Hercules Serpents Shadows by Timothy Boggs

A voice said, 'Open your eyes, Hercules.'
Hercules opened them. Everything was quiet on the beach, and the sky was blue again. He looked up ... and saw Poseidon. He remembered everything then, and looked round for lolaus. He saw his friend sleeping on the beach near him.
'lolaus is a good man,' said Poseidon. 'He broke up everything in Hera's cave, and that stopped the wind and rain.' Hercules looked at the rocks. Klothon was not there.
' I left its head,' said Poseidon. 'So people will know.'
Hercules saw the people then, above him on the grass. 'Where's Cire?' he asked. 'Sleeping under the trees,' said Poseidon.
Hercules looked at his uncle, 'low stopped Klothon. Right? It couldn't get up the rocks because you stopped it. Then I fell and you caught me. What did I hit my head on?'
'On my head,'said Poseidon, and smiled. 'Hera will be angry with you,' said Hercules.
'She doesn't like me,' said Poseidon. 'But she'll be angrier with you — you got away from her again.' Hercules smiled. 'Thank you, uncle,' he said.

Hercules, Iolaus and Cire walked back to Themon later. There were no windows in some of the houses, and trees were down across the road. 'Hera's wind,' thought Hercules.
Jocasta was happy to see them at Titus's house. She put her arms round them, then took them to a room at the back. Titus was in bed, his eyes shut.
He opened them. 'Wh — what happened?' he asked. 'Everything's OK,' said Hercules. 'It's finished.'
Titus tried to laugh, but couldn't. 'Sorry,' he said. ' I — '
'It was Hera from the beginning,' said Hercules. 'You couldn't fight her.' Titus shut his eyes again and went to sleep.
They followed Jocasta past one of the other rooms, and saw Holix and Cire. 'They're going to live with us,' said Jocasta. 'They'll have a little house. Holix is good with horses.'
'But he can't stay on them!' said Iolaus.
Hercules laughed, and Jocasta thanked them again at the door. 'We'll come back when Titus is better,' said Hercules. He and Iolaus started to walk away down the street.
'Let's get something to eat and get out of this place,' said Iolaus.
'What about all those beautiful women?' asked Hercules. 'They're all waiting to hear your stories.' He smiled. 'Hercules, I want to — '
But then a voice from inside the Pericals' house called his name. A nice voice. A loving voice. A small voice. 'lolaus 'I - er - I'll catch up with you later,' said lolaus, and ran off. Hercules laughed and walked on. It was time to go home.