Journal IV: The Wind King, and the Laestrygonians
At first the curse had no effect and we were able to reach the island of the Wind King with no mishaps. His small land goes by the name Aeolia, and he by the name Aeolis. Aeolis treated us very well and when the time came for us to leave his fine halls I alone went to him and begged him to help us home. He led me to Aeol, the largest mountain on his island, and drew his sword, piercing all the sides but the one on the west. The winds spewed out where he pierced the mountain and he captured them in a bag made of the finest bull-hide. This he gave to me and told me that I now had all the winds that would blow me off course contained in the sack. In this way I should reach my longed for home of Ithaca faster, but I must also heed his warnings.
"First," he said. "do not tell your men of the contents of this bag, and second do not let it out of your sight, do not even sleep until you have passed through the doors of your house. I thanked him and departed.
At first our journey was as easy as he had promised. The sail was always stretched taut by the strength of the west wind which steered us toward home. I sat near the stern of the ship guarding the bag. After the passing of a few days I was struggling to keep my eyes open. Even worse were the incessant questions of the crew of the bag. I told them that it was not any concern of theirs, and that they must concentrate on getting us home. Even with all of my assurances I know that they did not believe me. I saw them whispering together and heard the words 'bag', and 'treasure' in their mutterings.
Very soon staying awake was torture. I would pace the deck fighting an inner battle. After a week of journeying I stumbled in my pacing and I could not manage to get up again. I managed to sit up and averted my eyes out to sea. I recognized the coastline of my homeland of Ithaca before I lost consciousness...
I was awakened by the severe rocking of the boat and when I sat up there were three great storms howling above us and nowhere could I find Ithaca. My eyes wandered over the deck and finally fell on the empty bag beside me. I realized what had happened and tears filled my eyes. I wept for we had been so close. After many hours the winds fell back into place and the sea was calm again.
During this time I had another talk with Tydeus, who revealed to me his secret name. His father had given him the name Tydeus, but his mother had in secret called him a different name. She was close to death and had died in the night after she had named him, and so he treasured it and had not told any, but me. His true name was Polites and his sharing this sealed our bond of friendship.
When we had finished talking I saw another coastline, but this one was unfamiliar. We landed and I sent away three men to greet the Laestrygonians, the people of this land. This time I did not send Eurylochus because of the previous incident with the Lotus Eaters. We waited for the men, but they did not return, nor would they ever. I was exceedingly angry for twice now I had sent men and they had not come to report. I went after them alone, tramping through the forest. I found nothing, and in rage returned to the ships. I sat down for the midday meal extremely frustrated when the Laestrygonians came. They were giants and fed as the Cyclops did, on men. They pummeled us with rocks and my ships were broken around me. I screamed at those who controlled the oars to row as fast as possible to bring us away from this dreadful place, and their cries of mourning mixed with the cries of the men trapped in the harbor as the Laestrygonians feasted on them. Mine was the only ship to leave that harbor of death.