Читать книгу Demeter’s Dream - Tony Thistlewood - Страница 9

And when ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars, be ye not troubled: for such things must needs be; but the end shall not be yet.

Mark 13:7

Demeter and I made love that night, yet it was a more subdued coupling than the normal outlandish passion that usually envelopes us. We were both preoccupied with our thoughts, I suppose. I explained to her that, in fact, I did not know that Poseidon was on the mountain, despite what I told Priapus, and gave her my reason for lying, which she seemed to accept. Nevertheless, she did appear unusually edgy. I assumed that she was worried about Persephone being in danger every minute we spent on Olympus. I now realized that it was imperative for us to complete our business here as soon as possible. I was even beginning to question the wisdom of our being on the mountain at all.

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted by KK making a deep, gravelly growl. The giant dog got up and padded towards the door.

I looked at Demeter. ‘Are you expecting anyone?’ I asked.

‘No, we have no appointments scheduled for today,’ she replied. ‘It’s meant to be a quiet planning day for us.’

I held my hand up, palm towards the door, and slowly made a circular motion as if I were washing the door from a distance. The door immediately became transparent, but only from our side. Very handy.

Standing outside, leaning on finely-worked and highly polished metal staff, was one of the ugliest gods on the mountain. His upper body was very muscular, yet his left leg was withered and slightly shorter than the right. And his round face, or what could be seen of it under his long, wavy, unkempt hair and beard, was covered with warts. Even so, I knew that Demeter had a very soft spot for him, although I could never understand why.

‘Is Hephaestus on the list?’ I asked Demeter.

‘Yes, he is, but not for a few days yet,’ she replied, checking her schedule.

‘Hephaestus!’ Persephone exclaimed, suddenly back with us. ‘Oh, is it true that he is the son of Hera by some weird sort of immaculate conception?’ She asked cheekily.

Perse had been gazing out of the window at the amazing view of the Olympus mountain range. She looked so lovely sitting there in a gossamer robe with the sun behind her. She could have been Demeter's twin sister – well, almost.

‘Isn’t that a bit like the son of the mortals’ God...'

‘That will do, Perse! That is blasphemous as you well know. There is not the slightest similarity between Hera and the mother of the son of the God that we worship in the mortal world. The circumstances here are completely different,’ Demeter said firmly – rarely fiercely, or angrily, or sarcastically, just firmly – it was her way.

Even so, Persephone was partly correct because Hephaestus’s story was a very sad one, and he had certainly suffered too. Allegedly the son of my former wife, Hera, although his father was unknown, Hephaestus was born deformed and so ugly that Hera, being ashamed of his imperfections, threw him off the mountain into the sea where he was saved and brought up by some sea nymphs – or so legend has it.

He eventually became a skilled metal worker and made arms for all the gods. Inevitably, Hephaestus decided revenge was called for and returned to the mountain intent on punishing Hera for her lack of love towards him, her son. He created a wonderful throne made entirely of gold. He knew that Hera’s innate greed would not allow her to resist it, and he was right, of course. However, when she sat upon the wondrous throne, she immediately realized that she had been duped. As hard as she tried, she could not get up again. She was locked onto the throne forever; locked into her greed; locked into her loveless world. Hephaestus had gotten his revenge, and now he could name his price.

And he did.

Eventually, Hera, in sheer desperation, promised Hephaestus that he could not only return to the mountain but also return as a god if he released her. As an additional incentive, she, rather rashly it must be said, arranged for him to marry Aphrodite, goddess of beauty. Hera was partly true to her word and allowed Hephaestus to return to Olympus. However, to make sure that he knew his place, she made him the god of artisans and craftsmen. Even so, it was enough to satisfy Hephaestus, and he released Hera from the throne. Of course, it didn't end happily, it never did for poor Hephaestus and people, even gods, like him. Aphrodite quickly rejected him and consorted instead with Ares, god of chaotic war and terrorism.

‘You better let him in, darling,’ Demeter said, realizing that I was lost in thought – yet again.

I held up my hand, palm towards the door this time, and waved it to one side as if I were opening a sliding door.

Hephaestus limped into the apartment holding his arms open wide as if expecting an intimate hug with Demeter. I swiftly intercepted him and walked into his embrace instead of Demeter. If he was disappointed, he hid it well. He clasped me with his large, dirty hands in the process soiling my favorite pristine white toga with the gold edging. I eventually managed to disentangle myself from his clutches and directed him to a divan across the room from Demeter. He sat down, making an unnecessarily ostentatious show of stretching his withered leg along the divan. Sympathy seeking, I assumed. It seemed to work with my soft-hearted Demeter.

Hephaestus looked across at Persephone who was still sitting by the window with the sun behind her. Her beautiful, firmly shaped young body was there for all to see as if she were a statue carelessly wrapped in a transparent silk robe.

‘My, what a beautiful young woman you are now,’ Hephaestus said. ‘And goddess of spring, I hear. That should give you plenty of spare time...’

‘No, it won’t, Hephy,’ Demeter said quickly. ‘One way or another, the mortal world needs some sort of spring all year round to feed its ever-increasing population.’

‘Really? How is that going to work?’ Hephaestus asked without taking his eyes from Persephone.

‘That will be Perse's big challenge,’ Demeter said. ‘There are various ideas currently being investigated, and some are already being practiced: crop rotation; genetically engineered crops that can flourish in winter; soil enrichment techniques that allow quicker growing crops; solar panel heating to ripen crops in winter...’

‘There, you see, cousin Hephy...er...or are you my half-brother? No, I shall call you cousin since my father doesn't acknowledge you as his son,’ Perse began sarcastically, and then in an exaggerated Southern US accent, added: ‘You are so wrong because this little ol’ girl ain’t going be having no fun...’

‘That will do Perse,’ I said quickly. I knew that Demeter wanted to keep Hephaestus on-side for some reason best known to herself. I needn't have worried. Hephaestus laughed so much I thought that he would fall off the divan.

‘Hephy, we have a meeting with you scheduled for later in the week. Has something happened that brings you here now?’ Demeter asked, when he eventually paused for air.

‘Indeed, it has,’ he said, at last dragging his eyes away from Persephone. ‘Rumors abound here, unhealthy rumors. The air needs to be cleared.’

‘What kind of rumors?’ Demeter asked. If she was at all shaken by the news, she didn't show it.

‘Some are saying that you and Zeus have ambitions to take over the mortal world; that you have no interest in the survival of the Olympian gods; and that you are here to take various, but not all, Olympian gods back to the mortal world to help you achieve your ambitions,’ Hephaestus said.

I noted that there was no bitterness nor enmity in his tone. Demeter obviously felt it as well. Even so, we were both stunned that what we were trying to do was such common knowledge, albeit somewhat inaccurate.

‘I don’t usually make comments on rumors,’ Demeter said, sounding like a seasoned politician. ‘However, if there were some truth in these rumors, where would you stand, Hephy?’

‘Squarely behind you two, of course. I have never been at home on the mountain, as you know...’

‘But you are god of artisans and craftsmen, and I have heard nothing but good reports of the way you support them and the disabled,’ Demeter said.

‘Thank you, thank you so much, that is very gratifying...very. But is that what you really need in the mortal world?’ he asked.

‘It most certainly is. The working class and the disabled get a raw deal that must be fixed. It is an absolute priority. We must establish an effective welfare system, which presently is an anathema to Americans. We need to change that thinking. Your experience would be invaluable in doing that,’ Demeter explained.

Hephaestus visibly relaxed, and yet I sensed that there was something else troubling him.

‘All this we could have discussed at our scheduled meeting. Is there something more urgent we should be aware of?’ I asked.

‘Ah, you are very perceptive, as one would expect of the mighty Zeus.’

His toadying attitude was uncharacteristic and immediately put me on guard.

‘May I humbly suggest,’ he continued, ‘that you bring all your meetings forward, including your big general meeting, as soon as possible.’

‘Why?’ Demeter asked.

‘You...you have many enemies here. Far more than you can imagine...’

‘I’m not frightened of anyone or anything on the mountain,’ I interrupted, annoyed at the insinuation.

‘No doubt, no doubt. Nevertheless, you should be frightened because there are some powerful gods who are plotting against all three of you. They do not want any of you to leave the mountain alive. In fact, the rumor is that none of you will live long enough to attend your proposed big meeting. You must leave before then,’ he said, and began nervously massaging a particularly large wart on his nose. He was clearly getting himself very worked-up about something. Yet why should our safety concern him?

‘And who are these gods?’ I asked.

‘Ah! Now that is information to which a price is attached,’ he replied mysteriously.

‘We have already promised to take you to the mortal world with us. What else do you want?’ Demeter asked.

‘I...I shall need a companion,’ he stammered.

‘What sort of companion?’ I asked. ‘A dog, a cat...’

‘A wife,’ he said.

‘We don’t provide wives in the mortal world. You have to find your own,’ Demeter explained.

‘This one you can provide,’ he said.

‘How?’ I asked.

‘I would like the hand of Persephone...’

‘How dare you!’ I yelled and rushed over to him closely followed by KK.

‘For your information, Hephaestus,’ I said, jabbing my finger at his face, ‘My daughter will marry a mortal of her choosing, and in a church before the mortals’ God. She will not – repeat, not – be used as a bargaining chip under any circumstances. Is that clear?’

‘Oh, Papa, that is so sweet!’ Persephone said. She ran over to me, threw her arms around me, and gave me a big kiss.

Turning to Hephaestus, Perse said: ‘You get it now, cousin Hephy? You can’t treat women like chattels anymore in the mortal world, although there are those who still try. But their days are numbered.’

‘All right you two, that will do,’ Demeter said calmly. ‘My previous offer for you, Hephaestus, to accompany us to the mortal world will be withdrawn unless you tell us all you know about these plots,’ Demeter said firmly.

A deep frown furrowed Hephaestus’s wart blemished brow, and he studied his withered leg as if it held the answer to all his problems.

‘Very well, I see that I have no option,’ he said eventually and then sighed deeply. ‘The word is that you, Zeus, and your immediate family must not be allowed to leave the mountain...’

‘They want to keep us here in this godforsaken place?’ Persephone asked.

‘No, my dear young lady, they have no intention of keeping you prisoner, you can be sure of that,’ Hephaestus replied quietly. ‘And they want to make you all suffer for what they see as your collective treason.’

‘And who are these plotters?’ Demeter asked.

‘I suspect, but cannot confirm, that the leader is the goddess of goddesses, Hera...’

‘No surprise at all,’ I said. ‘But she would not be able to carry out these threats on her own, would she?’

‘Of course not, she is the instigator. Her main allies are Ares...’

‘Ares? Now let me think,’ Persephone said, placing the index finger of her right hand on the point of her pretty chin and feigning deep thinking. ‘Isn’t he yet another half-brother of mine in this morally impoverished world? Should I welcome him with open arms? Oh, it is so confusing.’

‘Maybe he is, but, no, you should not welcome him at all,’ Demeter said quickly.

‘Really?’ Hephaestus queried. ‘Why is that? I mean, the rumor is that Ares is, indeed, the son of Zeus and Hera...’

‘You seem to rely too much on rumors, Hephaestus. That could get you into very serious trouble,’ I said coldly.

‘Oh, could it, indeed? Well, what is your version of Ares’s birth?’ he asked, knowing full-well that I would not want to discuss that subject in front of Demeter and Persephone.

‘Yes, come on, Papa, you must know. If you don’t, Hera must...

I ignored Persephone’s question simply because it was too difficult to explain. Suffice it to say that Ares is allegedly my son with Hera, and yet I certainly have never loved him as a son because I have never been convinced that I am his father. It is like that in this immoral, immortal world. You never know who to believe or who you can trust. And DNA testing would prove nothing here.

‘Ares, as the god of chaotic war and terrorism, would certainly be able, and, I imagine, very willing, to carry out the threat against us,’ I said. ‘And no doubt he would enjoy doing it. Yet there is no love lost between Hera and Ares because he took Aphrodite away from you, Hephaestus, against her orders, and by so doing greatly endangered Hera.’

‘Ah! Now I get it!’ Perse exclaimed. ‘That is why you are so bitter towards Ares, cousin Hephy,’ she said, pointing a finger at Hephaestus. ‘You want mighty Zeus, here,’ she added, pointing to me, ‘to do something nasty to poor, possibly my half-brother, Ares just so you can get your own back without lifting a finger. Ares doesn’t really want to harm us, does he?’

Hephaestus looked longingly at Persephone for some time before replying: ‘Feisty as well as beautiful. What an adorable combination,’ he said, avoiding answering her question.

‘I have to say, Hephy, that what Persephone just said had also crossed my mind,’ Demeter said. ‘Is there a conspiracy against us?’

‘Oh, yeah, you better believe it, or you are surely doomed,’ he replied, rather too dramatically for my liking.

‘Who else is involved?’ I asked.

‘Ploutos will fund the whole operation...’

‘But Ploutos has never been a great admirer of Hera, so why is he siding with her?’ Demeter asked.

‘He has heard rumors that you want to eliminate the wealthy in the mortal world...’

‘Hephy, that is nonsense!’ Demeter exclaimed. ‘It is true we believe that extreme wealth is a sin, is unnecessary...nobody needs billions to live on...’

‘Oh, very Marxist!’ Hephaestus interrupted.

‘We are not communists, yet we do believe that excessive wealth should be redistributed to the more needed or used for the good of the whole community. Nobody needs ten houses, a dozen cars and hedonistic amounts of expensive jewelry...’

‘Oh, I don’t know...’ Persephone began but was cut short by a withering glare from her mother that not even Perse could ignore.

‘Maybe you are right. However, Ploutos believes that if they have earned that wealth then they are entitled to keep it,’ Hephaestus said.

‘Yes, the operative word being if,’ Demeter said.

Hephaestus struggled to his feet and turned to face me.

‘I have told you, in good faith, all I know. It is up to you whether you believe me. I hope your invitation to join you in the mortal world still stands...’

‘Yes, yes, of course it does, Hephy,’ Demeter said.

‘Thank you. You have always been very generous spirited. I will let you know, if I hear of anything else. But please take what I said seriously,’ Hephy said and limped towards the door, which I opened for him with a wave of my hand.

‘Oh, why on earth did we come to this godforsaken place?’ Perse yelled petulantly, after the door had closed behind Hephaestus. She turned away from us and stared out of the window again.

I caught Demeter’s eye and raised my eyebrow. She nodded her beautiful head. ‘Not everything, though,’ I said quietly to her.

I knew what was going through Demeter's mind. We had discussed it for many hours before beginning this journey. It was at the very epicenter of our thinking. I looked across to Persephone.

‘Listen carefully to your mother, Perse, then maybe you will understand why we are here, and why we must soon return to the mortal world.’

‘I don’t know if you realize it, Perse,’ Demeter began, ‘but nearly every major civilization that the mortal world has ever seen eventually collapsed under the weight of political instability and intense greed that inevitably combined to produce massive and widespread corruption on the one hand, and immense poverty, on the other.

‘The fall of the Roman Empire is a classic example. Early in the fourth century – I mean A.D. in the mortal calendar, of course – Emperor Constantine the Great declared that the Roman Empire would forthwith be a Christian state. As such, it suddenly became a monotheistic community after 1,000 years or more of polytheism. Who to pray to, became the critical issue. The people became confused; the generals became confused; the politicians became confused – no surprise there, I suppose. Everybody became greedy, yet nobody was sure to which gods, or God, they should pray for help.

‘And then Constantine came up with what he thought was a masterstroke. He divided the Roman Empire into two zones: the west centered on Rome, and the east, on the new city of Constantinople, named after him. However, it soon became obvious that Constantine’s masterstroke was no such thing. Unfortunately, the flow of trade was from east to west meaning that the flow of money was from west to east. Rome soon became debt-ridden with little hope of a financial savior. People had to look out for themselves; the state was no help to them now. As a result, corruption became rife and the city, defenseless. It didn't take long for the warlords of Europe to realize that the Roman Empire, once so invincible, was now ripe for plucking. The Visigoths invaded Rome; the Franks took France; while the Angles and Saxons walked into Great Britain, which had already been deserted by the Romans.’

Demeter was in full flow now. I looked across at Persephone and was delighted to see that she appeared genuinely interested and engrossed in what her mother was saying.

‘A Holy Roman Empire,’ Demeter continued, ‘emerged in central Europe with allegiance to the Pope in Rome. This Holy Roman Empire had an elected leader. Through the largess of Pope Leo III, Charlemagne was created the first Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire. As a modern equivalent – modern in the mortal world, that is – in effect, this was a Christian “European Union” in all but name. This, of course, greatly upset the Eastern Roman Catholics who thought that Irene of Athens should have gotten the gig.

‘After Constantine, new monarchist dynasties sprang up throughout Europe and Britain. These dynasties were greatly assisted by the Roman Catholic Church, which cleverly insisted that all monarchs ruled by Divine Right. Naturally, the monarchs jumped all over that by extravagantly supporting the Church. Unsurprisingly, the Church became very wealthy and politically influential, as did the monarchs and their most trusted aristocrats.

‘These Church-backed dynasties held sway for centuries, while the lot of the struggling masses deteriorated year upon year. It remained thus until the Protestant Reformation, when the Roman Catholic Church began to lose its grip on the monarchs. Nevertheless, the Holy Roman Empire held on until 1806 when Napoleon decisively defeated Frederick William III of Prussia at the battle of Jena-Auerstädt, west of the river Saale in Germany...’

I could see that Persephone’s eyes were beginning to glaze over. I nudged Demeter; she looked at Perse and nodded.

‘You look tired, Perse. Perhaps we will continue this another time,’ Demeter said.

‘Yeah, yeah, whatever. Can we eat now?’