We found the cave. Full of sheep. Polites smiling. "Open arms."

Then the ground shook.

And we saw him.

---

"WHO ARE YOU?"

The Cyclops's voice rattled my bones.

I stepped forward. Hands out. Peaceful.

"We're just travelers. We come in peace."

"YOU... KILLED... MY... SHEEP. MY FAVORITE SHEEP?"

My stomach dropped.

"We didn't know —"

"DID YOU THINK I WOULDN'T NOTICE?"

He grabbed Polites, my best friend, the one I've known since childhood. Held him up like a doll.

Eurylochus grabbed my arm. "Captain..."

I tried to stay calm. Tried to think.

"Your sheep was old. Tasted bad. We didn't want it anyway."

The Cyclops paused. Tilted his head.

"You're lying."

"I'm not."

"THEN WHY IS THERE BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS?"

I looked down.

There was blood.

Sheep blood.

And I had nothing else to say.

---

[Haiku]

One eye sees the truth

"Blood on your hands," he whispers

A friend dies screaming

---

He killed him right there. In front of everyone.

Smashed him against the wall. Ate him. So much for open arms.

My crew panicked. Someone cried. Someone prayed.

They all looked at me. "What do we do?"

I looked at the cave entrance — blocked by a boulder too big to move.

Then I looked at the wine we'd brought.

And I got an idea.

"Nobody," I whispered.

"What?"

"My name. Tell him... my name is Nobody."

They didn't ask why, just nodded.

Because that's what soldiers do.

They trust you.

Even when you're about to do something terrible.

Epic the musical —The CYCLOPS SAGA.