‘Shit!’ Lysicrates took a startled step back and trod heavily on my sandalled foot.
‘Ow! It’s Menekles, you fool.’
Though I could understand why the actor had been caught unawares when our friend appeared as a tall looming shadow against the flickering torches.
‘Damianos is here,’ he said urgently.
‘We know, and so do the Scythians at the gateway,’ I told him. ‘They know what he looks like now.’
‘Really?’ That pleased the actor. ‘I was watching to see if he left.’
‘Where are the others?’ Lysicrates wanted to know.
‘They headed for the far side of the altar, where there’s plenty of people and light. Eupraxis realised he was being followed before he reached the agora. Damianos must still be after Apollonides.’
So we had all been thinking the same. But now everything had changed.
‘He can’t get away past the Scythians. The four of us should be able to catch him.’
‘If we can tell Apollonides to get him away from the crowds.’ Menekles shook his head. ‘But he knows what I look like. He’ll see me if I join them.’
I nodded. ‘He must be on his guard now. He’ll suspect a trap.’
‘And he’s seen your face,’ Lysicrates said to me. ‘I’ll do it. He’ll have no idea who I am.’
‘Where do we want to corner him?’ I tried to picture the best place to lure a killer amid the temples and shrines. ‘Some place where there won’t be a crowd for him to hide in.’
Ikesios spoke up. ‘Most people will be steering clear of the Sanctuary of Zeus.’
The youth was right. That’s where most of the oxen destined for sacrifice in the morning would be penned for the night. They would be docile enough, either dutifully resigned to their fate or soothed by a little something extra in their fodder, depending on who you talked to. Still, nigh on a hundred cattle make a fair amount of stink, and we should thank mighty Zeus for putting up with it in order to see his bright-eyed daughter rightly honoured.
‘I’ll tell them to wander off that way.’ Lysicrates headed for the altar before any of us could speak.
‘Let’s take a walk,’ I invited Ikesios. ‘Don’t let people see that you’re looking for someone, but keep your eyes open.’
‘Right.’ He nodded, determined.
It felt strange to be strolling through the throng after our forced march to get here. I glanced apparently idly from side to side. Thankfully, plenty of other people were doing the same. There’s a lot to see. To the south, as well as the shrine to Artemis, there’s a colonnade where bronze statues and other offerings to the gods from grateful Athenians are displayed.
That’s close to the steps leading up to the front of the great new temple on the highest point of this ancient citadel. Some visitors were walking up to admire the vast new shrine. A great many others were stopping to watch the choral dances as lyre and pipe music filled the air. The rest were either heading for Athena’s altar, or intended to circle around behind it to make some offering at the ancient temple sacred to Erechtheus.
Menekles discreetly squeezed my hand. ‘There he is. Up by the front corner of the temple colonnade.’
He was right. Damianos had sought the best vantage point as he looked for his quarry. The man’s arrogance astounded me. He must know he was being pursued, but he was still determined to have his murderous revenge.
I nudged Ikesios and jerked my head. His nod and the way his gaze sharpened told me he had seen the killer.
Damianos started walking slowly along the side of the temple, still searching the crowds below. Down on the path, we kept pace with him.
‘Careful.’ I laid a hand on Menekles’ forearm to curb his stride. ‘We don’t want to get close enough to catch his eye.’
The beautiful songs of praise to Athena swelled as we passed by the dancing women. When Damianos had walked three quarters of the length of the great temple, he stopped abruptly. I realised he could see the open space beyond Athena’s altar.
‘He must have seen Apollonides.’ I spoke the thought aloud.
Damianos started walking, faster now.
‘We’ll lose sight of him when he goes down the steps at the far end of the temple,’ Menekles warned.
‘Come on.’
The other two shared my urgency as we hurried onwards. As we drew level with Athena’s great altar, I was relieved to see Apollonides some way beyond. He was standing with Eupraxis, and a casual observer would think they were merely sharing some conversation. Anyone who looked more closely would see the wariness in their eyes as they surveyed the crowd swirling around them. There was no sign of Lysicrates. Then I heard a whistle above the festival pipes and singing. At least I thought I did.
‘Did you hear that?’ I looked at Menekles.
He nodded and I knew I wasn’t imagining the signal we had agreed on. ‘Lysicrates has seen him.’
‘They’re moving.’ Ikesios hadn’t taken his eyes off Apollonides and Eupraxis.
We watched them turn their backs on the altar with its blazing crown of flames. Apparently without a care in the world, they walked towards the low-walled precinct sacred to Zeus. The ox pen is on the far side, beyond the altar beneath its portico and up against the north wall of the Acropolis. On this side, closest to us, the path that leads to that end of the citadel passes between the enclosure dedicated to the greatest of gods and the far end of Athena’s new temple. That’s where Apollonides and Eupraxis were heading.
‘They’re going to pay their respects to Pandion.’ I stopped walking. If we went any further, we would be too conspicuous. We wanted Damianos to think Apollonides and Eupraxis were alone. As long as we stayed where we were, we would merely be three of the numerous, nameless figures outlined
