THREE

THE ODYSSEY BEGINS

Soon after the Greek ships left Troy, the skies began to blacken. Lightning zigzagged above the foamy sea. Thunder shook the heavens.

Mighty winds stirred the water. The waves grew higher and higher, until they were rolling over the bows of the ships.

“The gods are punishing us!” the Greek warriors shouted. “We shall all drown!”

As his men frantically fought the storm, Odysseus felt bewildered. Why was Zeus, god of the skies, hurling his thunderbolts at them? Why was Poseidon, lord of the seas, sending great waves over the waters?

Odysseus turned to his men. “What has happened to anger the gods?” he shouted. “Tell me!”

“Before we left Troy, Greek warriors invaded Athena’s temple!” said one of his men. “They were violent and disrespectful.”

Odysseus was stunned. The Greeks had offended the goddess who had helped them to victory! And now her anger might drown them all.

The wind grew stronger. It whipped the sails of the Greek ships and slashed them to rags. “Lift your oars!” Odysseus shouted to his men. “Row! Row to shore!”

The Greeks struggled valiantly against the mighty wind and waves. Fighting for their lives, they finally rowed their battered ships to a strange shore. There they found shelter in a rocky cave.

The storm raged for two more days and nights. Then, on the third day, a fair wind blew, the sun came out, and the wine-dark sea was calm at last.

“Now we can continue on our way,” Odysseus said to his men. “Athena is no longer angry.” In the rosy dawn, he ordered them to raise their tattered sails and set off again for Ithaca.

But, alas, the wrath of Athena had not been fully spent. Hardly had Odysseus reached the open sea than another gale began to blow.

For many days, Odysseus and his men fought the wind and the waves, refusing to surrender to the storm. Finally, on the tenth day, there was sudden calm.

Odysseus ordered his fleet to sail into the cove of a leafy green island. There he hoped to find food and drink for his hungry, weary men.

The Greeks dropped anchor. Then they dragged themselves ashore. They drank cool, fresh water from a spring and collapsed onto the sand.

As Odysseus rested, he ordered three of his men to explore the island and look for provisions.

When the three had not returned by late afternoon, Odysseus grew angry. Why did they tarry? he wondered.

Odysseus set out in search of the men. He moved through the brush and brambles, calling their names.

He had not gone far when he came upon a group of peaceful islanders. They greeted him with warm, friendly smiles. And they offered him their food—lovely bright flowers.

Odysseus was famished. But just as he was about to eat the flowers, he caught sight of his missing men. The three were lying on the ground with dreamy smiles on their faces.

Odysseus called each man by name, but none of them answered. They did not even look at him.

“What have you done to them?” he asked the islanders.

“We have given them our flowers to eat,” an islander answered. “This is our greatest gift. The gods would be angry if we did not offer to feed our guests.”

“What sort of flowers are these?” Odysseus asked.

“They come from the lotus tree,” the islander said. “They have the magical power of forgetfulness. They make a man forget the past.”

“Forget his memories of home?” asked Odysseus. “And his memories of his family and friends?”

The lotus-eaters only smiled. They again offered Odysseus their sweet, lovely flowers. But he roughly brushed them away. He pulled his three men to their feet and commanded them all to return to their ships at once.

The men began to weep. They begged to be left behind so they could stay on the island and eat lotus flowers forever.

Odysseus angrily herded the men back to the ships. As they drew near the shore, the three tried to escape. Odysseus called for help.

“Tie their hands and feet!” he shouted to his crew. “Make haste! Before others eat the magic flowers and forget their homes, too!”

The three flailing men were hauled aboard and tied to rowing benches. Then Odysseus ordered the twelve ships to push off from shore.

Once more, the Greeks set sail for Ithaca, sweeping the gray sea with their long oars. As they rowed past dark islands with jagged rocks and shadowy coves, Odysseus felt troubled and anxious. What other strange wonders lurked on these dark, unknown shores?