νγ′

I had a look at the horse again today.

I'm beginning to think Epieus and Elpenor might be going overboard. -They've tacked some brass plates on as 'hooves', and Epieus has started work on a huge saddle.

Epieus and Elpenor were obviously proud, and they should be. -The Horse looks great.

I'm just not so sure it needs to be so fancy.

Anyway, the Horse has no head as of yet, but the body is close to completion. Elpenor said they squeezed twenty-five guys in it the other day. -However, those guys weren't wearing any armor.

I told them they were doing a great job. Since they offered me lunch, I didn't mention the excessive frills.

Of course, lunch was fantastic.

On the way back to our camp, I ran into Polites and Euryalus.

Polites waved to me and said: "Eurylochus, I haven't seen you in three days!"

-He was waving the thumb and two fingers that remained on his right hand.

Polites thought it was hilarious.

Polites and Euryalus then told me of a Percotian ship that had docked a few miles north of Troy. It seems the ship has been functioning as some kind of floating brothel. Apparently, Euryalus took one of the ship's 'cruises' two days ago. -He had only good things to say about it.

I guess he didn't find our engagement with the Trojan's worth his while.

Surprisingly, Euryalus said the ship was servicing just as many Trojans as Achaeans. However, he assured me it was cool, and that there wasn't any 'friction'.

Anyway, Polites and Euryalus were planning on doing some seafaring tonight. They asked me to join them.

I thanked them, but declined.

νβ′

Well, that's over.

Yesterday afternoon, the battle sort of petered out.

Once again, the morning began with some more organized skirmishing, including a fight in which Achilles killed this Colonaen king named Cycnus by choking him to death.

That was kind of awkward.

Apparently, while sparring with the Champion, Cycnus got a good jab at Achilles' face with the hilt of his sword. -This pissed Achilles off so much, he dropped his own sword, pinned down the Colonaen and proceeded to strangled him.

No doubt, some of the Colonaen soldiers must have seen Achilles choking the life out of their king. However, they remained preoccupied with Achilles' Magnesian entourage and didn't come to his aid. -I can't say that I blame them.

It makes me wonder how much of Achilles' prowress is due to psychological advantage.

Anyway, after Achilles killed the guy, he abuptly quit the battle. Without expression, Achilles then walked though our line and back across the plain to our encampment.

He knew the entire army would be watching as he strolled back to the beachhead. -Of course, we did.

Not long after Achilles left, the frequency and number of clashes between the two armies quickly diminished. -Our Ithacans didn't even fight yesterday.

By lunch time, both Trojan and Achaean forces began to withdraw. By nightfall, no one remained on the plain.

As Odysseus and I lead our men back to the encampment, I saw Thoas and about seventy horsemen ride out from behind the ridgeline to our west. -I guess they never executed their surprise charge. I can't imagine why.

Anyway, that's how it ended.

I spent the whole of today looking for Hermes.

I know the goat is dead. However, out of conviction to duty, Achaemenides seems to have convinced Odysseus that hope still remains.

To show my gratitude, I dragged Achaemenides along with me as I inquired from camp to camp.

Of course, no one was the least bit concerned with our missing goat.

Out of embarrassment, I actually had Achaemenides do the talking, while I just stood by looking indifferent.

There has been no sigh of Dolon either.

I just reported the bad news to Odysseus. He seemed disheartened, but appreciative.

I failed to mention to the General that we didn’t inquire at the Salamisian camp. -I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.