Warrior in Bronze by George Shipway

Author:George Shipway [Shipway, George]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Fiction
Published: 2010-02-09T23:00:00+00:00

***

There was a mighty feast in Corinth that evening. Echemus, the guest of honour, sat on the king’s right hand. I have never met a modest Hero; the Tegean was no exception. He recounted the struggle cut by cut; with every cup of wine his adversary grew bigger and stronger, his own feats more amazing.

‘Never thought Hyllus would fall for that old trick,’ he hiccupped. ‘Pretend to be tired and lower your guard - hoary as the hills. If I’d been him I’d have backed away, not charged like a drunken bull. Otherwise he fought damned well - doubt anyone else could have beaten him.’

Corinth’s resident bard hastily composed some adulatory verses and sang them in the Hall. Verbose and far too long, but the tune had a rhythmical beat; I recognized Orpheus’ hand. I have heard the poem sung often since, round campfires and in Halls; exaggerations swell with every telling, Echemus’ deeds grow miraculous.

I wonder whether, in ages to come, poets will recite huge lies about me?

Next morning Atreus drove a queasy, blear-eyed Bunus to the Isthmus’ neck where it joins the Corinthian Plain. He demarcated a line eight thousand paces long, and commanded the Warden to build on the line a wall from shore to shore. The wall would be twenty feet high, a tower at every hundred paces, a fort in the centre and one at each end. ‘Set every slave you have on the work,’ said Atreus. ‘I’ll send you more from Mycenae. The wall will be finished within two years - or Corinth will get a new Warden.’

Bunus blinked, and massaged throbbing temples. I said, ‘You told Adrastus, sire, you accepted Iolaus’ promise. If so, why raise these massive fortifications? No one except the Heraclids threatens Mycenae.’

‘Their terms have a limit - fifty years. I build for posterity, Agamemnon, against the day the Heraclids return.’

The huge grey stones are standing now, a barrier pierced by a single gate, watch-towers manned day and night, forts garrisoned by spearmen. Wasteful in troops and stores, and nobody dreams of attacking the wall. I often wonder whether it’s worth the expense. The Heraclids have settled in Doris - native Dorians nowadays live mostly in Arcadia - and give us no trouble.

With Thebes and Troy destroyed and Heraclids contained perhaps I shall evacuate the Isthmus Wall. Perhaps.

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