Chapter 3
Whose Problem Is It
“Come on you stupid,” Jercules shouted at the plow angrily. The rain had not made plowing his fields any easier. The mud diverted his plow which meant the lines for the seeds would grow crooked. He growled and gave the plow a fearsome kick of frustration. The handle snapped off spinning in the air and far into the distance. “Damn,” he yelled as he glanced down at his now broken plow. Breathing heavily, he wiped his hands down his body trying desperately to control his breathing. The humidity of the day was growing thicker. The moisture of the air seemed to stick to him like the mud itself. Jercules gave an exasperated sigh as he gripped the plow. He dragged it towards the barn and began to wash off the caked mud.
“I'm going to have to make a new handle,” he groaned running his hand over the splintered end. He bit his lip as he glanced over the wooden plow examining it for other issues. Deep in thought he didn't even hear the man running towards the barn. “Jercules, Jercules...Jercules,” he said stopping in the doorway. Nearly keeling over from loss of breath, “Jer...Jer...Jerc...Jercules.” Jercules checking the wooden blades gave an uninterested, “mhmm?” “We...we need your help!” Rubbing his chin as the man still struggled for air, “Jer...Jercules did you hear me?” “Hmm,” he repeated as he finally turned towards the man. Dirt covered his loose rags as he appeared to be farming all day as well. “You have to come help us. It's a beast! A beast is wrecking our homes...destroying our crops and land.”
Eyes widening slightly Jercules gave a soft and unconcerned, “and this concerns me why?” “Please, it's a Manticore sent from Hera. It's killed many people...my child...my child was nearly killed by it.” “I'm sorry to hear that...” “Bamar, my name is Bamar. I am one of the families whose crops were destroyed by the creature. We live in the outskirts of Plythe but even the town is affected.” “But it hasn't destroyed my crops...look?” Walking over to one of his fields, Jercules waved his hand as if presenting it to a potential buyer. “Please Jercules we are desperate! You are the only person capable of killing that beast.” Crossing his arms Jercules gave a snide, “what about Hercules? Isn't he supposed to be the champion of the people?” “Her...Hercules,” the man muttered as his voice seemed to have fallen. “Yes Hercules, why isn't your best friend coming to help you? He has lots of time on his hands. He doesn't have to worry about raising a family, harvesting his crops, planting in the season...” “His family was killed...by Hera!” “Nevertheless,” Jercules exclaimed holding up a finger. “He's the man that I am sure you really want.” Bamar lowered his head, “we...well, we don't know where he’s at the moment. But you...you're right in our backyard. You’re strong as ten men they say!” “Actually, it’s more like twelve...but whose counting right?” Bamar stepped forward nervously his hands wringing together. “You see that is why we need you! You have to come help us! Without our farms, we could starve to death and...”
Jercules turned his back returning to his broken plow. “I'm sorry, well no actually I'm not. This monster is not my problem. My crops are perfectly fine.” “So, you're not going to help?” “No, it's not my problem! The monster is destroying YOUR land and YOUR crops! Therefore it's YOUR problem! If you have been cursed by the gods, maybe you should not have upset them in the first place.” “You know people said that you’re a jerk, but you’re a son of bitch. I hope your crops rot!” The man turned and kicked a bucket sending nails to scatter over the floor. “You don't deserve to be related to Hercules.” Storming from the barn Bamar grumbled as Jercules made his way to the barn door. “I assure you that it’s an unfortunate coincidence.”
“What's a coincidence?” Jercules turned to see his wife holding a brown basket filled with eggs. Waving his hand in disgust, “Eh...somebody thinking that I’m like my brother.” Nacissa ran her hand down his muscular arm, “he needed help huh?” Sighing Jercules leaned against the door taking in the field still left to plow. The sun reflecting the bugs flying over the sopping wet earth. “He says that a monster is destroying the village of Plythe nearby.” “Plythe,” whispers Nacissa, “that must be the monster that Pygolaus was talking about?” Jercules nodded in agreement, “must be?” Gripping his arm tighter, “are you going to go?” Smiling widely Jercules gazed down at his wife, “you should know me better than that?” Loosening her grip, Nacissa turned and gazed at Lasos playing in the front yard. He was chasing what looked like a butterfly. The innocence seemed to relax her as she turned back to her husband. “I know, it's just Plythe is the next town over. What if that monster comes here?” “Then I'll deal with it, but it hasn't harmed us in any way. Therefore, it is not my concern. Nacissa you want me to go fight the monster? You want me to possibly get killed? You want to raise our son without me, till our fields without me...” She gripped his hand, “of course not! I just worry about all those innocent people and...” “They are not your concern! If Hera did send the creature then she has cursed the town. They should have known better then to piss her off. Look at me, she is my step-mother and not once...NOT ONCE has she come after me! Why...because I stay out of her business! I don't do anything to incur her wrath. So, I repeat it's THEIR problem not ours!” They both stared at the field for several more seconds. Jercules broke the silence pointing to the plow. “Well, I better get back to work.”
The sun was still blazing in the sky when Jercules finished several rows of the field. Fixing the plow took no time at all. However getting the rows in a straight line took the longest. Wiping the sweat from his face, he stared at his progress. “Now, this is a field ready to be planted!” Patting the plow softly, “you do good work girl! You do good work indeed!” Lapping his lips, he finally realized how thirsty he was. Patting the plow one more time, he made his way towards their house. Nacissa was picking vegetables in the garden, “you done for today?” “Half the field is done now. I have to go weed the wheat and then I should be done for the day.” Jercules walked over to the water barrel and nearly dunked his head into it. The water was warm but still felt refreshing. It eased the crispiness that the sun had made his skin. He drank deeply from the barrel feeling his stomach swell with water. No matter how much water he drank it didn't seem enough to quench his thirst. Raising his face from the barrel, “I could go for some wine.” Smiling at the thought of getting drunk and relaxing by the fire, he plunged his head into the water. The water dulling the world around him. He stayed submerged letting the water sooth his sun burnt face and neck.
And then out of nothing, out of nowhere the barrel shook wildly. The water raged as if caught in a hurricane. There came a roar that the water could not dull in his ears. Whipping his hair from the depths of the large barrel, he ran a shaky hand through his black horsetail mustache. He scanned the valley for the cause of the disturbance. There in the distance stood the source. It was a giant Manticore flying above the barn. It's bat like wings flapping wildly kicking up dust like sandstorms. Here was the beast that the villager Bamar had been talking about.
The lion roared baring it's long blood soaked teeth. It's scorpion tail whipped at the barn and smashed into the roof. It collapsed under the weight disappearing into a cloud of dust. “MY BARN,” yelled Jercules as he ran towards the beast. It flapped with powerful burst of air causing dirt and leaves to fly towards him. The tail whipped down at him as the stinger flew over his head. It smashed into the side of the barn making the foundation wobble.
Jercules picked up one of the boards that flew at his feet. Gripping it with both hands, he whipped it with a mighty throw smacking it against the beast's nose. The Manticore roared as Jercules gripped it's tail which dangled slightly. He could feel the beast lifting him off the ground despite all his strength. His feet now dangling in the air trying to not let the creature take him higher. He struggled against the thrashing tail as the Manticore tried desperately to remove him. Pulling with all his strength Jercules was able to swing the creature down and smash it lightly against the barn. It's wing battered against it as its feet touched ground. With a mighty pull, he dragged the creature down to the ground and let it slam into his field of wheat. The Manticore fell to it's side as Jercules screamed, “MY WHEAT!” Dust filled the air as the beast thrashed against the ground pulling up bushels of wheat. The creature pounced on its feet with such ease as it turned to Jercules. It lowered it's body and roared loudly making the very hills tremble. The Manticore slashed with it's paw if possible cutting the very air to shreds. Jercules dodged it with a twirl but had to jump back several feet to avoid the stinger. It fell with a THUD right where he had been standing.
“You destroyed my barn, ruined my crops, and now trying to kill me!” His face contorted with rage as he side stepped the next frantic claw swipe. The Manticore lunged at him, but Jercules was too quick for it. Recoiling his fist he collided it into the beast's nose. The beast stopped mid jump as if hitting a stone wall. It roared as it's eyes crossed in blinding pain. “Damn,” Jercules whimpered shaking his right hand as if he had broken it. He swung with his left hand and knocked the beast on the side making it stagger several steps. The Manticore retaliated quickly with a swing of it's tail. The tail caught him in the back sending him to topple several feet backwards. The beast roared one last time before it beat it's wings and began to ascend lightly. Wheat flew into the air as the Manticore snarled down at him. It began to fly further and further into the distance.
“COME BACK HERE YOU BASTARD!” Jercules gripped his stomach as he struggled to his feet. Watching the beast disappear over the hill until the sun swallowed it up. “Jercules,” came Nacissa carrying Lasos. “Are you ok,” she asked watching him grip his stomach. “Is anything broken,” Jercules turned to her beat red, “of course nothing is broken! I'm the son of a god! It'll take more than a poke in the chest like that to put me down for good!” Nacissa recoiled slightly, “I'm sorry you don't have to yell!” Shielding his eyes from the sun, he gazed into the sky making sure the Manticore was truly gone. “Well, the barn is ruined, most of the wheat is destroyed! How are we going to live through the winter? What are we going to eat?” Nacissa took several steps back, “stop shouting Jercules!” Gripping her son, Nacissa's eyes were wide with terror. She had never seen her husband grow that angry in their marriage. “Well, how would you have me react Nacissa? Should I be glad that we could potentially starve to death this winter?” “I don't know Jercules, but we’ll make it thro...where are you going?” “I'm going to get Pygolaus and then kill that beast!”
Nacissa gulped slightly hesitating as her feet begin to carry her. Chasing after him she yelled, “but you said you wouldn't go kill the creature before! It's not your problem remember?” “That was before the creature tried to kill me and my family! So now it IS my problem!” Nacissa stopped in her tracks gripping Lasos who cried reaching for his father. “Dad,” he bellowed but Jercules never glanced back. He walked with such ferocity like a large bear approaching a wounded animal. Nacissa sniffled one last time as Jercules rounded the corner and soon disappeared. “Please be careful,” she whispered to herself as she embraced their son.