Journal VII: The Sun God
Tydeus, Eurylochus, and I had become a very tightly knit group through these adventures, but I was saddened for I knew that they were to die without seeing their homes. I thought of when Tydeus had told me he feared death because of what would happen to his family, and I vowed to myself that when I returned home I would find where they dwelt and somehow take care of them. I also thought daily of Parnassus as I had promised him, but had no place in which to make an offering.
Food and other provisions began to run low again. After two days there was none left, though the chaos had not broken out. All of the men were ravenous and gaunt. When we passed into sight of land once more my heart sank for it was covered with the cattle of Helios. The men saw them too and in their starvation rowed to that shore and killed and ate many of the cattle. I tried to convince them not to, but I could not. Not even Eurylochus would listen to my pleas. Tydeus only of all of them listened when I whispered "Your name is Polites" to him. He helped me try to persuade them not to eat it, but when he tried to pull the meat from the hands of one of the men he pulled out his sword and killed my friend Tydeus. I would have killed the murderer on the spot, but there was no point. He was destined to die soon anyways.
I could take no more. I ran from them and sat on the beach, and wept. My tears wet the sand. I cried out for my wife Penelope, and for my son Telemachus. I yelled for Parnassus, Tydeus, and Eurylochus, my greatest friends. My shouts filled the air for all the dead of this voyage, and there were many.
My men returned offering me meat which I refused. We set sail, but had not gone far when Zeus sent down a great lightning bolt and destroyed my beautiful Cytherea. I floated among the wreckage and saw all were dead. When I turned thrashing in the water I saw Eurylochus' body sink below the surface. I grabbed on to a plank and swam out of the driftwood until I was tired. Then I bound myself to the driftwood I held with my belt and let the sea carry me where it would.