Stone Blind(64)

‘Then one more visit won’t hurt, will it?’

‘He doesn’t learn if we do everything for him,’ she said.

Her father shrugged. ‘He’s human, he doesn’t have time to learn anything important.’

‘Then just let him die,’ she said. ‘So I don’t have to put up with Hermes again.’

Zeus sat on his throne, gazing into the middle distance, as though he were considering her suggestion. But she knew this was a deceit he usually practised on Hera, who never believed it either.

‘I can see you aren’t actually thinking about it,’ she said.

‘He’s your half-brother,’ Zeus replied. ‘You could show a little familial loyalty.’

‘When does anyone show familial loyalty to me?’ Athene asked. ‘I have helped Perseus three times already. Maybe he should do something for me.’

‘Dearest,’ said her father, who couldn’t be tired because immortals didn’t sleep. ‘He can’t help you because you are a goddess and he is a man. What could he possibly have that you would want?’

‘Nothing,’ she replied. ‘That’s why I’m sick of helping him. He can’t do anything for me, he can’t do anything for himself, he’s useless. He’s just a bag of meat wandering round, irritating people.’

‘I think that’s a little harsh,’ said Zeus. ‘He’s handsome, isn’t he?’

‘They all think they’re handsome,’ she said. ‘I’ve seen better.’

Zeus looked rather offended but tried to conceal it. ‘What would you be doing instead?’ he asked.

‘I could go to Athens,’ she replied. ‘I want to see how my temple is looking and make sure they all know that they are mine and I am theirs.’

‘That’s very sweet,’ said her father. Athene frowned. ‘You can do that as soon as you’ve helped Peri—’ He broke off.

‘Perseus,’ she said. ‘I knew you didn’t know.’

‘Of course I knew,’ he said. ‘I was just testing you.’

‘Why?’ she asked. ‘I’ve spent more time with him than his mother has lately.’

Zeus shifted his weight and she stared.

‘That’s it, isn’t it?’ she said.

‘What is?’

‘You still want his mother,’ she said.

‘Don’t be ridiculous, she’s too old.’

‘Well, that’s what I would have assumed,’ said his daughter. ‘But that’s it.’

‘No.’

‘Well, if you don’t want her for yourself any more, you still don’t want her to marry some king.’ Athene refused to let it go.

Zeus sighed. ‘No,’ he admitted. ‘I don’t want her to marry that king.’

‘Or anyone else.’ Now she had puzzled it out, she was triumphant. ‘That’s why you washed her up on Seriphos with that man who doesn’t desire women.’

‘Coincidence,’ the king of the gods replied.

‘It is not,’ she said. ‘You forgot he had a brother, that’s all.’

‘I am omniscient,’ he said. ‘I don’t forget things.’

‘You just forgot your own son’s name.’

‘Will you please go and help him decapitate one single Gorgon?’ bellowed her father. ‘It is hardly a difficult request, is it? Is it? I knew Hermes would only do half the job because that’s always the problem with him. Takes the message, doesn’t bother with the task at hand. But I thought you would help me. You are my daughter. I supported you in your petition for Athens. And now you throw obstacle after obstacle in my path.’

Athene couldn’t believe what she was hearing. ‘I have already helped him three times,’ she cried. ‘Why don’t you go and do it?’

‘Because I am ordering you,’ he shouted.

‘Well, then I have to, don’t I?’

‘Yes,’ he said.

‘I want the chance to help a mortal man I like in return,’ she said.

‘Fine,’ Zeus replied.

‘Anyone I want,’ she said.

‘You can choose whoever you like,’ he agreed.

‘Even if the other gods are against him?’

‘Yes.’

‘Whenever I decide?’

‘Yes.’

And with this agreement, she left Olympus and reappeared behind Perseus, out of sight.





Herpeta




α: We sensed him coming. We could feel his uncertain steps on the rocks; we felt them in our bellies as we nestled on the sand.

β: We sensed him coming. She was asleep. We were awake, but she was asleep. It’s important that you know this, because he will try to claim there was a battle. But there is no battle to be had between an armed man and a sleeping girl. Don’t forget.

γ: We sensed him coming, but we didn’t know what to do. The sisters were outside the cave entrance, as always. We could hear them murmuring to one another and we could smell the charred meat left on their fire.

δ: We sensed him coming. We should have woken her. I wanted to wake her but the others wouldn’t let me.