It had been morning. Sunlight went through the window lying on Heracles’s face heated and made him awake. Heracles opened his eyes and narrowed at one because of blinding. With one hand raised up covered in front of face, Heracles sat up then managed to get out to the edge of bed. He put his feet down wore on the pair of sandal laid underneath the bed then stood up and walked straight to bathroom. He flushed water out into a basin then wetted his face by hands. After moments he awake completely so he made his way to get out of the restroom, going along the lobby outside heading to the staircase and then stepped downstairs. He passed the living room on his way before he walked into the kitchen.
“Hi mom. Hi Lina” said Heracles, kept walking toward his mother, Alcmene who was sitting by a round table placed at the middle of their kitchen. Heracles approached then gave her a kiss on cheek and also got a kiss from his mother then he made his way sit on another chair next to her.
“What do you want Heracles?” said Lena. She was standing by the fireplace roasting a piece of meat on her pan, “We have some beard, roasted meat, egg and some jam – many things for you to choice.” she added.
“Do you have milk?” Heracles interrupted, “I want to have some of something to drink first.”
“Al right – we have some milk here.” replied Lena, grabbed on a jar of milk placed near her fire.
“Where are Amelinda and July? Why I don’t see them here?” said Heracles, kept looking around.
“They had something to do and left at early morning.” said Lena, walking toward the dinner table placed it there then made her way back to the fireplace. Heracles reached, gabbed on the jar, pulled it back to him then poured some milk into his cup. He turned back to his mother and asked: “Do you want some, mother?”
“Please put it there. I will help myself as I want.” said his mother.
“So I put it here. If you want, you can take it” said Heracles, laid the jar down then pushed it forward to his mother. Then he picked his milk cup up. “What do Amelinda and aunt July need to do in early morning?” he spoke up suddenly, looked at Lena.
“July has some problem on her business that she needs to handle in hurry and brought Amelinda with her.” Lena answered. She brought a plate of some beard, a bow of yogurt and some grapes to her Queen Alcmene. “Here is your breakfast, my queen.” she said gently
“Thank you Lena.” said Alcmene in lovely voice, not forget to give her cook a warm smile.
“It’s my duty.” said Lena sincerely.
Then Alcmene started. She began with a grape first.
“Do you want some beard with some pieces of meat inside?” added Lena, turning to Heracles.
“Yes, give me some please.” he said politely.
“Wait a moment master.” said Lena. She turned back her fireplace, took a piece of beard, put some grilled meat pieces and salad, poured much sauce over on them and then rolled up. She put the rolled bread on a plate then brought it to Heracles.
“Your bread master.” said Lena.
“Thank you very much.” spoke Heracles gently, received the plate. He put it on table in front of his face, used his hand took his rolled beard up and started eating it. As soon as he bit the first piece of his beard, Amelinda appeared at front door of the kitchen and hurriedly walked toward them.
“Good morning my queen.” she said. She walked forward, bent down gave Alcmene a kiss then stood up turned to Heracles and Lena greeting them. “Hi Heracles – aunt Lena.” she added. Then she made her way sit next to Heracles.
“G’ morning Amelinda.” said Heracles, kept chewing.
“Where your mother Amelinda?” said Lena, not looking to her she was busy with her cooking.
“She’s still in the town. She needs to handle the remaining problems.” said Amelinda quickly.
“She will solve them soon, right?” said Lena.
“Yes, she will.” replied Amelinda.
Aunt Lena turned back and with two plates on two hands she stepped to them. She laid one plate in front of Amelinda’s face. “Here your breakfast.” she said then made her way to her seat. She sat down.
“Thank you aunt Lena.” said Amelinda then started.
“Enjoy,” said Aunt Lena.
All of them kept staying there in minutes to eat. Their breakfast finished right after minutes, Amelinda stayed there washed everything with aunt Lena. Heracles’s mother on other side turned back her room while Heracles went for walk.
After leaving the kitchen, Heracles quickly appeared in front of their building. There had one round wooden table with stools around placed under eave, facing to their rose garden. The roses at the moment were blooming and spread out pleasant fragrance that Heracles and others liked to come there after meals. He sat down, took a cup then helped himself to have some water. Lena always put there a jar of water with some tea leaves inside before breakfast. At the moment, the Old Gardener was in the garden doing his job. Heracles saw him. He was watering and clearing grasses around rose roots. The Old Gardener was a hardworking, trustworthy and silent person that was things Heracles knew about him. He stayed still, kept his eyes on the Old Gardener observing him clearing grasses a while then turned away. He hurriedly was attracted by a stranger appearing from afar on the road walking forward their garden. It’s a weird man still wearing a long coat though it’s summer at moment. The stranger kept walking then later stopped at right front of their garden. He made his way approach the fence, stood there facing to the building. Then the Old Gardener stood up. He put his sprinkler on ground then walked toward the fence heading to the stranger. The Old Gardener kept staying there talking to the others something which made Heracles curious because he had never seen the Old Gardener talking with other before. Therefore, he carefully observed them and tried to hear what they are talking but he could not hear anything. They stayed too far. Then Heracles started paying attention on the stranger’s appearance. He was tall and thin man who had shoulder-length curly blonde hair. Though Heracles couldn’t clearly see the stranger’s face from his place because of distance and hair covering around, he could realize the man had an angled face, a hooked nose and thin lips. Heracles did not see his teeth though he spoke very much. The stranger opened his mouth too narrow as though he was whispering. Suddenly the stranger took out a wooden box give it to the Old Gardener through the fence then strode right after that. He heading toward the corner not far away from there, changed his direction then promptly vanished. After the stranger left, the Old Gardener also moved. He made his way forward the building. He kept walking till approaching to Heracles and stopped at him.
Page 1 to 5 from Heracles and the Hydra dragon by Hung Nguyen
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