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Immortal Journey
The Tales of Heracles, Leo, Cancer,
Sagittarius, Centaurus, Draco, Sagitta and Cerberus
Chapter 9: The Man-Eating Mares
of Diomedes
After the bull had run away and there was
nothing left to see, everyone but Copreus returned to their normal
activities. He remained at the gate to give Heracles his next assignment.
"Your eighth labor will be to capture the man-eating mares of Diomedes
and bring them here to Mycenae," Copreus said. "Diomedes is the
son of Ares and Cyrene and he is the king of a warlike tribe in
Thrace called the Bistones. Eurystheus said that you will need a
ship and a small army to complete this task. He has readied a ship
in the harbor and you are to select an army of volunteers to accompany
you. We will pray for favorable winds to guide you on your journey."
Heracles left for the harbor and his next adventure.
It didn't take long for Heracles to assemble his team, for Eurystheus
had spread the word that all volunteers would be well paid. Also,
the men had heard tales of Heracles adventures and wanted to be
part of the excitement. Among those who volunteered was a young
son of Hermes named Abderus.
"I will take you, and you," Heracles said, passing Abderus by and
selecting the next in line.
"Wait, what about me?" the boy boldly said to Heracles.
"This is a mission for men," Heracles responded to the blond-haired
boy. "It will be dangerous and we don't have room for your mother."
The rough volunteers laughed, but Abderus wasn't deterred.
"Do you think that physical size and brains are the same? If so,
you would all be smarter than the gods, but I assure you this isn't
so," he said.
"Maybe I have been too quick to judge," Heracles agreed. "Alright,
you can join us." Abderus' face lit up in a broad smile, and he
grabbed his bags and came aboard.
The voyage to Thrace was calm, and Abderus marveled at the beauty
of the sea. He played music, he told jokes, and with his boundless
youthful energy, he seemed to be awake day and night because he
didn't want to miss a thing. He learned how to read the charts and
to navigate their position by the stars. He learned how to handle
the sails and to maneuver the big boat through shallow water. He
took pleasure in watching the dolphins leap alongside the ship and
he rigged fishing lines, catching enough fresh fish to feed the
entire crew and he even cooked them to perfection.
"I'm glad you came along," Heracles said to Abderus. "The trip wouldn't
have been as pleasant without you." Abderus was more interesting
company than anyone on board and Heracles and the rest of the crew
had grown to love him.
"We'll reach Thrace tomorrow morning," Abderus announced.
"Then we'll hide the boat during the day and go ashore tomorrow
night," Heracles said. When the next morning arrived, they found
an island offshore and hid the boat there as they rested in anticipation
of their evening raid.
When night came, they dressed in dark clothes and quietly went ashore.
They easily found the stable, and when they saw that the attendants
were asleep, Heracles' team crept silently behind them, tying and
gagging them. Then they opened the stable gates and drove the mares
to the sea. It would have been a swift escape if it had not been
for a sentry at the palace who heard the horses and quietly came
to investigate. When he saw the mares being driven away by a band
of thieves, he ran to warn King Diomedes.
Heracles and his band had driven the horses to the beach and were
trying to figure out how they would load them on the boat when their
guard spied danger from his perch high in a tree. "There is an army
riding toward shore!" he yelled.
"Abderus, guard the horses," Heracles said, wanting to keep the
boy safe from the fighting. "The rest of you, grab your weapons.
They will be approaching from the end of the beach. We'll climb
the high rocks there and have a surprise attack. Heracles and his
men took their positions to battle the Bistones.
As King Diomedes and his troops rode onto the far end of the beach,
Heracles' men aimed their bows and, at the signal, shot arrow after
arrow at the quickly moving shadowy forms. Diomedes forces took
refuge behind the rocks, but Heracles' men leaped off the rocks,
knocking them from their horses. The hand to hand battle raged throughout
the night, but by daybreak it was over, for Heracles killed Diomedes,
and what was left of his army retreated. Heracles' victorious army
returned to the beach to set sail for Mycenae, but in the rosy light
of dawn they saw an unexpected sight. Abderus' body lay torn and
battered upon the rocks, for the horses had dragged him to his death.
Heracles lifted the limp and mutilated body of the boy and held
him to his heart as tears streamed down his cheeks. He buried Abderus
and built an alter on the grave, and in later years, a city was
built there and called Abdera.
Heracles took the mares to Mycenae and gave them to Eurystheus.
The king released them in the mountains and they ran to Mount Olympus
where, one by one, they were killed by packs of wild dogs.
Tales of
the Immortal Night ©2003, J.J. Kuhl
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