"Or be crushed between them, either," Steiger said, wryly.
"Don't even joke about it," said Delaney as they rowed together. "Let's not tempt the gods, okay?"
"A storm is coming," Jason called out.
"But the sky is clear," said Orpheus.
"I heard thunder."
"You heard the waves crashing on the rocks," said Theseus.
"No, something else. Thunder, from far away."
"I heard it, too," said Idmon. "And I feel that it is very close."
The ship started to pass slowly between the giant rocks. No one could help staring up at the walls towering above them.
"There!" said Jason. "Listen!"
This time, there was no mistaking the sound, a deep, far off rumbling which grew in volume as the Argo slid between the rocks. Small stones started to rain down on the ship from above, then, ahead of them, larger pieces of rock fell into the water, some quite close to the ship, sending up sprays which soaked them all.
"They're moving!" Mopsus shouted hoarsely. Unmistakably, the walls of rock to either side of them were shifting, moving inwards, closer to the ship. "We'll be crushed!" Idmon shouted. "Damn it, you had to say it, didn't you?" Delaney said, giving Steiger a venomous look.
"Row!" shouted Argus, leaning on the tiller. "Put your backs into it! Row for your lives!''
He shouted out a fast cadence as the Argonauts pulled for all they were worth. Rock debris fell all around them, some pieces striking the ship and holing the deck in places. One large piece fell directly in
their path, striking the figurehead and jarring it loose, sending a shudder through the entire ship. The figurehead fell into the water and another rock fell near it, the water displaced by its mass pushing the figurehead toward the shuddering, moving wall of rock. The outstretched arm of the figurehead struck against the rock.
The rock suddenly started to move the other way, settling deeper in the water, sliding back away from the ship.
"Look!" shouted Jason. "The goddess pushes back the rock!"
"Pull! screamed Argus. "Pull 'til your backs break! Pull! Pull!"
The ship shot forward, clearing the rocks and entering the open water of the Euxine Sea. Behind them, the thundering, grinding noises stopped and the rocks settled in the water, lower than before, no longer moving. For a few moments, smaller pieces continued to drop into the channel between them, then all was still again.
"The goddess saved us," Jason said. "Did you see? She pushed back the rock so we could pass through unharmed!"
"An earthquake," Steiger told Delaney. "An earthquake, that's all it was."
"Sure," Delaney said. "Probably volcanic action. The bottom shifted, the rock crumbled at the base and it was just a coincidence that it settled backwards just as the figurehead drifted against it."
"Yeah, that's what it was," said Steiger.
"Right, that's what must have happened."
They looked at each other.
"Don't even think it," Steiger said.
"Think what?"
"Nothing. Never mind. Shut up and row."
8
On their third day of sailing on the Euxine Sea, the winds began to strengthen and, noting the appearance of the sky, Delaney feared the worst. Jason wouldn't hear of going in toward shore and seeking a protected bay when strong winds were prevailing. All he could think of was Colchis lying ahead of them and he was determined to take advantage of the blow. He insisted that there would be plenty of time to head toward shore if the weather took a turn for the worse. Nothing Delaney or Steiger could say would dissuade him. Argus lent his weight to their argument, but Jason wouldn't listen.