The Gorgon Slayer Read Online Free PDF Page A

bristles aside. “THEN I GUESS I’LL BLAME YOU ALL. HALF PAY FOR ROCKHEADS.” His big mitt slapped a wadded ten-dollar bill into each of the first four employees’ hands, then slapped one into Warren’s.
    “But I’m not a rockhead,” Warren said meekly. “Not really.”
    “YOU GET HALF PAY FOR VIOLATING PROCEDURES.”
    “Huh?”
    “YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO KILL GORGONS WITH SWORDS, NOT WITH WEED TRIMMERS.”
    Warren sighed and took his pay. It was best not to argue with Princey.
    Princey paid everyone else his twenty dollars. Poor Rodriguez would have to spend half of his on a manure fumigating service.
    “I’ll see you tomorrow, Princey,” Warren said.
    “RIGHT, TOMORROW. LET’S SEE IF YOU CAN MAKE IT ON TIME TWO DAYS IN A ROW, OKAY?”
    Warren was going to tell Princey about how Happy Harry was ripping him off, but decided not to.
    Princey hacked, spit, and lit a cigarette. Still scowling, he closed the garage door, then crammed himself into his pickup and thundered away.
    Warren joined Rick in staring glumly at their pay. “Not much for all we went through today, is it?” Rick asked.
    “Not much,” Warren agreed. “Ten bucks and no tip.”
    “Are you going to be here tomorrow, or were you just telling Princey a story?”
    “I’ll be here tomorrow.”
    Rick sighed. “I guess I will be, too. I really need that new bike. I’ll see you.”
    “Yeah,” Warren said, “I’ll see you.” He watched as Rick walked stiffly away, then climbed, groaning, onto his bicycle. His legs screamed from the pain of the minor refleshing they’d undergone.
    “Hopefully,” he said to himself, “they aren’t so sore that they can’t speed me past the unicorn crossing.”
    “Beware of the sausage maker on your ride home, Piggy.” Rank Frank laughed.
    “Go kiss Medusa, Frank.” Warren pedaled painfully away.
    The sun was setting. The air was summer-evening cool, with birds singing sweetly in the trees. A fairy family was having a picnic on a napkin across the street—a corn kernel, a whole thimbleful of soda, and a miniature marshmallow for dessert. It promised to be a beautiful evening.
    Warren sighed. If only tomorrow would hold so much promise.
    Tomorrow was just another day working atPrince Charming’s Damsel in Distress Rescue Agency. If Warren was unlucky, and after today he had no reason to think he wouldn’t be, it would be another day of lousy assignments at half pay.
    But maybe things will be different
, he thought.
Maybe I’ll get lucky. Maybe I’ll get an easy assignment—like slaying a dragon
.

H EROES OF M YTHOLOGY
    The ancient Greeks believed that the world was flat and circular and that the only existing sea, the Mediterranean, was filled with dragons, monsters, and enchantresses. Believing in heroes and gods who championed the common man gave people a sense of well-being and security.
    HERCULES —the son of the god Zeus and a mortal woman, Alcmene. This hero was famous for his strength and courage. His most outstanding exploits were his twelve labors. The sixth of those labors, which is mentioned in this book, was cleaning the stables of King Augeas by running rivers through them.
    JASON —the son of King Aeson of Thessaly. Jason was raised by the centaur Chiron. When he was grown up and ready to take his place on the throne of Thessaly, he found that it had been usurped by his uncle Pelias. Pelias promised to give the throne back if Jason could bring him the Golden Fleece from Colchis. Jason led a band of heroes, called the Argonauts, on a successful mission to find the pure gold wool of the sacred ram.

    ORPHEUS —the son of the muse Calliope. Orpheus went to the god of the underworld, Pluto, to rescue his wife from him. Orpheus’ singing was so beautiful and sad that Pluto let him take her. There was one condition: He couldn’t look back at her as they left the underworld. Out of concern, Orpheus glanced back, and his wife was lost to him forever.
    THESEUS —the son of Aegeus of