Medusa's Head

By G. W. Thomas

"Ho!" saluted the wizard. The man turned and stared at the odd four-armed figure of the Rainbow Man, then looked away. "Are you the mighty hero, Argestos?" asked the magician.

"Aye," sighed the tall warrior, his hair flecked with salt and pepper. "What do you want?"

"I am a traveler. I had heard in the inn at the bottom of the mountain that you lived here. I was surprised to hear it. The tales of your exploits place you in the royal castle at Jumo."

"Lies. Most of them anyway."

"Did you not slay the Dread Beast Gargoset?"

"Aye, I did. You know the story, friend? Of how the gods lead me to the Medusa's lair so that I might cut off her head and use it to turn the beast to stone? That part is true. The weathered remains of gargoset's form lie to the east, in a valley filled with sheep." The warrior's eyes became glassy and more distant.

"The story-tellers say you left the monster, married the princess Daphona and went on to rule all of Harkustan," added the Rainbow Man.

"That is the lie, my friend. I could not do those things. I had slain the Dread Beast Gargoset, which ate my father's sheep, five or six a week, but afterwards, I came here."

"Why is that?"

"Because a weapon such as the Medusa's head needs watching. Like Gargoset, the she-beast was virtually indestructible. Only her neck could suffer a mortal wound. The head can not be so easily thrown away. I tried boiling it, burning it, crushing it under stones. All useless. So, I guard it, so that no other mortal should suffer my fate."

"Your fate?"

"Before the beast, my father lost many sheep, but I was a happy lad, a winner of sports, a conquerer of girls and women. Now--I am a prisoner of the head. I will live all my life here."

The Rainbow Man left the Argestos, headed for the inn at the bottom of the mountain. The revelers there asked after the hero. The wizard answered. "He is dead. The Medusa killed him."

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