Jason and the Argonauts Page #3

We saw him running.

But then he disappeared.

He could've been hurt,

not able to get back to the ship.

Like Palinuros.

We had to carry him aboard.

Hercules, Hylas is dead.

The gods decided it.

Why kill a boy for my grave fault?

But I should have stayed with him.

Search until nightfall.

We won't sail till then.

Sail when you please, Jason.

I cannot leave this island

till I've found Hylas.

Jason.

Will you abandon Hercules,

the best man among us?

- I, for one, won't sail without him.

- Nor shall I.

Nor I.

Come with me.

Hylas!

Is there any man here

who does not obey the gods?

We will do as the goddess Hera

commands, if she will speak to us.

This is your last chance, Jason.

The last time that I can help you.

I understand.

Then know this, Argonauts.

- Hylas is dead.

- Hylas is dead.

As for Hercules, he is not fated

to go further with the Argo.

Zeus has other tasks for him.

And for us, Hera?

Sail to Phrygia.

Seek out Phineas, the blinded man.

Only he can guide you now.

We set sail.

Come on, back to your places.

Back to your places.

Get forward there.

Go away!

Devils! Demons!

Lord Zeus, I was a sinner.

I've never tried to deny it.

But I didn't sin every day.

Why, then,

do you punish me every day?

What in the name of the gods

are they?

Jason.

- Are you Phineas?

- Yes.

Take my arm. I can't see yours.

Don't flinch.

Zeus gave me the gift of prophecy,

but I misused it...

...so I was blinded.

Zeus ordered the Harpies

to torment me.

You, Jason, now listen to me.

The gods have ordered me to tell you

whatever you want to know.

But the gods have gone

too far with me.

They can punish a man so much,

and then one day he abandons them.

He says, "All right, Zeus.

Throw a thunderbolt.

Let the earth swallow me.

I defy you."

You growl away all you like, Zeus.

I mean what I say. Jason.

I'll tell you

what you want to know...

...only if you'll meet my price.

What is your price then?

Free me from these

tormenting Harpies.

If Zeus sent those creatures

to plague him...

...we'd be unwise to interfere.

That's my price.

Then we'll meet it, Phineas.

We'll make you

the master of the Harpies.

Get to the ropes!

Now.

Castor. Phalerus.

Find some wood to build a cage.

Here you are, you hungry fellow.

A big fish for you

and some more wine.

Well, Phineas, we've completed

our part of the bargain.

- What is it you want to know?

- The way to Colchis.

The way to Colchis

is through the Clashing Rocks.

Steer northwest

and you'll reach them in five days.

Northwest, eh?

After the Clashing Rocks,

you turn northeast.

Before long, you'll sight

the shores of Colchis.

But tell me, what gods protect you?

None now.

Then you won't pass

the Clashing Rocks.

- What are the Clashing Rocks?

- They speak for themselves, don't they?

All I can offer you is this.

It's not much reward

for what you've done...

...but it's all I have.

If that's all you can tell us,

then goodbye.

The gods be merciful to you.

Phineas, from now on, they'll witness

a banquet every night...

...and eat the scraps you leave.

Good appetite.

There's not much water here.

Steady as you go. Row easy.

Easy, all.

Easy, all!

It's a narrow channel...

...but I can't see what

made Phineas so frightened.

It looks calm enough.

Too calm.

Acastus!

I know the sea god's moods.

But most of them are dangerous.

Acastus, take a sounding.

The rest of you, be prepared to row

when I give the word.

But an easy stroke.

Save your strength.

They may need it later.

Ship ahoy!

There she is.

She doesn't seem to be

in any great difficulty.

A whole ship's crew.

And Lynceus from the masthead.

There was no hope of saving him,

not in that sea.

Are we going through?

- Yes.

- But it's--

All right, we're going through.

Back to your places.

There's no turning back now.

No, Acastus.

There's no turning back

on this voyage.

Drummer, beat out the stroke...

...but keep it easy.

The gods want their entertainment.

Jason goes too far.

Because he speaks the truth

when the gods themselves go too far?

Turn back, Jason. We're trapped.

- Trapped, Hera.

- It seems so.

You've left me only one move.

Pray to the gods, Jason.

The gods of Greece are cruel.

In time, all men

shall learn to do without them.

Pull! Pull!

Get back to your place.

Pull!

Pull till your hides crack

and your backs break.

Pull!

Keep the stroke going.

Jason dared to speak

of the end of the gods...

...and yet you let him live.

If I were to punish every blasphemy,

I'd soon lose all loyalty and respect.

You are the god of many men.

Yet when those men

no longer believe in you...

...then you'll return to nothing.

You understand that,

and yet you remain with me.

You think it weak of me, my lord?

Not weak.

Almost human.

Whichever god or goddess

helped us...

...is to be thanked.

Those others weren't so fortunate.

What's that?

Who are you?

Your ship was lost.

We found only two other survivors.

They're being looked after.

Here. Drink this.

When did you sail from Colchis?

Dawn, this morning.

Dawn?

Then our journey is nearly over.

- Where have you come from?

- Thessaly.

But that's the other side

of the world.

You don't look like a merchant.

Your vessel's a fighting ship.

We'd be foolish to sail unarmed.

By all accounts, your king, Aeetes,

fears the gods...

...and we were sent by the gods.

But I'm gonna talk to him alone,

peacefully.

Now you answer a question.

What was your ship doing

in such dangerous waters?

We came to sacrifice

to the gods of the rocks...

...to throw flowers onto the sea

to make it safe for our ships.

I'm afraid our gods were angry,

not so powerful as yours.

Are you a priestess?

I serve in the temple of Hecate.

A dancer.

Is Hecate the god of the Colchians?

The goddess.

But I'd heard they worship

some strange idol...

...the skull and skin of a ram.

No ordinary ram.

Its fleece is of gold.

A gift of the gods themselves...

...and it's brought our city

great peace and prosperity.

We'll put you ashore

at dawn tomorrow.

Perhaps you will show me

the way to the city.

Now, tell me your name.

Medea.

And you can answer

my first question.

- Who are you?

- My name is Jason.

Within a few hours,

we shall sight Colchis.

I'm coming in quietly by night.

Now the voyage is over,

I don't want the trouble to begin.

Won't be any trouble, Jason.

Just tell us where the city is

and when we attack.

We don't attack.

But that's foolish. You have

the finest fighting men in the world.

Forty fighting men against a nation?

Better 40 than one, Jason.

We're not pirates, Phalerus.

What's that girl done to you?

We thought you were a fighting man.

I'm going up alone in the morning

to see what the situation is.

Oh, you mean spy out the land.

Well, why alone?

Why not take a few of us scouting?

The fewer who go,

the less can get caught.

- What's the fewest you can think of?

- One, of course.

Right. I accept your advice.

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