Donjeta and the Sea -- Chapter Seven -- Home at Last

I clung to a splintered section of the mast bobbing in the sea. Fifty yards away, twisted in a bunch of line, floating on a heap of shattered planking and a broken spar, was Telemachus. He groaned in pain from an obviously broken arm. His lower body hung in the water.

"Donjeta! Donjeta! Please come to me, comfort me. It hurts so bad."

I continued paddling away. I had been at it for an hour at least, but it was slow going paddling a broken mast. I had a goal, however, for before me, another forty yards, the water changed color, a wide strip of brilliant greenish-blue. It was a current. I was sure of it.

"Be quiet, Telemachus. Pray to the gods to save you, for I won't."

I kept paddling. The sun beat down on me draining me. My thirst grew, but I kept paddling. Telemachus began to sing, a silly song one might sing to a child.

I paddled. I drew close. A few more yards.

"Donjeta! The fish are biting me!"

Five more strokes, and I moved into the current. The water suddenly became cool and I started to drift.

"Donjeta! Donjeta, don't leave me here!"

It was ten more minutes before he was too far to hear.

The night was cold and a crescent moon cast her wan glow over the wine-dark sea. I couldn't sleep though. The mast was narrow and I clung to it. If I slept, I would slip into the deep.

I slept.

I woke to dawn's rosy light and strong arms pulling me from the churning surf. A man dragged me onto the sand. The ship's mast was nowhere to be seen.

"I don't know which god is looking after you, girl, but you're lucky I was on the beach today, and lucky I chanced watch the dawn."

He set me down and stood back looking at me. He was a rugged man with a bald head and deep sad eyes. He gave a wry smile.

"Well, if you've been drifting at sea I expect you're thirsty. There's a spring. Can you walk?"

I rose on shaky legs.

"I can walk."

"Good. You're not in such bad shape. Been drifting long?"

"Only a day this time."

"This time?"

His eyes glinted.

"You've been shipwrecked before?"

I said nothing.

"Alright, you needn't explain yourself to me. Come. Follow me to the spring."

I drank my fill. Then I followed him and sat on a small bluff overlooking the water.

"I like to sit here and watch the surf. It's peaceful and reminds me of home."

"Where are we anyway? Is this an island or the land?"

"This is Ogygia, the isle of Calypso the nymph."

"Where? I've never heard of it. What men live here?"

"Well, one man, just me."

"Oh?"

"The nymph keeps me here."

"I see. They do that, nymphs. Ever heard of Circe?"

His eyes glinted and he got quiet. We watch the surf crash against the shore.

"Surf's coming up. It's doubly good you drifted in when you did. The gods truly favor you."

"I wonder, do they?"

He stared out over the sea for a long while.

"Good question. Do they favor any of us?"

"What's your name anyhow?"

"I'm Nobody."

I glanced at him. I laughed, a tiny laugh.

"I'm nobody too, but you can call me Donjeta."

"Hi Donjeta. Just call me Nobody."

"You're serious?…Oh, you are. Well, hello Nobody."

We sat.

"Donjeta, let's build a raft. I've been here too long. It's time I went home and stopped being Nobody."

"Yes! That's a very good idea."

We spent the day chopping trees with crude tools, whittling them down to well shaped logs, then tying them together with fibrous vines. We finished half that day.

We ate the fruit of the island. For dinner, Nobody slipped up to the nymph's caverns and brought back bread, honey, and wine.

"She's mad at me again. I wonder if she realizes I'm leaving."

"Why's she mad at you?"

"I don't love her. She says I pine too much for my home and family."

"Oh. What does she expect?"

He shrugged and lay down. We slept, near, but not too near.

The next day we finished the raft. More bread, honey, and wine, and another night's sleeping under the stars.

"I not going with you, Donjeta."

"Why not?"

His face was rigid, a dark cold expression.

"I dreamt last night, words on the wind sent by Athena through Morpheus's horned gate. My wife is faithless, has been for years, and my son is fated to die."

"We have many dreams that are false."

"This dream wasn't false. The goddess has neglected me, but still, I know her form and manner. It was Pallas I saw."

Why didn't she visit me?

"Get on the raft. I will push you through the surf."

"We'll push it together. I can swim."

"True. You're strong for a girl."

We pushed the raft through the breakers into the sea.

"You sure you won't come, Nobody?"

"No, I shall return to the nymph. I'll tell her I love her. I've never said it before, and I'm not sure that I do, but still—it'll make her happy. I shall make her a garland of hyacinth and put it on her neck. I'll kiss her and swear to be her faithful man. She'll smile."

He released the raft and swam until the surf caught him and carried him to shore. I set the sail and the wind grabbed, shooting me out to sea. I looked back at the island, but he was gone.

A strong east wind carried me through the day and into the night, until my eyes dropped. I furled the sail and cast an anchor line into the sea. I slept under the stars. Dawn rose, and I set my sail, catching the wind.

Mid-morning I saw a ship heading north, its oars sweeping the sea a half-mile away. I stood and waved my arms. I even shouted, for all the good it would do at such a distance, but the ship slowed and turned, rowing toward me. I saw a figure dash its length, from the stern to the very tip. As it drew close, I saw that figure was a girl. I waved and called out.

"Hello!"

"Hi. You need help I assume."

"Yes. Help would be most welcome."

I adjusted my sail and maneuvered to the side of the ship. A crewman pulled me up. The girl approached me.

"Welcome aboard. You must have an exciting story, drifting in a raft in such an empty part of the sea."

"Yes, but it's a long tale. I'm Donjeta."

"Hi Donjeta. I'm Nausicaa of Phaeacia."

"Pleased to meet you."

Nausicaa wore a diaphanous dress. She had cream colored skin, brown hair, and dark eyes. She turned and walked to the rear of the ship.

"Come Donjeta. Are you thirsty?"

"A little. I had plenty of water on the raft, and food to last a week."

"Oh? I'll have a crewman bring it on board. One can never have too much at sea, but forget your boring water. We shall share some wine."

A man met us on the rear deck. He smiled.

"So, Princess Nausicaa, who's your new friend?"

"Donjeta, this is Captain Eustathios. Captain, this is Donjeta."

"Hello Captain Eustathios. Nausicaa, you're a princess?"

"Yeah."

"Your family sent you to sea?"

"Yes. I'm to be married, and I go to meet my husband, a king in Thrace."

"You're sailing to Thrace?"

"Indeed. Now, where's that wine? Captain, please find it? Donjeta, let's sit and dangle our legs over the sea. I find that pleasant."

The captain fetched a small pitcher of wine. I joined Nausicaa and dangled my legs from the rear deck over the sea. The ship got back under way, the men rowing hard, and a white wake churned behind us.

"So, Donjeta, tell me your tale."

I told her my tale. I left a few parts out, about Telemachus, and my being an Amazon, and Athena—just a few parts. When I finished the princess looked at me with a big grin.

"So, you wanna go to Thrace too?"

"Yeah."

"The gods must have arranged our meeting."

"Yes, I suppose they did."

"Let's sleep under the stars, Donjeta. I'll have the captain bring up my bedroll. It's big enough for both of us."

"Yes, I'd like that a lot."

I lay with her, curled under a thick fleece blanket. We watched the sun set, the daylight drift away. The stars peeked out, Venus first, a speck of light in the fading sweep of blue. I reached over and touched Nausicaa. I stroked her breasts.

"Donjeta, please don't. I don't do—those things."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

I rolled away and removed my hand. She was quiet. I turned to her.

"Are you mad? Do you want me to move away?"

"No, you can stay. Please stay. It's pleasant having you close. You can hold my hand."

I moved close and held her hand. We watched the last rosy hint of dusk slip away. We felt the cold night creep through our blanket. I drew closer to her warmth, such a soft, gentle thing. I began to drift away to sleep.

"Donjeta."

"Yeah?"

"You can kiss me if you want."

I kissed Princess Nausicaa under the starlit sky.

The men rowed for seven days with the wind hard against them until they couldn't carry on. We put in to Icaria to let them rest. Two days, then we sailed again with a middling wind that came and went. I offered to make myself useful, to tie lines or mend the sail. Nausicaa wouldn't hear of it.

"No Donjeta. I'm sure you've had a life of toil, and maybe you will again, but on this trip you're the guest of a princess. We shall linger, nibbling sweet fruits and drinking red wine."

After two days sailing we put in to Lesbos for water and supplies, to the town of Mytilene on the eastern coast. We beached our ship and piled out. Nausicaa took my hand.

"I've always wanted to visit Mytilene. There's a poetess who lives here, a woman who once visited my family when I was very young. Let's head into town to find her while I try to remember her name."

"That sounds fine. Can one of the men loan me a knife?"

"A what?"

"I'd like to carry a knife, in case we get into trouble."

"Don't be silly. I'll have two of the rowers follow along with spears and knives. They'll keep us safe."

The princess and I hurried into the town, through its gates and along its sandy streets. Two of the rowers took spears and knives and followed along.

We found Nausicaa's poetess. She was beautiful and kind. We spend several hours in a garden with a marble fountain and a ring of poplar trees. We talked of love and family. We talked of aging and death, and the gentle whisper of the gods. Nausicaa held my hand and leaned to me, giggling, blushing, and casting down her eyes. The poetess came and took us both, kissing us. Then she and I showed Nausicaa how to love.

When we finished we tottered out on wobbly legs giving each other shy smiles. We met the rowers waiting outside.

"I'd like to make an offering before the temple of Artemis. Wanna come along?"

"Actually, can I split off and visit Athena's temple?"

"Sure, if you want. I'll send one of the rowers with you."

"Don't. I'll be fine on my own. After all, you're a princess, I'm just a girl."

"True."

The temple to Athena was a smallish structure, with only a frontal colonnade. A pair of red latticework doors were closed over its entrance. I climbed the steps, avoiding small clay statues and a bowl of grain left as an offering. I peered through the latticework to the shadowy interior and saw the rough silhouette of the statue within. She held her spear and shield.

I knelt before the doors and closed my eyes. I sent a prayer to her, asking if she still loved me, should I continue on? I heard a voice behind me.

"Do you think they listen, the gods?"

"I hope so, Telemachus. I really do."

I rose and turned, and indeed it was him. He hobbled up the stairs, his swollen arm hanging useless at his side. There were new scars on his face along with the old. He cracked a twisted smile. He had few teeth.

"I prayed to them that you would love me, and they must have heard me for they ever put you in my path. But you don't love me."

"No Telemachus. I don't love you. I never could, you know."

"No, I don't know that. You could have, if things had been different, if you hadn't been so stubborn."

I looked at him. He shifted around. I spoke.

"So what now? Will you keep following me?"

He laughed, a high, wheezing sound.

"I don't even try, you know. Phrygian traders found me floating there, where you left me, and put me off at Lesbos, the only Greek port they planned to call. So again, the gods put us together."

"At this very temple?"

"Well, yes. I dreamt you would be here, so I came."

"Why not go home to Ithaca?"

"Like this?"

I looked at him.

"Telemachus, let's go down from the hill. I shall meet some friends there. I won't do what I must here among the gods."

"Alright."

I descended the steps and the hill, moving back among the buildings of the town. He followed, and we arrived at the place where I was to meet Nausicaa. She wasn't there yet.

"We'll wait for them."

"Donjeta."

"Yes?"

"When you do it, make it quick."

I said nothing. I didn't even look at him. Nausicaa and her rowers arrived coming around a corner, her voice ringing out in laughter. She saw us and stopped.

"Oh dear! Donjeta, who is that man? Not a friend, I hope."

"Princess Nausicaa, this is Telemachus, Prince of Ithaca."

"Oh my! Greetings Prince. Are you in need of assistance?"

He blurted out a short laugh. I stepped forward catlike and grabbed a knife from one of the rower's belts. I turned and plunged it into Telemachus's belly. I tore up then cut down. I yanked the knife free. He grabbed his wound, holding the gash and dropping to his knees. Princess Nausicaa screamed.

A rower tried to grab me, but I shucked him off and slipped from his grasp. I spun and danced away.

"Oh Donjeta! Why such a cruel wound?"

The prince kneeled. The black blood poured through his fingers, pooling on the dusty road.

"Even at my death you torment me."

"Donjeta! What happened?"

It was the princess. Her rowers tried to stay between her and me, but she shouldered between them and stepped directly before me. I still held the knife.

"Princess Nausicaa, I am Donjeta daughter of Antiope, Queen of the Amazons. I am a child of the steppes, a warrior girl who worships bloody death, and Telemachus had it coming."

Her eyes got huge.

"Donjeta?"

The prince fell to his side. He cried out, blood spattering from his mouth.

"Donjeta, I forgive you. It was the gods that did this to us. I blame the gods."

"The gods didn't rape me, Telemachus. You did."

We left that place, the princess, her men, and I.

I assume he died, for I never heard from him again.

We were a day out from Lesbos, sitting with our legs hanging off the stern. The sun was low in the sky.

"Donjeta."

"Yes?"

"Sorry I've been so quiet."

"It's understandable. I'm sorry I didn't tell you everything about me, about the prince and stuff."

I still hadn't—told her everything. She didn't know about Pallas.

"That's fine, and I don't really care about that. I mean—what happened at Lesbos was terrible, but it's in the past and you had a good reason. It's about where we're going. It's just—I'm going to marry a man I've never met. He'll want to—do things."

"Men usually do, but then again, I like to do those things also, with you. You should at least meet this husband before you worry. If your parents thought he was good enough, perhaps he is."

"Maybe. I wish I could marry you, Donjeta."

"Ha! I imagine your parents wouldn't approve."

She smiled.

"No, they would raise certain objections."

I looked at her soft skin and her shy smile.

"Nausicaa, you're like two people you know."

"Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Well, when you're being princess girl, you're confident and in charge. Everything is 'this pleases me' and 'Captain, do this!' 'Bring me my wine!' But, when you're being yourself—like right now—when you're that other Nausicaa…"

She turned to me. Her eyes.

"I love you. I…just…"

"Oh Donjeta!"

"It would be very bad for my family if I skipped out on this marriage."

"You should meet the man, at least, but if you don't love him, if he's bad to you, you can come with me."

"I'd like that."

"There is one thing, though. You might not like it."

"Oh?"

"I have a lover. She waits for me."

"Donjeta?"

"But don't worry too much. She isn't the jealous sort. Well actually, she can be very jealous, but I don't think she'll be jealous of you. In fact, I think exactly the opposite. I think she'll love you as much as I do. Could you live like that?"

"Like the three of us? Like—us and the poetess?"

"Yeah. Like that."

She smiled.

"I would like that very much. What's her name?"

"Pallas Athena."

"Ha!"

She shoved me.

"And I believed you for a second."

We landed in the town of Aenus on the shores of Thrace. There was a great celebration, the townspeople pouring down to the beach, after they figured out what ship this was and who it had brought. We stood on the rear deck, watching the captain meet with the Aenians.

"Do you think he's one of those men?"

Nausicaa peered from the rear deck, seeming to study each face. There were many men, some of good figure, some not. Some had friendly faces; some were stern.

"I dunno."

I wasn't looking very closely at the men on the beach below.

"You're very beautiful. That dress takes my breath away."

It was sea-green and shimmered, so fine I could see her figure beneath.

"Yes. It's silk."

I didn't know what silk was, but I liked it.

"Anyhow, let's go down and meet them, find out which is your man."

"Donjeta! Let's not. I don't even want to know which is him. Let's run and hide in the hills. You say you have friends among the Thracians? Get one to smuggle us out!"

"It'd be hard in that dress."

"Fine! I'll change into homespun."

I smiled. I looked at her.

"Yes. Let's do it! Wait, I have a plan."

"What?"

"Wait below. Say you don't feel well. Change into a tunic."

"Hurry, Donjeta. If I meet him I might change my mind.

I leapt off the ship away from the crowd and dashed into town.

"You're Galina?"

"Yes, dear. How can I help you?"

She was a matronly woman with a kind face. We stood at her doorway.

"Ma'am, please forgive my being blunt, but I have little time—"

"Oh?"

"I am Donjeta, the daughter of Antiope. I believe you knew my mother. Maybe you've heard of me?"

Something passed over her face, something wistful.

"Yes dear, I've heard your name. You're very beautiful, like her. Please come in."

"Thank you. I need horses. Two at least, but three if you can spare, and it's kinda an emergency."

"Of course. We'll go to the stable immediately. Does this have anything to do with the ship?"

"Yes. I've fallen in love with Princess Nausicaa. We're running off together."

"Oh. Oh my!"

She gave me three horses, two mares and a gelding. One of the mares, a pretty bay, I took for myself.

"What's her name?"

She smiled.

"I hope I don't offend you."

"Oh?"

"When we got her, she was so spirited, and—you see, I had been thinking about your mother, and some women from your tribe had visited and told me stories of the new princess—"

I smiled.

"—So I named her Donjeta."

I kissed the woman. I wasn't offended at all.

We bridled the horses, and I galloped down to the beach riding my namesake and trailing the others behind.

The crowd had thinned by the time I got back. The crew remained, along with a few of the elder townsmen. The captain seemed to be apologizing to one. I thundered down to the beach with my three horses.

"Donjeta! What's going on?"

"Hey Cap'n. How's the princess?"

"Fine. Where did you get horses? What are they for?"

"They're a gift. I'm going to take one, and give the other two to the princess and her new husband, which I'm guessing is this man here."

The man stepped forward. He was tall, broad shouldered, and had a strong face. He smiled at me.

"Yes. I am King Melenk, and I am Nausicaa's future husband. Uh—who are you?"

"Hello King Melenk. I'm Donjeta. Congratulations on your marriage. Captain, may I see the princess?"

"She's on the ship. She says she doesn't feel well."

"And she picked a fine time too! I have half a mind to just go up there and pull her down. I'll not have a disobedient wife!"

His smile had disappeared.

"I'll go talk to her."

The man eyed me suspiciously. I rode over to the ship bringing the two other horses with me. My shoulders reached the railing. I called to Nausicaa.

"Sweetie, come on out and be ready to ride."

She came out and gave me a nervous look.

"Just hop over the railing onto the horse."

I motioned to the other mare. I heard a gasp behind me and glanced back. King Melenk stood gazing at the girl with wide eyes. Even in her homespun gray tunic, she was a vision.

"Come on, sweetie," I said.

"Is that him?"

"Yes."

He strutted forward.

"Nausicaa, you are more beautiful than I imagined! More beautiful than any man could imagine, or hope for. Please come down from that ship. I would hold you in my arms."

His smile had returned, a big winning smile. He got closer.

"Jump, sweetie."

She jumped, landing gracefully on the back of the other mare. The captain shouted. King Melenk lurched forward, grabbing at her horse. I grabbed his hair, along the nape of his neck. I shifted my weight, just the tiniest bit, and squeezed my knees. The horse, the other Donjeta, responded instantly—she truly deserved my name, for we sent the king sprawling back into the sand.

"Ride like the wind, Nausicaa! Ride!"

We rode like the wind.

She hung on tight and laughed. We rode down the beach away from the town until we reached a long stretch of green hills. We turned and galloped among them. Then, we stopped by a stream to let the horses rest and take water.

I took Nausicaa in my arms, holding her tight.

"Oh Donjeta, I don't believe I did it."

I smiled.

We rode north for five days, crossing rugged land and reaching another sea. We stopped at little towns, always able to find some woman who knew my people, kind women who knew how to love. We spend two weeks traveling along the coast of that sea until we reached the grasslands, another kind of sea with its own waves stirring in the wind.

"How far does it go like that?"

"Forever, or near to it."

We rode five days out into the grasslands until we came upon a familiar ridge. A stream ran below, close to dry this season, and across that was another ridge. I saw four horses with riders rise from beyond. They were women.

"Nausicaa, my dear, welcome to Amazonia."

"I'm nervous."

"Don't be. You're going to be loved very much."

I galloped down the ridge, this time on the gelding. Nausicaa followed behind. The other riders noticed us and took off into the valley. We met at the stream.

"Donjeta! Oh praise the goddess, it's Donjeta!"

We neared. The girl leapt from her horse, pitching into the grass. She ran. Jumping from my horse, I ran too.

"Donjeta!"

"Tueta!"

For she was my sister Tueta. I threw myself into her arms. Two of the others were sisters also: Pherenike, with her soft smile and patience, and Clio, with her honey colored hair and quick laugh, but sweet Tueta was my favorite. We hugged and hugged.

"And who is this, dear sister?" Clio asked.

"This is Princess Nausicaa from Phaeacia. She and I are close."

My sisters smiled. Everyone got off their horses, and they greeted Nausicaa with kisses and hugs.

The fourth girl had hung back, but now she rode up.

"Who's this?"

"Donjeta, don't you remember Pallas? You two were good friends."

"I do. I do remember Pallas. Of course I do."

The gray eyed goddess rode up, and I saw her face. Such a sweet smile. Such eager eyes. I felt the world get hazy. My sisters got quieter, as if far away. I heard their laughter, and Nausicaa's, like it was carried on the wind. The goddess dismounted.

"I played a little trick on their memories."

"I noticed. Do you mind that I brought a friend?"

"No. Nausicaa has always been a favorite. It wasn't an accident that you met her."

"You put her in my path?"

"No. My uncle did. Turns out when you healed his son, the cyclops, he suddenly became your friend and protector."

"Ah. That's good. So my dearest Pallas, what are your plans? Will you stay with me?"

She let out a long sigh. She smiled and took my arms, pulling me to her.

"Yes Donjeta, I'll stay with you. We'll be together forever."

She wrapped me in her arms, and I heard my sister's voices get loud again. I felt Nausicaa rest a hand on my shoulder and get close. They hugged me, the two of them, me between them. The wind blew across the grass. A horse neighed, and then, surrounded by my sweet sisters and in the arms the girls I loved, I cried. I finally let myself cry.

"Oh Donjeta, don't cry. You're home now."