Part 14 (1/2)

'Dear young Prince of the blood,' I said; 'am I right in supposing that my friend Cressida is dearer to you than all the jewels of the Orient, and sweeter than Springtime, to boot?'

He thought for a moment. 'I wouldn't have put it quite like that myself,' he mused, 'but the supposition is sound in essentials.'

'Then,' I said, treacherously, but meaning well, 'I think you should know that she and Diomede have just strolled outside for a moment. They spoke of a short walk in the moonlight out in the countryside...'

He sagged at the knees, as well he might, poor boy. 'Thank you, Cyclops,' he said, 'I shan't forget this.' I knew I I wouldn't, either; wouldn't, either; or or forgive myself, come to that. But it was in a good cause. forgive myself, come to that. But it was in a good cause.

I watched him from the balcony, as he elbowed his way through the crowd in the square; then, once clear, he sprinted like a cheetah who's just remembered an appointment, out through the gates, and into the darkness of the plain where, Zeus willing, he would be safe from the wrath to come. And who knows? it was even possible that Vicki might get to hear about it one day, wherever she was going; and perhaps she might thank me.

Well, I could do no more. I looked round at all the happy, pleasant, and yes civilized people I had learnt to be fond of but, of course, there was no way of saving them. In fact, I had probably interfered too much already.

Paris was a charming, intelligent man; but he really did did deserve what was coming to him as don't we all, when you think about it? Priam was a fairly benevolent old despot, but he'd perpetrated an outrage or two in his time deserve what was coming to him as don't we all, when you think about it? Priam was a fairly benevolent old despot, but he'd perpetrated an outrage or two in his time must must have done, to get where he was! And although even Ca.s.sandra probably had a point or so in her favour if you looked closely never mind, she was about to be proved right about most things, which is more comfort that most of us get, in the end. have done, to get where he was! And although even Ca.s.sandra probably had a point or so in her favour if you looked closely never mind, she was about to be proved right about most things, which is more comfort that most of us get, in the end.

And, Hades, n.o.body lives forever, do they? I mean, what do you want miracles?

So I didn't say 'goodbye' to anyone but, rather sadly, made my way out into the square. Did I only fancy I saw the Doctor's wise and worried old face, looking out from one of the horse's eye-holes as I pa.s.sed? ' Is Is there a doctor in the horse?' I wondered, without much humour. Well, I couldn't be sure but I waved anyway. And then I wandered slowly out through the gates, and turned my back on Troy for the last time. there a doctor in the horse?' I wondered, without much humour. Well, I couldn't be sure but I waved anyway. And then I wandered slowly out through the gates, and turned my back on Troy for the last time.

Or rather, such had been my intention; but a couple of leagues from the doomed walls, I thought I might as well see the end of the affair from a safe distance so I sat down on a hillock in the moonlight, and awaited developments. After all, if you remember, that's what I'd come for. I was a writer and it would all make good copy one day, wouldn't it?

And so that was the last of the mistakes I was to make in this whole sorry saga. Because I'd forgotten about Achilles, hadn't I?

The scruff of my neck was seized in what is known as a vice-like grip; and I was flung, struggling and spitting like a kitten, into the heart of a gorse-bush.

'Well, little Cyclops,' he enquired, 'whose side are you on this this time?' time?'

And, under all the circ.u.mstances, I found it very difficult to say.

27.

Armageddon and After Achilles wasn't in the best of moods anyway you could see that.

No doubt he felt he'd been pa.s.sed over in favour of an older man; and furthermore, an older man he heartily disliked. Why, he wondered, should Odysseus get all the glory; while he, Achilles, the best d.a.m.n' warrior in the regiment, had to skulk about away from the action, in charge of the reinforcements? So he took it out on me.

'We quite thought you were dead, you know,' he remarked pleasantly. 'Odysseus thought he'd killed you the other evening: then apparently your body disappeared, and he began to wonder. That's the trouble with Odysseus; the poor old boy gets delusions half the time he doesn't know his breakfast from Wednesday! Well, as usual, I suppose I shall have to finish the job off properly for him. We don't want to leave any loose ends, do we?'

He didn't bother with blank verse for me, you notice? Oh no they save that sort of courtesy for each other. A cla.s.s thing really, I take it. But it's the sort of slight which hurts.

'Now then,' he continued, 'any last requests, before I see the colour of your tripes?'

I couldn't think of any; and after waiting patiently for a bored second or so, he drew his sword. 'Well then, we'd better get on with it. No point in hanging about, is there, when a thing's got to be done?'

The blade glinted in the moonlight Damascus steel, I noticed; very smart! as he raised his arm for the thrust. I mean, you don't expect steel in the bronze age, do you? And I would like to say that my whole past flashed before me but it didn't.

In fact, I wouldn't let it I wanted no part of my past, since it had brought me to this! No, I just had time to think that, after all, I'd be seeing Priam and the boys in Hades any moment now, when there came one of those unexpected interruptions, the G.o.ds are fortunately so good at.

'Diomede!' called Troilus, approaching at a gallop. 'You and I are going to settle this Cressida business, once and for all!'

With a muttered apology to me for the delay, Achilles turned to face him, smiling like a scimitar. 'Wrong hero, I'm afraid, my little cadet! Diomede is dead so perhaps Achilles can oblige you?'

For a moment Troilus looked a bit like a very young terrier who's stumbled on a tiger, sleeping it off in a fox-hole. But only for a moment. He was made of good stuff, that boy!

'My brother Hector's murderer? Well, it seems you feared to face Paris' loyal to the last, you see? 'but I thank Zeus for setting you before me! Now, go to seek your friend Patroclus...'

And he flew at the sneering muscle-man like a falcon on a good day.

Well, a falcon he may have been but Achilles was an eagle, make no mistake about that! And it seemed to me there could be only one end to this ill-advised encounter, as they whirled and pirouetted about the plain, swapping insults and carving the occasional slice out of each other. Troilus was game, all right, but he wasn't an Odysseus by any means, and that was the sort of solid oak article the situation called for. He was also inexperienced at this sort of thing, while Achilles was the best the Greeks had to offer. Even Hector hadn't found him a walk-over, if you remember? No I had grown fond of Troilus, and I didn't think I could bear to watch.

And pretty soon I couldn't anyway because a backhand swipe by Achilles caught me across what was left of my ruined face. And that was the end of my surviving eye!

I was thinking as I lay there, bleeding in the dust, that, while wis.h.i.+ng Troilus all the luck in the world, I would rather Achilles finished him off as quickly as convenient; so that he could turn his attention to me, and end the matter as promised. Life had not had my best interests at heart for some time, I considered; and the sooner I was out of it, the better.

One does think like that, at times. A pa.s.sing mood, of course.

And before long I heard what could only be a death-cry a thoroughly unpleasant gargling noise; then the cras.h.i.+ng collapse of an armoured body, sounding like a felled tree, screaming to ruin in the sudden silence; and I braced myself for my coming quietus.

'Come on, little Cyclops,' said my friend Troilus. 'You can get up now it's all over!' And he took my shattered head in his arms, bless him!

'Forgive me, Troilus,' I said, once I could speak again, 'but what happened? Please don't think I haven't every confidence in you, but how in Hades did you bring that that off?' off?'

'Achilles caught his heel in the brambles stumbled, and that was it. I had him.' His heel? Wouldn't you know? Those oracles can tell us a thing or two, can't they, if we'll only listen!

'And now,' said Troilus, 'let me help you back home, where you can be looked after properly.'

Well, of course, that that was the last thing I wanted; and I was about to explain that current medical thinking would incline to the suggestion that I rest where I d.a.m.n' well was for a bit, when the most appalling racket I ever heard erupted in the far distance, as Odysseus and his men started operations. was the last thing I wanted; and I was about to explain that current medical thinking would incline to the suggestion that I rest where I d.a.m.n' well was for a bit, when the most appalling racket I ever heard erupted in the far distance, as Odysseus and his men started operations.