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Today was Dolon’s interrogation.

Although I was planning on sleeping in, Achaemenides woke me not long after sunrise. I am sure he didn’t sleep. However, by his energy level, you wouldn’t have guessed it.

Knowing that Odysseus wouldn’t be awake for some time, I escorted him over to Misenus’ camp.

To my delight, when we arrived at the build site, Misenus was helping Epieus prepare for breakfast. Epieus had concocted some sort of odd looking, but very tasty fish stew.

Anyway, as we ate, Misenus and Achaemenides related to Elpenor and Epieus the discovery of the two Trojan spies.

Dolon and his cohort (whom we discovered was named Helenus), were nearby, gagged and tied to a post next to Misenus’ tent.

Elpenor and Epieus were extremely distraught when they learned that the security of the build site had been compromised. They were especially grateful to Achaemenides, and consequently stuffed him full of fish stew.

After breakfast, we spent the rest of the morning watching Elpenor and Epieus’ crew put the final touches on the Wooden Horse.

After about two hours, and Achaemenides’ twentieth inquiry about seeing Odysseus, we took the two captives to see the General.

When we arrived at Odysseus’ tent, I was surprised to see he was up and about, drinking tea, and eating some leftover pork with Diomedes. -Apparently, Sthenelus and their lady-friends had already left.

Odysseus was looking chipper, and as he rose to greet us, he smiled and shouted: “Oh yes, our Trojan guests! I was wondering when you might stop by, Eurylochus.”

At hearing that, I looked to Achaemenides’, who to his credit, restrained from giving me an I-told-you-so look.

Anyway, after some deliberation, Diomedes and Odysseus decided to interrogate Dolon first.

Odysseus instructed me to prepare an Ithacan tent for the ‘interview’, and asked that Helenus be present. The ‘interview’ started shortly after dinner.

I am not a fan of torture. But, unfortunately, torture is what happens when you get caught by the enemy. -Especially when you’re a common soldier like Dolon.

Misenus prepared the tent, equipping it with a restraining table, and an array of nasty instruments. We Ithacans don’t have formal ‘torturing gear’, so Misenus had to get a bit creative, borrowing some tools from our barber and some from the Mycenaean blacksmiths.

Out of pity, I kept Dolon and Helenus outside of the tent while it was being readied. In fact, I purposely tied them so they couldn’t see Misenus carrying the various implements inside.

I even allowed the captives a bit of water, and I gave Helenus something to eat. -Unfortunately, I didn’t think Dolon should be fed, and by the look on his face, I could tell that he knew why.

Shortly after dinner, Dolon’s ordeal began.

Odysseus and Diomedes arrived with Agamemnon, and Odysseus asked that Achaemenides and I be present.

I have no desire to relate the details, but suffice to say, Dolon had a very bad last day.

For the most part, Odysseus and Diomedes took turns asking questions, and administering the torture. -During the entire interrogation, Agamemnon simply stood by and stoicly watched.

Dolon’s cries echoed about our camp for nearly three hours.

Thankfully, Odysseus never requested that I administer the torture myself. However, sometimes he would require my participation by asking me a rhetorical question, like: “Captain Eurylochus, did you not observe that Dolon had gone missing at the same time as my prized goat, Hermes?!”

To these questions, I would very gravely reply something like: “That is correct, General Odysseus.”

Unfortunately, at one point, for lack of hands, Odysseus asked I hold a rope and that Achaemenides apply pressure to a pry-bar handle. -The effect was enough to make Achaemenides throw up his fish stew.

I have to admit, I was somewhat stunned by the deliberate viciousness of Odysseus and Diomedes as they tormented Dolon. -Perhaps it was because Agamemnon was looking on.

At any rate, I never felt Dolon was making much of an effort to withhold information. In fact, sometimes it seemed like the generals were asking him difficult questions just as a pretense to applying more torture.

I have seen Odysseus kill a lot of men in a lot of gruesome ways. However, after Dolon’s interrogation, I have to say, I kind of see the General in a different light.

No doubt, finding Dolon in the Wooden Horse was a big deal. I also understand that finding out what the Trojans knew was very necessary. However, it wasn't just the method, but it was Odysseus' and Diomedes' cool application of the method that really disturbed me.

Anyway, after three bloody hours, the generals had revealed that Dolon had taken Odysseus’ goat, and that Dolon and Helenus had sneaked into the Wooden Horse. -That’s about it.

Dolon didn’t even know what the Horse was for. -As a matter of fact, I think that’s why he suffered so long.

After about an hour of denying any knowledge of it, Dolon began desperately guessing at why we Achaeans had built the Horse, obviously in hopes of satisfying his tormentors. -Several teeth and fingers later, Dolon guessed the correct answer, and was at last given reprieve.

That’s how it ended. -Dolon guessed the Wooden Horse was being built as part of an attack on Troy, and Odysseus and Diomedes were content.

That being accomplished, Odysseus wiped his bloody hands, looked to me and said: “String him up. We'll deal with the other one tomorrow.”

Then, nodding silently in agreement, the three commanders walked out.

Odysseus never asked me about the Horse, and I neglected to tell him that it was complete. -I guess I can tell him tomorrow.

Soon after the commanders left, I excused Achaemenides, who had long since lost all his color. He nodded and dashed out of the tent.

Dolon was left somewhat unconscious, but he was still breathing. After covering him with a blanket, I went to find Misenus and related Odysseus’ orders. -He offered to help.

To my relief, when we returned, Dolon was dead.

At that point, I think Misenus could see that I had had enough. -He told me he would take care of things, and insisted that I rest.

I thanked Misenus and left. However, instead of going to my tent, I went to the beach and swam for a couple of hours.

The moon was near full tonight, and while I was in the water, some sort of large fish or sea turtle swam past me.

It was pretty big. -However, I didn’t feel the least bit scared.

I didn’t even get out of the water.