Free Mission to Marathon by Geoffrey Trease Page A

slavery—’
    â€˜
No
!’
    â€˜Yes,’ said his father firmly. ‘And now, we learn, they are crossing over to the mainland. The Great King is determined to teach Athens a lesson. But his armies are not likely to sail straight across to us here.’
    The invasion forces would choose a place where they could land without opposition, have good anchorage for their hundreds of ships and find a level plain – so rare amid the mountains of Greece – where they could use the splendid cavalry of which they were so proud.
    â€˜So,’ Father concluded, ‘the Bay of Marathon is an obvious choice.’
    â€˜
Marathon
?’ Philip’s eyes almost started out of his head. What about his grandmother? And his aunt?
    â€˜Won’t everybody be in danger?’ he asked.
    â€˜Exactly. That is why you will not be here with me tomorrow.’

2
Job For a Boy
    The family talked over the whole situation as they ate their meal.
    It was a good solid one. A tasty mutton broth. They seldom had meat. More often it was fish.
    â€˜But I thought we’d better build our strength up,’ said Mother grimly. ‘Only the gods know what lies ahead.’
    Father’s elder brother, Nearchus, had the old family farm overlooking the sea at Marathon. Their mother lived on in the old home. They would all be in terrible danger if the Persians came ashore there. But whereas everyone else, if worst came to worst, could take to the hills, Philip’s grandmother was now too frail for that.
    â€˜We must get her down here to us – if she is fit to travel at all,’ Mother agreed. ‘And the sooner we get the warning to them the better.’
    Philip’s elder brothers, Lucius and Callias, were old enough for military service and had been given their standby orders that afternoon.
    Philip had made the journey countless times throughout his childhood, but never alone. It was about 25 miles by the usual route. A little shorter if you cut across the mountains by the higher way, but it was naturally steeper and rougher underfoot.
    â€˜I hope he’ll be all right,’ said Mother doubtfully.
    Philip hoped so too, but secretly. Aloud he said, confident and a little cross, ‘Course I shall! I could find my way there with my eyes shut.’
    â€˜Well, don’t try,’ ordered his father. ‘We don’t want you to break your neck.’ He raised his hand to quell Philip’s protest. ‘You can’t do it in the day, even if you run some of it. Your legs just aren’t long enough. That’s not your fault. When it getstowards dusk look round for some sheltered corner where you can curl up and get a few hours’ sleep.’ He laughed at the look on Philip’s face. ‘You think you
won’t
sleep? You’ll see, lad, after all those miles. Then, at first light, you’ll be dropping down to the farm just as they’re starting their day’s work.’
    After the meal Philip helped his brothers clean their armour for tomorrow’s parade. He felt envious. The bronze metal took on such a superb polish. But, he reminded himself, he could not help being too young to fight in battles. After all, he reminded himself proudly, he was being trusted with this vital and possibly dangerous mission across the mountains.
    Both his brothers were tall and strong, so they were in the heavy infantry. That meant a crested helmet with a narrow nosepiece and good protection for cheeks and ears. The helmet was lined with leather inside.
    For the body there was a breastplate moulded to the shape of a man’s chest, and another to go over his back, the two pieces joined together by leather straps. From kneecap to ankle, the soldier had greaves.
    For further protection he carried a round or oval shield on his left arm. It was made of leather and wood, with metal plates. One of Father’s friends was a clever painter and he had decorated the shield of