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Immortal Journey
The Tales of Heracles, Leo, Cancer,
Sagittarius, Centaurus, Draco, Sagitta and Cerberus
Chapter 3: The Multi-Headed Hydra
of Lerna
On the road to Lerna Heracles was passed
by a charioteer who pulled the reins tight, stopping to look at
Heracles. "Uncle Alceides, is that you? No one else could be so
large," the young man called out.
It was Iolaus, the son of his brother Iphicles and Automedusa, Iphicles'
first wife. He was living with his mother the night Heracles went
mad. "Yes, Iolaus, I am your uncle, but I am now known as Heracles
for I have renounced my old life to atone for my sins. Aren't you
afraid to be near me?"
"Yes, but I know you acted out the vengeance of Hera, for Zeus came
to me in a dream. You still are my uncle and I still love you. Climb
in and I'll take you wherever you wish to go." Heracles climbed
into the chariot and, as Iolaus drove to Lerna, his uncle told him
what he had been doing and of the task at hand.
They drove through Lerna until Heracles spied the hydra sunning
herself on a ridge beside a spring. Iolaus watched from the chariot
as his uncle made spears. Then he then built a fire and, igniting
them, hurled the flaming spears into the thicket where the hydra
nested. He kept moving closer, the fire growing larger with more
brambles aflame as more spears reached their mark. The hydra finally
emerged, charging Heracles. She was faster than he anticipated and,
before he could move out of her way, she wrapped her forelegs around
one of his feet. He tried to free himself by pounding her heads
with his club, but as soon as he pounded off one head, two others
grew in its place.
As if this were not enough of a problem, Hera had been watching
and decided that now she could easily kill Heracles, so she sent
a crab to help the hydra. The crab scurried out of the way of the
hydra's feet and placed himself where he wouldn't get hurt as he
bit Heracles on his only free foot. Heracles screamed with pain
and brought the club down hard upon the crab, splitting its shell
and killing it instantly.
Iolaus heard his uncle cry out and ran to his aid. "Quickly make
some torches, set them on fire and bring them here." Heracles called
out his orders and his young nephew immediately complied with the
command. "As I lop off a head, cauterize the opening with a torch."
Iolaus did as he was told and between them they succeeded in removing
the mortal heads of the hydra. Finally Heracles used his golden
sword and lopped off the immortal head. The hydra collapsed, releasing
Heracles' foot, and the hero dug a hole, pushed the immortal head
into it, and covered it with a huge rock. As his last act he chopped
up the hydra's body and dipped his arrows into the venom, then the
uncle and nephew climbed into the chariot to return to Tiryns.
As their chariot drove off, Hera picked up the crab that Heracles
had crushed and placed it in the sky as the Northern Gate of the
Sun. Every year at heaven's highest point, the gate of Cancer forces
the sun to start its descent into darkness.
Copreus met Heracles at the locked gate. "Wait while I confer with
Eurystheus," he said with authority. He returned a few minutes later.
"Eurystheus will not count this task because you had help in performing
it," Copreus choked out the words, nervously watching for Heracles'
reaction. Heracles looked annoyed but said nothing. "Therefore,
your second labor will be to capture the golden-horned Hind of Cerynes.
It is an animal sacred to Artemis."
"This may be the second labor to Eurystheus. He can keep his accounting
for fulfillment of our contract, but to you and I this will be called
my third labor." Heracles spoke to Copreus for the first time. Copreus
nodded in agreement.
Heracles returned to his nephew and said, "I've enjoyed your companionship
and assistance, but I must fulfill my labors alone and you must
pursue your own adventures." Iolaus nodded sadly. Life with his
uncle was filled with excitement, but he knew his uncle was right.
Iolaus waved goodbye as he drove away and Heracles embarked upon
his third labor.
Tales of
the Immortal Night ©2003, J.J. Kuhl
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