CHAPTER XII-The Goddess of Love
The Lady of the Doves once blessed this place. Her statue was thrown down by the barbarians and both its hands broken off. When we came, the black man and I set it upon its base again-an act of piety, so says Pindaros, that must surely win us her favor. Though her hands lie at her feet with her doves still perched on their fingers, she is a most lovely goddess.
But there are a great many earlier things I wish to record here while I still remember them.
We came into the Bay of Peace about midmorning, I believe, though that is lost in the mist. The first thing I can recall clearly from this day is seeing the huts stretching far up the hillsides of Peace, many unroofed.
It was on that island, so Hypereides told me, that the poor of his city found refuge when the Great King's army came, and where they remained for the most part even after the Battle of Peace, for fear it might come again. Now that a decisive victory has been won on land, they are abandoning their huts and returning to the city.
There are three bays on the east coast of the island, and the city of Peace is on the southernmost. The richest families that came to Peace are there, having paid heavily for their lodgings. We put in at the middle bay, Hypereides hoping, as he said, to ferry some poorer folk back.
'Besides,' he told me, 'this is where we were before the battle. The families of a lot of my men are here, and other people who helped us out in various ways.'
Pindaros, who was listening to Hypereides with me, put in, 'You were wounded in the battle that freed them to go home, Latro. But since you were on the wrong side, you'd better not tell anybody that.'
'And you'd better not go ashore at all,' Hypereides told him. 'Once they hear that Cowland tongue of yours, they're apt to stone you. Didn't you fight, too? You can't be much more than forty, and you look able enough.'
Pindaros grinned at him. 'I'm thirty-nine, Hypereides-the best time of a man's life, as I'm sure you remember. But as for fighting, you know what Archilichos wrote:
'Some lucky lout has got my noble shield. I had to run, and dropped it on the way; So 'tis with us who fly the reeking field. Who cares? Tomorrow's loot is what I lost today.'
Hypereides shook his finger at him. 'You're going to get yourself in trouble, poet. There are many in the city who won't honor your supple mouth. Or tolerate it, either.'
'But if I should get into trouble, good master, why, you're in trouble too. So why don't you free me? Then in the next war you may be my prisoner instead of I yours. I'll treat you royally, I swear.'
We were under oar already, for the wind was in the southwest and the strait runs due south; thus it was easy to bring all three ships into the wind to enter the bay. By that time I could see the crowd on shore, and the kybernetes came forward to suggest we stow our mast and sail.
Hypereides wet a finger and held it up, 'There's not much of a blow. Don't you think it might swing north later?'
The kybernetes shrugged. 'I've seen it happen, sir. I wouldn't count on it.'
'Neither would I, but let's not count it out, either. Besides, these fellows should welcome the chance to sweat a bit and show their wives how hard they're working.'
'There's something in that. But if I were you, Hypereides, I'd put a couple of soldiers at the gangplank. Otherwise you'll get enough women on board to capsize her.'
'I've already ordered it,' Hypereides told him. 'Still I'm glad you mentioned it. It won't hurt to lie to for a bit here, will it? I've got a speech to make to the crew.'
'We'd have to, to unship the mast.'
'Good.' Going aft to face the crew, he waved for their attention and bellowed, 'Up oars! In oars! Waterman, you can pass the dipper while I'm talking. Men, how many of you have families still on the island? As far as you know?'
About half the hands went up, including Lyson's.
'All right. We don't want to lose a lot of time here, so those who don't, stay on your benches. The kybernetes will call the ones who do to the gangplank by oar groups, one from port, one from starboard. That's no more than six at a time, ever. If you see 'em-that's wives, children, parents, or your wife's parents, and nobody else-tell 'em to come to the gangplank and the soldiers will let 'em board. If you don't see 'em, they're probably back home already, so go back to your bench so the next oar group can come up. I have to go ashore-'
There were a few muttered groans.
'-to consult with the authorities. Acetes and his men will keep order; if you know what's good for you, you'll do as they say. While they're on this ship, your wives and families are your responsibility. Keep 'em in hand or they'll be put ashore, and not on the mainland, either. Otherwise nobody's to leave the ship till we get to Tieup. I should be back by the time your families are on board and the kybernetes has found places for 'em and got 'em settled down, and as soon as I'm back, off we go. I want to make Tieup before nightfall, you hear me?'
That brought a rousing cheer.
'And I won't be denied! So get some rest, because you may have to break your backs before we do. Now- Out oars! Mind the count!' He beat the rowing rhythm with one hand on the other as the flute boy readied his instrument.
'I love my wife, and she loves me! But all I do is stir this sea! I love my girl, and she loves me! But all I do is stir this sea!'
The rowers took up the chant, and soon men with mooring lines were leaping to the quay, where a thousand slatternly women greeted our ships by calling out names that might have been anybody's, holding up their babies, and waving rags of every color, and many that were of no color at all. Hypereides, whose armor I had polished with similar rags, could hardly get a foot on the gangplank for the press of them, and at length the soldiers had to drive them back with the butts of their spears to permit him to leave.
Astonishingly (or so I thought) a few of these women were actually the wives of various rowers. When the first hugs and kisses were done with, the kybernetes made them sit on the thalamite benches (which run completely across the ship under the storming deck) and threatened to put them on the ballast if the ship became unstable, as he assured them it would if they let their children run loose.
A bowman came aft to join us as we watched. 'I am Oior,' he said. 'You do not remember?'
When I shook my head, Io pulled at my chiton, whispering, 'Watch out, Latro. You know what Lyson said.'
'Oior does Latro no harm. Spu was the Son of Scoloti who wished harm to Latro, and Spu is gone.'
Pindaros drawled, 'I heard about that. Hypereides thinks he jumped ship at Teuthrone. What do you think, Oior?'
The bowman laughed. 'Oior is a Son of Scoloti. Oior does not think. Ask any man of your people. But tell me, does it not make you sad to see so many men who now greet their families again, when you do not?'
'I don't have much of one, for which I thank the gods,' Pindaros told him. 'If I did, somebody else would have claimed my estate. Let's just hope that our noble enemies here leave me in possession-otherwise, I'll need a few rich relations to take care of me, and I haven't got them.'
'Sad for you. Oior has wife.' He held out his hand at waist level with the thumb folded and all four fingers extended. 'So many sons. Many, many daughters, too many for any man. You want girl? Play with this one, take care of her when older. You choose. Oior sell very cheap.'
Hilaeira gasped, 'Would he? Really do that? Sell his own children?'
'Of course,' Pindaros said. 'All barbarians will, except for the kings. And very wise of them too, I'd say. Children are easily got and lots of trouble afterward. I'm with you, Oior.'
'Easily got by men,' Hilaeira snapped. 'Not by us. Not that I know for myself, but I've helped others. Why, my aunt-'
'Is somebody we don't want to hear about now,' Pindaros told her.
'You talk to captain very much. Oior wants to know what you think this ship will do.'
