"I will not have it! Dare he taunt the master of the universe! I will swat him like a fly! No! Too easy! He shall change places with Prometheus! No, no! Even that is too easy. Boy, where are you, come here! Now, right now! I have a chore for you. Yes, such a chore!"
The sudden call to Olympus was unexpected. Not that Zeus ever sent out invitations. Normally - if one could consider a summons from Zeus to be normal - he had few cues and hints before Zeus summoned him. This unceremonious summons came as a complete, and not overly appreciated, surprise.
He noted immediately Zeus' red face, and the tumultuous tower of black clouds above Olympus. This was going to be a real task!
"Atlas! A vulgar name! Do you know it? I'll tell you of Atlas! Condemned! Condemned to hold the world forever upon his shoulders! And he dares claim that I chose him for that task because I had not the strength and stamina to perform it! How dare he!"
Zeus paced back and forth, sputtering.
"He is to be punished. Right now, I have yet to decide the what that punishment shall be. You, my lad, shall decide. I want you to travel widely, to examine all the vilest, cruelest, most atrocious forms of torture. Select from these the very worst. That torture shall be imposed on the impudent lout."
"But, Sire, I . . . "
"Enough! Begone. And do not linger, or you may join him."
Never had he seen Zeus so angry. Once more he started to speak, but with a wave of his hand Zeus dismissed him.
He landed in the midst of a patch of briars, extricated himself slowly and carefully. "My, but he is peeved!"