Capítulo 10: Look at that size!
After walking for days, my friend Iolaus and I finally saw a small village in the valley below us. I felt happy to see people again, even though this tiny place was nothing like the big cities I knew from my own time.
"Great timing," Iolaus said, wiping his forehead. "We can get more food here before we go to Nemea."
As we got closer to the village, I noticed something odd. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stared at us – well, mostly at me. And I heard people whispering.
"Is that really him?"
"Look at that size!!"
"Hercules is here to help us!"
I felt nervous. These people looked at me with so much hope in their eyes. If only they knew I wasn't really Hercules, just a normal teacher in a hero's body.
An old man came up to us. He looked frail, but his eyes were bright as he looked up at me.
"Great Hercules," he said in a shaky voice, "we prayed for help, and the gods sent you. You're here to save us from the terrible lion, aren't you?"
I didn't know what to say.
Iolaus nudged me, giving me a look that said, "Say something heroic!"
"Um, yes!" I said, trying to sound brave. "I, Hercules, son of Zeus, am here to... stop your lion problem. Don't worry, everyone. I'll do heroic things. Very heroic. With my muscles."
I flexed my arms, and people gasped in awe. Iolaus put his face in his hands.
The old man smiled wide. "Praise the gods! Come, mighty Hercules, let's have a feast for you!"
Before I knew it, I was in the village square.
People were setting up tables with lots of food and wine. Kids peeked out from behind their mothers, pointing and whispering excitedly. I felt bad, getting all this praise for something I hadn't done yet.
And also knowing the fact that this food that they are preparing may very well be the portion that they would require them to starve in the future.
But I could not refuse them - the hopeful eyes that looked at me made it impossible to refuse their kindness.
So we ate.
But as we ate, people crowded around me, asking all sorts of questions.
"Hercules, will you make my fields grow better?"
"Great hero, can you make my sick goat well again?"
"Oh mighty one, would you marry my daughter?"
I nearly choked on my wine when I heard that last one. Iolaus looked worried.
"Now, now," he said, "Hercules needs to save his strength for the fight. Why don't you tell us about the lion?"
I was glad Iolaus changed the subject. "Yes, please tell me about this scary animal," I said.
Everyone started talking at once about how fierce the lion was. Some of the stories seemed a bit too wild – they said the lion was as big as a house and could breathe fire!
I listened carefully, trying to figure out what was true and what wasn't. I remembered the old stories about this lion and asked, "So, no weapons can hurt this lion?"
An old woman nodded. "That's right, great Hercules. Many brave fighters have tried, but their spears and arrows just bounce off the lion's golden fur."
I thought about this, stroking my chin. The villagers seemed impressed by this. "I see. And where exactly does this lion live?" I asked.
As they told me where to find the lion's cave, I could feel Iolaus watching me. He probably thought it was strange that I was asking so many questions instead of rushing into battle.
Later, a group of young men came up to me. They looked excited and a bit nervous.
"Mighty Hercules," one of them said, puffing out his chest, "we want to go with you to fight the lion! With our help, you'll win for sure!"
I was surprised. These were just boys, really. They had never been in a real fight before. The thought of putting them in danger made me feel sick.
I wanted to scold these brats, who were not even wet behind their ears to go back and help their parents with farming or something.
But now, I had an image to maintain!
"Brave young men," I said, trying to sound both impressed and discouraged, "I'm glad you want to help. But this is something I have to do alone. The best way you can help is by staying here to protect your families."
They looked disappointed, but they understood.
I felt relieved that I didn't have to take them with me.
That would have been a disaster!
Anyway as night came and we got ready to leave, the old man came to talk to me again. "Hercules," he said seriously, "all our hopes are with you. Come back after you've beaten the lion and saved our lands."
I felt the weight of their hopes on my shoulders. It was a heavy feeling. As we walked away from the village, Iolaus spoke to me.
"You did well back there," he said, sounding surprised. "Usually, you like it when young fighters want to join us. And since when do you ask so many questions before a fight?"
I shrugged, trying to look calm. "Well, you know what they say – when you're strong, you have to be careful too. I'm just trying to think things through more."
Iolaus looked confused. "Who says that?"
"Oh, you know," I said, feeling silly for quoting a superhero movie to someone from ancient Greece. "It's just an old saying I heard once."
As we set up camp for the night, I couldn't stop thinking about the villagers and how much they believed in me. Very soon, we would reach Nemea.
And I would have to fight a monster from the myths.
Somehow, I had to live up to what all those people expected of me. As I fell asleep, I wondered if I could do it. Would I be a hero, or would I fail and be forgotten?
I didn't know it then, but my first real test as "Hercules" was coming soon, and it had nothing to do with lions...
---***---
Regalos
-- Regalo
recibido Estado de energía semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Piedra de
Poder