Read Online Monsters of Greek Mythology, Volume One by Bernard Evslin - Free Book Online

moaning immediately ceased, and the writhing. Castor breathed easily. “He’s asleep,” said Jason. “He feels no pain. He’ll gain strength as he sleeps. When he awakes, I’ll heal his burns. I promise.”
    Pollux knelt and kissed his brother’s face. Then grasped Jason and cried, “Let’s find Amycus then! I must fight! I can’t wait!”
    He rushed off and Jason followed.

11
    Hero Meets Monster
    By the time they reached the castle, word had already come to Amycus that his dragons had been battered to death. The news sent him into one of his rages, and he had killed three of his courtiers and was holding a fourth by the neck, strangling him, while issuing orders to the captain of his spearmen.
    â€œThey say it was a stranger who killed my dragons. A big blond youth, a Spartan. Find him, and bring him to me; I want to kill him with my own hands. Very slowly, and so painfully that he’ll wish he had let the dragons burn him.”
    â€œI’m a Spartan,” called a voice. “Will I do?”
    Amycus gaped in astonishment as he saw Pollux and Jason standing in front of his throne.
    â€œYes, I’m a Spartan,” said Pollux. “And blond. Not big by your standards, you overgrown brute, but big enough to make things interesting if you dare fight me.”
    The king was speechless, and everyone knew he was too furious to utter a word. Jason was watching him closely. The brass head could not change expression, but Jason, who had trained himself to observe body changes, saw the veins swell in the giant’s neck. Saw the thick brown pelt that covered his torso grow spiky, like the hackles of an angered wolf. But when Amycus did speak, it was in a whisper, and somehow more menacing than if he had bellowed.
    â€œAre you he who killed my dragons?”
    â€œNot me,” said Pollux. “But someone very much like me. My twin, in fact. He has lost too much skin to do any fighting this week, so if you’re really itching to avenge yourself on anyone, I suggest myself. How many times do I have to challenge you, you bowl-headed monstrosity? Let’s go out to your blood-soaked meadow and fight.”
    â€œCan you be ready by midafternoon?” said Amycus.
    â€œI’m ready now.”
    â€œI need a few hours to send word out so that we may have a good audience. I want as many people as possible there to see what I do to you.”
    â€œMidafternoon, then,” said Pollux.
    Jason had been studying the giant all this while, and was dismayed at what he saw. Although he respected his friend’s skill, he didn’t see how he could possibly stand up to a creature as powerful as the king. Amycus was about ten feet tall. His burnished brass head with its flat nose and ridged eye holes was simply a mallet. His neck was long and very thick, as wide as his head—one length of muscle, giving that murderous whiplike power to his butting. His shoulders were as wide as an ox yoke, his legs like tree trunks; his arms were almost as long as his legs. And although Jason could not see muscle under the bearlike pelt, he knew it was there. His hands were as big as garden spades. When clenched, they would be knobs of bone almost as hard as his head.
    Jason cast a sidelong glance at Pollux, who was also staring at the king and was utterly undismayed at what he saw. A little smile played over his lips. His gray eyes were pale as frost.
    â€œGo to the meadow now,” said the king, “and examine the ground. I want you to have every chance to make a fight of it.”
    â€œThank you, Your Majesty,” said Pollux. “I don’t think you’ll be disappointed in my efforts.”
    He walked out of the throne room, the courtiers parting before him. Jason followed.
    Jason was restless, seething with anxiety. He strolled about as Pollux studied the meadow. The hillside was filling with people. They were seating themselves on boulders along