Run Damon, Run!

Junko Morimoto, Random House Australia. Many centuries ago, when the ancient gods ruled the world from Mount Olympus, a rich and powerful king ruled Sicily. His name was Dionysius and he killed and plundered without mercy or reason. His subjects hated and feared him and he lived alone and had no friends. The shepherd Damon was a young and noble man and he decided to talk to the king and ask him to free the country from terror. Instead, the king's guards captured him and threatened to kill him. He pleaded with the king to let his friend, Pythias, be his hostage while he went home to attend his sister's wedding. He promised that if he did not return by sunset in three days time, Pythias would die in his place. The king said he could go but he did not believe that Damon would return to save his friend. On the journey back from the wedding, Damon was detained again and again. He was afraid that he would not return in time to save Pythias. Just as the executioner was about to do the deed, Damon staggered into the arena and demanded to die in his friend's place. The king was so moved by this act of loyalty that he let both men go free and announced that he would have two friends instead. …