The Anger of Achilles

by Peter Tonkin

  However, no sooner had we reached the West Gate than King Eremanthus claimed the oarsmen’s attention as he too hurried through it, surrounded by his own attendants. ‘King Odysseus has been looking for you,’ he said. ‘He wants both of you to report to him at once. It’s important. The ceremony of the pyres is over. He is in his tent beside Thalassa.’

  ‘At once, Your Majesty,’ answered Elpenor. ‘We have a report to give him too.’

  ‘That’s all to the good then,’ said Eremanthus. The old king hurried off towards the camp and the ships beached behind it, leaving us hesitating at the ruined gate.

  The massive oarsman turned to me. ‘I suggest you come with us,’ he said. ‘I don’t know what the Captain wants but if King Eremanthus says it’s important, then it is.’

  ‘I’ll wait in the palace,’ I decided. ‘There is supposed to be another feast tonight. I need to make sure my himation is mended and dry. I need to practise a song. I will wait in the rooms we share with Odysseus.’

  Elpenor hesitated as Perimedes turned impatiently away. ‘Make sure you do, lad,’ he advised. ‘You’d be simply mad to think of going off exploring on your own.’ He drew a thumb across his throat to emphasise his warning.

  ‘Don’t worry,’ I assured him. ‘I’ll stay safe, I promise.’

  He nodded and ran off to catch up with Perimedes.

  ***

  I turned and began to trudge through the lower city, my mind preoccupied. Although I meant what I said, I was nevertheless acutely aware that if I left it too long before I went into the northern quarter, I would probably lose the clear picture which I currently held in my mind and which, I hoped, would lead from the gates behind the palace to the postern and the alleyway inside it. It was here, I reckoned, I could pick up the trail that would lead to the gold. Furthermore, it was all very well for Odysseus and his men to treat me almost as a child but I was past childhood and quite capable of weighing up my own risks and making my own decisions. My mind full of these thoughts, I reached the agora. It was completely empty except for four strong oxen penned in a makeshift enclosure over by the furthest of the deep wells with its Egyptian pulley mechanism designed to fill the thirsty animals’ troughs. Here I turned left and began to toil up the slope towards the citadel. My head was still awash with conflicting thoughts when I reached the palace. I entered through the reception areas and walked pensively through the busy megaron, past the fire-pit and the fragrant carcases on the spits surrounding it, heading for the rooms I shared with Odysseus and his men. I was walking along the corridor leading to our quarters, still torn by the dilemma of whether I should do as I had promised or whether I should go and explore, when a quiet voice behind me made rough by loud and lengthy lamentation said, ‘There you are! Now what have you been up to while I’ve been howling beside the pyres of my husband and my brothers?...’

  ‘I have never been here,’ said Briseis as we exited through the gates behind the palace and plunged into the sloping streets to the north of the citadel. The afternoon shadows were growing cold already. I had put the clean dry himation supplied by Hepat over my tunic. Briseis had paused for long enough to allow Hepat to help her into her peplos. Both of us were warm, so I knew that the occasional shiver which gripped me was more to do with tension than temperature.

  ‘How long have you lived here?’ I asked, surprised that the sharp-witted princess should have failed to find an excuse to explore her new home to the fullest extent possible, given that she had lived here for quite some time.

  ‘You still don’t understand,’ she said. ‘Things have changed beyond recognition since you Achaeans arrived. When King Euenos was well, we women went veiled, though he was a little more indulgent with me – especially when I was running around the palace getting him his wine and honey cakes. Under normal circumstances we were forbidden to leave our quarters – let alone the palace itself – except on the most special occasions and always with a chaperone. The king’s basic assumption seemed to be that a woman alone would be too weak or lustful to resist ravishment. And, based on his own desires and activities perhaps, all men were little better than animals in a continual rut like bulls in season. We must be protected not only against would-be rapists like Aias but against our own ill-controlled desires as well. Wandering around the city was absolutely forbidden. Exploring like this would have led to the severest of punishments. So, no. I have lived here for several weary years and I have never explored the streets to the north of the citadel.’

  Silenced by that, I looked around, wondering whether I would count as an acceptable chaperone – especially as I had signally failed to protect the princess against her own more dangerous desires when it came to exploring forbidden parts of the city. The buildings here had not been put to the torch – though I was pretty sure they had all been rifled and stripped of anything useful or precious. But for the first time since my arrival, I got an impression of what Lyrnessus must have been like before Odysseus’ men smashed down the West Gate and Achilles led his Myrmidons through the gap. Everything here was the opposite of the formal frontage south of the palace. There were no broad thoroughfares, merely mean streets and twisting alleys that were tangled into mazes between the overcrowded houses. The buildings all had surprisingly high walls to compensate for the slope on which they were built. They clung to the hillside as though fearful that they would tumble down to become piled like rubble against the stout north wall. The atmosphere of the place would have been unsettling even had I not seen that shadow with the cold eyes and feared I now stood high on the list to get my throat cut.

  ii

  I wondered whether I should go into more detail describing the man in the shadows to the princess – who had already dismissed my fear of him as childish. But I was caught in a trap of my own making. If I tried to give a clearer idea of the unsettling nature of that brief encounter, I would likely only receive more derision. On the other hand, the further we plunged into the shadowy labyrinth, the more I felt that the only wise course was to go back and get either Odysseus or Elpenor, preferably before we became lost or – worse – hunted. But I could not do that because Princess Briseis would never agree to such a cowardly course and I could not even dream of leaving her wandering here alone. It seemed to me that the sudden freedom ironically afforded her by her captivity had gone to her head like the most potent wine. Odysseus’ indulgence of her had moved her so far beyond the confinement of veil and chaperone that it had overcome any natural good sense and caution that the gods had blessed her with. Though I knew myself well enough to recognise that I was only too happy to follow her lead because she seemed to free me also from the bondage of my shattered limbs and damaged vision. I just wished that one of us had thought to bring a sword or dagger. Or, for that matter, a torch.

  ‘You are certain?’ Briseis said. ‘They brought the gold here?’

  ‘As certain as I can be,’ I replied. ‘We found the place where a rock was substituted for it and then followed the tracks to the postern gate which has to be down here somewhere. It seemed to me, looking in from outside, to be at the end of a long, fairly narrow alley.’

  ‘It can’t have been that narrow,’ she said, ‘if they were able to get a chariot up it.’

  ‘No, now you mention it, they could never have taken a chariot up it – it was wide enough for a single horse but not for a team pulling a chariot. They must have transferred the gold into some sort of hand cart I suppose…’

  ‘More evidence of excellent planning,’ she said. ‘I’m surprised they haven’t put a plan in place in case someone comes snooping around uninvited. Well, not so much a plan, perhaps, more like a guard.’

  ‘Maybe they have,’ I said. ‘Perhaps we should go back and get help. Just in case.’

  The princess gave a chuckle and I realised she had been teasing me with her disturbing thoughts and suspicions.

  But then her amusement was cut short by the sound of a footstep close behind us.

  Up until that moment, the w
hole area had been silent except for our quiet conversation. That silence had made us believe, perhaps without realising, that the place was deserted. But that footstep brought us face to face with the truth. And the fact was that if there was someone else close behind us, then we should assume he was at least an enemy out to protect his gold – and in all likelihood the murderer we had been hunting.

  ‘Hide!’ breathed Briseis.

  We looked around for somewhere to conceal ourselves, but it seemed to me that we were a little late in thinking of it. If we could hear his footsteps then he could almost certainly hear our conversation. He knew someone was here; and now we knew he was hunting us. There were only two realistic alternatives open to us – hide or run. Hiding was by no means ideal but running through a maze of streets we did not know in gathering afternoon shadows seemed like simple madness. Briseis vanished through the nearest doorway while these considerations were still tumbling through my head. I hesitated. My mind was racing – would we be safer together or apart? Together meant that if one was caught, both were caught. Staying apart meant that if one was caught, the other could try to free them or – at least – run for help. Trapped like Jason aboard Argo between the clashing rocks, I looked up and down the narrow street as I tried to decide on the best course of action. At one end, uphill, there was a cross-street from which this one led. At the other end, downhill, it opened into a small square. The street itself was lined with open doors on each side, the nearest one already taken by Briseis. Just at the moment that a shadow loomed across the uphill opening of the street, I threw myself back through the doorway into the building behind me.

  I arrived in a low-ceilinged little room, dimly lit by the waning brightness coming through the doorway. The floor was littered with the debris to be expected after the place had been ransacked – a broken stool, a table leaning crazily against the wall, one leg missing, torn cloth, smashed pottery. There was an inner door leading to another room – this one absolutely dark, and, therefore, a very tempting hiding-place. Good sense, however, was overcome by curiosity. Instead of going further back, I tiptoed forward and took up a position beside the doorway. The shadows there cloaked me most effectively, I thought. And so I pushed myself against the edge, peeking out, as the footsteps drew steadily closer.

  ***

  As I waited breathlessly, I started to review my plans. It became obvious almost at once that, between my companion and myself, I was by far the weaker. If the approaching man captured Briseis I would hardly know what to do in order to help her. If, on the other hand, he was to capture me, I had no doubt that the resourceful princess would think of something swift and effective to get me free. Always assuming my throat had not been cut in the meantime. But then it occurred to me that the weaknesses forever intruding into my everyday life might stand me in good stead after all. Who would be sufficiently worried about a half-blind cripple to waste time cutting his throat? I might well be more trouble dead than I was alive – until he got me to somewhere suitable for hiding corpses at least.

  These thoughts came to me just as the sinister figure came slowly into view. He was tall, bald, angular – sufficiently like Gul-Ses for me to wonder whether this was Sutekh, the high priest of Teshub and mantis from Thebe. There was certainly an air of arrogance about him as he swaggered into my view, strutting as though he assumed everyone would obey his least command unhesitatingly. Not only that, he was wearing some kind of robe. As he passed, I drew back, holding my breath, fearful that the pounding of my blood in my ears was loud enough for him to hear. But he was not, it seemed, interested in the dwellings to his left, where I was hiding. Instead, he was peering through the doors on his right as he made his purposeful way down the street. Or he did so until he reached the doorway Briseis had vanished into. He stopped there, moving his head strangely, like a dog seeking a scent. She smelt of myrrh, I remembered. Would that be enough to guide the hunter to her as though he were a hound coursing a deer? In less than a heartbeat I had convinced myself that he was about to find Briseis, and all my earlier fears came back. So, rather than run the risk of having to rescue her, I decided that she should have to rescue me. I stepped forward – not into the light, but just enough to make sure my footstep was easily audible.

  The stranger swung round. ‘You there!’ he snarled. ‘Come out where I can see you!’

  Slowly, seemingly reluctantly, I limped into the light, reaching almost blindly with my right hand as though I needed the edge of the doorframe to guide and support me. I stopped, hoping that I presented a picture of near helplessness. ‘Who are you?’ he demanded. ‘What are you doing here? Where’s the friend you were talking to?’

  ‘I am rhapsode to King Odysseus, master,’ I answered. ‘I have come here to rehearse my epic for tonight’s great feast. I have no friend. I was singing my song alone.’

  ‘Rhapsode, are you? Well, let me hear some of the song you were singing.’ His tone was heavy with disbelief and threat.

  ‘I want no more garlands of violets and no more lyres playing,’ I sang. ‘No more drugged wine or Syrian incense burning…It’s not so good without my own lyre. I was just polishing up the words really. But there’s a good deal more if you would like to hear it.’

  ‘No. That’s enough. So, you are King Odysseus’ rhapsode…’ his voice trailed off as he looked suspiciously around. ‘I know something of you. You are close enough to the king to share his insights and suspicions, so I have heard, and keep his secrets. There is much a young man like you could tell me.’

  ‘I don’t think so, master,’ I answered. ‘What you have heard is simple gossip and there is no truth in it. Besides, if I was what you say I am then I would be careful to keep King Odysseus’ secrets secret.’

  ‘A wise and cautious answer,’ he replied. ‘But our conversation cannot end there. You will come with me and we shall talk further.’

  ‘I’m sorry, master,’ I said, with a lot more confidence than I felt. ‘I must go back to the palace. My song is required for the feast tonight.’

  His hand disappeared into his robe and reappeared holding a long-bladed dagger. It was quite like the one Odysseus had pulled from Mnestheus and consequently I looked closely at the hand that was holding it. It was the right hand. I sighed with relief – whoever I was confronted with, it did not appear to be the throat-cutter. ‘Go on,’ he said, gesturing for me to walk ahead of him down the hill towards the little square at the end of the street. As I turned to do his bidding, I sensed him closing up behind me until he was well within arm’s length. The whole of my throat tingled as though it had taken on a life of its own and was fearful of feeling the blade no matter which hand wielded it.

  With the stranger looming behind me, I walked down the narrow street as fast as I was able and we were soon at the little square. I paused here to look around. One street on the far side led on straight ahead, a continuation of the one we had been following. Although it proceeded at a downward angle, this led more across the slope than directly down it. On my left, however, was another alley that led straight downhill. And at the lower end of it were the north wall and the postern gate.

  ‘What are you waiting for?’ growled my captor. ‘Move!’

  ‘Where am I to go, master?’ I asked. ‘Down to the gate or straight across the square?’

  ‘Across the square,’ he answered, prodding me with his dagger forcefully enough to push its point though my himation and into the skin of my back.’

  ‘Is there anything I should look out for, master?’ I asked.

  ‘You’ll know it when you see it,’ he answered.

  Even as he spoke, there was a strange almost silent stirring in the air, as though a great bird had swooped down on us. The knife-point vanished. My captor gave a grunt of surprise. There was a crisp crack! as though the gigantic Ajax had hit a nearby wall with his war-hammer. My captor collapsed against my back and I turned to see Briseis standing with her shoes tied together and hanging round her neck. This was such an unusual sight tha
t it took me a moment more to realise she was also holding the makeshift club of a table-leg.

  iii

  ‘You’ll know it when you see it,’ she said. ‘That’s what Sutekh here told you.’

  ‘I know, Princess, but I think we have done enough exploring on our own. We must go back to the palace and get help before we go any further.’

  ’Hmmm,’ she said as she stooped and retrieved the dagger. Then she straightened with one weapon in each hand looking very much like the war-goddess Athena – except that she had her sandals hanging round her neck and I strongly suspected she was no longer a virgin. However, war goddess or not, she saw the logic of my suggestion. Her victim, High Priest and Mantis Sutekh of Thebe, lay sprawled on the packed earth of the alleyway, his head and shoulders on the stones of the little square, sluggishly leaking blood from a split skull. In that he wasn’t dead and we had no intention of murdering him, he presented a problem which only going for help would solve. He would wake up soon and be both outraged and agonised – bent on revenge. We had nothing to restrain him with and stood no real chance against him when he awoke unless Briseis was going to keep beating him over the head each time he stirred. Which in itself would get us nowhere.

  Briseis nodded. ‘We know how to get back here and we know where to go after we do. And best of all we know we’ll know it when we see it – or that’s what Sutekh said. I wouldn’t trust him normally, but…’ She took a deep breath as she came to her decision. ‘You’re right. Now is the time to get some light and some help. Just as soon as I’ve put my sandals back on. My feet are freezing and I no longer need to move silently.’