*350
You look down and see giant footprints
leading into the room.<
<
Do you want to follow them?  (Y/N)
*351
You follow the giant footprints. They
end suddenly in the middle of the room.
You look all around you, a little
nervously. Whoever made those prints is
awfully big. Where is he...or she...or
IT? You are getting very frightened when
suddenly you hear laughter behind you.
*352
The door you just came through swings
closed. Out from behind the door leaps a
strange figure wearing winged sandals
and a winged helmet.
*353
"Ho, ho!" he laughs merrily, slapping
you on the back. "I had you fooled for a
moment, didn't I, [name]. I am Hermes,
the messenger of the gods. I am also the
god of travelers and salespeople. And I
don't mind having a good laugh, either!"
*354
"Not so fast!" Hermes says, taking a
quick step back. "I don't mind giving a
present to a friend, but I can tell a
sly trickster a mile away. Get lost!" he
adds, as he boots you out the door with
a well-placed winged sandal.
*355
"Where did those footprints come from,
Hermes?" you ask.<
<
"Hee, hee! Look! I made these big foot
shapes out of the bark of a tree,"
Hermes says, chuckling.
*356
"Then I stood in the middle of the room,
strapped them on my feet, and walked
backwards to the door. It looked as if
someone huge had walked into the room
and stopped in the middle. Then I hid
until you came along."
*357
"I'll have to try that one sometime,"
you say.<
<
"You're a good sport, [name]," Hermes
says, patting you on the back.
*358
"By the way, do you know what Apollo
says to his horses when they have
finished pulling his sun chariot all the
way across the sky?"<
<
"No, what?" you say.<
<
"Whoa!" Hermes says, cracking up.
"Get it?" You chuckle politely.
*359
"I like you, [name]," Hermes says. "If
you would like to borrow my winged
sandals, you may. I can get by with the
wings on my helmet for now. Help
yourself."
*360
"So long, Hermes," you say, turning to
go. "It's been fun." Suddenly you feel a
gentle kick on your back. "Hey!" you
yell. You look behind you. Hermes is
laughing. You feel the back of your
shirt.
*361
Sure enough, when Hermes slapped you on
the back a little while ago, he stuck on
a "Kick Me" sign.<
<
"You're a good egg, [name]," Hermes
says, laughing. "I hope we'll meet
again. And next time, watch your back!"
*399
There is no more to read.
*1000