Free Spartan by Valerio Massimo Manfredi

better, you’ll be able to invent some story. You’ll say that you fell into some crevasse.’
    ‘Yes, all right,’ murmured Talos, his eyelids dropping.
    Pelias watched the boy with tear-filled eyes, then turned towards his daughter, whose gaze still betrayed the fear she felt. ‘Go put on another dress,’ he said. ‘There’s
not much left of the one you have on. Then come back here and don’t leave his side for an instant. I must go into town to our master’s now. The feast will take place in two days and
I’ve still got quite a lot to do.’ He disappeared, closing the door behind him and leaving the house in darkness.
    Talos, exhausted, had fallen into a deep sleep. He moaned weakly, turning in his bed. Every small movement made Antinea start, and she moved closer to Talos to better see his face in the dim
light. She then returned to one of the benches, and sat there with her hands folded in her lap. When Pelias returned it was almost dark.
    ‘How is he?’ he asked in a low voice, entering.
    ‘Better, I think. He’s sleeping peacefully and his fever seems lower. But just look at how swollen he is!’ replied the girl. Pelias opened the window a crack, and a little of
the glow of dusk entered the room. His face tightened in sadness as he saw Talos’ distended features, the boy’s chest covered in bruises, his skinned and bloodied arms. The old
man’s hands tightened into fists. ‘Damn them,’ he muttered between his teeth. ‘Damn them! And to think that they’re the offspring of the most noble families of the
city: Brithos, son of Aristarkhos; Aghias, son of Antimakhos; Philarkhos, son of Leukhippos . . .’
    ‘How did you find out their names?’ asked Antinea, shocked.
    ‘From our friends who serve in their families. Some of those damnable bastards came back in bad shape and the truth has leaked out, even if they did try to make the others believe that it
was some accident that happened during their military drills. That boy Talos, he hit hard! Even though he was alone! It’s strange, I never would have believed it; he is strong, but how could
he have knocked those young warriors to the ground? All those boys do is train and wrestle and fence all day.’
    ‘I don’t know, father. It was amazing. You should have seen how he used that staff,’ said the girl, indicating the cornel crook leaning against a corner of the room. ‘He
swung it around so incredibly fast, and with so much strength! If they hadn’t all jumped on him together, they couldn’t have beaten him like they did.’
    Pelias was very thoughtful for a moment, staring at the shiny cornel rod, then he gripped it with his hands. ‘Old Kritolaos,’ he murmured, ‘no one else . . .’
    ‘What did you say?’ asked the girl.
    ‘Nothing, nothing my daughter. I was only talking to myself.’ He put the staff back in its place, then sat down next to the bed where Talos lay sleeping. ‘Now the boy is in
real danger, though. They could kill him at any time.’
    ‘No!’ cried out Antinea.
    ‘Don’t you realize what he’s done? Not only has he dared to rebel, but he even managed to strike down some of the Spartans. They don’t need that much of a reason to kill
a Helot. Fortunately, he hasn’t been recognized yet, but it won’t take them long to find out who he is. They saw that he was lame.’
    Antinea twisted her hands, and anxiously watched Talos’ face. ‘We have to help him escape immediately, hide him somewhere!’
    ‘And where, my daughter? A fugitive Helot can’t get very far, and in any case, where could we possibly hide him? Any family who protected him would be exterminated as soon as the
Spartans found them out.’
    ‘Then, there’s no hope?’
    ‘Calm down, daughter, we’ll find a solution. For the time being he’s safe. No one saw the two of you come here. At least, I hope not. And then, there is a thread of
hope.’
    ‘What do you mean?’ blurted out Antinea.
    ‘You told me that Talos was