Atalanta and the Arcadian Beast by Jane Yolen Read Free Book Online Page A

horrified.
    “And we can’t very well leave her tied up,” Evenor added.
    “Why not?” Goryx asked.
    “She’s a child,” Phreneus said.
    “A girl child,” Evenor added. Atalanta could see relief written on his face, as if having Phreneus on his side made things easier.
    “Well, it’s a sorry prize we’re bringing home today,” Goryx said.
    Evenor crouched down by her. “Listen, child, if you understand, give me a sign.”
    She stared at him, through him, but said nothing.
    “We’re going to leave your arms tied. But as long as you leave off your kicking and biting, we’ll not tie your feet or gag you.”
    Atalanta looked down again. She’d make the walk to Eteos easy for them. Every step in that direction put more distance between Urso and these dangerous men. But nothing—nothing at all—would make her stay.

CHAPTER NINE
THE VILLAGE
    T HEY MADE IT TO Eteos by midmorning of the next day. Atalanta had had to endure a night tied up. The men were taking no chances of her escaping.
    I can wait, she thought. I can outlast them.
    Eteos was a small huddle of three dozen mud brick-and-thatch houses around a central square in which stood a herm, a pillar with a stone head of Hermes at the top, for prosperity and fertility. The whole place was less than half a hectare. To Atalanta, it looked crowded and unhealthy.
    The men dragged her into the square and leashed her to the pillar like an animal, then left.
    I won’t cry, she told herself. And indeed, she was so furious, she only glowered like a captured beast.
    In the course of the afternoon, everyone in Eteos must have come out for a look. They stared at her and spoke about her as if she could not hear them or understand. The children were the worst. They seemed to make a game out of calling her names.
    “Wolf girl,” they cried. “Wild boar.” And, “Pan’s baby sister.” When there were no grown-ups around, the children also hurled stones and handfuls of dirt at her just to see her snarl. Then they’d jump back, squealing and laughing, from her snapping teeth and grasping hands. For of course she couldn’t reach them. A stout leather collar had been strapped around her neck and fastened shut with bronze studs. The collar was fixed to a length of thick rope that was wound around the pillar and tied with a whole string of knots that were too tight for Atalanta to work free without the help of a knife. Tethered like a wild animal, she began to act the part. At least that way she made the children keep their distance.
    She knew that all she had to do to get free of the collar, the rope, the humiliations, was to talk to the people of Eteos, to let them know she was as human as they. But that would have been a defeat. For if they knew that she was one of them, that her father was dead, they would make her stay. Make her live in the village.
    I can take anything, she thought, but that.
    As the sun started down, Atalanta slumped against the post. An old woman, dressed in a frog-green garment with a bundle of kindling on her back, stopped to cluck and shake her head at the ragged captive.
    “Poor child,” she said through broken teeth. “Poor child.”
    Atalanta growled at her and the old woman left, still shaking her head.
    Then two boys appeared, elbowing each other and laughing.
    “Go on,” said one, “go closer.”
    “No, she might eat me,” his friend protested with a giggle.
    Egging each other on, they edged toward her, smirking and chuckling.
    “Hoi—wild child!” the braver one called.
    Atalanta remained motionless, not even looking at them, pretending that she was half asleep.
    Just let them come within reach and they’ll find out how wild I really am, she thought. She’d pay them back for their taunts with broken noses and split lips. A few more feet…
    “Get away from there!” boomed a familiar voice. “Leave the girl in peace! She’s not hurting you.”
    At the sight of Evenor striding toward them, the boys took off, disappearing