Jason and the Argonauts Page #2

But my lord Zeus has decreed a limit

to the number of times...

... I may help you when you call

upon me. Do not speak now.

I know what you must ask of me.

Does the Golden Fleece exist?

And if so, where is it?

That's two questions.

And I shall help him

with only one answer.

Search in the land of Colchis.

Then it does exist.

But Colchis...

That's the end of the world.

No Greek has ever sailed there.

Now that you've heard that...

...are you so sure

that you will not need my help?

Think carefully.

I offered him a ship.

A ship and a crew.

And he refused me.

Refused the help of the gods?

What ship is strong enough

to reach to the edge of the world?

What crew brave enough

to sail in her?

I shall tell

the shipbuilders of Greece...

...that the richest cargo in the world

waits in Colchis.

The Golden Fleece

is worth a kingdom.

I shall say that only the strongest ship

ever built will survive the voyage.

The athletes of Greece are proud.

I'll tell them only the best

can expect a place...

...in the most perilous voyage

in history.

I shall announce a games...

...invite the strongest

and bravest of the Greeks.

No greater games

shall ever be held...

...unless the gods decree otherwise.

I did well to choose you, Jason.

The gods are best served

by those who want their help least.

Welcome, Polydeuces.

Castor of Sparta.

Acastus of Thessaly.

Well done, Acastus.

Phalerus of Athens,

champion archer of Greece.

Euphemus of Taenarum.

Spyros of Syracuse.

Hercules!

He's here!

I mean to sail with you, Jason. Tell me

which champion you want me to beat.

No one. I know you can beat us all.

Your place is reserved.

Hercules. Yes.

- Hercules?

- Yes.

My name is Hylas.

Like you, I came too late

to compete in the games.

But it occurs to me that

if I can beat you at something...

...Jason couldn't refuse me

a place on the ship either.

After all, he might need brains

as well as brawn.

Shall we compete?

Discus?

Come on.

- See that rock?

- Yes.

No thrower has ever reached it.

And is the contest to hit it

or pass it?

You'll be lucky if you get halfway.

- Now, go on.

- No, after you, Hercules.

I've never thrown a discus before.

I'd like to see how it's done.

Let Hylas have his moment of triumph

while he may.

You shall have your place, Hylas.

Hail Hylas!

I have found the finest crew

in all Greece.

Now for a ship

that is worthy of them.

Argos.

- Argos.

- Hello?

Is that you, Argos?

- Who's there?

- It's Jason.

Come aboard.

So you've come back again.

She's a fine ship.

Yes.

She is a fine ship.

She's ready to sail.

We've yet to give her a name.

I'll call her the Argo,

after her builder.

The Argo?

Well, you'd better have a look

at the figurehead.

It might make you change your mind.

No, this way.

- Is it forward?

- No, it's astern.

We'll have to move it.

It's supposed to watch over

the water ahead of the vessel.

I can't help that.

Something made me put it here.

Hera, queen of the gods.

- What?

- Nothing.

You don't object to it here?

- No.

- Nor do I.

It makes me feel someone friendly

is watching over us.

- When do we sail?

- Tomorrow.

Don't waste it.

There isn't enough left

to make any difference, Jason.

Oh, let him rest.

But the sooner we find some island

with water, the better.

We can't row much longer

on three sips a day.

Take my advice. Put back to Icos.

But we'd lose five days' sailing.

We haven't water enough

for tomorrow...

...let alone the time it would take

to reach Icos.

Don't worry, Hylas.

I don't expect him to take my advice.

But I wish he'd listen to someone.

Still grumbling?

Sailors always grumble.

These sailors have something

to grumble about.

Hardly any water. Blistered hands.

- They should use brine.

- Brine?

It toughens the skin.

Well, go down and treat them.

I'll steer.

Hera.

You said you could help me

a certain number of times.

So far, you've told me of Colchis.

And I threw Pelias from his horse

and dragged him beneath the water.

Pelias?

So that was King Pelias.

I know your need.

Set sail and steer north.

- You will reach land at noon.

- Where?

The Isle of Bronze.

I've never heard of it.

No mortal has.

It was the foundry of the gods.

Hephaestus labored there,

making armor and weapons for Zeus.

Oh, do not fear. Hephaestus himself

has long departed.

I will see that you reach

the Isle of Bronze.

But listen to me, Jason.

Listen very carefully.

- Take the helm.

- Yes, sir.

Set sail.

We reach land at noon.

Then you can fill your bellies until they

grumble as much as your tongues.

Now, mark this.

It will be safe to take

food and water.

But nothing else.

Absolutely nothing else.

That doesn't include women?

If there are any on the island,

yes, it does.

If I meet a girl with a firm leg,

a full bosom and a warm heart...

...let no man try and stop me.

- Talos will.

- Who's Talos?

You do mean there's a man there

who wants a fight?

I spoke of no man.

Food and water, Hercules.

That's all.

Jason, who told you of this island?

The goddess Hera.

Port helm.

Steady as you go.

Furl the sail.

Ashore for food and water.

- Are goats good sailors?

- Goats? What are you talking about?

What do you want with goats

onboard ship?

Well, some of us might be hungry...

...or thirsty.

Come on.

Here's one for the pot.

Hercules.

Isn't he one of the Titans?

He might be. He's big enough.

Didn't Jason say something

about Talos?

This must be where Hephaestus

molded the statues of the gods.

Yes. And set them up

for all the world to see.

Hercules.

It's a treasure chamber.

The treasure chamber of the gods.

Look at this.

And this.

A pearl.

It's a javelin.

Don't be silly. In a jewel box?

It's a brooch pin.

Well, whatever it is,

it'll make a useful weapon.

Let's get back to the ship.

- Hercules.

- Well, what is it?

- You'd better put it back.

- Why?

- Remember what Jason said?

- It won't be missed.

Anyway, if the gods leave all this

lying about unguarded...

...they obviously don't want it.

Come on.

It must have been the wind.

And you saw nothing of them

after that?

Perhaps Hercules found a woman

after all.

Talos.

- Back water.

- Back. Back water.

Back.

I warned you, Jason.

This is Hercules' doing.

Talos will try to kill all of you.

How can I fight him?

Think before you waste

the gift of the gods.

Against a man of bronze,

our weapons are useless.

I repeat that question.

Then I must answer it.

Fight Talos with your wits

rather than your courage.

And look to his ankles.

His ankles?

There is nothing else I can tell you.

Jason.

You disobeyed my order.

Lure him to these rocks,

but stay out of reach.

- And what will you do?

- I shall hide here, Acastus.

I shall do my very best

to send him to you, Jason.

My very best.

Mind his foot!

Quick, get back to the rocks.

Hylas.

Hercules, you've left your--

- Well?

- We searched, Argos.

And I will search again.

Hylas was with us.

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