Of course the pair of them had cooked this up beforehand! Everything just rolled off Nestor’s tongue like syrup off a cake. Odysseus was sitting smiling in absolute content and approval and Nestor was in his element.
‘The half of the army left before Troy would prevent the Trojans from making an assault on our camp or our ships,’ Nestor continued. ‘It would also steadily whittle down morale inside the city. What we have to do is turn the walls from a protection to a prison within the minds of the inhabitants. Without going into details, there are ways we can influence Trojan thinking, from the Citadel to the meanest hovel. Take my word for it, there are. Craft is essential, but with Odysseus, we have craft.’
He sighed, wriggled, demanded more wine; but this time when Patrokles made the rounds he did so with increased respect for the aged King of Pylos.
‘If we decide to persist in this war,’ said Nestor, ‘there are a host of rewards ripe for the plucking. Troy is wealthy beyond our dreams. The spoils will enrich all of our nations, and ourselves too. Achilles was right about that. I would remind you that Agamemnon always saw the advantage of crushing the Asia Minor allies. If we do crush them we’ll be free to colonise, resettle our people in greater plenty than they currently enjoy cramped up in Greece. And,’ he went on, his voice dropping in tone but increasing in power, ‘most importantly of all, the Hellespont and the Euxine Sea will be ours. We can colonise in the Euxine as well. We’ll have all the tin and copper we need to make bronze. We’ll have Skythian gold. Emeralds. Sapphires. Rubies. Silver. Wool. Emmer wheat. Barley. Electrum. Other metals. Other foods. Other commodities. An exciting prospect, don’t you agree?’
We stirred, began to smile at each other, while Agamemnon visibly revived.
‘The walls of Troy must be left severely alone,’ the old man went on firmly. ‘The half of the army left here must serve a purely irritative function – keep the Trojans unsettled and content itself with minor skirmishes. We have an excellent camp site here, I see no need to move to another location. Odysseus, what are the two rivers called?’
Odysseus answered crisply. ‘The bigger stream with the yellow water is Skamander. It’s polluted from Trojan effluent, which is why there’s a ban on bathing or drinking. The smaller stream with untainted water is Simois.’
‘Thank you. Our first task, then, is to build a defensive wall from Skamander clear across to Simois about half a league in from the lagoon. It will have to be at least fifteen cubits high. Outside it we’ll put a palisade of spiked stakes and dig a trench fifteen cubits deep, more sharpened stakes in its bottom. This will keep the half of the army left before Troy busy right through the coming winter – and keep the men warm, labouring.’
Suddenly he stopped, waved at Odysseus. ‘I’ve had enough. Odysseus, continue.’
Of course they’d hatched it huddled together! Odysseus continued as if he’d been speaking all along. ‘No troops ought to be permanently inactive, so the two halves of the army will take turns of duty – six moons before Troy, six moons attacking up and down the coast. This will keep everyone fresh. I cannot emphasise too strongly,’ he said, ‘that we must create and maintain the impression that we intend to remain on this side of the Aegaean forever if necessary! Be they Trojans or Lykians, I want the people of the Asia Minor states to despair, to wither, to become more stripped of hope with every passing year. The mobile half of our army will bleed Priam and his allies to death. Their gold will end up in our coffers. I estimate that it will take two years for the message to sink in, but sink in it will. It must.’
‘I take it, then,’ said Achilles, his tone and manner very polite, ‘that the free-agent half of the army won’t live here?’
‘No, it will have its own headquarters,’ said Odysseus, well pleased at the politeness. ‘Further south, perhaps where Dardania abuts onto Mysia. There’s a port in those parts called Assos. I haven’t seen it, but Telephos says it’s adequate for the purpose. The spoils from the coast will be taken there, as will all the food and other items. Between Assos and our beach here a feeder line will operate continually, sailing close to the coast for safety in all weathers. Phoinix is the only true sailor among the high nobility, so I suggest that he take charge of the feeder line. I know he vowed to Peleus that he’d stay with Achilles, but he can do that in this role.’
He stopped for a moment to let his grey eyes look into each pair watching him. ‘I would end by reminding everyone here that Kalchas said the war will last ten years. I think it can’t be concluded in less. And that’s what all of you have to think about. Ten years away from home. Ten years during which our children will grow up. Ten years during which our wives will have to rule. Home is too far away and our task here too demanding to allow us to visit Greece. Ten years is a very long time.’ He bowed to Agamemnon. ‘Sire, the plan that Nestor and I have outlined is only valid with your approval. If you dislike it, then Nestor and I will say no more. We are, as always, your servants.’
Ten years away from home. Ten years of exile. Was the conquest of Asia Minor worth that price? I for one didn’t know. Though I think that if it hadn’t been for Odysseus I would have elected to sail home on the morrow; but because he had obviously made up his mind to remain, I never did voice my heart’s desire.
Agamemnon sighed deeply. ‘So be it. Ten years. I think the price is worth it. We have much to gain. However, I shall put the decision to the vote. You must want it as much as I.’
He got to his feet and stood before us. ‘I would remind you that almost all of you here are either Kings or the Heirs of Kings. We in Greece have founded our concept of kingship on the favour of the sky Gods. We threw off the yoke of matriarchy when we replaced the Old Religion with the New. But while men rule they must look to the sky Gods for support, for men have no proof of fertility, no intimate association with children or the things of Mother Earth. We answer to our people differently than we did under the Old Religion. Then, we were the sacrificial victims, the hapless creatures the Queen offered up to appease the Mother when the harvest failed, or the war was lost, or some terrible plague descended. The New Religion has freed men from that fate, it has elevated us to proper sovereignty. We answer for our people directly. Therefore I am in favour of this mighty enterprise. It will be the salvation of our people, it will spread our customs and traditions everywhere. If I return home now, I am humbled before the people and must admit defeat. How then can I resist if the people, sharing my humiliation, decide to return to the Old Religion, sacrifice me and elevate my wife?’
He sat down on his chair and put his white, shapely hands on his purple-draped knees. ‘I will see the vote. If any man wishes to withdraw and sail back to Greece, let him show his hand.’
No one moved his arm. The room was quiet.
‘So be it. We stay. Odysseus, Nestor, do you have any further suggestions?’
‘No, sire,’ said Odysseus.
‘No, sire,’ said Nestor.
‘Idomeneus?’
‘I’m well content, Agamemnon.’
‘Then we had best get down to details. Patrokles, since you’ve been appointed our cupbearer, go and summon food.’
‘How will you divide the army, sire?’ asked Meriones.
‘As Odysseus suggested, a rotation of contingents. However, I do add one proviso to that. I think the Second Army ought to have a hard core of permanent men, men who will remain with it throughout the course of the war. Some of you in this room are young men of great promise. It would chafe you to sit before Troy. I must remain at Troy all year, as must Idomeneus, Odysseus, Nestor, Diomedes, Menestheus and Palamedes. Achilles, the two Ajaxes, Teukros and Meriones, you’re young. To you I entrust the Second Army. The high command goes to Achilles. Achilles, you’ll answer either to me or to Odysseus. All the decisions on active service or within Assos will be yours, no matter how senior the men might be who’ll come from Troy to do their six moons’ duty. Is that clear? Do you want the high command?’
