text: [Themes: edutainment]
  
  A rough wind beats against the ship as it makes it way to Sparta. The unending torrents of rain spoil even the food that's stored below deck. The moral of the crew is on an all-time low as the last of the drinking water is wasted as the last jug of drinking water is thrown overboard by a large wave.
  
  Exhausted by days of hardship and famine at seas, you reach an unknown island. From the deck of the ship you spot flocks of sheep jumping around the landscape and where there are animals, there's also water. You have a sloop prepared and head of to the shore with Cyrus and seven other men. 'Okay men, we have to collect as much food as possible, two of you are going to look for water. Be on your guard, remember, we are on an unknown island.
  
  A short time later the crew assembles on the beach, bringing a couple of goats, baskets of vegetables and fruits and sheep and enough drinking water for several weeks. As you investigate the day's harvest you are approached by a crew member. 'I'm sorry to interrupt you sir, but one of my friends thought I should tell you about something. While foraging for food we came across a large cave. We believe that it is inhabited, since it has a door and makeshift pens for animals. I don't know if this is of any interest to you, but we just thought that you might want to know.'
  
  Hearing the words of the sailor you mutter to yourself:
  
  > say "Unfortunately we don't have time. We have to set sail tomorrow."
  Too bad, but we have to set sail immediately, time is running out for Greece. The crew sigh softly from relieve, apparently they had a bad feeling about that cave.
  
  You and Cyrus stand at the bow of the ship, looking at the distant horizon. As you stand there you can't but wonder who inhabited that far-away island. But on the other hand, despite your curiosity you too were a little frightened by the cave.
  
  The events of the day have left you tired and you quickly fall asleep. In your dreams you find youself floating above the wine-coloured sea. Violent winds blow right through you and the restless sea sends his waves to the clouded skies above.
  
  You notice a glowing figure standing next to you. As you watch closer you recognize the bright-eyed Athena. She turns her head to you and speaks the winged words: 'Great bard, you have chosen wisely not to venture into the cave on the far-away island, for a terrible monster inhabits it, Polyphemos, the son of Poseidon. But your journey is not over yet and many dangerous fill the roads ahead.'
  
  She points down to two distant shapes in the dark night, lining a narrow passage between two great patches of land.
  
  'On the left is the terrible Charybdis, a monster that spawns terrible currents. On the right is the dreadful Scyla, a beast with six heads that attacks all ships that passes it. Choose carefully, the way ahead is long and Greece counts on you.'
  
  > After these words, the wise Athena disappears...
  The ship rattles and shakes as violent winds torture the sails and restless waves batter the hull. The obvious signs of looming disaster have not gone unnoticed by your crew. Even the most sturdiest sailors in your crew are praying softly to the immortal gods.
  
  Distant lightning illuminates the dark sky.
  
  Cyrus approaches you, his hairs are wet and windswept by the violent weather. A look of horror is on his face. 'My friend, what will this day bring us? What are the almighty gods planning for us today? The crew is restless, everyone can sense that something bad is going to happen.'
  
  You answer him with a slightly trembling voice: 'We are on a perilous journey and dangers await us every day. Keep your faith in the all-seeing gods, for they too want us to succeed.'
  
  Cyrus answer you with a slightly calmer voice: 'But sir, how can you know for sure that the gods...'
  
  You interrupt his sentence as you see two shapeless forms materialising at the horizon. You quickly tell Cyrus to send the men back to their stations and prepare for anything.
  
  The two monsters are coming into clear view. You can see a large cave on the left of the narrow strait, a large whirlpool is forming at it's entrance. On the right you can see a beast with six dog-like head, connected to it's large body with long necks.
  
  You can practically feel the fear of your crew hanging in the air. The moral drops and cries of fear and despair fill the air.
  
  'Zeus, protector of travellers, please keep us safe and...'
  
  'Ares, lord of war, shield us mercenaries from danger...'
  
  You make your way to the centre of the ship. Trying the best you can to make your voice audible above the violence of nature you shout: 'Brave men, tamers of the wild seas, many dangers have we braved together, why should we die now, on this day? Don't let fear conquer your heart. Let us sail forwards with determined souls.'
  
  The looks of utter fear are beginning to vanish from the faces of your men.
  
  'Now, with a brave heart, let us sail past the...
  
  > Charybdis'
  The skies howl and the seas roar as your ship sails towards the monstrous Charybdis. You feel the vessel shaking beneath your feet, as if it too is afraid of the coming confrontation. The islands that seemed so far away are now in front of you. To the far right of the narrow sea-strait you can see the dreadful Scylla. It's six heads almost look sad at the sight of it's lost prey.
  
  In front of you you can see the cave of the Charybdis. It's pitch black entrance stands looming at the side of the sea. You see fear once again gripping the hearts of your crew, even Cyrus looks troubled. And to be honest, you yourself do not feel all too well either.
  
  Suddenly a high-pitched shriek sounds from the cave, piercing the hearts and minds of everyone on board, breaking your last mental defences.
  
  You can feel your heart beating in your chest as the shrieking continues. You start to shake as the shriek reaches a climax and then...
  
  Everything is silent in what feels like an eternity. Neither the skies nor the seas make a sound and the shrieking from cave has silenced. You feel as if you and the ship are floating in mid-air. You see the crew moving around you in slow-motion, as if the Chronos, the god of time, himself has pulled your ship out of the normal stream of time.
  
  Then, as if nature itself is seeking to compensate the slowed down time, the world seems moving at double time. The sounds of the world around you return even louder. The waves are becoming more and more violent. And then the world seems to spin around it's own axis. You manage to take a quick look at the seas beneath the ship before you, like the rest of the ship, fall down on the deck. But the problem is, the sea has gone. Where once waves were crashing onto the hull of the ship, there is now a black nothingness, a looming darkness that bodes your imminent doom.
  
  Charybdis' shrieking seems much more triumphant now and you realise why. The ship is caught in a large whirlpool. A feeling of falling down accompanies your epiphany. The strange thing is, after all you've been through, you are not afraid of dying. You spend your last moments in the world of the living thinking of the people you've met, especially of your new friend Cyrus, the places you've seen and the choices you've made. But you think with regret of the people who will die because of you during Greece's civil war, which you couldn't prevent.
  
  You enter Hades with a calm heart, accompanied by a golden light.