Eo and the Goddess


Author: Terence Rajivan Edward
Date: 2005
Note: not a small variation on a story I read, but see:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DandI2pgjtq/
https://www.instagram.com/p/DbLLhP0itDh/


        Once upon a time, a goddess took the form of a Queen and ruled over a remote island whose inhabitants were only women. Tired of just female company, she decided to bear a son. He was called Eo. All of the island's women adored him. He grew into a young man whom every young lady longed to be with. But Eo had feelings for none of them. Secretly, this pleased the Queen, for she herself had fallen in love with her creation. But the Queen knew he was sad and yearned for true love. One day, as mother and son were walking along the beach, a boat made of pure glass was brought to their feet by the tide. It was just large enough to fit two people in it, and came with two delicate glass oars. 'Step into this boat, Eo,' instructed the Queen, 'and cross the ocean in search of love.'


        Eo rowed for many days and nights without rest. He never felt hungry or tired, and the ocean was miraculously calm during his journey. Finally, he came to a small but lush island. It had only one inhabitant, a woman who won Eo's heart at first sight. Unbeknownst to Eo, it was his own mother in another form. They spent lovely days together, enjoying the fruits of the island. Then Eo asked his love if she would cross the ocean with him back to his home island.


        For two-thirds of the journey the ocean was again miraculously calm. Then Eo began to think. He wondered whether his mother would approve of the girl he was bringing back. She was beautiful, but so different from the women of his island. As he worried about this, the ocean grew rougher. Cracks appeared in the glass beneath where she was sitting. Eventually she dropped from the boat into the ocean. Then the waters became tranquil again. There was a hole in the boat where she had been sitting, but mysteriously no water entered. Eo did not even feel relief at this wonder, however. His relief concerned something else. Now he no longer had to worry about family approval.


        When Eo came to shore, women of the island greeted him and asked how he fared on his quest. He did not answer them, telling them that first he must speak to his mother. As he entered her chamber, she was looking out beyond it, her back turned to him. She then faced him. But her face was not the familiar one he had left behind. It was the face of a drowned corpse. 'You did this to me. Now you must die,' she declared. The goddess then turned her son into a gigantic eel. He writhed on the dry floor and soon died. The women of the island feasted on the eel and the Queen introduced a taboo on ever mentioning her son. So ends the story of Eo, a mortal born from the womb of a goddess.