Read 1304 The Harbinger (The 13th Floor) for Free Online

this challenge would be fair. What had she believed? That it would consist of a wrestling match or a quiet game of chess?
    She turned her attention back to Sam who was surveying the hill. His face was hard with serious thought. He walked over to the boulder, stepping on a sharp rock near it and hopped on the uninjured foot.
    Sam turned to face Zeus. “May I ask for some shoes or boots? And maybe a pair of pants?”
    Giggles filled the arena and a few perverted catcalls. Sam ignored them, but Meira thought she saw some color rise to his cheeks. He was a man comfortable with his body, but she did so love that he was a modest one as well.
    Zeus chuckled and shrugged. “If you wish.”
    A pair of knee high black boots and tan pants that hung low on Sam’s hips appeared. He nodded a thank you and resumed his examination of the boulder. Walking around it, he then tested the ground with the toe of his boot.
    Sam tried pushing the rock facing forward, but it moved only a foot. Putting his back to it, he moved it farther, but it was clear he wasn’t going to be able to get it up the hill.
    “Looks like your hero is a flop, Father.” Ares laughed and downed the rest of his drink. He yawned—so obviously fake—and leaned back in his throne, closing his eyes.
    Meira didn’t waste energy glaring at him. Ares always antagonized his father. He antagonized everyone as he thrived on conflict. Zeus prickled and huffed, unbuttoning his suit jacket.
    “If you want your hero to do something faster, torture the dog. Her screams will motivate him.” Hera said it with a bored casualness that made Meira cringe even more than if it had been yelled or sneered.
    “Is it always about torture with you, Mother?” Hephaestus shook his head.
    “When something works, you stick with it.” Hera snipped.
    “Don’t discount the hero yet. Look.” Athena gestured, and all the gods’ attention returned to Sam.
    Meira’s eyes widened, and she sat up a little more as if it would give her a better view. Sam was plucking boards and blocks of wood from the skateboarding ramps. He brought over his materials and then returned to drag over a gentle sloping ramp. He pushed the boulder up about five feet and kicked the blocks of wood under it to hold it in place. Then he positioned the ramp.
    When Sam removed the blocks, the boulder rolled down the ramp and up the other side to a flat spot he had put more blocks. It was only another five feet up the hill, but he was getting it closer to the top. With a quiet diligence, he set the whole thing up again to repeat the process.
    The bored chatter in the stands turned more enthusiastic. Bets were being called, and Meira could hear a good many were in Sam’s favor. She found herself smiling, feeling a great pride in the man she loved. Sam had brawn, but he’d far more brains and heart.
    After ten minutes, she glanced over her shoulder at Zeus who had refreshed his drink and was grinning broadly. Hera silently fumed, fingers drumming on the arm of her throne. She then raised her hand to her nose and sneezed. One of those pretty little lady-like sneezes that sounds like a mouse’s squeak.
    Except this light sternutation caused a gust of wind to blow the boulder down the hill.
    A unanimous groan filled the stadium. Hera said a polite little “pardon me” and batted her eyes at her husband when he glared at her.
    Sam raked his hands over his head and started again.
    Another ten minutes, Hera tried her trick again, but Zeus placed his big hand over the lower half of her face. “Don’t you dare.”
    Thunder accompanied his threat, and for once, Hera listened.
    Meira didn’t like that at all. It meant the goddess was planning something else.
    It took several hours—five or six—for Sam to complete his task. But complete it he did. He even made sure all the blocks had the boulder secure at the top so it wouldn’t roll away.
    The roar of applause nearly deafened Meira, and she wished she could clap or stomp with