It is morning now- I bested a man yet he was such a challenge I could not bring myself but to sleep these past two nights- he called himself Sinis- a man who thought himself the son of Hades; well he stays with Hades forever now. If he was the son of a god he was not the son of a Goddess. He did have great strength and will of character, but in the end he he died- he was not a deathless one.
Two night hence I traveled alone to the Corinthian harbour of Kenchreai, where the road bares away from Isthmus. This Sinis sat among the tall pines of trees, almost overwhelmed by the tall shrubbery of brown pines and leaves. He was a short man, his body muscular and attractive. I would have wanted him as a warrior of mine, were his continence not of the most foul and malignant. But such was he, obviously an angry man, his face so distorted, his scowl was probably permanently embedded. The mixture of god and man does so create in the child's mind a craze not easily soothed. Do I seem arrogant? Gods forgive my thoughts. I am human and imperfect-
Yet still, he was an angry and powerful man, Sinis. I slowed but did not encourage his accosting me. That is not a warrior's way. Pittheus taught his grandson well. Sinis spoke to me, one long beefy arm gesturing me closer.
"You are a wayward traveler," said he. I approached, my feet treading over the brittle leaves of underbrush like the crash of waves on the beach.
I replied with caution. "I know my way, friend." Hermes would have been proud. I was quite courteous to the man despite the obviousness of his mal-intent.
Here he stood straight, straightened his toga and travel cloak and stepped forward, and intent gleam in his eye. "No man who knew his way would pass me on the road by Corinth. There is always a price to pay for ignorance on this less traveled road."
At that he grabbed my arm, and with a mighty yank, had pulled me close, his biceps choking my throat, his hand stoll entrapping my own behind my back as his hot breath coursed through my ear.
"You see," said he. "You are a wayward traveler." He slammed me against a tree and, letting go of my arm, reached for the nearest pine branch. But although I knew my way and had chosen my way with intent, I also knew him for the evil that he was. He would tie my arm to the branch of the pine tree, then the other, then both feet and watch as the trees holding me, again stood straight and tore the limbs from me body.
I struggled but for a small man he was built with strength... and speed. Before I could get loose, he had my hand tied with course sailors string to the one tree, and was working on the other hand now. I slumped, moving my arm away from the tree he bent toward me, my eyes shutting quickly as the tree that held me littered my head and body with dead pine cones. I am heavy for a man. My body dragged to the ground the tree's branch and I felled Sinis pulling him down with me. Grabbing him, I pulled out my own sailors string and tied him to that same branch that held me captive, then quickly untied his amateur knot. Well-spoken and strong he was, but this was no sailor!
Then I grabbed the other tree that he'd yet to loose, and tied his wrist to that tree. He kicked out at me as I began to step away, anger and recognition on his face of what I'd done. His booted foot caught me in my temple and I staggered under the pain, my thoughts confused for a moment. Yet it was his instant screaming that brought me back to myself. Looking up into the blue sky as his final cry wrent the air, I watched the trees glisten with red and bits of man fling off into the air the domed the forest where I stood. I collapsed with fatigue and have only now pushed myself to rise so that I can continue on my journey. What a nasty beast was Sinis. I am glad to have got him gone!
