[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
was
but half grown." I tried to compare his remembered image with that of the
Giant
who had shot Apollo's chariot out of the air with me aboard.
As later research demonstrated, those Apples of Hesperides were essential to
Page 374
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
the
Giants' reproduction and important in their nourishment, if not essential to
their absolute survival.
"If we can eliminate the Apples entirely from the earth, that ought to make
the
survival of our enemies much more difficult. It might even finish them off
entirely."
It was perfectly true, several deities assured me, that the Giants sometimes
sexually assaulted women, and even goddesses. A number of cases had been
recorded down through the years. But Daedalus now contended that their
assaults
on females were only being misinterpreted as sexual.
Hera, who had quietly approached and was listening to the lecture, was not
pleased with that point of view and issued a stern decree that the rights of
women should be everywhere defended.
The next point to be argued, by some of the other gods, was just what those
rights should be. Our discussion was going nowhere when Zeus suddenly joined
us,
materializing apparently from out of nothing, surprising everyone already
inside
the laboratory. My father was dressed simply, though much more regally than
when
I had seen him in the wrestling ring. Especially astonished were those gods,
chiefly Vulcan, who thought that all intruders had been effectively excluded.
But when they saw who this intruder was, they only shrugged their shoulders.
Diplomatically Zeus sidestepped the debate on women's rights. It seemed that
a
council of war was about to get under way, and as I was so important to the
Olympian cause, I was invited to attend. Zeus now publicly acknowledged me as
his son in front of his assembled colleagues, none of whom seemed in the
least
surprised.
Hephaestus, pleased that I had taken to his customized armor with such
enthusiasm, was ready now to show me my new club, which he said he had made
Page 375
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
from
a particular oak tree.
This weapon was no larger than other clubs of similar shape that I had used
in
the past, but it was certainly heavier, and stronger. This one had been
loaded
by Vulcan with metal weights, and strengthened with steel bands and rods. I
understood that the Artisan had been instrumental in its design.
It was so heavy that Daedalus, after one abortive effort to lift it cleanly,
did
not try to carry it to me himself, but employed one of the golden maidens for
the job. The slender metal figure bore the weapon with an ease that not even
an
Amazon could have matched.
Daedalus said to me: "An ordinary man would be considered very powerful if he
could even lift this weapon, let alone use it. It is designed especially for
one
of your size and strength."
I swung it a few times in the air, reveling in what seemed perfect balance,
and
looked about for something to hit.
* * *
The inconclusive wrangling of the gods was cut off in midsentence by a
Titanic
blast, which shook the floor of rock beneath our feet.
My divine allies and I were startled, and some of us were staggered, when
rock
over our heads shuddered, as if Thor's hammer had struck home, and a fine
sprinkling of dust came sifting down.
A moment later, the speeding figure of the Messenger came darting into the
vast
room from somewhere to warn us all in a stentorian voice that the Giants had
taken the offensive and were now bombarding Vulcan's island laboratory with
huge
rocks, while an actual invasion was about to get under way.
Page 376
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
The walls and roof of Vulcan's laboratory, as I have said, looked almost
unimaginably strong. But still I had a feeling in my bones that they would
give
way if that bombardment were continued. Each direct hit sent tremors through
the
solid rock beneath our feet, shook down a shower of fine debris, and produced
an
almost deafening gonglike reverberation in the ears of all who occupied the
fortress.
The Olympians' immediate response to the attack was to plunge into an
argument
as to whether the rock and metal walls of the fortress could be depended on
to
shield their vulnerable brains from memory depletion, as long as they
remained
inside.
"To the Underworld with memory depletion!" shouted a deity I could not
recognize. "We'd better get ourselves out of the way of flying rocks!" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl rafalstec.xlx.pl
was
but half grown." I tried to compare his remembered image with that of the
Giant
who had shot Apollo's chariot out of the air with me aboard.
As later research demonstrated, those Apples of Hesperides were essential to
Page 374
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
the
Giants' reproduction and important in their nourishment, if not essential to
their absolute survival.
"If we can eliminate the Apples entirely from the earth, that ought to make
the
survival of our enemies much more difficult. It might even finish them off
entirely."
It was perfectly true, several deities assured me, that the Giants sometimes
sexually assaulted women, and even goddesses. A number of cases had been
recorded down through the years. But Daedalus now contended that their
assaults
on females were only being misinterpreted as sexual.
Hera, who had quietly approached and was listening to the lecture, was not
pleased with that point of view and issued a stern decree that the rights of
women should be everywhere defended.
The next point to be argued, by some of the other gods, was just what those
rights should be. Our discussion was going nowhere when Zeus suddenly joined
us,
materializing apparently from out of nothing, surprising everyone already
inside
the laboratory. My father was dressed simply, though much more regally than
when
I had seen him in the wrestling ring. Especially astonished were those gods,
chiefly Vulcan, who thought that all intruders had been effectively excluded.
But when they saw who this intruder was, they only shrugged their shoulders.
Diplomatically Zeus sidestepped the debate on women's rights. It seemed that
a
council of war was about to get under way, and as I was so important to the
Olympian cause, I was invited to attend. Zeus now publicly acknowledged me as
his son in front of his assembled colleagues, none of whom seemed in the
least
surprised.
Hephaestus, pleased that I had taken to his customized armor with such
enthusiasm, was ready now to show me my new club, which he said he had made
Page 375
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
from
a particular oak tree.
This weapon was no larger than other clubs of similar shape that I had used
in
the past, but it was certainly heavier, and stronger. This one had been
loaded
by Vulcan with metal weights, and strengthened with steel bands and rods. I
understood that the Artisan had been instrumental in its design.
It was so heavy that Daedalus, after one abortive effort to lift it cleanly,
did
not try to carry it to me himself, but employed one of the golden maidens for
the job. The slender metal figure bore the weapon with an ease that not even
an
Amazon could have matched.
Daedalus said to me: "An ordinary man would be considered very powerful if he
could even lift this weapon, let alone use it. It is designed especially for
one
of your size and strength."
I swung it a few times in the air, reveling in what seemed perfect balance,
and
looked about for something to hit.
* * *
The inconclusive wrangling of the gods was cut off in midsentence by a
Titanic
blast, which shook the floor of rock beneath our feet.
My divine allies and I were startled, and some of us were staggered, when
rock
over our heads shuddered, as if Thor's hammer had struck home, and a fine
sprinkling of dust came sifting down.
A moment later, the speeding figure of the Messenger came darting into the
vast
room from somewhere to warn us all in a stentorian voice that the Giants had
taken the offensive and were now bombarding Vulcan's island laboratory with
huge
rocks, while an actual invasion was about to get under way.
Page 376
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
The walls and roof of Vulcan's laboratory, as I have said, looked almost
unimaginably strong. But still I had a feeling in my bones that they would
give
way if that bombardment were continued. Each direct hit sent tremors through
the
solid rock beneath our feet, shook down a shower of fine debris, and produced
an
almost deafening gonglike reverberation in the ears of all who occupied the
fortress.
The Olympians' immediate response to the attack was to plunge into an
argument
as to whether the rock and metal walls of the fortress could be depended on
to
shield their vulnerable brains from memory depletion, as long as they
remained
inside.
"To the Underworld with memory depletion!" shouted a deity I could not
recognize. "We'd better get ourselves out of the way of flying rocks!" [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]