Simon Hawke - Argonaut Affair

"What became of him?"

Andre sat silent for a moment. "He was killed."

"I am very sorry."

She nodded. "So am I, Hylas. You would have liked him. And he would have liked you."

"If I remind you of him, I am glad," said Hylas.

"Thank you," Andre said. "I think I will rest now and have some sleep. Wake me if I am needed."

"I will, my lady. If you need me, you have but to call. I wish you pleasant dreams."

They rowed slowly as they approached the end of the Bosporous. Between them and the Euxine Sea, rocks protruded from the water like jagged teeth, some small, some large enough to form small islands. They had taken down the sail and Mopsus stood in the prow, taking soundings with a weighted rope and watching for rocks that were submerged. Even the smallest of them could easily tear the bottom out of the ship and the larger ones had jagged edges extending out just below the water.

"Slowly," Argus cautioned the rowers from his position at the tiller. "Slowly, now."

Mopsus kept calling out the depths, so that Argus could steer away from unseen hazards. The ship slid between the rocks as if cautiously picking its way through an obstacle course. They could hear waves crashing against the two giant rock formations at the far end of the stone forest, two towering spires between which they would have to pass.

"We are almost through," Mopsus shouted from the prow. "Once we pass between those two mountains of rock, we shall be clear and in the open sea once more."

"Remain alert!" Argus shouted from the aft end of the ship. "They may be wider at the base, below the surface. We must not scrape against them!"

"Or be crushed between them, either," Steiger said, wryly.

"Don't even joke about it," said Delaney as they rowed together. "Let's not tempt the gods, okay?"

"A storm is coming," Jason called out.

"But the sky is clear," said Orpheus.

"I heard thunder."

"You heard the waves crashing on the rocks," said Theseus.

"No, something else. Thunder, from far away."

"I heard it, too," said Idmon. "And I feel that it is very close."

The ship started to pass slowly between the giant rocks. No one could help staring up at the walls towering above them.

"There!" said Jason. "Listen!"

This time, there was no mistaking the sound, a deep, far off rumbling which grew in volume as the Argo slid between the rocks. Small stones started to rain down on the ship from above, then, ahead of them, larger pieces of rock fell into the water, some quite close to the ship, sending up sprays which soaked them all.

"They're moving!" Mopsus shouted hoarsely. Unmistakably, the walls of rock to either side of them were shifting, moving inwards, closer to the ship. "We'll be crushed!" Idmon shouted. "Damn it, you had to say it, didn't you?" Delaney said, giving Steiger a venomous look.

"Row!" shouted Argus, leaning on the tiller. "Put your backs into it! Row for your lives!''

He shouted out a fast cadence as the Argonauts pulled for all they were worth. Rock debris fell all around them, some pieces striking the ship and holing the deck in places. One large piece fell directly in their path, striking the figurehead and jarring it loose, sending a shudder through the entire ship. The figurehead fell into the water and another rock fell near it, the water displaced by its mass pushing the figurehead toward the shuddering, moving wall of rock. The outstretched arm of the figurehead struck against the rock.

The rock suddenly started to move the other way, settling deeper in the water, sliding back away from the ship.

"Look!" shouted Jason. "The goddess pushes back the rock!"

"Pull! screamed Argus. "Pull 'til your backs break! Pull! Pull!"

The ship shot forward, clearing the rocks and entering the open water of the Euxine Sea. Behind them, the thundering, grinding noises stopped and the rocks settled in the water, lower than before, no longer moving. For a few moments, smaller pieces continued to drop into the channel between them, then all was still again.

"The goddess saved us," Jason said. "Did you see? She pushed back the rock so we could pass through unharmed!"

"An earthquake," Steiger told Delaney. "An earthquake, that's all it was."

"Sure," Delaney said. "Probably volcanic action. The bottom shifted, the rock crumbled at the base and it was just a coincidence that it settled backwards just as the figurehead drifted against it."

"Yeah, that's what it was," said Steiger.

"Right, that's what must have happened."

They looked at each other.

"Don't even think it," Steiger said.

"Think what?"

"Nothing. Never mind. Shut up and row."

On their third day of sailing on the Euxine Sea, the winds began to strengthen and, noting the appearance of the sky, Delaney feared the worst. Jason wouldn't hear of going in toward shore and seeking a protected bay when strong winds were prevailing. All he could think of was Colchis lying ahead of them and he was determined to take advantage of the blow. He insisted that there would be plenty of time to head toward shore if the weather took a turn for the worse. Nothing Delaney or Steiger could say would dissuade him. Argus lent his weight to their argument, but Jason wouldn't listen.

"If we ran for shore each time the sky grew a little gray," he said, "we would never reach our destination. We have fought fierce battles and emerged victorious. We have survived the Clashing Rocks. The gods watch over us. Are we to shake with fear at the merest threat of rain? "

"What's coming is a great deal more than just a little rain," Delaney said. "You've never seen a real storm at sea."

"If one comes, then I shall see it," Jason said, impatiently. "I grow weary of this journey. The gods have sent us wind to speed us on our way. I shall not fail to take advantage of their gift."

"You'll be calling it a curse before too long," Delaney said. I've been at sea before, Jason, and I'm telling you-"

"Enough!" said Jason. "Who is captain here? If you had not the nerve to make this voyage, you should not have come."

He turned away angrily and walked up forward to stand in the bow, looking out to sea intently, as if he could see Colchis just over the horizon.

"I ought to turn that kid over my knee and give him a good spanking," said Delaney.

"Well, if he wants to see a storm, he's about to get an eyeful," Steiger said.

"Get some rope," Delaney shouted. "Bring all we have. If it gets as rough as I think it's going to get, we're going to need it."

The winds continued to gather strength and the sky grew dark. The sea went from choppy to roiling and the swells grew larger, then the squall struck. The rain came down in stinging sheets and the waves crashed down upon the Argo. Jason quickly experienced a change of heart and ordered Argus to turn in toward shore. Delaney immediately contermanded his order. Jason turned on him furiously.

"You must be mad!" he shouted. "At the first sign of a little wind, you plead to go ashore and now you wish to head out for the open sea? You would take us from safety to disaster! What do you wish to do, drown us all? To shore, Argus!"

"You fool," Delaney said. "It's too late now. We won't even reach the shore in these conditions, whether the gods are watching over us or not! We'll be battered to bits by the waves or smashed upon a reef! Our only chance now is to head out to open sea and ride the storm out!"

"And if your house were to catch fire, you would run into the flames? I have never heard such nonsense! Argus, steer to ward shore!"

"Jason, my lad, I'm about to show you something else that happens at sea sometimes," Delaney said. "It's called a mutiny."

He dropped Jason with a hard right cross to the jaw. "Lash him down!" he yelled to Steiger. "The rest of you, take some rope and tie yourselves to something or you'll be swept overboard!"