Escaping the Lotus Eaters

From the ship's log of Odysseus:

Exciting it was, with the war being over. Finally I could make my way back home to my wife, my everything, my queen, my Penelope. Not only that, my son as well. Telemachus would have turned eleven that year. Ten long years I had been gone away from my family and my country. My comrades said their goodbyes as they put the ships out to sea on the way to their homes, all off to see their families. To go home and rest would be a joyous gift from the gods.

Slowly, the crew started to synch up in their rowing. My twelve ship fleet started to pick up pace and head swiftly towards our homes. Nothing more could ruin this for me. Then with the thought of it acting as a devilish magic enchantment, rain drops started to fall into my face. At first, it seemed like water splashing up from the stern of the ship into my face. Then with a glance to the sky and a few moments passing by, a storm rolled right into my convoy. The waves picked up and thrashed my group around. The sides of our ships hit one another, and it seemed as if all was lost. The sails ripped into three parts as if to punish us. My mates started to look for land and slowly worked themselves into frenzy. If I didn’t say something immediately, the morale of my crew would drop. “We will be saved,” I sounded off, “and the gods are to be thanked.”

The ending of the storm was the best part. The drenched bread and rainwater started to get to me after nine days and night, though the worst part was finding all twelve of my ships lying on the shoreline of a nearby island.

“Can we go and look for food,” asked Eurylochus.

“You don’t want to rest?” I asked reluctantly.

“I’ve got a wife and six daughters to get home to, and I don’t mean to keep them waiting any longer than need be, Captain. I’ve been away ten years already,” Eurylochus replied.

My thoughts were many. I asked myself a vast multitude of questions. What would the natives think? Would they think that we were here to take over? What kind of people would they be? “Very well, but take some men with you, and tread easy. I don’t want the natives to think that we are an invading force. And try not to get into any fights.”

I couldn’t very well go with them. No matter how bad I wanted to. I had boats to tend to. My men getting back home was my number one priority. Not only after I inspected my last boat did I realize that it was dark and still Eurylochus had not returned. I will wait until morning to search for them. They were probably on their way back even as I sat and contemplated.

I awoke at first light and organized a small search party. The rest of the outfit I had stay and guard the ships. My group and I started out through the forest looking for the lost crew members. The smells and sights were both amazing and new. Everything started to get eerie. My thoughts were on finding my men and getting back intact to Ithaca. Just ahead there was a clearing with a brilliant lake and a small village beside it. As I took in the spectacle, I realize that Eurylochus and the small party I sent with him all lay in a shaded cabana. Their weapons, too far away from them, would make them useless if a battle were to break out. The natives, naked, were standing nearby them feeding them fruits from bowls. Slowly they made their way towards me and my band, pulling us towards the shade, handing us fruit. Softly, they spoke,though I did not understand them. The ominous feel started when I realized never once did they stop smiling.

Eurylochus looked to me, asking, “Don’t I know you? Come have some fruit. There is plenty. Plenty! Taste it! You have never tasted anything like it. Know you, don’t I?” Quickly, he tossed Polites the small grape-like fruit.

Quickly, I intercepted it and threw it away from me. I commanded Polites to tell the men not to take the fruit. My sights were still set on Eurylochus. “What about your wife and six daughters? Will you keep them waiting while you sit here?” I asked my friend. With the rest of my men still in a conscious state, I commanded them to take hold of the blissful company and carry them back to the ships.

Nothing would stop me from seeing my wife and son. As we arrived back at the ships, the first search party tied down to the rowing benches, and we prepared to depart. As quickly as we had arrived, we left the land. On our way from the island, those who had eaten the fruit mourned, crying out.