Valerio Mafredi - The Oath

I looked into Epeius’ eyes without saying a word. A slight nod of my head was enough for him to understand that I approved. He responded in the same way.

During the entire time that the horse was being built, not one of the kings or princes came to visit me, except for Eumelus.

‘You’ve always liked horses,’ he observed, ‘but you are the only one of the kings who doesn’t have a war chariot. Why is that?’

‘There are no roads in Ithaca, you know that; only the trails that the goats use. Our chariots are our ships: on the sea we’re the best.’

‘In such a short time,’ he went on, ‘a horse so small that it fits inside my hand has generated an enormous one that could contain many men. Am I right, Odysseus?’

I didn’t answer.

‘So I am right. You have to include me then, because I’m the only one who has understood what you are thinking.’

‘No. I want you to get back safe and sound to your parents in Pherai. You’ll enter the city with the others when it comes time to attack. Until that moment, speak with no one, not even the air. A god who is hostile to us might hear you.’

‘He couldn’t hear us here?’

‘Here, in my tent, there’s a constant noise that human ears cannot hear, that covers our voices and even our thoughts.’

‘When?’

‘The day after tomorrow. On the night of the new moon.’

He nodded and returned to his tent, walking along the seashore. Before leaving he opened his hand, smiled, and showed me the little horse I’d given him as a boy.

That same night I had Agamemnon convene a very unusual council of the kings. One by one they were to come to my tent, unescorted, without arms, armour or insignia, with their heads covered and wrapped in a cloak up to their eyes. Some before sunset, others after, the rest in the middle of the night. I was dubious up to the last moment as to whether I should include Pyrrhus; after much thought, I decided that he, too, should be summoned to my tent.

When everyone had arrived, Agamemnon spoke, admitting that the rumours about our returning to Achaia for the winter in order to recruit new warriors had been spread deliberately. The truth was entirely different, and I would be the one to reveal it to them. He then nodded to me.

‘Friends, courageous comrades, for years and years Zeus has held his hand over the city of Troy so that it would not fall, despite the strength, prowess and sacrifice of great heroes like Patroclus, Achilles, Ajax son of Telamon and many, many others who now lie under the soil of this land. The city still does not seem on the verge of falling, even now. Every attempt we make is frustrated and not even the valour of the son of Achilles has been enough to breach the Skaian Gate. The time has come to put an end to this endless war before it destroys us. The only way is to conquer Troy. And that is just what we’ll do. .

‘Now!’

My listeners, except for Agamemnon and Nestor, looked at each other in disbelief. Some of them uttered cutting comments, others laughed in scorn.

‘Tomorrow, as soon as evening falls, our entire fleet will put to sea. Our ships will move away from the coast and then, under cover of darkness, will drop anchor behind the nearby island of Tenedos and remain there, hidden. As the ships go out, I will stay here, in this tent, along with those whose names I will now call. .

‘Menelaus Atreides, for you this war has been fought, for you the moment so long awaited has come: you will win Troy and avenge your honour! Ajax of Locris, bronze lightning bolt, you who are the swiftest after Achilles: you will be the first to reach the highest point of the city. Diomedes of Argus, it is said that in battle you wounded Ares himself, the god of war, and I believe that, for no one can better you in hurling your mighty, massive spear, always thirsting for blood, straight at your target. Idomeneus, powerful sovereign of Crete, lord of the labyrinth, you will not lose your way even if the roads of Troy are dark and winding; you will emerge victorious and set the city ablaze. Eurymachus, your sight is as penetrating as a nocturnal predator’s, and I’ve never seen you tremble: your eyes will rend the darkness for all of us. Makahon, pupil of Asclepius, warrior surgeon, you who know so well how to restore life will inflict death! Menestheus of Athens, lord of the city which belonged to Theseus, you will show us that you are worthy of sitting on his throne. Merion. . Sthenelus. .’

As I called out their names, I looked intensely at their faces: they were tense, drawn, some of them seemed daunted; they had no idea yet of what they were being called upon to do. ‘. . Thoas of Calydon, you were Achilles’ best ally; Podalirius, inseparable companion of Makahon, we’ll sorely need your arts. . Teucer! With you the spirit of Great Ajax, your brother, will surely be present to win this war with us. Neoptolemus, known as Pyrrhus, son of Achilles: the fire that will devour the city will be redder than your flaming locks! You will attain what your father would have achieved had not a god stood in his way, for nothing less than a god could have stopped Achilles.

‘All of you will enter Troy with me, inside the horse. The horse will be transported into the city by the Trojans themselves; I can assure you that this will happen. When the horse is in place, one of our men will signal from the shore to our comrades on Tenedos. The fleet will head back again, without masts or sails, moving solely by the force of their oars. Invisible, our ships will return to Troy. We will wait for the middle of the night, when the city has finished celebrating the end of the war, and is enveloped in silence and darkness. Only then will we leave the horse, and take control of the Skaian Gate. We’ll signal from high up on the towers and we will open from the inside the doors that we’ve never been able to force from the outside. Our men will rush in and take the city by storm. And that will be the end of Troy.

‘I will have complete command over the entire operation. We will take Epeius, the builder of the horse, with us. Only he knows how to unlatch the belly of the monster. He is still unaware of this plan, but he will soon be informed. I’ve chosen you because you are the best. Your names will be remembered for centuries to come. .

‘Who is with me, then? If you are ready to join me, stand up now!’

Pyrrhus was the first to speak, with his usual arrogance. ‘You’re talking to us as if we were about to accomplish some glorious feat, and instead it is with deceit that you propose we take the city. We’ll enter Troy in hiding, closed up in the dark like rats, and surprise the Trojans in their sleep. Is this the glory you offer us?’

‘Yes, it is,’ I replied. ‘A man is not made only of muscles and tendons. A man’s mind is his highest, most noble part: it is what makes us similar to the gods. And it is our most powerful weapon. You’ve been given the chance to conquer the city by fighting on the open field, Pyrrhus: it doesn’t appear to me that you’ve succeeded. I may not have the brawn of Great Ajax and I certainly don’t have the vigour of your years and the force of Achilles that lives on in your limbs.

‘You know what they call me: I’m Odysseus of the labyrinthine mind. This is my greatest strength: where your father’s arm failed my mind will succeed! But you are free to make a choice. You can enter Troy with me using this trick, because I need the best of you, and no cowards. Or you can stay with wanax Agamemnon, or even here in your own tent.’

A moment laden with uncertainty followed, until, one after another, all of those summoned got to their feet and agreed to submit to my command with immediate effect, until the moment in which the great Atreides, wanax Agamemnon himself, would stride across the crooked Skaian Gate.