A shadow crossed the sun, and Jason stood in front of me. Before I had the chance to ask what the hell he thought he was doing, he handed me a waterskin that sloshed heavily.
“All the crew gets their share,” Jason said, “though we’re on strict rations. You didn’t look well, so I thought I’d bring it to you directly.”
The water was the most delicious thing I had ever tasted, clear and crystal on my tongue. I eyed Jason. Perhaps he was not souseless if he insisted on fair rations even for someone he disliked. I drank half the water, then handed it back to Jason.
“Save the rest for Medea,” I told him. “Take care of her, look after her. Hold her close, even if there is only a little more time to do it.”
To his credit, perplexed as he was, Jason simply nodded.
50
Atalanta
After Jason walked away, I watched the distant clouds skid across the sky and pondered my next move.
I could spurn Medea’s attempt at reconnection and die without ever speaking to her again. In some ways this would be the easiest path, not to mention the most familiar, severing myself from her as I had been severed from Procris and Meleager.
But I didn’t want it. When I drifted among the shades in the misty fields of the Underworld, bitter regret would not dog my heels. Medea was my friend, she’d said so herself. She was not required to love me like a lover or accept my invitation to run away into the forests. I would not be like Peleus, incensed by the fact that a woman did not want me.
I had run from so much in my life. I did not wish to run from her.
As I pondered how best to approach her, a shout rent the air.
Jason was sitting up, electric with excitement. “I have had a dream!” he called. “A goddess named Libya came to me, bearing a message from the divine Hera. This was her message: ‘If you and your comrades repay your mother for all the pain she suffered bearing you so long inside her womb, you may yet return to your home.’?”
Nonsense words, empty of meaning. Yet when Jason spoke like this, alight with zeal, something about him made the soul prick upits ears. The other Argonauts were listening, stroking their beards thoughtfully.
“She said her name was Libya?” Tiphys inquired. “If we’re in the country of Libya, then all we need to do is head north and we’ll eventually hit the sea.” He tracked the orb of the sun with one bloodshot eye as it lowered near the western horizon.
“But what’s all this about our mother?” Idas asked.
“I think I know,” Medea said, causing every head to whirl toward her. “The ship is our mother. TheArgocarried us across the sea, and now it is our turn to carry her across the wasteland.”
A cry rose from the crew. We were weary and thirsty, but the possibility of cheating death filled us all with newfound energy. Positioning ourselves around theArgo, we got our hands under it and lifted.
The ship was designed lightweight enough to be dragged to shore, and with the sum of our strength, it shuddered and rose into the air. Objects fell out: sand, blankets, weapons, bits of armor, glittering treasure. With everything superfluous cast aside, we began to run north.
It was hard work. The ship shielded us from the merciless sun, but there was no water to slake our thirst and no time to rest. My arms began to tremble with the effort, and around me, the other Argonauts panted with exertion.
Jason was in front of me, Medea by his side. Suddenly, Jason missed his footing on the uneven terrain and staggered. Unable to halt the forward motion of theArgo, he might have been trampled to death by his companions, bones crushed by their heavy feet and teeth broken on the stones. Perhaps he would have perished—if I had not reached out to grab him and drag him back to his feet.
Lightning fast, and he was steady again. I did it almost without thinking, as a reflex. Jason looked as startled as I felt andmouthed a brief thanks. Medea shot me a look of gratitude that made my heart sing. Well, Jason was hers now, and I couldn’t simply allow him to perish, especially in such a stupid way.
We continued, like a beetle scuttling to safety. As our journey dragged on, I began to wonder if perhaps Jason’s dream was mistaken, if this was a fool’s errand that would only hasten our inevitable deaths.
At that very moment, we crested a final dune and saw it.
The sea, shimmering before us like a promise.
For a moment, everyone was silent, struck by wonder. Then we began to run with renewed vigor, crying out, “The sea, the sea!”like children again, brought home by our mother.
51
Medea
When we arrived in Iolcus, a celebration was waiting.
People had seen theArgo’s sails from far away and brought food and wine down to the beach. Most blessedly they carried water, which we gulped down eagerly. Musicians played and fires were kindled, and the citizens of Iolcus welcomed back the returning heroes.
