The Not So Scary Cyclops

On a cold rain-soaked night, a dark ship crashed through a large wave and a monstrous island loomed into view. Their voyage at sea had been hard and sleepless for the last couple of days. Eurylochus, who was on watch, cried out to the rest of the crew “Land ho!” They had made it.

As they beached the ship, the rosy streaks of dawn began to appear on the horizon. Their skin felt the warm relief they had long been yearning for.

“Pair off in groups of five and explore the island,” ordered Odysseus. “We will meet back here at night fall to decide on a course of action.”

“Aye, Captain!” they all replied in unison and off they went.

As the groups were exploring the island, they began to hear very loud booms that shook the earth. These loud booms accompanied with the sheer size of the trees, boulders, and cliffs made the island very intimidating to the men. They travelled through massive forests, strong flowing rivers, and under the shadows of sheer cliffs all the while hearing ground-shaking booms. They were perplexed by these sounds until one saw a cyclops that towered over the tallest tree thundering along towards a mountain. The group quickly headed back to the ship to report what they had seen.

“The cyclops was how much bigger than a man?” Odysseus asked.

“At least fifty times my height, Captain,” replied Eurylochus.

“We must go meet him and see if he has hospitality to weary travelers,” Said Odysseus.

Off they went in search of the cyclops following Eurylochus who remembered the way to the cave dwelling of the giant.

As they approached the cave, Odysseus called out to the cyclops, “Hullo, Cyclops sir, would you be gracious enough to some weary travelers to let us come inside?”

“Of course, friend!” replied the cyclops.

As they entered the cave, the cyclops said, “My name is Zacheus. What brings a crew of men to my island?”

“We were on a voyage to cross the sea when we lost our way,” Replied Odysseus.

“Well, you all must be very tired and hungry. Good for you all I have a large herd of sheep that I can prepare a feast with as well as good sweet wine to drink.”

As they were eating and drinking, they began to talk about their lives.

Odysseus asked Zacheus how many of his kind there were, and the giant replied, “There are over two thousand spread out across these islands. Some are much older than I and some are much younger, but none have been born in hundreds of years.”

“How is that?” asked Odysseus.

“The women went on a long voyage to seek the gods and pray for fertility, but they never returned. They have now been gone for a hundred and fifty years and we have given up hope,” replied Zacheus.

"Do not give up hope, Zacheus," said Odysseus. "I have heard tale of an island of cyclops women across the sea. Legend says that they got caught in a storm that pushed them off their course and they have never found their way home."

“Oh Odysseus, may the gods bless you for this wonderful news! Come, let us eat and drink and be merry!”

With that, the men and Zacheus ate, drank, and sang songs until late in the evening when they all dozed off from exhaustion.

They woke feeling refreshed and blessed to have met such a nice cyclops in Zacheus. He gave them sheep and wine for the voyage and sent them on their way across the sea.