Chapter 1
The crisp September sea air whipped by Georgios’ face as he looked out over the rails; this was his first time at sea. The ship Upon Horizons was on its way from Athens to Folegandros Port. They were to deliver spices and goods, none of which he knew the names of, nor did he care. Pulling him out of his reverie, someone yelled “Cover your ears, son!”
Georgios turned around to see a white-bearded man with several pairs of yak-fur earmuffs upon each forearm “The sirens are near!”
Georgios watched his crewmates run towards the man with fear and urgency.
Instead of taking a pair for himself, Geogios raised an eyebrow. “Sirens?” he asked, his voice dripping with skepticism.
The crew stopped in their tracks and looked at him. The bearded man stepped toward Georgios, his boots thudding upon the wooden planks. He stopped mere inches from Georgios’ face, staring directly into his soul.
“Listen son,” he said, “Sirens are no myth.” The manner in which he spoke was grave, with a gravitas that demanded respect. “They’re more than a pretty face, my lad. Their voice is as sweet as honey, and their allure captivating as a mistress adorned in silk and jewels. They’ll take you if you give them the chance.”
No sooner had the man stopped talking that Georgios heard a soft melodic whisper, a sound off in the distance The sound grew subtly as the ship continued through a sudden fog. He fell into an enchanted stupor, drawn to the side of the ship where he gazed out into the murk. The sound became a choir of angelic voices yet remained sweet as a child’s laugh, luring not just him but the rest of the crew to the sides of the ship.
Then just off the port side in the near distance he saw a splash of water. Then another.
The voices grew louder still, and he noticed the ship was no longer being captained; Upon Horizons was at the mercy of the wind and waves. The vessel rocked heavily side to side yet no one seemed to care, the crew captivated by the heavenly chorus of the unseen.
Suddenly the crew was thrust forward and fell onto the deck. Georgios as well, though he didn’t seem to mind. He was far more curious about the source of the sound that filled the air.
Georgios joined the other men, pushing and shoving one another in order to get closer to the ship’s side, nearly toppling over the rails as they searched the foggy sea in desperation.
Georgios heard another splash, followed by a crewmate yelling, “There! I saw her!”
There was another splash. And another.
With a wide grin on his face, Georgios was all but unaware of his crewmates now, eager to see the sirens for himself. Shadows appeared in the near distance just beneath the waters, silhouettes cast upon the fog.
Closer.
Closer.
And closer they came.
The crew leaned so far over the railing that the ship began to tilt heavily, then the waters broke above the shadows and the creatures revealed themselves at last.
Everyone aboard the ship was now quiet and the singing stopped. Georgios went from awestruck to dumbfounded.
Down below he saw three plump figures, the bodies of women with fish tails for legs, each sporting a prominent belly with pendulous breasts. Creatures or not, they were the most voluptuous female forms Georgios had ever seen.
The sirens looked up at him with sultry expressions, eyes aglow with desire. Georgios watched as a large brunette’s eyes jumped from sailor to sailor, her demeanor changed from tempting to confusion.
“What?”
Georgios was first to answer.
“Um, I thought sirens were supposed to be . . . you know . . .”
The creatures stared silently at him, awaiting an answer.
“ . . . thin?”
The crew murmured quietly in agreement.
All three sirens dropped their jaws, mortified by Georgio’s words. They grunted with disapproval and two swam away. Only the brunette remained, hands set upon her thick, fishy waist.
“Hmmph! I’d like to see you stay warm in these icy waters with nothing but skin and bone!”
With that she spun around, her dark wet hair slapping her back before she disappeared back into the depths, too offended to drag anyone to their doom.
