Jeremy and the Golden Fleece Page 2

  Jeremy looked at the clear blue sky. “I don’t think they’ll be coming back.”

  “Then let’s get started!” said Phineus.

  Jeremy and the Argonauts helped. Hammers banged. Saws whirred. Phineus hopped about on his thin legs, checking the work.

  In no time at all, the Argo was upright. It floated proudly on the blue water.

  It was time to go. Jeremy looked around for Aristotle. He was nowhere in sight.

  “You can’t leave yet,” said Phineus. “You have to meet Hester.”

  Phineus and Jeremy walked to a hut at the end of the beach. It was made out of driftwood. It had round windows and a driftwood deck.

  “It looks like a ship!” said Jeremy. “It’s wonderful.”

  He ducked through the low doorway. He looked around. It was like a ship inside too. There were two bunks and a driftwood table and chairs. Sunlight shone through the round windows.

  Hester rocked back and forth in a chair made of sticks. She looked even older than Phineus.

  Aristotle sat on the floor beside an empty plate. He licked his whiskers. Jeremy could smell fish.

  “So there you are!” he said.

  “We’ve become friends,” said Hester. Aristotle purred.

  Jeremy thought Hester looked very wise.

  “Have you ever seen anything with twenty legs and one wing?” he said.

  Hester frowned. Then she shook her head.

  “It’s a riddle,” sighed Jeremy. “We better go. We have to find King Colchis and get the Golden Fleece back.”

  Hester stood up. She reached for a small clay jar on a shelf. She handed it to Jeremy. “A gift for the brave captain who saved us from the Harpies,” she said.

  The jar smelled sweet and smoky. “What’s it for?” said Jeremy.

  “You’ll know when the time comes,” said Hester.

  Jeremy put the jar in his backpack. “Come on, Aristotle,” he said.

  Outside the hut, the wind was blowing hard again. Phineus walked back with Jeremy to the Argo. Aristotle rode on Jeremy’s shoulder.

  When they got to the ship, Phineus clutched Jeremy’s arm. “I have to warn you about the Clashing Rocks!”

  It was hard to hear Phineus over the howling wind. The sail on the Argo flapped loudly.

  “It looks like we’re ready to go!” said Jeremy.

  Phineus gripped his arm harder. “Two tall rocks on each side of the sea. They crash together when a ship sails between them. The only way to get through is…”

  Marco leaned over the railing. “The wind’s getting too strong!” he shouted.

  Aristotle jumped off Jeremy’s shoulder. He scampered up the gangplank.

  “Good-bye!” said Jeremy. “And thank you!”

  He pulled away from Phineus. He ran after Aristotle.

  Marco pulled up the gangplank. The Argo sailed away.

  Jeremy looked back at the island. Phineus stood on the rocky beach. He waved his stick in the air. Jeremy waved back.

  Chapter Seven

  The Clashing Rocks

  The Argo sailed on. Jeremy got the map out of the backpack. He spread it on the deck.

  “There’s the harbor where we started,” he said. “And there’s Phineus and Hester’s island!”

  Jeremy peered more closely at the map. Mr. Magnus had drawn two pointed rocks. There was a narrow strip of water in between.

  “We’re almost at the Clashing Rocks,” he shouted. “They don’t look so bad! No problem!”

  Jeremy looked up from the map.

  Two huge spires of black rock rose right in front of the ship. Waves smashed against them. Foam sprayed high above the Argo’s mast.

  The Argonauts froze.

  “ROW BACKWARD!” shouted Jeremy.

  The Argonauts heaved on their oars. The Argo bucked up and down in the waves.

  Jeremy stared at the jagged rocks. He shivered. A piece of a ship’s mast bobbed up and down in the foaming water.

  What had Phineus said?

  They crash together when a ship sails between them. The only way to get through is to…

  Jeremy groaned. If only he had listened!

  “What should we do, Captain?” said Marco. “The men can’t hold the ship back much longer.”

  Jeremy stared at Aristotle. “You saw the play at the Enchanted Theater. How did Jason get past the Clashing Rocks?”

  “Er…I was chasing a mouse in that part,” mumbled Aristotle, “but it had something to do with a bird.”

  Jeremy thought hard.

  “I bet I know!” he said. “We have to trick the Clashing Rocks. If we send a bird ahead of us, the rocks will smash together. And then when they open again, we can sneak through fast!”

  “We don’t have a bird,” said Aristotle.

  “But we do have a slingshot!” cried Jeremy.

  He dug the slingshot out of the backpack.

  Marco gave him a hard round apple from a barrel.

  Jeremy stood in the bow of the ship.

  “ONE!” said Jeremy.

  He pulled the rubber sling back as far as he could.

  “TWO!”

  The Argonauts leaned over the oars.

  “THREE!”

  Jeremy let go of the sling. The apple flew through the air. It soared right between the Clashing Rocks.

  The jagged black rocks smashed together with a thundering crash. Jeremy’s ears rang.

  Then Jeremy and the crew watched the rocks move slowly apart.

  “NOW!” shouted Jeremy. “ROW FOR YOUR LIVES!”

  The Argo flew through the narrow strip of water.

  The huge rocks loomed over the ship. Waves smashed against the hull. Icy air blasted them.

  Then the warm sun shone on Jeremy’s face. The sea was smooth and blue. They had left the Clashing Rocks behind.

  The Argonauts cheered.

  But Jeremy didn’t cheer. The Argo sped past a little bay toward a high steep cliff. On top of the cliff stood a magnificent golden palace.

  Three guards paced back and forth along the edge of the cliff.

  Jeremy gulped. They had reached the home of King Colchis.

  Chapter Eight

  King Colchis

  When they got closer, Jeremy could hear the guards.

  “HUP! HUP! HUP!” they shouted.

  The guards stared straight ahead. They marched back and forth along the cliff.

  “HUP! HUP! HUP!”

  Jeremy gazed up at the palace. High in a tower window something shiny glinted.

  A spyglass! thought Jeremy. Someone was watching them.

  “Go back to that bay!” he ordered.

  The Argonauts rowed into the little bay. There was no wind. They pulled in the oars. The ship drifted close to a narrow strip of beach.

  “I’m going ashore,” said Jeremy.

  Aristotle slunk behind the apple barrel.

  “And you’re coming with me,” he added.

  Marco lowered a rope ladder. Jeremy put on his backpack. He climbed down the ladder. He waded onto the beach.

  Aristotle jumped off the ship’s railing. He landed with a thump beside Jeremy.

  The Argonauts leaned over the railing. “Good luck!” they called.

  Jeremy and Aristotle walked along the beach. They walked until they were at the bottom of the steep cliff.

  “HUP! HUP! HUP!” chanted the guards high above them.

  Narrow steps were cut into the cliff. They zigzagged back and forth.

  “Follow me,” said Jeremy.

  Up and up Jeremy and Aristotle climbed.

  “HUP! HUP! HUP!”

  “They’re too busy marching,” whispered Jeremy.

  “They don’t know we’re here.”

  “HUP! HUP! HUP!”

  He stuck his head over the top of the cliff. He stared into two cold gray eyes. Above the eyes glittered a golden crown.

  King Colchis!

  Aristotle stuck his head over Jeremy’s shoulder.

  “So
me guards,” he said loudly. “A pussycat could break into this place. Get it? A…”

  King Colchis grabbed Jeremy with one hand. He grabbed Aristotle with the other.

  The king’s yellow hair flowed to his shoulders. His crown sparkled in the sun.

  Jeremy took a big breath.

  “Pleased to meet you, your majesty,” he said. “I’m Jeremy, captain of the Argo.”

  Chapter Nine

  The Fire-Breathing Bull

  “Jason.” King Colchis’s smile made Jeremy shiver. “I was wondering when you would get here.”

  “Uh…it’s Jeremy,” said Jeremy.

  “Jason…Jeremy…whatever.” The icy smile changed to a scowl. “You’ve come for my golden fleece.”

  Aristotle jumped on Jeremy’s shoulder. “Remember Uncle Pelias,” he whispered in his ear.

  “Uh…the Golden Fleece belongs to Uncle Pelias,” said Jeremy. “I mean, he’s not my uncle.”

  King Colchis snapped his fingers. The guards stopped marching. They hurried to his side.

  “Jason has come for the Golden Fleece,” said King Colchis. “And he brought his cat to help him!”

  The guards laughed. Aristotle’s fur bristled.

  “I’M JEREMY,” shouted Jeremy.

  King Colchis snapped his fingers again. The guards stopped laughing.

  He peered more closely at Jeremy. “Isn’t Jason supposed to be some kind of hero?”

  He turned to the guards. “Does he look like a hero to you?”

  Jeremy sighed. He was going to say “I’m Jeremy!” again, but it was no use.

  The king smiled his icy smile. “So you think you’re a hero—”

  “I don’t,” said Jeremy.

  “…who’s going to take the Golden Fleece back to his uncle.”

  “Not my uncle,” said Jeremy wearily.

  “Then prove it!” snapped King Colchis.

  Jeremy was all mixed up. “Prove what?” he stammered.

  “That you’re a hero.”

  King Colchis winked at the guards. “Take…whatever his name is…to the bull. It’s time for our hero to have a little ride.”

  A guard grabbed Jeremy’s left arm. Another guard grabbed his right arm. The third guard prodded Jeremy’s back.

  King Colchis led the way. The guards and Jeremy followed.

  Aristotle rode on Jeremy’s shoulder. “This isn’t good,” he muttered. “Do you remember what Mr. Magnus said about the bull?”

  Jeremy shook his head.

  “Fire breathing,” hissed Aristotle. “That’s what he said. FIRE-BREATHING BULL.”

  “There’s no such a thing as a fire-breathing bull,” said Jeremy. “I mean, there are fire-breathing dragons, but whoever heard of a—”

  Jeremy came to a dead stop. His mouth dropped open.

  Tied to a stake beside the palace was an enormous bull.

  The bull pawed the ground, sending up clouds of dust. It turned and looked at Jeremy and the guards with its small red eyes. It let out a roar of rage.

  Jeremy’s legs turned to jelly as a fiery blast of orange and red flames shot out of the bull’s mouth.

  Chapter Ten

  The Magic Ointment

  “Don’t do it,” said Aristotle.

  “I have to,” said Jeremy. “If I don’t ride the bull, King Colchis won’t give me the Golden Fleece. And Jason will stay mad, and we’ll never solve the riddle!”

  “Ready for some fun?” said the king. He glared at the guards who were creeping away. “Get the meat!”

  One of the guards scurried into the palace.

  Jeremy slid his backpack off his shoulders. He glanced at the king.

  King Colchis was pacing back and forth.

  The bull bellowed. He sent out another blast of fire.

  Jeremy opened his backpack.

  He remembered Hester’s gentle voice. You’ll know when the time comes.

  Jeremy took out the clay jar. He opened it. It was filled with ointment.

  It didn’t smell like something to eat. Quickly he rubbed the ointment on his arms and face.

  The guard came back with a chunk of red meat. He tossed it to the pawing bull.

  “Do it now, you fools!” cried the king. “While the bull’s not looking!”

  The other guards grabbed Jeremy. They dragged him to the bull. They slung him onto its back.

  The bull lifted its huge head. It bucked hard. The rope tied to the stake snapped.

  Jeremy shot up in the air. He landed with a thump.

  The bull gave an enormous snort.

  Jeremy grabbed the thick hair on the bull’s neck.

  The bull spun in a circle. It bucked and blew fire. Up and down, back and forth bounced Jeremy.

  The bull charged past King Colchis and Aristotle and the three guards. It raced around the back of the palace.

  “HEEELP!” yelled Jeremy. He closed his eyes.

  A deep voice said, “So where do you want to go?” Jeremy opened his eyes. “Huh?” he said. “You can talk?”

  “First time,” said the bull. It sounded surprised too.

  Hester’s ointment, thought Jeremy. It was magic!

  “Do you know where King Colchis keeps the Golden Fleece?” he said quickly.

  “Sure, but I don’t think you want to—”

  “I do!” said Jeremy. “And would you mind turning off that fire?”

  They ran right around the palace. They flew past King Colchis and the guards.

  “Jump on, Aristotle!” Jeremy yelled.

  Aristotle sprang onto the bull’s back. The guards gaped. The king’s mouth dropped open.

  Jeremy laughed. He felt like he was flying.

  “Take us to the Golden Fleece!” he cried.

  Chapter Eleven

  The Golden Fleece

  The bull ran and ran.

  It stopped at the edge of a dark forest. “I’ll wait for you here,” it said. “And don’t say I didn’t warn you!”

  Jeremy and Aristotle slid off its back.

  They walked into the forest. The trees were close together. No birds sang.

  Suddenly the trees ended. The sun shone into a grassy clearing.

  “There it is!” said Jeremy.

  In the middle of the clearing was a huge tree. The Golden Fleece hung from a thick branch. It glimmered in the sun.

  Jeremy stared harder. The branch was red with orange spots. Sharp spines stuck out along the top.

  “I never saw a—,” began Jeremy.

  The branch moved. Two huge golden eyes stared at them.

  Jeremy and Aristotle jumped back.

  “The serpent that never closes its eyes!” said Aristotle. “Er…I better check on the bull.”

  Jeremy grabbed Aristotle’s tail.

  Aristotle sighed. “You got anything left in that backpack?”

  Jeremy looked inside the backpack. He pulled out the small round mirror. He tipped it back and forth. The sun winked off its surface.

  Aristotle blinked hard. “Hey!” he cried. “Don’t shine that thing in my face!”

  Aristotle and Jeremy looked at each other. Then they looked at the serpent’s huge golden eyes.

  “I’ll hold the mirror,” said Jeremy, “and you grab—”

  “How about I hold the mirror and you—”

  “Okay, okay,” said Jeremy. He propped the mirror against Aristotle’s paw. He tilted it at the sun. A beam of bright light bounced off the mirror straight to the tree.

  The serpent snapped its huge eyes shut. Its spiny tail lashed back and forth.

  “Now or never,” muttered Jeremy.

  He ran to the tree. He jumped up and grabbed the Golden Fleece.

  “Got it!” he cried.

  Jeremy slung the fleece over his shoulder. He and Aristotle sped out of the clearing.

  Jeremy looked back once. The serpent hissed and flashed its sharp fangs. Its golden eyes gleamed with rage.

  Jeremy and Aristotle ran through the dark forest. They
jumped on the waiting bull’s back.

  “Back to the Argo!” cried Jeremy.

  The bull raced to the edge of the high cliff. Jeremy and Aristotle scrambled off.

  “Will you get in trouble?” said Jeremy.

  The bull pawed the ground and snorted. It opened his mouth. Jeremy felt a blast of fiery air.

  Hester’s magic had worn off!

  “Good-bye,” said Jeremy quickly, “and thank you!”

  The bull gave a huge buck and galloped away. Jeremy looked down at the blue bay. The wind had picked up. The Argo’s sail billowed. The Argonauts sat on the benches, their oars ready.

  Jeremy stared harder. “It’s the Argo!” he cried.

  “Of course it’s the Argo,” muttered Aristotle. “What did you—”

  “The riddle!” said Jeremy. “I have twenty legs and just one wing. It’s the Argo! The sail is the wing and the oars are the legs.”

  “Now we can go home!” said Aristotle.

  “Don’t forget the Enchanted Theater Rule Book,” said Jeremy. “I have to do five brave things to return home.”

  “You chased away the Harpies,” said Aristotle.“That’s one.”

  “And I sailed through the Clashing Rocks,” added Jeremy. “That’s two.”

  “You tamed the fire-breathing bull!” said Aristotle. “That’s three!”

  “I stole the Golden Fleece from the serpent who never closes its eyes,” said Jeremy. “That’s four!”

  Just then there was a loud rumble. The ground shook. Jeremy and Aristotle looked back.

  King Colchis and his guards streamed out of the palace gates. But this time there weren’t three guards. There were hundreds. All mounted on swift black horses.

  “Run!” yelled Aristotle.

  Chapter Twelve

  Back Home

  Jeremy and Aristotle ran back to the steps in the cliff. They scrambled down and raced along the beach.

  “Hurry!” yelled Marco.

  Aristotle jumped onto Jeremy’s shoulder. Jeremy splashed through the water to the ladder. Up he climbed.