The Girl From Ithaca (26 page)

It was my wicked old grandfather Autolycus who’d given the Odysseus a broken spear, along with orders to hunt down the dangerous beast that had already killed many experienced hunters. Afterwards, Grandfather claimed the mission was to test my brother’s suitability as a warrior, but my mother knew too well his tricks and lies. She knew her father could prove white was black and black was white. She had no doubt Autolycus wanted Odysseus killed, to avoid parting with the gifts he’d promised when he reached manhood. I moistened a cloth and wiped Odysseus’ face. His mistake was to underestimate his grandson. Odysseus killed the boar and claimed his reward of gold, as well as the promised gifts.

Antilochus gripped my shoulder, but gave up on his words of comfort. We waited like this for a very long time. Why were Machaon and Ellissa taking so long? Through the silence I heard a man cough outside the door.

I glanced at Antilochus. “Has Agamemnon got men out there?”

“There’s probably nothing sinister in it,” he said, trying to sound unconcerned. He walked quietly to the door and glanced outside. Looking back at me, he held up four fingers and then disappeared from view.

“You’re Mycenaean, aren’t you?” I heard him say.

There were several grunts in reply.

“So why are you standing here? I’m sure if guards were needed, the Ithacan army could spare four men to watch their king.”

There was a short pause and then one of the men cleared his throat and spoke up in a stiff, expressionless manner. “King Agamemnon has given us strict instructions to guard his loyal friend and comrade, King Odysseus. He says we are to give his Ithacan allies any help they need.”

Odysseus would have appreciated that reply and no doubt repeated an embellished version of it for years to come. I walked to the door, intending to order the Mycenians away, when the tight knot in my stomach relaxed slightly. Ellissa was rushing back, with Machaon following.

Machaon made it clear he didn’t want any help from me. “You’re better away from here. Pray to Apollo, if you want to be useful.”

“We’ll give him our best care,” Ellissa said, gently pushing me to the door. “Afterwards you and I need to look after him, so go to Io now and ask her to make up some food to last us through the night.”

I nodded and found Antilochus and Phoebus talking together outside, watching the Mycenaean guards marching back to Agamemnon’s camp.

Antilochus pointed to Phoebus. “Phoebus told them he’d stand guard instead. They were reluctant at first, but Phoebus was very convincing.”

“Oh, I won’t be reporting anything Agamemnon doesn’t know already,” Phoebus said, sitting down on a large wedge of wood near our door.

I glanced around the Ithacan tents. Medon wasn’t due back before dusk and there were little more than thirty Ithacian soldiers in camp, with almost half of those inactive because of injuries. Hyppos and the other men from the scouting party looked at us, waiting for news of Odysseus.

“I’m not sure what to do. I have to tell them something.”

Antilochus thought for a moment. “I’ll come with you. We’ll inform them Medon is to take command for the next few days. If they report to him this evening, then they’ll have their orders and feel better for it.”

“Yes, yes, of course.”

“And you? “Antilochus said softly. “Odysseus asked my father to protect you if he died. Has he told you that?”

I nodded.

“Father will keep his promise. You’ll be cared for … and Ellissa too. You have nothing to fear in that respect.”

I tried to reply, but my throat tightened and seemed to strangle my voice. I simply nodded again.

Antilochus smiled and took my arm. “Then if you’re ready, we’ll go and talk to your men.”

They saw us approach and got to their feet. Hyppos looked at me expectantly. “Lord Odysseus?”

For a brief moment, he reminded me of Philoctetes the Archer’s charioteer when Machaon tried in vain to heal the snakebite. Charioteers and warriors worked as a team and Medon had his own man to drive his chariot. I forced him a smile.

Antilochus reassured the group that Odysseus was being cared for and camp matters were in hand. “So carry on as usual, except for the next few days, you’ll be given orders from Medon. Is that clear?” Every man nodded “Now, Phoebus is outside the hut and I’d like two of you to replace him at midnight. It’s to keep Agamemnon’s men from snooping round; Neomene would prefer to see a friendly Ithacan face rather than an ugly Mycenaean scowl.”

A few smiled and then several stepped forward, Epeius the carpenter and his friend Lucus among them.

“Epeius and Lucus,” I said, “you can stand guard after Phoebus.”

“But Epeius can’t fight,” one of the bowmen objected.

Epeius clenched his fists and threw the man a dark look.

“It was a joke! Didn’t mean anything,” the bowman cried, holding up his hands and backing away.

“Epeius, you’ve made your point. At midnight don’t bother with your sword and spear, but remember to bring your fists,” I said, trying another smile. I knew how my brother used humour to relax his men and was surprised to find I’d copied his way without thinking. I took a breath. “The rest of you will get your chance on the following nights. In the meantime, keep singing the shepherd’s song. It annoys him and will force him to his feet, if only to shut you up.”

When the men dispersed, Antilochus turned to me. “That was nicely done. Now, I need to inform my father. Go back to Odysseus, and I’ll return as quickly as I can. ”

He sprinted in the direction of his camp. I’d seen the stable boy grooming a horse as we made our announcement, but now he was leading the mare towards me. I paused and waited for him.

“Lady Neomene,” he whispered, glancing around. “I’ve message from your friend, Io. She needs to speak to you urgently. Alone. She’ll be waiting at the washing stones for as long as she dares. I will come with you.”

Io was kneeling at the side of the stream, acting as though she was washing a few clothes in a slow relaxed manner.

“I thought you were never coming!” she cried, leaping up. “I thought I was too late. Agamemnon’s bodyguards were outside your hut, so I thought he’d got to you already.”

I looked at her in confusion.

She sighed and tried again. “I tried to follow you when you ran off down the beach. But Calchas said you mustn’t be disturbed. What could I do? That mule ripped my tunic, so I went to get changed and heard Agamemnon and Calchas talking.”

“About Odysseus?”

“Yes, Agamemnon was bragging about when Odysseus dies, he’ll take control of the Ithacan army and act as your protector.”

I shook my head. “If Odysseus dies … which he won’t … Nestor is taking me and Medon has command of the army. Agamemnon isn’t part of it.”

“But it gets worse. Calchas joined in. That evil priest suggested sacrificing you to Apollo, like Iphigenia, to gain better fortune and a quick end to the war. It was just a drunken ramble, but Agamemnon said it was a good idea! He was laughing and said he’d do it before the others in the camp could stop him. ”

I took Io’s hand and tried to calm her. “It was drunken talk. Even Agamemnon wouldn’t be stupid enough to hurt me when King Nestor is my guard.”

“Oh, you mustn’t underestimate his stupidity,” she warned. “I know what he’s like when he wants something. He will take it, so you must be ready. Go to the Pylos camp. Or Antilochus and Diomedes could organise a ship and crew for you, I’m sure they would. You might be able to … ”

“But I can’t run away because of a foolish idea Agamemnon and Calchas thought up over a jar of wine! I have to do all I can for Odysseus.”

“They’re certain he’s going to die. You’ll be risking your life for nothing.”

“What do they know? Or has Calchas received and deciphered a genuine oracle at last?”

“Oh, don’t joke about it! Everyone’s saying so.” Io said. “You’ve got to understand, without your brother you are nothing. Nothing. You don’t know what it’s like, you can’t even imagine, but I’ve seen what Agamemnon does to women who are nothing.”

We stared at each other until I shivered and looked away. “I understand,” I whispered. “Thank you, I’ll watch for Agamemnon and the priest.”

Io held onto my arm for a moment. “I’ve got to get back before I’m missed, but I’ll bring a supply of food when I can.” She gathered the washing into her basket. “Remember my warning. Don’t leave it too late.”

Chapter TWENTY-THREE

The Offer from a King

M
achaon was striding away from our hut. I ran to catch his arm.

He turned and looked at me. “Ah, Neomene,” he said. “Good, good. Ellissa knows what to do. Odysseus may last the night, or perhaps another day, but it won’t be long. Send a messenger if you need me.” He shook his head. “Agamemnon may rest from his battles, but I never do.”

He hurried away.

I joined Ellissa by Odysseus’ bed. “Do you agree with Machaon? That he’ll probably die?”

“Machaon knows the body but not the mind,” Ellissa said, patting my hand. “We’ve seen it before, haven’t we? He gets so absorbed in his potions, he forgets the man. He’s ignored your brother’s talent for turning a bad situation into good. Odysseus may surprise us.”

I smiled. I wasn’t prepared to accept Machaon’s dismissal of him either. I listened to Phoebus and Agenor talking in low voices outside and thought for a moment. “I’ve an idea that might save his life.”

“Tell me and I’ll do what I can.”

“If Machaon can’t help, we need …”

The door opened. I gasped with relief to see Antilochus. He drew up a chair and spoke quietly. “My father wants you to stay in our camp, just until Odysseus recovers. You’ll be well looked after and he’ll send Gala to assist Ellissa. It’s only a precaution, with those Mycenaean guards lurking around. It doesn’t mean we think he will die.”

I looked at his handsome face and I wanted to go with him. I wanted him to take control. See to everything. Make it safe and comfortable. I imagined being surrounded by Antilochus, Thrasymedes and Old Nestor and the weight on my shoulders lifted for a moment. But I heard myself reply, as if the words were spoken by another person. “Not yet, I have to do what I can for Odysseus.”

“I told Father you wouldn’t leave,” Antilochus said. “Medon’s returned and he knows the situation. He’ll see your boxer and his friend replace Phoebus at midnight. In the morning, I will send Gala to help you and we’ll make another decision then. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes,” I whispered.

“Agamemnon has called a war council, so I’ll be tied up with that for most of the evening. But it will give me chance to talk with Diomedes and discover what Agamemnon is thinking.”

Phoebus and the stable boy were still outside when I watched Antilochus head towards the Pylos camp. Darkness was falling and Ithacan men were lighting fires and doing the ordinary, everyday tasks around the camp. All seemed calm. I beckoned Agenor inside.

“Have you ever been to Mount Ida?” I asked.

“Twice, to collect timber for Ajax’s barricade.”

“Could you find the way at night, in a chariot drawn by Ithacan horses?”

“I think I could, with our strongest team. Do you want me to go straightaway?”

“Yes, with me.”

Ellissa gave a startled cry. “Mount Ida? What for? How can that help?”

“Remember being told about Oenone, the water nymph who has great healing powers? She’s far better than Machaon, but she lives on Mount Ida. I’ll ask her for help,” I said.

“She’s Trojan. And in love with Paris. Why would she help Odysseus?” Ellissa cried. “She’ll see you as the enemy and strike you down on the spot … unless the gods do it first.” She patted the stool beside her. “Come, sit down. You’ve had a shock and you’re not thinking straight. We have to rely on Machaon. He’s all we’ve got.”

I remainded standing. “But Machaon thinks he’s going to die. He’s not giving him any chance at all. We have no choice, I’ve got to find Oenone.”

“Neither King Nestor or Medon will allow it. And you know young Antilochus won’t. He cares for you, Neo.”

“But it’s the way to save Odysseus,” I said, feeling strangely numb, as this was happening to somebody else.

Ellissa shook her head. “No, he wouldn’t want you to do this. He’d tell you to go to King Nestor.”

“Yet he’d know I would probably disobey him.”

She stared at me, tugging at the tassles on her shawl. Then she turned away and started to fumble with the oil lamp beside Odysseus’ bed.

I looked at Agenor. “We must leave without Medon or the others knowing. And as Ellissa says, it’s dangerous and we’ll be on Trojan land. I’ll find another horseman if I’ve asked too much.”

“I’ll take you. I’m better with the horses than Hyppos,” he said, a slight smile on his lips. “I’ll prepare the best team and rap on the door when I’m ready.”

I followed Agenor outside and spoke to Phoebus. “Will you go to the Argos camp? Tell Diomedes I need his men on sentry tonight. I’m sure he can arrange that. They must let my chariot through.”

Phoebus nodded and fell back into the night, almost colliding with Io.