Gods gather again. Athene complains again of Odysseus's exile, asks Zeus to allow his return home. Zeus: "This was all your idea. But fine." Tells of Odysseus's route home, including stop on the Phaiakians' island. Sends Hermes to tell Kalypso to let Odysseus go.
On island, Odysseus is endlessly weeping by himself. Hermes tells Kalypso of Zeus's decision. Kalypso: "The gods are always doing this-- interrupting when immortals and humans are getting it on." Relents. Tells Odysseus he's free to go, but he doesn't trust her until she swears to Zeus. They dine. Then she tries to get him to stay, predicts hardships on his voyage home, and because she's hotter than Penelope. Odysseus: "That's true. I'm going anyway." They do it again.
Next day, Odysseus builds his raft. Three days later, he sails. Day 17, Poseidon sees him and sends a storm to crush him. Mast is smashed. The goddess Ino arrives, gives him a veil, tells him to swim for land. Odysseus deliberates, decides to stay on raft until it is closer to land or is smashed for good. It is immediately smashed by a wave.
In the water, Odysseus swims three days for land. Upon reaching the island, he fears getting killed on the rocks. Athene intervenes to save him, and he drifts around the island until he sees a calm river. Prays to the river for an easy landing, and finally reaches shore, on the island of the Phaiakians, as Zeus said he would. Deliberates staying put, but then enters woods and falls asleep.
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While building the raft, v.245: "...and planed them expertly, and trued them straight to a chalkline." Cool.
Twice in this book we hear of Odysseus's deliberations and decision-making. This has already been set up as one of his defining characteristics, but it's nice to see it actually appear in the action.
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