Heroes: Volume II of Mythos

H YLAS D ISAPPEARS Mostly they sailed, but sometimes, when the wind dropped, they rowed. Which is to say Heracles rowed. He could do the work of the whole crew. All he required was water to drink, fruit to eat and his beloved Hylas to mop his brow and say soothing things to him. He was needed in the dead calm that followed the storm that had propelled them back to the Dolionians and the tragedy that had ensued there. Hugging the Mysian coast, Heracles rowed with long, powerful strokes; perhaps his temper or sorrow made him pull more violently than usual, for suddenly his oar broke. It could not be replaced on board: the other oars were like pencils next to his: a pine tree, with the branches stripped off and a great iron shovel fixed to it for a blade. The shovel was undamaged but the shaft splintered beyond repair. It was agreed that the Argo should stop and Heracles and Hylas could find a new tree. They leapt down and waded ashore, followed by Heracles’ friend and brother-in-law Polyphemus. ‘You look that way, and I’ll look this,’ said Heracles to Hylas, pointing beyond the dunes. Hylas nodded and disappeared into the woods that lay beyond. Heracles soon found the perfect tree. He hugged it and heaved. Up it came, roots and all. Leaning it on his shoulder like a sentry’s spear, he whistled for Hylas. He called again as he strode back towards the beach, ‘It’s all right, Hylas. I’ve found the perfect tree.’ He stood and waited for Hylas, but only Polyphemus emerged, a puzzled look on his face. ‘Very odd,’ he said. ‘I heard a kind of cry.’ ‘Where from?’ Polyphemus pointed back towards the woods. Heracles dropped the tree and they both ran into the woods, calling all the while. Heracles uprooted bushes and trees, turned over boulders and cleared undergrowth, but he could find no sign of Hylas. Polyphemus followed, shouting and shouting his name. They widened their search. Beyond the woods there were fields and ditches, but very little cover. No Hylas. He had vanished. Heracles returned to the shore and began searching the rockpools and caves in desperation. ‘Strange thing is, there’s no wild animals for miles around,’ said Heracles. ‘I don’t understand it. He would never leave me, never.’ ‘A shame,’ said Polyphemus. ‘A tragedy. Come, we will sacrifice a great bull for him when we arrive in Colchis.’ ‘I’m staying here,’ said Heracles. ‘Not going till I find him.’ ‘But we need to be on board. Tiphys said that the wind was beginning to get up. He’ll want to catch it.’ ‘They can wait,’ said Heracles, who was as strong-willed as he was strong-muscled. That evening Tiphys hoisted the sails and the Argo left. It never occurred to Jason, nor any of the other Argonauts, that Heracles, Hylas and Polyphemus were still ashore. Only when they were miles out to sea did they discover their absence. Jason and many of the others were all for turning back at once. ‘No, no,’ said Calais. ‘Their lookout,’ said Zetes. ‘They knew we were leaving on the good wind our father sent.’ ‘We must return!’ said Telamon, Heracles’ closest friend amongst those still on board. ‘How can we expect to win the Golden Fleece without him? He’s worth ten of them …’ he pointed scornfully at Calais and Zetes. ‘Oh really?’ said Zetes. ‘Shall we ask our father to send another wind?’ ‘One that will smash this ship to splinters?’ ‘Then we’ll see who’s worth what.’ ‘Are you threatening the ship?’ Telamon grabbed Calais by the throat. ‘That’s mutiny. I should throw you over board.’ ‘We’d only fly away,’ said Zetes. ‘Then you’d look bloody silly, wouldn’t you?’ ‘Enough!’ Jason interposed himself. Just then the sea surged and rocked them all nearly off their feet. Up from the waves rose the sea god GLAUCUS. He had been born a mortal fisherman in Boeotia, but achieved divine status when he nibbled at a herb that he had observed to have the power to bring dead fish back to life. The herb conferred immortality on him, but caused him to grow fins and a fish’s tail. He acted now as a guide, rescuer and friend to stricken sailors. ‘The Argo must not turn back!’ he commanded. ‘It is Heracles’ destiny to return to the court of Eurystheus and complete the tasks he was given. Nothing must interfere with this.fn36 Polyphemus too has a future. He will found the city of Cius. These things are ordained.’ With a shake of his finny arms and a nod of his barnacled head, Glaucus disappeared beneath the waves. ‘I’m sorry,’ Jason said to Telamon with genuine regret. ‘What must be, must be. We cannot turn back.’ Telamon nodded. For the sake of harmony on board he resisted the urge to wipe the smug, gloating grins from the faces of Calais and Zetes.fn37 Heracles never found his adored Hylas. After months of fruitless searching, he made his way sorrowfully home to mainland Greece to receive his next Labour from Eurystheus, but not before charging the local Mysian people to continue the search for Hylas. If they did not, he promised he would return and wreak vengeance upon them. To make sure they did keep searching, he took several sons of the noblest Mysian families back with him as hostages. Polyphemus did, as Glaucus had foreseen, go on to found the city of Cius on the Bithynian coast, not far from where Hylas was lost.fn38 He subsequently died trying to rejoin the Argonauts and was buried on the southern shores of the Black Sea, where a white poplar marked his grave. But what had happened to Hylas? Well, a little while after he parted from Heracles and went into the wood, he came upon a pool of water and knelt down to drink from it. Unlike NARCISSUS, he did not fall in love with his own reflection.fn39 Instead, it was the water nymphs of the pool who were smitten at the sight of the beautiful youth. They rose to the surface, sang to him, seduced him and eventually lured him in.fn40 As the Argo sailed steadily on, the figurehead remarked smugly to Jason: ‘Told you to watch out for the aitches. Harpies next.’