Argos (17 page)

T
he most perfidious of all animals approaches me today as I lie down in the barn to rest. The harbor cat has returned. Only a plea to Athena for wisdom and patience keeps me from crushing that hateful creature in my jaws, for I have sworn vengeance against him. But the goddess favors me and gives me the strength to remain still as he rubs against my side, arching his orange back and lashing his tail around my nose. Finally, though, I can stand it no longer, and a growl escapes my lips.

“Why do you come to Argos, Mouse Catcher? Cats belong on ships and in dirty barns, not here among sheepherders and hunters. If you are lost, I will gladly chase you down to the harbor where you will find your mangy brothers.”

“Foul-smelling canine,” he purrs. “Do you presume I came here willingly to hear your insults? If Artemis herself had not asked me to come, I would have remained on my swift ship, killing rats and sailing the seas. There are lands far from here where I myself am treated like a god, though this is beyond your imagination. Hear my tale, blackest one, and do not delay me further.”

“Tell it, then, Rat Chaser, before you cough up a fur ball.”

The cat closes his eyes and then extends each and every claw before he speaks.

“I have just retur-r-rned from Scheria,” he says. “Do you know that land? I think not, since, like most dogs, you have probably never left your island.”

“Scheria? What of it? Is it a land of rugged men and dogs such as Ithaka? Do they breed warriors there?”

“No, Tail Chaser, it is nothing like Ithaka, I grant you. That land was settled by Nausithoos many years ago, and now it is ruled by Alkinoos, who is learned in building and has erected many great palaces there. There he rules justly and with great honor-r-r, and there your master, Odysseus, washed ashore.”

“My master lives? How do you know this?” I demand.

“I was there, Big Foot! I saw the wretched man myself! I live on that island in summer-r-r when the winds are not favorable.
Now, do not interrupt, long-tongued one, or I will say no more. And my story is one you will wish to hear.”

I clamp my jaws shut and listen.

“Once your master crawled onto the shore of Scheria, he set out to look for the island's inhabitants, and I followed him. But soon sleep and exhaustion overcame him, and he made himself a bed of soft willow leaves near the banks of a river-r-r and fell asleep. Athena herself covered his eyes and let him rest undisturbed. Meanwhile I returned to the palace, for it was time for my dinner-r-r. That evening, Athena approached the bedchamber of Alkinoos's beautiful daughter, Nausikaa, and whispered into her ear that she must go to the river-r-r to wash her clothes because the men of the island would soon be courting her. To the river-r-r she went the next day, along with her servants and me, for she is a dutiful girl, and there, at the edge of a burbling stream that feeds a deep, quiet pool, she discovered a man she thought was dead.”

“Say not those words!” I cry.

“Nay, Boar Licker, I said she
thought
the man was dead, but upon hearing her cry of surprise, the man awoke and jumped to his feet. Imagine her terror-r-r at seeing him, for he was salt crusted and swollen from the sea, but Athena had given the girl courage, and she stood fast.”

“Go on, whiskered one,” I urge.

“Seeing this girl so fair and resolute, your master bowed to his knees, saying, ‘I offer my services, fair queen. Tell me, are you mortal or goddess? For if you are immortal, you resemble most lovely Artemis, but if you are one of the mortals who live on this land, then blessed are your parents, for their spirits must be warmed at the thought of you.' Truly, Tail Sniffer, your master, though nearly dead, still had the wits to charm a young maiden.”

I say nothing in reply to this latest insult, for this odious cat still has much to tell me.

“Then Nausikaa her-r-rself answered him, saying, ‘You are most thoughtful, sir, for indeed, though we are all mortal here, we are close to Father Zeus, and good fortune follows us.'

“‘And what is the name of this land, fair lady, and who are your people? As you can see, I am lost and far from my own home,' your-r-r master said.

“‘We are Phaiakians who hold this land, and I am Nausikaa, daughter of great-hearted Alkinoos. But come, it is not right that my servants and I look upon you so poorly clothed. We have mantles here, and oil for your blistered skin, as well as food and wine. Dress, eat, and anoint yourself, then we will
return to my father's house, where we will take care of you as is our custom.'

“Then Nausikaa and her servants turned their backs so your-r-r master could prepare himself. While they were thus occupied, Athena came unbidden and cast a spell over him, healing his wounds and erasing the toll of years in battle and hardship, so that he appeared younger and godlike when they turned back to him. Truly, he was magnificent in appearance. For a man.”

I think then how my own years of wolf hunting and shepherding have aged me. Would my master even recognize me if he saw me?

“Do you wish for me to continue, old one?” the cat asks, as if he knows my thoughts. Then he yawns, showing me his pink mouth, and stretches his long tail.

“Yes, stealthy one, please finish your tale,” I beg.

But instead of finishing the story, the cat slinks over to a patch of sunlight and curls himself into a ball, falling asleep before my very eyes!

After a few minutes I bark at the miserable creature. Finally he opens one green eye and says, “If you wish to hear more, Broken Tooth, you will not make another sound. I will tell the
rest of the story when I wake, if there is a saucer-r-r of milk waiting for me, for talking so much makes me very thir-r-rsty. Go now, and retur-r-rn when I wake.”

There is a young, kindhearted servant girl who tends to my mistress Penelope and has a soft disposition toward animals. When a lamb is born, she makes sure that it suckles; when a baby bird is found beneath a nest, it is she who climbs the tree to return it. And like many young girls who have not yet learned to think critically, she likes cats.

I find her sweeping the alcove where my mistress often waits in vain for news of my master, and I take her sleeve in my mouth and lead her to the rat catcher still lying asleep near the barn. To hear her cry of wonder and happiness when she sees him lying there, you would have thought she'd found gold, jewels, or a bolt of the finest silk, not a mangy, flea-bitten orange harbor cat. But she squeals with delight and gathers the beast in her arms. To his credit, the cat wakes and plays his part, whining pitifully and hungrily until she realizes he needs milk. She puts him down and rushes to find a goat with a swollen udder.

“Quickly,” I say. “Finish your story. And let every word be true, or you will live the rest of your life tailless.”

After a series of yawns and a long scratch behind his ears, he continues.

“Once your master-r-r was dressed and had eaten, quick-thinking Nausikaa said to him, ‘Follow our chariots back to my father's palace, but stop in the grove of poplars that you will see there, for us to arrive together would cause scandal, as I am to be married soon. So wait some time in the meadow and pray to Athena, for the poplars were grown in her honor. Then go into the city of the Phaiakians and inquire about the house of Alkinoos. Once you are there, enter the courtyard and proceed to the hearth on the other side. There, every evening, my mother and father sit and receive guests. When you arrive, bend your knees to my mother, and if she finds you honest and noble, she will convince my father to help you return to the land of your fathers.'

“Hearing this, your master thanked her most graciously, and soon they left for the palace, with your-r-r master following behind the retinue. I do not know if he prayed to Athena, but I myself was already in the palace, ridding it of mice, when I saw your-r-r master enter the courtyard, approach Queen Arete, and clasp her knees in his arms, as is the custom there.”

“What did she say to him? Did she welcome him as her daughter promised?” I ask, desperately, I must confess.

“Aye, Boring one, she did. But fir-r-rst the courtyard grew silent, for never had so godlike a man entered their walls. Then your-r-r master made his entreaty, saying, ‘Queen Arete, daughter of Rhexenor, I come to you on my knees after enduring great hardship and suffering. Here, among your friends and family, I ask of you and your noble king, Alkinoos, that you help me return to my homeland, for I am without conveyance, having been shipwrecked and washed ashore.'”

“What did the queen say, orange one? Did she agree to his request?”

“Yes, whisker-r-red one, she did, saying, ‘Rise up and sit on this silver-studded chair, sir.' Heralds, bring him wine and supper and let us say a prayer to Zeus, who protects suppliants and grants their wishes when they are just.'

“Hearing this, King Alkinoos also rose and personally took your-r-r master's hand and set him in the shining chair. Then long-suffering Odysseus ate and drank, and the guests let him do so without asking the many questions that sprang to their lips. Finally King Alkinoos said to the audience there, ‘Go home now, my guests, to your beds. Tomorrow morning, we shall call the elders in and introduce this man, who appears to me to be one of the immortals, and consider his request.'

“Soon everyone had left the hall except for the king and
queen and your-r-r master. Even the servants retreated to their rooms so that the three of them were left alone, except for me, of course, for I sat in the shadows watching and listening. Then white-armed Arete spoke a question that had been vexing her, asking, ‘Stranger and friend, I recognize that mantle you wear. Who are you and where did you come from, and how is it that you wear this mantle?'

“Your-r-r master shook his head ruefully. ‘It is a hard thing to tell you in one sitting, O queen, since the gods have given me many troubles, but let me for now tell you from whence I just came and how I appeared at your palace,' he said. ‘For the last seven years, I was stranded on the far-off island known as Ogygia, where lives the daughter of Atlas, Kalypso. She lives there alone, but for servants, and my destiny led me to that cursed land after shining Zeus shattered my fast ship with a bolt of lightning. Only I among all my companions survived, floating on the keel of my ship. I was carried on the wave-tossed sea for ten days before the gods brought me to Ogygia. There Kalypso found me and nursed me back to health, even promising to make me immortal such as herself, but I remained steadfast in my desire to leave. Finally, perhaps Zeus took pity on me, for one day she allowed me to construct a raft, and I set sail for your own country, as I had been told that you
are generous to strangers and supplicants. I was so happy as I neared your land, but then the earth shaker, Poseidon, threw mighty waves at me, tossing me off the raft. I swam for many hours until I landed safely on your shore, where I fell asleep near the river. There your daughter, Nausikaa, who looked like a goddess, discovered me. All this is true, I swear by the gods.'

“Then Alkinoos replied, ‘My friend, from what I understand now, then your first supplication was to our daughter and not us. Is this not so?'

“‘Noble Alkinoos,' your-r-r master said, ‘do not rebuke your daughter, for she is blameless and sought only to avoid scandal, as she is soon to be married.'

“Then Queen Arete said, ‘So she is, stranger. We seek her husband but have not found a man worthy of her.'

“‘Until now, perhaps,' said the king. ‘You could have my daughter, and I would call you son-in-law. I would build you a grand house, and you would have many servants. But if you want only a swift ship, that I will grant you too. Sleep here tonight, and in the morning, when the winds are calm, you can sail it to your land; my young men are all fine rowers, and they can take you as far as you need to go.'

“Then I saw your-r-r master smile for the fir-r-r-st time, smelly one. Soon a servant arrived and said that a bed had been
prepared, and your-r-r master thanked the king and queen most graciously before leaving the room. Then the king and queen left the room too, and a moment later I saw a shadow running across the hall, and I pounced! So we all had good fortunes that night, lop-eared one. Ahh, here comes the maid with the milk! Excellent. I will drink it, and then, with Artemis's luck, this pretty young thing will take me to her-r-r room and I will sleep on a soft bed, while you remain out here with the fleas and the stupid oxen. I shall resume the tale in the morning, Dog Breath, just as your-r-r master did. How fitting, I think.”

W
hen rosy dawn comes, I run to the barn and find the cat waiting for me.

“Finish your story,” I tell him, “now that you have spent a night in the house of Odysseus. It is only right that you do so.”

“I will finish the story, black one, but only because the milkmaid will come soon to take me with her-r-r to the market. It seems she has grown quite fond of me. Perhaps we will live here on this estate together-r-r, you and I.”

The thought of that odious creature living here sickens me, but I swallow my disgust and bid him continue, which he does after yawning twice.

“King Alkinoos had sent a herald throughout the city, inviting all the townsfolk to come and meet your-r-r master, and
soon the palace was filled with throngs of expectant men and women, young and old. Then, while we waited for the feast, a blind singer was led into the hall. In exchange for his eyes, the muse had given him the most beautiful voice in the kingdom, and the herald seated him near the king, Queen Arete, and your-r-r master, so that not a note was missed. To the sound of the lyre, the singer began his song, and silence fell over the assembly there. Truly, for a human, his voice was magnificent! But, Big Foot, a wicked god must have moved the singer, for he sang not of lovely maidens and brave young men, but of the war with the Trojans!”

“Surely not!” I cry. “In front of my master?”

“Aye, and he sang of Odysseus as well. He sang of the quarrel between Achilles and your-r-r master, and of all the warriors and their deeds, of Agamemnon and his foolishness that cost so many Achaian lives. Never have I been moved by such a singer. But I was not the only one. Every time the singer paused to breathe, I heard sobbing.
Who is shedding tears?
I wonder-r-red. Can you guess, Hare Breath?”

“Surely it was Queen Arete, or perhaps her daughter, Nausikaa,” I venture.

“Nay, Bush Tail, it was your-r-r master himself, though no one could see his face, for he had draped his mantle over it. I
myself saw the tears splashing down upon his lap. Finally King Alkinoos saw them too, and heard your-r-r master's lamentations, for once the singer had finished and the audience was demanding another song, he clapped his hands and declared that the time for lyre and song was over, that he wished to show his new friend how surpassingly athletic the men of his island were.

“Oh, how my master has suffered!” I moan. “Surely the games put his mind at rest, though, Rat Chaser, did they not?”

“Not at fir-r-rst, whiskered one. Let me set the scene for you. Everyone went to the fields, newly plowed and marked for competition, and the finest of the island's youth stood forth, including Alkinoos's three sons, majestic Laodamas, stout Halios, and swift Klytoneos. Fir-r-rst, they held the running contests, and Klytoneos was out in front by a farrow's length, and he brought honor to his mother and father. Then they wrestled, and Eurylaos won his matches, as he was best among them all at that hard sport. For the jumping, Amphialos outleaped them all, while with the discus Elatreus threw it the far-r-r-r-thest. Finally, in boxing, it was Laodamas who was the last man standing, and he too swelled the chest of his father, the king. Then, after they had finished all the contests, Laodamas said, ‘Come, friends, let us ask the stranger if
he would like to enter a contest. He looks strong enough for sport; his thighs are muscular, as are his arms and his mighty neck. Surely though he is no longer young and has suffered much, he has some skill left in his body!'

“So with encouragement from his companions, Laodamas approached your-r-r master and said, ‘Father Stranger, come and try these contests with us. You seem to know athletics, and there is no greater pleasure than testing one's speed or strength against another, and surely it would lift your spirits to compete with us before you set sail!'

“Then your-r-r master reproached Laodamas, saying, ‘Young man, son of Alkinoos, why do you urge me to play your games? My mind is occupied with my own cares, not athletics. I long only to return to my home; I seek not glory in this kind of sport.'

“Then Eurylaos, the haughty wrestler, approached and spoke rudely to your-r-r master: ‘I understand, stranger. You clearly are not a sportsman, as we are. You are just a sailor, a commander of rowers and mariners, perhaps even a profiteer. Your legs and arms are stout, but you do not look like an athlete, if the truth be told.' And then he spit on the ground near your-r-r master's feet!”

“He did
that
?
” I ask.

“Aye, Black Nose. I was close by, in Nausikaa's arms, and I saw everything.”

“Did my master smite him? He was a guest, but none would have blamed him, surely!”

“Nay, but he clenched his fists. Then he said, ‘Reckless boy, that was not well said. You may be strong, but the gods did not bestow upon you good graces or eloquence. Now you have stirred my anger by your insults, and though I have been at war and at sea for many years, I think I shall try your contests.'

“Then your-r-r master, still wearing his mantle, took up the heaviest discus there, heavier than any of the Phaiakians had used, and he spun with such speed and fury that it hummed in the air and all who stood nearby, brave mariners themselves, threw themselves on the ground.

Finally the discus landed, overflying the marks of all the others by twice again! Then your-r-r master said words that bit: ‘Try to reach that mark, men of Phaiakia, and I will throw it again even farther. And if you want to wrestle or box me, then have at it, except for Laodamas, for he is the son of my host. If you wish to contest me at archery, then lend me a bow, but be warned, only the great Philoktetes shot more Trojans than I, and if you wish to see me throw the javelin, you should know that I can throw the spear as far as most men can shoot
an arrow. Only in a footrace do I fear you would surpass me, for I have been battered at sea, and my legs have lost their conditioning. What say you all?'

Oh, to have seen my master issue this challenge!

“Did anyone dare approach him?”

“Nay, Tail Wagger-r-r, only clearheaded King Alkinoos spoke. He said, ‘Forgive this one his graceless talk, stranger. In truth, we are not as excellent as you in boxing and wrestling, but we are fine sailors and lovers of song and music. That is how I hope you remember us when you return to your land and sit again with your family, as men who feasted you well and did not insult a stranger. Now come, let us bring up the singer again, and we will show you our customary dances, for we are light on our feet and excellent dancers.'

“Then Nausikaa carried me back to the palace, and the townfolk returr-r-ned there too. Soon the lyre players were seated and the music began. Your-r-r master sat beside the king and queen in a place of honor while dancers moved back and forth among themselves, streaming red ribbons, and clapping their hands. Such a racket! Truly I thought I had gone to Hades itself, but the townfolk spun and spun. Finally, when the music had stopped for a moment, your-r-r master leaned over and said to King Alkinoos, ‘Truly, it is as you boasted;
none anywhere can match your dancers. I sit here in wonder at them.'

“That pleased the king. He rose and proclaimed loudly, ‘Hear me, leaders of the council! We have before us an honorable man, a man of good character and a friend. Let us each give him a gift of friendship, as is our custom. I say we each give him a fine tunic, a robe, and a talent of gold. Come, let us assemble these gifts at once and present them soon, for his departure is imminent.'

“So he spoke, and heralds went running back to their master's homes to acquire the gifts. Then Antinoos continued, saying that Euryalos himself must make amends for having insulted your master. Hearing this, Euryalos rose and approached the king, bent his knee, and said, ‘O great Alkinoos, thank you for the opportunity to make amends to your guest. To him I gladly give this sword, with its silver handle, along with its ivory scabbard.'

“Then, turning to your-r-r master, Euryalos said, ‘Take this sword, Father and stranger, as a token of my esteem. May the winds carry away my rude language, and may the gods grant you safe passage to your home, for I know you suffer from longing to be there.'

“Then he gave the sword to your-r-r master, who took it with
great solemnity, answering, ‘Farewell to you also, my friend, and may the gods give you many prosperous years. And thank you for this gift. I will carry this sword as a reminder of your kind words to a stranger.'”

“Such a great and noble man,” I say softly.

“Truly, Argos. Even I was moved by his sentiments, as was Nausikaa, whose tears fell across my back. Then your master embraced all who were there, lifting the children high above his head and clapping the shoulders of the athletes who had competed. Finally King Alkinoos announced that the singer would sing one more song in his guest's honor. Everyone was seated, and again the lyre was brought forth. The blind singer was led out into the middle of the square, and he seated himself beside the musician. Silence flew over the court. Then the singer said, ‘Bring forth the honored guest that I might read his face and know what song to sing.'

“Your master stepped forward, and the blind singer placed his hand over your master's face, touching the strong brow, the proud nose, the scarred and bearded cheeks. Then your-r-r master returned to his place between the king and queen while we waited for the singer to find his words.

“Athena herself must have spoken to the blind singer, for he seemed to be listening to someone, though no one stood beside
him. Finally the lyre player strummed a note, and the singer began. I thought he would sing a tale of distant homelands and widowed wives, of seafarers and doomed mariners, or young lovers kept apart by warring families. But he did not.”

There the loathsome creature stops and yawns.

“What did he sing, Long Tail?” I demand. “Was it a song of praise to the gods?”

“Leg Lifter, I am too exhausted to continue. Let me sleep for some time, and then I will resume.”

The creature stretches his skinny front legs twice, and then his eyes began to close. Gods! Can a cat not stay awake for more than hour without requiring a nap?

“But surely you can stay awake a few moments longer, enough to finish the tale!” I plead. “What of my master? Has he left their island yet? You must tell me!”

“I cannot continue without a nap, flea-bitten one. Now, away with you while I find a sunny spot high in yonder-r-r barn. Return in a few hours with something juicy to eat, and I will finish my story.”

Apollo's chariot flies over the western sky, and I have sheep to paddock. Soon suitors will be coming, and they will be expecting me to greet each of them with a snarl. There is no time to acquire another mouse. So, putting my muzzle right
next to the cat's ear, I inhale as deeply as my old lungs will allow, and bark.

Oh, how that cat jumps!

When he lands, I speak in winged words. “Listen to me, most distrusted of all creatures. Your ship sails at dawn. If you wish to be on it, you will finish the story, or you will spend the rest of your short life eating skinny field mice and hiding from me, as well as every eagle that soars over Ithaka. Are my terms clear enough?”

“Yes, Boar Slayer,” he mutters balefully. “Now where was I?”

“The blind singer was about to begin his song,” I remind him. “Was it a love song?”

The cat laughs. “No, Sheep Breath, it was a song of war. He sang of your master, Odysseus, and how he built the giant horse and hid in it with his most trusted men. How the Trojans brought it into their city, not knowing it bore death and doom for them. He sang of how your master left his hollow hiding place in the belly of the wooden beast and sacked the city, killing many Trojans. That was the song that issued forth from his lips.”

“And what of my master? What did his face reveal when he heard it?”

“He wept most piteously, though none saw it, for he covered
his face, except for King Alkinoos.”

“The king saw my master weeping?”

“Aye, and finally he raised his hand and cut off the singer, saying, ‘It is not right, stranger, that our most accomplished singer causes you such grief. Even though we have given you many fine gifts, your heart must surely hold great sorrow. Yet how can we be proper hosts if we cannot help you? Tell us what your father and mother called you. Tell us your land, your city, your citadel, so that our ships can sail you there, even though there is a prophecy that we will one day convey a stranger to his home and great Poseidon will punish us for it by hurling rocks onto our city.'

“Then your-r-r master removed the mantle that covered his face and looked out among the throng of people there. He raised his chin and gazed at them with clear eyes. Truly, all who were there knew him then to be a king.”

Then the cat pauses.

“What did he say, Green Eyes?” I demand.

But the cat does not answer. Instead, with a sudden leap, he jumps into the air and lands high on a rafter, too high for me to reach him with my jaws, though I try three times.

“Here is what your master said, you buffoon!” the cat calls down at me. “He said, ‘I am Odysseus, sacker of cities, son
of Laertes. I hail from sunny Ithaka, where in the center rises a mountain called Nerito that can be seen from many miles away. The land is rugged, but it breeds good men. My wife, if she lives, is called Penelope, and I have a son named Telemachos. I have not seen either for twenty years, but at one time they were guarded by a fearsome dog named Argos. Now, I ask you—'

“Stop!” I cry. “My master said my name? He remembered me?”

“He did, indeed, Boar Kisser. I cannot say otherwise. Now may I continue?”

My master remembered me! After twenty years!

“Finish the story, please, Sir Cat,” I say. “I will not interrupt again.”