“Nope,” said Amelinda, “He is not here. I think he is human.”
“It’s time for lunch lady and gentlemen.” the voice of Grogon spread out loudly.
At the beginning of Heracles’s compartment a door slid open. A woman wearing in purple-brown chiton appeared. She pulled a trolley with full of food on it. He stopped at their place.
“Hi boys and girl,” she said, “a light lunch before coming to Hippocoon. What do you want? I have few servings here.”
“Of course, they are free.” she added smiling.
“Do you have gyros? I want a serving of gyro and a little goat milk.” said Gwen, “What do you want Heracles, Amelinda?”
“Please give me a bowl of lentil soup. I want to eat it with some pita bread.” said Amelinda.
“A serving of spanakopita and I also want a cup of milk to drink.” said Heracles.
“Here a serving of gyro for the tall boy, a serving of spanakopita for the handsome boy and two cups of milk for both you.”; “I have to say sorry to you girl.” said the woman turning to Amelinda, “Here we don’t serve lentil soup. Would you like to have few Koulouria or loukoumas? They are great to eat with some yogurt.”
“Please give a serving like him.” said Amelinda, her eyes stopped at Heracles.
“A serving of spanakopita and a cup of milk please.” said Heracles.
“Here they are. Enjoy them.” said the woman. She made her way to the end of the compartment slid open the door there then went cross it. Few minutes later, the door slid open another time. Three of boys appeared, walked in Heracles’s compartment.
“How long Heracles?” a cold voice spreading out from one of the boys. “It’s about four years from the last time we met, right?”
“Yes, it’s Iphicles.” said Heracles. There was Iphicles, Heracles’s twin brother. Iphicles was a tall boy who had curly black hair and dark eyes like his father. Accompanying with him were two big fat guys. They were Volograd and Adapter his childhood friends.
“How is our mother Heracles? Is she fine?” asked Iphicles.
“Yes, she still fine.” said Heracles.
“I still remember it, Heracles.” unpleasantly said Iphicles, “when we were children, people always badly told behind my back. They derided me that I was weak and yellow boy who only knew to cry loudly when serpents went in bedroom and crept on us. On other hand, you were praised as the little hero who had strangled the serpents in your hands and saved both you and me. Then, even our mother also likes you than me. I don’t know what has happened between our father and mother. But, when she left, she chose you to go with her, not me.”
“She doesn’t Iphicles.” Heracles interrupted, “She loves both of us and she misses you very much.”
“You don’t need to lie me.” interrupted Iphicles, “I will make everyone realize their mistake. Event mother I will let her and other see I am better than you when I go to Hippocoon.” added Iphicles, “I wait for you in there Heracles.”
Then Iphicles strode off. His friend hurriedly walked after him. The door at the end of Heracles’s compartment slid open and close right after that. A quiet atmosphere covered whole the compartment.
“He always believe that our mother love me than him. That’s why we don’t get along.” said Heracles thoughtfully.
“Don’t be too sad Heracles.” said Amelinda, “When we come there, we will have many chances to make the relationship between you and him better.”
“She’s right Heracles.” added Gwen.
“I hope I can.” said Heracles.
The compartment turned quite again. Heracles kept silent watching out. Suddenly, outside scenery changed. Lights filled enter the compartment. It meant they had gotten through the tunnel.
“Heracles, come here and see. It’s great there outside.” squealed Amelinda. She and Gwen were leaning on the crystal golden door looking through it. Heracles stood up approached them. He seemed to be bewitched as he came there. It’s an ancient native forest outside. There had many of huge and very high trees which had big roots out of the ground covering by green mosses very soft. There some dew drops were still on browses below or between mosses which glowed brightly as like precious pearls. Grogon was bringing them going on a path between bushes and grass. Minutes later, the left the forest came to the place that had only shrubs scattered. Grogon was heading to a high mountain and seemed not to stop.
“God! He planned to hit the mountain?” cried Amelinda.
Grogon kept going. He went through the mountain. The mountain was just an illusion. Grogon slowed down and stopped after few minutes. It seemed another world for Heracles and others as they came there. Sunlight had been vanished before. The place at the moment was covered by darkness. “Everyone, please make your ways to go out and follow your guider Aiden. We have come to Hippocoon.” said Grogon. He lay down. His thousands pair feet vanished under his body. The doors along his body slid open for people to come out. Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda made their way walk out. Others also found their way go out and gathered in groups outside Grogon under oil lamps hanging on column standing along Grogon’s body.
“Everybody, follow me.” said Aiden in husky voice, “Don’t be left behind. Darkness is very scary at here.”
Aiden took his flickering oil lamp and went ahead. Everyone moved in long lines behind him. They followed a small path dark and scary. Fear covered on whole the place. People silently walked after others kept watching around. Sometime, they turned to others whispered something then turned silent again. Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda kept silent in whole the path. They used their time to observe around. Later, they all arrived to a wide river. There had few boats parking there with their own boatmen who all put on dark hooded coats. Aiden made his way to go in an empty boat, stood his oil lamp on the boat head.
“Each ten of you make your ways to step on them, the boats here.” He said, “They will bring you to the other side. Remember keep yourselves not to fall into water. It’s very troublesome if you are fall in it.”
Heracles, Gwen and Amelinda made their way to walk in Aiden’s boat. Accompanying with them were the chubby boy, four girls and two other boys. Iphicles and his friends were not there. They must be on other boat. Then the boats departed surfed on the water toward the light. Heracles could see light spread out from a magnificent castle which stood at the other side of river.
“What’s your name boy? I saw you cry as Shadow-shifter appeared and brought you away.” said someone.
It made Heracles have a little attention as he heard. He turned back to see who did said. It’s a scarlet hair boy. The face of the chubby boy went red under lamp light.
“I’m Avery.” He said shyly.
“Don’t be ashamed Avery. Honestly, Everyone feel scared like you. I only didn’t cry.” said the red hair boy.
“I am Hank coming from Calydon. What are your names? Where do you come from friends?” he added.
“I am Amelinda and they are my friend Heracles and Gwen. We all come from Tiryns.” said Amelinda quickly.
“Nice to meet you Heracles, Gwen.” said Hank looking at Heracles.
“Nice to meet you Hank.” said Heracles.
Hank kept talking with the others a little before they reached on the other side. Heracles listened to their conversation and knew that the other boy was Henry coming from Nemea. Two of the four girls were Sophia and Ladonna who came from Athens. Another girl was Donna and she was from Thebes. The last girl was Morela from Delphi. The boat brought Heracles and the others reached to the shore after that. Heracles and the others on the boat hurriedly made their way to step on the ground. People from other boats also came to the shore after that. People quickly left their boat, rushed into the place Heracles and the others were, gathered with them. Then they all followed Aiden heading to the castle. They created long lines of people after him. They walked to eaves of the castle, arrived to a huge double door and got passed them. There was a wide hall inside. It was lit by thousands of candles on silver sconces. They followed the ways between four long tables lying along the length of the hall, kept going to raised platform at the end of the hall on which people were standing. Aiden stopped at the raised platform. The people behind him leaned forward and stood close to him.
“Very thank to you Aiden.” said a man who wore in gray-brown cloak.
“It’s my duty.” replied Aiden. The man looked at him nodded then he turned to others observing them. Aiden quiet left.
“Everyone, welcome to castle Methonia.” he said, stepped ahead, opened his arms wide, “My name is Finn, the leader of this castle and also the principal of Hippocoon.” He paused for a moment, lowering his arm. “Certainly, there are people who know Hippocoon well, there are people who know a little bit, and there are people who do not know anything at all about this place. That won’t matter when you get here, though. Because, in the following days, this place will be home, your family and the most familiar place for you. I hope the days here will be the best time in your life, the time when you learn and realize many valuable things. Anyway, welcome to Hippocoon.” Finn stopped.
Applause broke out. He stood still, watching on them in seconds then turned to his fellows. They approached held hands surrounded a pole standing on a three-story circular marble base; there had an owl white statue on the top of the pole. All of them closed eyes, muttered something for minutes.
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!!! The above post is a draft of my first book on Heracles, Heracles and the Nemean lion in Hippocoon land. Its content can be omitted, modified or replaced. If you want to read the full version, click here buy a ebook: Heracles and the Nemean lion or click here to a paper book: Heracles and the Nemean lion by Hung Nguyen !!!
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