Читать книгу A Kingdom at War-The Gods Shall Play - Norman Sr. Willey - Страница 8

Apollo and Hercules are up in the heavens playing tennis on a court lined of gold. “40-love games match my serve”. Raising his racket Hercules throws up the gold-laced tennis ball and serves with his golden racket and as the ball sails across the court with flames behind, Apollo dances to the spot of impact for the return and stops short. “It’s outside the line!” As Hercules charges the net

“Your blind old man that was clearly in, you cry baby.”

Zeus replies from the judge’s box, “that was in, Hercules wins.”

Hades yells from the other court, “you keep it down over there we are trying to have a peaceful game over here, if you don’t mind.”

Apollo breaks his racket into pieces over his knee. “You two have been ganging up against me the whole match and I have grown tired and bored of this game.”

Hercules and Zeus both “We would never be unfair to you, why would you think such a thing,”

“Regardless, I am bored let us play with the humans down below.”

“Ok” Came from Zeus, “but I set the rules this time and you both will follow them or I shall banish you from hither for a thousand years.”

Laughing Hercules sets his racket upon an angels lap and walks up to his father, “Oh Zeus such a dramatic old man, ok we shall play by your rules and follow them.”

Just then, Apollo chimes in “Let’s pull strong men from different nations and…” Zeus interrupts

“ I told you,” thundering “I will set the stage and make the rules, and you will follow them, you shall choose your champions, and add twists along the way after that, I shall choose my champion and we will never interfere directly but only by indirect means.”

Hercules sits upon a lingering cloud scratching his chin thinking, “this could be fun... ok I am up for it, how about you Apollo?” Apollo ponders a bit walking toward the others “well, it does seem to entice me, but you two don’t play fair.”

Zeus laughs aloud, “Oh come now Apollo, you’re not still sore about the tennis match?”

Ignoring the question Apollo continues “Ok sure I am in, let’s set up this game.”

Hercules stands up “great”, while pacing around, “go ahead Zeus.”

Zeus looks down at the earth and readies a bolt “I am going to throw this bolt down upon the earth with my eyes closed and see where it lands.” The three gather on the edge of the cloud looking down upon the blue planet below as Zeus closes his eyes drawing back his right arm to let loose the lightning bolt upon the unsuspecting land.