little. "I'll be fine—Polites—"

"Captain!" Odysseus turned to where Eurylochus' voice had been. The large sheep was still there, nuzzling at a figure on the ground.

"Polites!" Odysseus tried to run toward his friend and stumbled. Cursing his weakness, he struggled back to his feet, to find Asterion at his knee. Cassandra was there in a moment, and scooped up the boy, balancing him on her hip. She didn't offer to help Odysseus stand, but waited patiently for him to regain his feet himself, letting him keep his pride.

Odysseus didn't look at her, but continued on to his friend, who lay on the ground, face down, his arms and legs limp crumpled where he fell.

Eurylochus knelt nearby. He had a series of nasty cuts down his arm and the corresponding leg, but they were shallow, and covered in dust. He must have hit the ground on that side.

"He took the force of the club straight on," Eurylochus said. "I did my best, captain, but—"

Odysseus put his hands on Polites shoulders. "Help me," his voice was harsher than he intended it to be, but his throat was closed up with anxiety.

The massive sheep was still nudging at Polites' back and head, and Odysseus pushed its head away as they rolled him over. He groaned as they moved him, and Odysseus breathed in relief. Alive.

The rest of the men finally caught up at that moment, pounding up the hill as a group with their swords drawn, and Odysseus stood. His own sword lay on the trampled ground around the cyclops, abandoned. But none of them would be any good against Polyphemus anyway. It would be like sticking him with splinters.

"We don't have much time," Odysseus called to the men. "It took a long time for the lotus to take effect, and I don't know how long he's going to be out. I need half of you to round up some of the sheep and get them onto the ships. As many as you can. The rest of you, follow me. I have a plan."

Obediently, several of the men started back towards the flock, but the one sheep stayed with Polites as Eurylochus lifted him, one arm behind his back, the other behind his knees. Polites' head hung limply, and he was already showing bruises, and there was a deep gash on one arm that Odysseus hadn't seen. It looked like it may have been broken. Polites was tall, but Eurylochus lifted him easily, despite his own injuries.

"Stay with them, Cassandra," Odysseus said, before waving the rest of the men back toward the cyclops.