The Man on the Shore
Diana glided on the air, the fierce Amazon of the sky. She was intensely focused, her hunter's eyes scanning for any sign of the man. For once she took no notice of the warm currents coursing over her body as she flew over the city and out toward the shores of Themyscira. The very thought of a man, a man, on her island filled Diana with a mixture of dread and excitement. That the man had survived the sea and the protections put forth by the gods, only to arrive on the island on her birthday, was an epic event- but what could it possibly mean for the rest of the Amazons? Diana knew that no good had ever come of men; the proof was in the history of the Amazon's dealings with them. If men had any capacity for good, would the Amazons have removed themselves to a paradise to escape them?
No.
Diana knew the history of men only too well. The worst tragedy the Amazons had ever suffered had been at the hands of Heracles, the bastard son of Zeus. Heracles. Jealous, arrogant, and deceitful Heracles. He, who had feigned friendship when lust and cruelty were his true intent. He, who had ordered his men to attack and enslave the Amazons. That band of cowards was the only reason that the Daughters of Olympia had retreated from the outside world.
And now, after thousands of years of peace on Themyscira, a man was to wash in from the sea with the tide without a hint of warning for their patron goddesses? It made no sense to Diana’s mind, no sense at all. But…a man had come upon their shores, defying all odds, landing on this hidden island on her birthday. Could it be that the arrival of this man was the godsend that Diana had been waiting for? Was this man’s arrival the event to set her destiny into motion?
Diana did not know. She only flew faster.
Her flight was quick from the city and over the tress. She rose high, trailing wisps of clouds after her. An eagle was soaring over the deep forest, unaware of the potential threat to all of Themyscira. Diana lowered her flight, her keen eyes scanning the shore. Her heart was thumping hard in her chest, giving rise to the dread she did not want to face; truly she was half-hoping that her sisters had been playing some birthday prank on her, that there never was a man…or if there was, if by some miracle a man had landed on their island, that it might have died on the shore, leaving Themyscira safely in secret from the cruelty of the outside world.
Diana blinked. There was a body on the shore. Drifting closer, she could see that the body was shaped differently than that of a woman, and clad in a strange garment.
So it is true- a man on Themyscira!
Diana frowned as she lowered herself from the air, until she hovered only feet away from the prone figure in the sand. She touched down beside the body and for a moment she could only stare. Bright blue eyes narrowed as she took in the sight. Yes, it was a man…or so Diana thought. She had never seen a real man before, of course. The closest she had ever known of a man were the monuments and mural paintings within the palace.
But this was no woman, of that she was sure. Broad shoulders, no breasts, short hair.
It…he was on his stomach, his face turned so that half was in the sand. The clothing he wore was some strange mangled garment of red and blue cloth. Diana swallowed, hesitant to so much as touch the man. He could be playing dead to lure her in, in much the same way that Heracles had played a friend to trick her own mother.
Diana cleared her throat and thus cleared away her fear. No matter her trepidation, this man was badly injured and in need of her help. Are you a coward or are you an Amazon?
Steeling herself, Diana grasped the man’s shoulder and turned him onto his back. He was breathing, but clearly unconscious. Her eyes widened in surprise. There were cuts and burns showing through on the skin exposed from his torn clothing, and his face was a shade somewhere between pale green and grey. Compassion lanced through Diana’s heart.
It was one thing to be wary of this man, but Diana would never ignore one who was clearly suffering. It was not the Amazon way. It was not her way.
Diana laid her hands over the man, seeking out the most severe of his wounds. Burns and gashes seemed to cover him- but why? What could have happened to this creature that he had suffered so greatly, only to end up on these sacred shores?
What happened to you, man? Is this some evil trick or are we meant to save you? Athena, Hestia, please, reveal the truth to your servant!
Diana's eyes fell back to his face. This man might have been handsome once, but with his injuries it was too difficult for her to tell. She was no judge of men’s looks anyway; unlike all the other Amazons, Diana had never before been in the presence of a real man. This suffering creature was to her no different than a strange animal washed ashore- a dangerous, untrustworthy animal was man.
“Diana! So it is true, man has found Themyscira.”
She started and turned to see her mother, accompanied by the royal guard, emerging from the woods and onto the shore. The sisters that had told Diana first of the man followed close behind.
Diana motioned the group to come closer. “I believe so, mother. Come and see. He is injured.”
Hippolyta, the most magnificent queen of the Amazons rushed forward. She grasped Diana’s arm and pulled her away from the man. “Do not touch him, Diana. We’ve no idea from where he’s come or what he intends against us.”
Diana stood beside her mother, the shadows cast by the two royals fell over the chest of the man. The warning in Hippolyta's voice was evident, but Diana was no longer afraid. “If he intended us any harm, mother, why would he have come to us, injured so badly as to fall unconscious? Look at him. He presents less danger than a newborn kitten.”
Hippolyta looked over the man, surprised herself to see his injuries. “I understand your concern, but this man could be some agent of Ares meant to harm us.”
“And if he isn’t?”
“What do you mean?”
Mala came forward, daring to venture her opinion to the royalty of Themyscira. “Perhaps this is just a man, delivered to us from the gods to nurture back to health as a show of our committment to love for all.”
Diana nodded, considering Mala's words. The possibility had crossed her mind. “Perhaps, Mala. I think this man should be taken to Epione. If he is taken into her care and then lives through the night, we could make him tell us of his intention. The Lasso of Hestia will burn away his every deceit. What say you, mother?”
Inwardly, Hippolyta smiled. Her daughter had no need of Athena's wisdom, Diana was a wise woman in her own right. “I do not trust this creature or any like him…but never let it be said that the Amazons will stand by and allow an innocent man to die- you may take him to the Isle of Healing. But Diana, know that this man will be your responsibility.”
The princess blinked. “Mother?”
“I say this not as a punishment or as a test. This man will need to be watched closely and you are the most powerful of us all, and gifted by the gods. If he attempts any sort of attack, you will be there to stop him. This man may pose no threat to us in the end, but history has not filled the Amazons with confidence in men. Take him to Epione, Diana, and stay on the Isle of Healing until he awakens. If Hades does not take him in the night, we will interrogate him once he recovers.”
Diana nodded, accepting the decree of her queen.
“Diana, what madness is this? A man on Themyscira? Impossible!”
Diana shook her head as her feet touched down on the pearl marble floors of the lone temple intended for the injured and the sick. “I’m afraid it’s true, my friend. This creature was washed onto the shore only hours ago- it is a man, isn’t it? I’ve never seen a real man before. Only paintings and sculptures.”
She carried the man in her arms and followed Epione further into the temple. With all care, she laid the man down on the nearest bed in the sick bay. The hall was usually empty- there had been no sickness on the island, and the only injuries suffered were slight. Distantly, Diana thought that Epione might relish the chance to attend to serious wounds for the first time in millennia.
For her part, Epione wasted no time in checking the man's eyes and heart rate. “Be grateful that you do not share our intimate knowledge of men, Diana. What horror Heracles and his troops brought upon us was ungodly. But this one washed up on the shore, you say? Alone? And so injured, it makes no sense.”
Diana stood aside as Epione cut away the man’s clothing with a small dagger, revealing his bare torso. She winced at the sight of his burns and deep gashes, this tapestry of pain. She took a breath. “Yes, he was alone. I don’t feel that he poses a threat, but let us hope that no other men are brought to our shores by wayward currents.”
Epione nodded as her keen eyes assessed the man’s wounds. Burns, bruises, cuts, gashes…I will not allow this man to suffer, but what will happen to us if he survives?…
“I believe I can treat his wounds, though I cannot assure you he will live through the night, princess. I will do all I can. The rest lies in the hands of Hades.”
She put her hand on the healer's tense shoulders. “I trust that you will do all in your power to heal him, sister. No true Amazon would do less. Even so, the queen would have my head if I should leave you alone with him. She has ordered that I watch over him, as a precaution.”
Diana had no need to explain further.
