This choice: The original story continues • Go Back...Chapter #10The original story continues by: Carl   There was hushed conversation amongst all the Amazons present about the harshness of Dinah toward her slave, Dirt. Many doubted that any slave could fulfill such an unreasonable command as Dinah had placed upon her slave, Dirt. Some of the Amazons even thought Dinah was crazy for even suggesting such a thing. But one thing was certain. They all wanted to see if Dirt could do what Dinah said he could do. And so the spectacle began.
Dinah left to make sure that Cythoe had reported her slave's wage to the treasurer's center and Hercules began his work. The bridge was a complex lattice of logs of various sizes and Hercules began as he had when making a wagon for Dinah. He found rocks and broke them into cutting blades of various sizes. Then he felled trees and used the rock blades to cut and shape the logs as he needed. Hercules worked through the night and by dawn he had prepared all the wooden members he would need to complete the construction of the bridge.
At dawn, Hercules began completing the lattice work of logs using the wooden members he had prepared. As he worked many Amazons came and went, all of them eager to witness this spectacle of male submission to his mistress. Some were heard to say, "He calls his mistress Goddess as he does all women. His submission to her is absolute."
Also in the crowd were the Amazons who had lost their slaves' wages due to Hercules' completing the job on his own. Cythoe had stirred up discontent among them on account of her craving to see Hercules fail at this task. And so this group of discontent Amazons led by Cythoe sought any opportunity to hinder Hercules in his work. Often they would approach him and command him to serve them in some menial way. And every time, Hercules would humbly comply. Believing they had successfully hindered Hercules in his work, the Amazons retired to their quarters at night. It was during this second night that Hercules worked diligently to complete the bridge. By morning, Hercules had only the support posts left to sink into the ground for the bridge's installing.
Cythoe and her discontent Amazons came 'round early in the morning. They couldn't believe what they saw. Here, Hercules had completed the bridge overnight despite their attempts to hinder his efforts. He was a full day ahead of schedule. But he had yet to sink the support posts into the ground for installing the bridge. And so Cythoe devised a plan that she thought would surely defeat Hercules' strength.
"Dirt," she called. "We need this bridge to be held in place right now so that we may go about our daily business upon it. And since you have not yet sunk the support posts for the bridge, I want you to place the bridge upon your back and hold it for the entire day as we carry out our business."
Cythoe expected Dirt to collapse from sheer exhaustion or to beg her for mercy. But instead she was greeted by a simple, "Yes, Goddess."
With that Hercules hoisted the entire bridge, what must have been a fifty-foot span, onto his back and maneuvered it into place between the two embankments. He then stooped on one knee and held the bridge firmly in place. Cythoe and the other Amazons stared in disbelief at his obedience to what they had thought was an unreasonable command.
Not to be outdone, Cythoe sent word to the Amazons in the village to bring all their westward traffic through this route and over the bridge that Hercules was holding in place. Dinah heard this message proclaimed in the village and went to the bridge site herself. What she saw actually made her angry. She was furious that Cythoe was now actively trying to hinder Hercules from completing his task as promised. But she also knew Hercules craved just this type of insane abuse. So she calmly walked down the embankment and came to Hercules' side.
"Well, Dirt, is this what you wanted?"
"Yes, Goddess."
"I know you haven't slept or eaten in two days. Are you going to be able to hold this bridge all day and still complete its installation by morning?"
"Yes, Goddess."
"Alright, then. I will allow you to undergo this torment as well. But I definitely want to have a word with Cythoe."
"Thank you, Goddess."
Dinah left Hercules' side and climbed the embankment. She approached Cythoe and demanded, "Why have you tried to hinder my slave, Dirt, in the performance of his duty to me?"
"Are you afraid that your slave won't be able to make good on your promise?" Cythoe asked coyly.
"No, he'll obey your command and still complete the bridge installation on time. But I don't appreciate your trying to make him fail, because that means you are trying to make me fail. I thought that we were friends, even sisters."
Cythoe gave pause after this appeal. Her face softened and she felt hurt at her heart that she had tried to undermine Dinah's success.
"I'm sorry, Dinah. I was too proud to admit that you were right and I was wrong. I will never again doubt your claims about Dirt's abilities. He is indeed a very valuable slave. Maybe one day you can be persuaded to sell him."
"Perhaps, one day," Dinah offered.
In all this time and for the rest of the day Hercules held the bridge fast as Amazons and their cattle and their flocks and their herds traveled back and forth across the bridge borne entirely on his back. Finally at day's end Hercules was able to rest from his burden as he put the bridge down. He had only this night left to sink all the supports and install the bridge. With the traffic in the village now at a crawl as most Amazons slept in their beds, Hercules worked with the speed and surety of a god. And when the sun rose, here the Amazons found the bridge installed securely in place with Hercules sprawled across its middle fast asleep. Cythoe sent for Dinah.
When Dinah arrived, she saw Hercules sprawled across the middle of the bridge fast asleep. Cythoe asked, "He has completed the bridge, but now lies in the way. What would you have us do?"
"He is but dirt beneath our feet. Let all your traffic travel over his body as he sleeps in the way. Besides that, he has served me well and deserves his rest, because for nearly three days he has had neither sleep nor food. Yet he has obeyed my command explicitly."
With that the Amazons began their daily business trampling upon the sleeping body of Hercules as if he were nothing but dirt beneath their feet. They and their cattle and their flocks and their herds all crossed the sleeping body of Hercules in the middle of the bridge. Even their fully loaded carts and wagons rolled over the sleeping body of Hercules as the Amazons went about their daily business making use of the new bridge that Hercules had finished building and installing.
Hercules awakened at nightfall and found himself almost completely covered by the accumulated dirt from the feet and wheels of all that had crossed his body during his slumber. As he became fully aware, he realized he was possessed of a terrible hunger. So he traveled into the woods beyond the bridge and felled a deer. He quickly carried it back to Dinah's house where he proceeded to clean and cook the deer. Dinah said little to him while he was absorbed in his work.   indicates the next chapter needs to be written. |
| Members who added to this interactive story also contributed to these: |
<<-- Previous · Outline  · Recent Additions © Copyright 2025 Carl (UN: sauurman at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Carl has granted Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work within this interactive story. Poster accepts all responsibility, legal and otherwise, for the content uploaded, submitted to and posted on Writing.Com. |
View Portfolio
Visit Notebook
Send Gift Points
Awards
Badges
Send Email
Community Newsfeed
General Discussion
Sponsored Items
Book of Trinkets
Static Items
Books
Groups
Interactive Stories
Audio
Campfire Creatives
Community Notes
Crossword Puzzles
Documents
Folders
Images
In & Outs
Madlibs
Photo Albums
Polls
Product Reviews
Quizzes
Survey Forms
Web Pages
Word Searches
More by this author