The God of Olympus Read Free

come from?” asked Amphitryon as he looked up. “There are only trees all around.”
    Alcmene looked down at the cheerful babe who seemed to glow in the darkness. Then both looked up in awe at the rocks, hail, and lighting firing down from the heavens.
    “What is going on?” asked Amphitryon. “I haven’t seen a storm like this up here before…”
    “Come let us move quickly,” said Alcmene. “I sense a dark force at work this evening!” Whether it was the noble instincts of a mother or mere human intuition it was clear that Alcmene sensed something was very wrong.
    The two quickly traveled through the forest back up to their small house in the mountains, just to the north-east of the city of Delphi, where they hid the child. “The Gods are greatly upset!” yelled Amphitryon, now barely able to hear himself above the sound of the storm. The storm continued to rage with great intensity around their home, so much so in fact, that Amphitryon and Alcmene both thought that they were going to lose their cottage. However, before all was lost they suddenly heard the babe mumble a few clearly distinguishable words.
    “Stop!” yelled the child as he pointed his finger up towards the heavens.
    Amphitryon and Alcmene were both frightened, not as much by the fact that this child spoke (although this was surprising considering his age), but by the fact that after the child spoke the storm suddenly ceased.
    “What manner of child is this that the elements obey him?” asked Alcmene.
    The couple just stood there in awe, staring at this cheerful, heavenly child, until they heard a loud knock at their door.
    “Hide the child,” whispered Alcmene. “I will get the door.”
    Amphitryon nodded and went back to hide the babe in the back room.
    Alcmene opened the door slowly, but was surprised at what she saw. In front of her was a bright man who looked no older than twenty-one. He was clothed only in a light-blue robe and sandals. In his hand he held some kind of white staff.
    “You really are going to keep a God waiting at the door? How preposterous!”
    “Who are you?” she asked, as she opened the door and let him wander on inside.
    The man was relatively odd looking. In fact, it was hard to tell whether he was a man at all. He entered the house and suddenly lifted up his right foot. “Wait!” he said, reaching his hand down to pull off one of his blue sandals. “Okay, I got it! A rock was stuck in my shoe you see! Oh, blast, I hate when that happens. It never happens in heaven ya know. Well, what are you gonna do? We must treat some things lighter than others. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Hermes, messenger of the Gods, patron of poets, travelers, herdsmen…well basically I have a very long title. But that is unimportant. What is important is that I have come on behalf of the child you have. Tell me, I was sure that I saw him land in your cart and come this way. Where is he?”
    At this moment Amphitryon was still hiding with the child in the back room of the cottage, listening to their strange guest. Alcmene still didn’t know whether the guest was an ally or an enemy, but was beginning to believe that he was no enemy. “For what enemy,” she thought, “would wear something like this and appear so bright and happy?”
    Suddenly Hermes smiled and moved over towards the hall. “Do not worry,” said Hermes. “I come in peace, in behalf of Zeus and Hera, high Gods!”
    Amphitryon looked over at Alcmene who smiled and, without hesitation, motioned for him to come out. “It is fine. Bring out the baby! I know that he is a messenger of Zeus and Hera!”
    “Wonderful!” exclaimed Amphitryon, who brought the naked child out in his arms.
    Hermes sent a powerful smile down at the child and began running his hand along his head. “Oh my goodness! It is him! The son of Zeus and Hera—Hercules!”
    “Hercules,” said Alcmene. “That is the child’s name…”
    “The son of Zeus and Hera?” said