You know cows have always been appreciated. Every man, though ancient, though modern, likes drinking hot milk in the morning, have breakfast of sandwich with butter and cheddar, and particularly the advanced ones adore curd pancakes with raisins and chocolate.
However, unlike modern clerks, dealers with a couple of brokers and top managers, then people lived modestly, in harmony with nature. There was sheer grace - no computers, no TV, no cell phones. Only radio, which was presented by the king's heralds, who walked from house to house and shouted the newscast. Accordingly, the people were in charge of pets much more.
You may ask to the physics teacher of the town, so…she cannot find a difference between a cow and a large sheared sheep, and a teacher of literature – chicken and cock. King Eurystheus knew a lot about cows. Once, newcomer actors put on plays of Aristophanes, in which a herd of wonderful cows of some Geryon was mentioned. In the play were described absolutely fantastic yields of milk, unprecedented endurance, simplicity in food and frost-resistance of animals. Naturally, the greedy king had a great desire to get hold of this herd.
- Hercules, have you heard of Geryon?
Of course the hero heard of the three-headed giant Geryon and shuddered from the perspective of meeting with him , and therefore tried to drive the conversation away .
- Of course, I heard. It’s a yellow-grey flower, which grows only on the high alpine meadows and the dragon Burkin guards it.
- No, Hercules, Geryon is the cousin of Cerberus and he has the same character. But I'm interested in his cows. Have you caught my idea?
- Yes, king. I suppose you'd like to see their pictures, wouldn’t you?
- You surprise me, Hercules. You usually differ with your cleverness. Okay. You must deliver the entire herd here.
-It so interesting. Will I deliver it? But there, in the whole World, no ship of that size can be found. Or should I built a new giant ark, like a Noy?
- That's your problem, buddy. Is the task clear to you?
- Clear - Hercules growled while in the soul he added - and when will you finally die...
Asking some experienced people, the hero found out that awful Geryon lived far to the west, so no compass was required – know that you have to follow the direction of the setting sun. In childhood Hercules was a member of an organization of scouts, therefore he perfectly oriented on various landmarks - the moss on the trunks of trees, the heavenly constellations and even the location of tea leaves in the teapot. However, tea was only Ceylon- the other teas were not under orientation.
The next morning, after tightly eating oatmeal with nuts, Hercules left the house, got into the boat and headed west on the edge of the world, to the Ocean, where the night was covered by beaming Helios, the god of the sun. Hero sailed and pondering.
- But in the morning the same Helios rises again from the Ocean, just east. And if, suppose, the two points coincide? What will this mean? It will mean that the earth is round, that's what.
Hercules was so excited by his discovery that wanted to come back and share his thoughts with his friend, Pythagoras, but then remembered the order of Eurystheus, raised the sail and swam faster. Soon he reached the Strait of Gibraltar and the joys (and maybe from excess energy) raised two colossal pillars later ranked as one of the wonders of the world. That is where Hercules met gloomy bald giant, blocking his way.
- Who are you and where are you going?
- Why on earth should I report you? Are you a local guard?
- You will bitterly regret for your words. I –am Antaeus, the son of the earth goddess Gaia, so you impediment dog, prepare to be dead.
But Antaeus underestimated the strength of Hercules. The hero easily raised him and threw him on the ground. Usually in such cases the giants were lying dead, but Antaeus, getting angry, easily jumped up and rushed at the hero.
- What the hell - thought Hercules with surprise and repeated his technique. Vain. Antaeus, fresh as a cucumber, jumped up and was again ready to battle. By whatever force one threw him to the ground, a second later Antaeus would stand in the fighting stance.
- There is something wrong - thought Hercules- let us change the tactics.
Once again, the hero began throwing Antaeus to the ground and once he raised, Hercules squeezed him in his mighty arms and began to strangle.
Antaeus wheezed.
- Leave me, hooligan.
- You won’t wait- thought Hercules and squeezed Antaeus harder. When he stopped strangling, the hero did not throw him on the ground but and threw him on a tall oak.
Questioning a few passers-by, he found out that Geryon grazed herd herds in a resort town Vila Nova de Milfontes, at the mouth of the picturesque river and the herd was guarded by some dog-mutant.
And as soon as the hero came to the river, dog barking was heard and a few seconds later she appeared. Hercules looked at her and marveled. It was a two-headed dog of colossal dimensions.
- What a puppy! - thought Hercules and grabbed his favorite mace weighing one hundred pounds bound with titanium.
Bale bale and Orfo, the two-headed dog, the child of Typhon and Echidna was lying around the smashed heads.
- Orphic, Orphic, where are you - such shouts were heard and from behind the bushes giant Evrition appeared, the shephard of the flock.
- Oh, my faithful Orphic! Killing people is a Grief.
- Think better about themselves, woe-shepherd- growled Hercules.
A moment and the shepherd made an eternal company for his faithful dog. The hero was driving away a herd of wonderful Jersey cows when the earth shook and hardly stamping his feet, appeared Geryon - a monstrous giant with three heads, three torsos, six arms and legs.
- Oh, my Orphic, oh my Evrition not long you will remain unavenged, oh, not long.
However, Hercules was not a fool. The hero with lightning let six arrows and hit all the monster’s eyes. Then Hercules came from the rear and methodically struck the head of Geryon. After that Hercules had lunch of Orfo’s liver and set off. There was a long way to home. He passed through Portugal, Spain, France, where there the king begged in vain to sell at least one cow, Italy, where the famous robber Cacus stole some cows. Hercules had to stop and deal with it.
- Who are you?
- Cacus.
Hercules realized that he was being bullied and a second later Cacus died. Through two heavy expensive months, the exhausted hero reached the final destination.
- Here is the herd Eurystheus. You may count it. All seventy-seven cows are here.
- Very well, give me your record book. The feat is counted, you're free.
However the vengeful Hera sent the cows to spoilage, making them ill with brucellosis, and the king had to bring them and sacrifice.