A balmy breeze had swept across Gavdos for several days, lifting the sands and sending tree branches into a perpetual sway. All the while the familiar Mediterranean sun bathed the golden isle and its bronze inhabitants with warm rays. Damon sat hunched over upon his home's roof, the sun's contact causing the skin on his back to tingle despite a thin layer of perspiration upon it. The sailor occupied himself with a neglected break in the roof while the sounds of his son's play reached him from the ground below.

"Aaaarrrrr! The women and riches if you pleaaase!" growled Celix in the deepest voice he could muster. His mother's voice rang from within the home, scolding the child for his notion of appropriate plunder. It was common for Damon to offer encouragement to his child at this time, but at present his attention was diverted elsewhere. Throughout his labor he was momentarily haulting the work to view the sea stretched out before him, or more precisely, two vessels steadily approaching the harbor. During a passage of time during which the sun's intensity had moved from his shoulders to his lower back, the boats had reached Gavdos and docked, though the harbor was obscured from Damon's view by the rise of land upon which the dwelling stood.

The familiar form of Laertes appeared on their footpath shortly thereafter, his pace excited for a man of his age. Damon hastily completed his repair and made his way to the ground to meet his friend.

"Haimon's returned," said Laertes in an exhausted yet hushed breath once he came upon Damon. The old man reached forward to steady himself upon Damon, who received his arm and helped balance him. "This ruthless sun...makes me shaky," he apologized while casting a hateful glance toward the ubiquitous light, his eyes squinting in protest.

"What of Haimon?" asked Damon impatiently.

"Beastly! I naught recognize him until I was gaven a name. Attacked and near death, they told me. The old woman will break when I tell her."

"Atalanta will go with you to Kirke," responded Damon and he immediately turned to his house and shouted his wife's name. Atalanta came presently to the doorway, and seeing the buckling old man, hastily ran to join Laertes and Damon.

"He has news for Kirke and needs a drink, I must get to the docks."

Damon transfered Laertes over to Atalanta's support and ran towards the village.