Clash of the Titans by Alan Dean Foster Read Free Book Online Page B

important still."
    "And what might that be?"
    Ammon's tone shifted from serious to sprightly. "Something to wear." He gestured at Perseus's fisherman's loincloth. "Something rather more appropriate to a prince, even if he remains as yet only prince of a hopeful vision."
    Leaving the table, he walked to a high pile of costumes. After several minutes of searching he excavated an embroidered royal cloak of the Tyrian purple for which Phoenicia was famed throughout the world.
    Setting it across Perseus's shoulders, he moved the youth back until he was standing awkwardly before one of the prop thrones. The boy's expression spoke of youth and inexperience, but Ammon could see real courage there, and a burning desire to learn.
    He nodded, satisfied at the sight thus presented. "That will do. Welcome to Joppa . . . Prince Perseus!" And he executed a mock bow.
    Both men laughed, old poet and young prince, and each saw a little of himself in his companion.
    Perseus removed the old loincloth and threw it away, to stand grinning in front of the throne. "Am I properly dressed, then?"
    Ammon laughed so hard the tears ran down his face and salted his whiskers. "For success in the city, yes, but for a prince I fear still somewhat underclad. We have begun from the outside. Now we must dress inwards—unless you will settle for being prince only among the ladies."
    They worked with the costumes by torchlight, joking and swapping tales as they sought to complete Perseus's attire . . .
    There is always rage in a thunderstorm: black clouds shot through with lightning, unstable winds, capricious vortices of energy.
    All that and more was reflected in the face of Zeus as he confronted Thetis, Hera, Aphrodite, and Athene. The anger in his voice ruffled the feathers of the owl seated on the shoulder of the goddess of wisdom, and the immortal bird sought shelter behind his mistress's long tresses.
    "You set him down half-naked, alone, ignorant, and hungry outside a strange, accursed city!"
    "You once said that chance would rule his future, Father Zeus." Thetis looked away from him, not quite able to meet the accusation in his eyes.
    "This had nothing to do with chance, and well you know it!" He leaned back in the throne, fuming and fighting to control his temper. "This was a deliberate and malicious act unworthy of a goddess!"
    "You accuse me?"
    "And not wrongly, I think." He glared a moment longer at the sea goddess before turning his attention to the motionless statuette standing on the floor of the pulsing amphitheater. "Who else would have reason?" His gaze traveled over the other three. "And the rest of you have connived in this. I sense it."
    "Nonsense," Hera said, staring back reprovingly. "We have done nothing."
    "Precisely my point, Hera. In doing nothing you have allowed this unfortunate intrusion into the affairs of men. No reaction is the same as bestowing one's approval." He took in a deep breath and wind whistled outside on the mountain.
    "Nevertheless, it is done. I cannot reverse it. Now truly will chance control events.
    "But one thing is certain. He needs and now deserves, because of your actions, more than an actor's dyed cloak and a wooden sword to defend himself." He smiled warningly.
    "I will shield him from otherwordly interferences, but he will be forced to defend himself against the threats of the Earth and his fellowman. I charge you all to provide him with suitable weapons. You claim to have done nothing. I now give you something to do.
    "Athene, from you a proper helmet. Aphrodite, send him a sword suitable to his heritage—one that will not shatter at the first parry of an opponent. And should he mis-parry," he concluded, speaking now to Hera, "you will give him a shield. These he must have with all speed."
    Bundling his robes about him he turned and stalked out of the chamber, to brood on the solitary throne which crowned the very crest of the mountain. There he would commune silently with his friends the winds and