Defying Fate

Chapter 10 p2

Odysseus surveyed the place where the cyclops had fallen. The grass was patchy and trampled by the hooves of the ram and it was muddy beneath the cyclops. His club was little more than a large sapling stripped of branches and bark. The cyclops breathed slowly and deeply, asleep where he lay.

"Dreaming of his heart's desire, no doubt," Odysseus muttered, picking up his sword from where it had fallen in the mud. He gripped the hilt until his knuckles turned white, glancing back at Eurylochus, cradling the fallen Polites. Cassandra watched him, and he could see her face, pale and concerned.

"What do we do, captain?" One of the other men asked.

"His skin is thick, and our swords will be like splinters to him," Odysseus said, looking over the situation. "Grab that club, we'll sharpen the end and harden it in a fire, turning it into a spear. That's our weapon."

"Are we going to kill him?"

Odysseus glared at the man, who flinched and got to work. They built a fire in the dust using grass and scraps of wool. He stirred slightly at the acrid smoke from the fire, but did not wake. Odysseus knelt by Polyphemus' massive face, almost peaceful in his lotus-induced sleep. This creature had threatened his family, and had hurt his friends. Who knew how many men he had killed in the past.

"He broke his word," Odysseus said. "He was going to kill us all, without any remorse. If we let him live he will no doubt prey on other ships. We should teach him a lesson he won't soon forget."

It took all six of the men to manage the spear as they charred the tip black in the flames. Odysseus paced as he waited for the work to be finished, easing his sword in its scabbard, over and over like a nervous habit. When the spear tip had been hardened, and the flames stamped out, Odysseus arranged his men to balance the heavy weapon. They obeyed in silence, nervous in the presence of the sleeping giant.

"Captain? We should just flee," Eurylochus called. "Take as many sheep as we can manage and run? You can show mercy."

Fleeing had never been an option. Odysseus couldn't just let this lie. Polyphemus had threatened his family, and hurt his friends. He couldn't let it lie. Wouldn't let it lie. He grabbed the spear, just behind its blackened point, which steadied it.

"This is mercy," he said, driving it forward and directly into the Cyclops' eye.

Polyphemus let out a cry that was halfway between a roar and a scream.

"Run!" Odysseus shouted, and the men scattered in all directions as Polyphemus flailed around him, waking up with such violence the ground shook.

The sheep bleated and started away from the sounds of violence, and a deep voice sounded over the valley.

"Polyphemus, what are you screaming about?"

"I can't see! I can't see! Nobody!" Polyphemus shouted, and the distant voice laughed.

"Nobody is there to be seen," the voice complained. "Keep it down, Polyphemus."

"Nobody is stealing my sheep!" Polyphemus cried, but, more softly. Odysseus felt no pity.

"Its what you deserve, eating innocent travelers!" He called out, and the cyclops turned toward his voice. Odysseus could see the damage, the blood leaking between swollen eyelids. He bared his teeth wolfishly, and called out again. "I'm the one responsible! Come and get me if you can!"

The cyclops roared in pain and anger, and lumbered across the field as Odysseus took off running away from the flock and the rest of his men. Eurylochus caught on quickly and shouted orders behind him to help round up the sheep. Polyphemus turned as if to stop him when Odysseus shouted again.

"I'll make sure you never prey on anyone again. You'll rue this day forever!" He was breathing hard, but he ignored the burning in his lungs as Polyphemus gave chase

Far down the hill, the men and Cassandra had managed to round up about 2 dozen of the massive sheep, and Eurylochus had balanced Polites on one of them, and they were carefully bringing them across the bridge. Just a little longer, just a little further.

"If you kill him you'll be breaking your word," A familiar voice sounded in his ear, and the world slowed to a crawl.

"You didn't want me going soft before, now that I've got a plan you want me to let him live?"

"Wait—"

With an effort, Odysseus kept running and the screech of a barn owl followed him to the very edge of the cliff. Breathing hard, his legs burning, his hands shaking, he turned back to the cyclops, which was bearing down upon him. He spread his arms wide, ready for one final shout.

"If you ever think about attacking a human again remember my name—" Then a massive sheep flew in between him and Polyphemus. Cassandra gripped the sheep's ears, and brought it to a stop.

"Get down!" she shouted, leaping from its back and straight into Odysseus, knocking him to the ground as Polyphemus came running full tilt. The sheep bellowed as Polyphemus tripped over it, and was sent tumbling head over heels into the sea below.

Odysseus peaked over the edge, but aside from the waves, he saw nothing. He turned to Cassandra, who was climbing aboard the large sheep once again. Once she was situated behind its head, she reached down to help him up.

He ignored the hand, and climbed up on his own.

"Don't be so proud, Nobody," Cassandra said. "You don't have to do it all on your own."

"I should tell you," Odysseus said as they rode the sheep back to where the others waited, "My name isn't really nobody. It's Odysseus. Odysseus of Ithaca."