Free Argos by Phillip Simpson Page A

but Odysseus to have it. My jaw was set like a rock. I doubt whether the gods themselves could have opened it.
    Doggedly, I staggered on. With the last of my strength,consciousness fading fast, I fell at my master’s feet and remembered no more.

    The sounds of angry voices woke me. I felt drowsy, dizzy, and vaguely nauseous. It took me a few moments to realize where I was. The healer’s quarters. I was lying on a bed normally reserved for patients with two legs.
    Odysseus’ new healer was standing over me, watching my recovery with interest. Behind him, Odysseus and Eumaeus were having a heated conversation.
    â€œBut they cheated, my lord,” said Eumaeus angrily. “Not only that, but they could have killed Argos. They must be punished for their sins.”
    â€œWhat would you have me do?” retorted Odysseus, his voice rising further. “They have denied everything and protest their innocence vehemently. At first, they tried to say that Argos was exhausted by the race. Then, when I took the hare from Argos’ jaws, I realized there was something smeared onto the coat of the hare. Meges has suggested that because one of my men provided the hare, we are to blame.”
    â€œHow convenient,” growled Eumaeus. “So they are blaming one of your men, then?”
    â€œYes,” said Odysseus. “They insist it must have been one of us who doused the hare in that strange substance.”
    â€œWhat a pack of lies!” shouted a frustrated Eumaeus.
    â€œKeep your voice down,” said Odysseus, regaining his poise. “It’s not as simple as you think, Eumaeus. I have other things I need to consider.”
    â€œSuch as?”
    â€œThe alliance for one,” said Odysseus. “I am surrounded by enemies and need every ally I can find—even one like Meges. Ithaca is rich and powerful, making us a target for raiders and pirates. I can’t fight all of them.”
    â€œYes, but you could start with Meges,” insisted Eumaeus. “Your army is greater than his. It will be one less pirate to deal with. If he had won the wager, he wouldn’t have hesitated to do the same to you.”
    â€œThat would not sit well with the other kings,” said Odysseus. “In fact, it would no doubt make them nervous and they would ally themselves against me.”
    â€œAnd what of the wager?”
    â€œThat too, is complicated,” said Odysseus wearily, running one calloused hand through his long hair. “It turns out that Meges hasn’t got enough gold to pay his debt.”
    â€œWhat sort of gambler makes a wager he can’t pay?” sneered Eumaeus.
    â€œA bad one,” said Odysseus drily. There was silence in the room for a moment and then both Odysseus and Eumaeus roared with laughter. I was pleased that the tension was broken. I liked Eumaeus and would not like to see him have a falling out with my master. “He will have to pay in installments,” continued Odysseus.
    â€œIt would almost seem like he never thought he could lose,” noted Eumaeus.
    â€œYes, that did occur to me.” Odysseus turned his attention to me and his face broke into a smile when he saw that I was awake. He rushed to my side and patted my head gently. “Well done, Argos,” he said. “Good dog. How is he, healer?” Odysseus asked.
    â€œHe will be fine,” said the man. “A little shaky on his feet for a few days, but will otherwise make a full recovery.”
    â€œJust as well,” said Odysseus. “If he had died, then alliance or not, I would have the heads of Meges and his arrogant upstart of a son on a spike.”
    â€œI confess I am a little confused though,” said the healer.
    â€œHow so?” said Odysseus.
    â€œI don’t know what did this. It is something I haven’t seen before. A substance, probably from the east. In induces unconsciousness when inhaled in sufficient quantities but seems to