Читать книгу Artemis - Jean Shinoda Bolen - Страница 17

Atalanta and Meleager do not return to the castle after the hunt. They stay with each other where they are most at home, in the wilderness of the forest and hills. They are in each other's arms when, suddenly, Meleager makes a horrible sound and, clutching his abdomen, cries out in pain. Then his torso blackens as if burned, his face turns ashen, and he dies.

Atalanta grieves for him. Nature is her only solace. She weeps and wanders for weeks in the forest and glades. Then, one day, she realizes that she must leave this place that reminds her of Meleager and their time together. With him gone, there is nothing here to hold her and no one who matters.

And so, she leaves Calydon and travels through forests and over hills toward Arcadia.