Laurels Literary Magazine Spring 2014 | Page 31

Barely able to move from the sheer weight of the gold and jewelry, he dragged himself back to the bird and got on. As they flew back, the movements of the bird seemed labored and difficult. It didn’t help that a storm was approaching, and they were heading straight towards it. “Drop some of the gold. It’s too heavy,” the bird commanded. “I don’t want to,” Pollux whined. “It’s too heavy.” The bird began to teeter totter back and forth, unable to find its balance. The gushing winds and the sheets of rain only made it worse. Due to the sheer weight, Pollux could not hold on any longer, and fell to his watery death. What a greedy thing, the bird thought. Pollux never came back, of course, and everyone assumed the worst. Kastor set up a vigil for his brother in hopes that one day, the bird would return him. Pollux’s wife ended up becoming a maid for Kastor, as this was the only way she could make money to survive. 31