A Private Myth<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Ben stopped, panting slightly, feeling confused. He knew he had to get to the seashore in the quickest possible way, he had to help Audrey. But which way should he go? And how could he get there on time? He knew he had to go south, but there was the danger that he wouldn\u2019t make it in due time. If he only had a horse…<\/p>\n
\u201cI sometimes wish I had four legs myself,\u201d he mumbled, his own two starting to hurt from the long march. A snort from behind startled him to turn around.<\/p>\n
From among the trees emerged a curious figure. Ben slowly raised his eyes from the hooves to the sleek black legs, shiny black coat and then the handsome male head set on the broad shoulders.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see you can acknowledge our benefits,\u201d noted the stranger in a pleasant voice. \u201cHowever odd the wish may be for a human.\u201d<\/p>\n
He sized Ben up calmly, just as Ben did him a moment before, and asked with a superior air and not very kindly, \u201cWhat are you gaping at? Never seen a centaur?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben shook his head mutely, staring at the strange creature in amazement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, then, gape to your heart\u2019s delight,\u201d clipped the centaur. \u201cYou may never see such a beautiful creature again.\u201d He laughed roughly, making a slow circle around Ben and scrutinising him as he walked. \u201cA bit old for the exercise, aren\u2019t you? You two-legged creatures are pathetic, really. Well, not all, maybe, I\u2019d narrow it to humans.\u201d He stopped, pondering. \u201cHumans. Possibly the weakest creatures in the world. Yes, I think so. What are you good for, anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n
The question was obviously rhetorical, for the centaur didn\u2019t seem to expect an answer. \u201cI think you\u2019ve gaped long enough,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n
While Ben was listening silently to the creature, a plan began to form in his mind. He needed four legs of a horse, right? He somehow had the feeling that the centaur wouldn\u2019t welcome a guest on his back, so he figured there was no point in asking and thus warning him. He slowly reached for the short sword he had at his side.<\/p>\n
\u201cWish on for the four legs, human,\u201d the centaur threw over his shoulder, leaving. Ben took a couple of quick steps \u2013 just enough not to alarm the creature prematurely \u2013 and jumped on the black, shiny back.<\/p>\n
The centaur whinnied almost fearfully and reared. Ben\u2019s heart constricted with the sound, for he would never hurt the creature intentionally, but he turned his thoughts towards Audrey and gripped his weapon more tightly.<\/p>\n
The centaur froze, terrifyingly still, when he felt the sharp tip of the short sword\u2019s edge at his back.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d he croaked in a strangled voice, due to Ben\u2019s strong arm encircling his neck. \u201cYou become neither a hero nor a demigod for killing centaurs…\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI just need to get to the seashore,\u201d explained Ben gently. \u201cI don\u2019t want to hurt you, I just need help.\u201d<\/p>\n
The centaur\u2019s chest heaved heavily, but he didn\u2019t dare move yet for the tip of the knife at his back. \u201cCan\u2019t breathe,\u201d he croaked, to which the grip on his neck loosened immediately, although not completely. He coughed slightly. \u201cWhat am I, a horse?\u201d he protested, albeit still carefully.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have to be there before sundown,\u201d said Ben. \u201cI need your help.\u201d To show his good intentions, he slowly withdrew the knife. \u201cI need to save someone before the dragon gets her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe DRAGON?\u201d exclaimed the centaur, turning his head to look at Ben with disbelieving eyes. \u201cI\u2019m supposed to get you somewhere where there is a dragon?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re not afraid, are you, Centaurus?\u201d asked a young voice from the wood, and Ben saw a boyish figure appear in front of them. \u201cYou\u2019re not afraid of AAAAAAAANYTHING,\u201d the boy threw his arms wide apart to show the scope of \u2018anything\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, be quiet, Kid!\u201d snorted the centaur with impatience, pushing Ben\u2019s offending arm away from his neck.<\/p>\n
Well, mused Ben quietly, a \u2018kid\u2019 it was. Little more than a boy from the waist up, and no less than a \u2013 kid, that is: goat, from the waist down. Pan pipes dangled from his neck. A faun, clearly. Well, at least where there were centaurs, there should have been fauns and other such creatures.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can be a hero!\u201d exclaimed the \u2018Kid\u2019 excitedly, making the centaur lose his already fragile hold on self-control.<\/p>\n
\u201cScoot!\u201d he thumped his hoof down, shifting uncomfortably under Ben\u2019s weight.<\/p>\n
The little one giggled and disappeared into the forest, while the centaur shifted to the side again, clearly uncomfortable with his burden.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we set out now, we might be able to reach the shore before the dragon gets there,\u201d noted Ben calmly, wishing briefly for a set of good old bridle and reins. \u201cI\u2019m not asking you to fight the dragon, I\u2019m not even asking you to see it,\u201d he argued. \u201cAll I ask is to get to the shore so that I can save Audrey.\u201d<\/p>\n
Centaurus snorted, shifted again, shook with displeasure, then grumbled something under his breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you say?\u201d asked Ben innocently. He saw a change in the tense back and shoulder muscles in front of him and the centaur turned his head to look at him seriously.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust get you to the seashore,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust get me to the seashore,\u201d confirmed Ben.<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing else.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNothing else.\u201d<\/p>\n
The centaur shifted uncomfortably again and broke into a trot. \u201cHold on,\u201d he grunted before accelerating into gallop.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
They\u2019ve been travelling for a while when a shadow of a huge eagle sailed over them and an infectious giggle reached their ears. \u201cHere! Here!\u201d called the young voice, and the eagle descended in front of the centaur together with its burden. The Kid jumped down from the eagle\u2019s back, ran up to Centaurus, who\u2019d stopped, and reached up to him with the bow and arrows he was holding.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you could use it,\u201d he offered with a brilliant smile.<\/p>\n
The centaur snorted, grabbed the bow and the quiver, tousled the Kid\u2019s hair affectionately and winked. \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Kid granted him another brilliant grin and climbed back up on the eagle. \u201cI\u2019ll go to the shore and play as long as the coast is clear,\u201d he offered brightly, giggling at the pun. \u201cWhen I see the dragon show up, I\u2019ll stop playing, so that you know beforehand.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t go anywhere near…\u201d shouted Centaurus, but the giggly laughter was already flying away with the whoosh of the eagle\u2019s wings.<\/p>\n
\u201c… the coast,\u201d finished the centaur resignedly. \u201cFool Kid. Never thinks. Hope he gets clear long before the dragon\u2019s there.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe quicker we get there, the sooner you can tell him to get clear,\u201d supplied Ben helpfully. The centaur shot him a deadly glare over his shoulder, secured the bow and arrows on his own back and started again in the direction they\u2019d been heading in.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
After a while, they heard music flowing on the fresh breeze from the shore.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be there soon,\u201d Centaurus informed Ben. \u201cLooks like we might make it before the dragon.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI do hope so,\u201d admitted Ben, relaxing slightly.<\/p>\n
Not much later, the centaur stopped, and Ben dismounted. On the nearby hill, the little faun kept playing his panpipes, mindful of his promise. Free of his burden, Centaurus stretched his back thoroughly, much like a cat. The waves weasled their way closer and closer to his hooves; the wind began to pick up. They could see a woman\u2019s figure chained to a rock on a small island not far from the shore.<\/p>\n
\u201cAudrey,\u201d relaxed Ben. He was startled by Centaurus\u2019 voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll try to distract the dragon if it appears before you set her free.\u201d<\/p>\n
Noticing Ben\u2019s surprised look, the centaur shrugged his naked shoulders. \u201cI don\u2019t know how I got talked into this, but if I\u2019m already here, I may as well go on and help you.\u201d He squinted into the direction of the island and stated, \u201cYou\u2019ll have to swim there, no way I can get you over. I\u2019m no Pegasus.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben nodded, deeply grateful for the offered help, and turned towards the water. No sooner had he taken two steps towards the waves than there was a loud crash and a startled yelp. The strange skip in the flowing music was the proof of Kid\u2019s equal astonishment.<\/p>\n
The centaur rubbed his scorched skin with a pained expression, which then turned into surprise. Out of his withers, right where the thunder struck, rose two strong black wings.<\/p>\n
Centaurus closed his eyes, trying to strangle the fury exploding somewhere inside of him, then glanced upwards with a scowl. Following his line of sight, Ben saw a kingly figure, filling with obvious comfort a golden throne up in the skies. The figure was tossing up and down in his big hand something closely resembling another thunderbolt, while the kind blue eyes were smiling.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what you wanted, right?\u201d boomed down the voice of the figure.<\/p>\n
Centaurus mumbled something that sounded like \u2018me and my big mouth\u2019, threw another scowl upwards, this time less convincing, and pointed at Ben. \u201cYou\u2019d better do your hero stuff well, \u2018cause I\u2019m not doing it for nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben smiled gratefully both at the centaur and at Zeus\u2019 royal figure in the skies. In return, he got a scowl and a wink, respectively.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d better mount up,\u201d grunted Centaurus. \u201cThe dragon may get here any minute now.\u201d He glanced furtively upwards, mumbling, \u201cHe wouldn\u2019t eliminate the dragon, of course.\u201d<\/p>\n
The figure in the skies cleared his throat warningly. \u201cHe\u2019s the hero,\u201d Zeus pointed to Ben. \u201cYou\u2019re his Pegasus. I ain’t gonna write any more o’ this fairy tale for ya. Now get to work.\u201d<\/p>\n
The centaur snorted but let Ben mount up, and they left the ground with a few powerful strokes of the big black wings. They were sailing over the darkening waters when the melody from the shore rocketed in a sharp, alarming whistle, and the waters broke open to let a frightful shape out of their throats.<\/p>\n
The centaur reared in the air, out of surprise more than fear, and swiftly changed direction \u2013 just in time to avoid the stream of fire that was supposed to burn them down. Bow in hand, he repeatedly shot in the dragon\u2019s direction, but the arrows slipped, unharming, off the monster\u2019s skin.<\/p>\n
Ben gazed at the creature in awed astonishment \u2013 as fierce as in the Europeans legends, and as clear and vivid in colour as the dragons on Chinese paintings… The tail of the monster crashed into the ground, shaking it with the force behind it, and Ben searched with his eyes for the little figure that had been playing on the hill \u2013<\/p>\n
A little curly head and a pale face emerged from among the trees, watching the continuing battle, more fearful for the fighting ones than for himself. And reason he had, as the dragon\u2019s fiery breath missed the brave centaur and human by what seemed barely half an inch.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Medusa!\u201d Centaurus cried out, seeing the frailty of their strength in front of the powerful creature. \u201cShow the Medusa!\u201d<\/p>\n
Instantly understanding the message, Ben quickly reached to the bag he suddenly had at his side, and pulled out the wobbly, gelly-like shape of a meduse; he took a good swing and threw the small transcendent creature at the dragon which roared frightfully and suddenly burst into thousands of sharp glass pieces \u2013<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ben opened his eyes abruptly. His brain had registered the sound of breaking glass, and recognised it to be different than the sounds he had supposedly heard before.<\/p>\n
A dream. He realised it and started chuckling, each passing second pointing out to him the illogicalities of the still vivid images. And the Meduse \u2013 he cackled; trust his sailor\u2019s mind to be so earth-, uhm, sea-bound. He realised that the sound of breaking glass had been real. It was proven by the remnants of the glass, lying on the floor. He must have really swung out in him dream, he chuckled.<\/p>\n
The door creaked, and a worried voice whispered, \u201cPa?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m fine, Adam,\u201d he assured his son, turning towards the light of the lamp Adam was carrying. \u201cI just had the strangest dream ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOh. Really?\u201d Relief coloured the deep voice. \u201cWhat was it… oh.\u201d Adam stopped just in time not to step on the glass shards. \u201cYou sure everything\u2019s fine?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes,\u201d Ben smiled at him easily. \u201cThe strangest dream, like I said. Must have reached out a bit too far for that glass to survive,\u201d he winked.<\/p>\n
Adam relaxed fully, sensing Ben\u2019s ease. \u201cMay I ask what the dream was about?\u201d he inquired, squatting to gather as much of the glass as he could.<\/p>\n
\u201cBe careful, son,\u201d Ben reacted instantly; yet Adam\u2019s lopsided smile told him he worried too much in his son\u2019s opinion. He pondered his son\u2019s question, and remembered that Adam had been telling the adventures of Perseus to little Laura, Audrey\u2019s youngest. Wonder what the girl was dreaming about tonight… He then thought of the faces of Centaurus, the Kid, and Zeus, and decided Adam would hardly believe him. \u201cThe dream was just… strange. Not very, uhm, consistent.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the way dreams are,\u201d Adam whispered back, straightening from his task. In his hand he held a small broom, of the kind that Hop Sing kept around the house for smaller tasks, so he didn\u2019t have to go to the small storeroom each time a glass broke or a bit of tobacco or sugar got spilled. \u201cI\u2019d still suggest you get up on the other side of the bed in the morning. Don\u2019t care to tell me the dream anyway?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNot really, Adam,\u201d Ben relaxed against the pillows. \u201cI\u2019m sorry I woke you son. Go back to bed. I think I\u2019m bordering on Morpheus\u2019 kingdom myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMorpheus,\u201d Adam raised his eyebrow, shaking his head. \u201cI suppose you heard me telling stories to Laura.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ben chuckled. \u201cGood night, son.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNight, Pa.\u201d<\/p>\n
The door closed and quiet steps shuffled away in the direction of Adam\u2019s room. Ben chuckled louder into the pillow. Adam would never know how close he\u2019d been to discovering the content of Ben\u2019s dream… With an impish smile, Ben reached to the drawer and pulled out his journal, turning the lamp up a bit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe strangest dream of my life…\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The End<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n