ρβ′
I reek of fish.
Polites joined us again for breakfast today. He was obviously hung-over, so I asked Misenus to break out some wine.
As Odysseus happened to walk up as we were pouring, I decided to toast to our Ciconian raid.
The General mistook our good humor for enthusiasm, which pleased him immensely. As a result, we (and Polites) then toasted to the sacking of Troy, the journey home, seeing Ithacan women again, and to a few more excuses to tip the cup.
Polites knew my intent, and shot me a weak but wry smile. He did his best to keep up with us, but after the fifth toast, he lost his breakfast.
In terms of military discipline, things pretty much went down hill from there.
Laughing, the lot of us heckled Polites as he ran to the bulwark. However, our fun was soon interrupted from a shout from the bow.
One of our deckhands was pointing ahead and screaming: Mother of Zeus, a serpent! A serpent to the starboard bow, General!
More interested in a sea serpent than Polites, our breakfast crew raced to the soldier's side.
Not expecting to see a serpent, I was taken aback. -There was indeed something huge in front of us. It was large and dark, and it was churning the waters.
Bravely, Odysseus called for his 'shpear'.
Yet, before Elpenor could retrieve it, Baius shouted: "You'd do better with a net, General! -That's a school of fish!
Squinting hard, the General looked again. Slapping the deckhand on the back of the head, he belted: "Itsh a school of fish, you shtupid sheleni!"
It was indeed a school of fish.
In fact, it was much more than a school. It was more like an island of fish. -I didn't know there were so many in the sea.
Actually, for the next hour or so, our fleet sailed through what seemed to be equal parts fish and water.
Odysseus took Baius' advice, and called for our nets. In fact, he ordered that our deck be filled with fish. In his words, we shouldn't decline such a 'fine gift from Posheidon'.
Odysseus seemed to like saying that, and repeated it many times as we worked to cover the deck.
As the General conscripted about fifty of our men to aid us in the catch, it wasn't more than an hour before we were ankle-deep in fish.
At the same time, Odysseus asked Misenus to tap deeper into our wine. Strangely determined, he made sure the lot of us toasted to 'our gift from Posheidon' several times. -I can't imagine how much wine the General drank.
Anyway, after we had loaded the deck, Odysseus ordered Elpenor to prepare a feast.
A large cauldron was brought up, and Elpenor began directing the preparation of an enormous stew.
By that point, Odysseus was a mess. He was stumbling about the deck, shouting various salty-sounding phrases and slapping anyone within reach hard on the back. -I was pretty drunk myself.
In fact, I don't remember everything after that very clearly.
I do know that at some point, a fish-fight erupted. Lying on my back after slipping for probably the fourth time, I can recall watching a fish sail through the air.
Sitting up, I was struck in the chest. It hurt. -More than I would have expected.
I'm not sure who threw the fish at me, but I remember retaliating against Perimedes. -Now that I think of it, I can't believe he was up and walking around.
Anyway, I then took another one to the back of the head.
Within moments, the air was full of fish.
Oddly, I distinctly remember hitting the General with one. I saw him laughing and tossing a couple, but it didn't seem anyone was bold enough to throw a fish back at him. Thinking it would make him feel better, I lobbed one.
It struck Odysseus the mouth. However, I think he was genuinely pleased. Laughing, the General sent a barrage back at me. -That was painful. I tried to retaliate, but couldn't match the speed or force of his onslaught. Eventually, I just buckled.
Satisfied, Odysseus then turned on Elpenor.
Some time after the fish-fight cooled down, the Lil' Tethys sailed to our side. According to Antiphus, Achaemenides, who has been given command of his own vessel, had requested some of our catch. -Apparently, they hadn't any nets of their own.
Odysseus, who could hardly stand, ordered we fill the aft catapult with our 'gift from Posheidon'.
We shot three salvos at Achaemenides and his crew before the General retired to his quarters. -I hope no one was hurt.
Anyway, I spent the rest of the day dealing with the mess. I instructed Elpenor to cook or begin to dry what fish we could, and had the rest pushed back into the sea.
After dumping our catch, we then had to clean the mess caused by the gulls we attracted. -It wasn't until dark before our work was done.
Every time I passed Baius, he just shook his head.
Ironically, I didn't eat a single fish today.
Polites joined us again for breakfast today. He was obviously hung-over, so I asked Misenus to break out some wine.
As Odysseus happened to walk up as we were pouring, I decided to toast to our Ciconian raid.
The General mistook our good humor for enthusiasm, which pleased him immensely. As a result, we (and Polites) then toasted to the sacking of Troy, the journey home, seeing Ithacan women again, and to a few more excuses to tip the cup.
Polites knew my intent, and shot me a weak but wry smile. He did his best to keep up with us, but after the fifth toast, he lost his breakfast.
In terms of military discipline, things pretty much went down hill from there.
Laughing, the lot of us heckled Polites as he ran to the bulwark. However, our fun was soon interrupted from a shout from the bow.
One of our deckhands was pointing ahead and screaming: Mother of Zeus, a serpent! A serpent to the starboard bow, General!
More interested in a sea serpent than Polites, our breakfast crew raced to the soldier's side.
Not expecting to see a serpent, I was taken aback. -There was indeed something huge in front of us. It was large and dark, and it was churning the waters.
Bravely, Odysseus called for his 'shpear'.
Yet, before Elpenor could retrieve it, Baius shouted: "You'd do better with a net, General! -That's a school of fish!
Squinting hard, the General looked again. Slapping the deckhand on the back of the head, he belted: "Itsh a school of fish, you shtupid sheleni!"
It was indeed a school of fish.
In fact, it was much more than a school. It was more like an island of fish. -I didn't know there were so many in the sea.
Actually, for the next hour or so, our fleet sailed through what seemed to be equal parts fish and water.
Odysseus took Baius' advice, and called for our nets. In fact, he ordered that our deck be filled with fish. In his words, we shouldn't decline such a 'fine gift from Posheidon'.
Odysseus seemed to like saying that, and repeated it many times as we worked to cover the deck.
As the General conscripted about fifty of our men to aid us in the catch, it wasn't more than an hour before we were ankle-deep in fish.
At the same time, Odysseus asked Misenus to tap deeper into our wine. Strangely determined, he made sure the lot of us toasted to 'our gift from Posheidon' several times. -I can't imagine how much wine the General drank.
Anyway, after we had loaded the deck, Odysseus ordered Elpenor to prepare a feast.
A large cauldron was brought up, and Elpenor began directing the preparation of an enormous stew.
By that point, Odysseus was a mess. He was stumbling about the deck, shouting various salty-sounding phrases and slapping anyone within reach hard on the back. -I was pretty drunk myself.
In fact, I don't remember everything after that very clearly.
I do know that at some point, a fish-fight erupted. Lying on my back after slipping for probably the fourth time, I can recall watching a fish sail through the air.
Sitting up, I was struck in the chest. It hurt. -More than I would have expected.
I'm not sure who threw the fish at me, but I remember retaliating against Perimedes. -Now that I think of it, I can't believe he was up and walking around.
Anyway, I then took another one to the back of the head.
Within moments, the air was full of fish.
Oddly, I distinctly remember hitting the General with one. I saw him laughing and tossing a couple, but it didn't seem anyone was bold enough to throw a fish back at him. Thinking it would make him feel better, I lobbed one.
It struck Odysseus the mouth. However, I think he was genuinely pleased. Laughing, the General sent a barrage back at me. -That was painful. I tried to retaliate, but couldn't match the speed or force of his onslaught. Eventually, I just buckled.
Satisfied, Odysseus then turned on Elpenor.
Some time after the fish-fight cooled down, the Lil' Tethys sailed to our side. According to Antiphus, Achaemenides, who has been given command of his own vessel, had requested some of our catch. -Apparently, they hadn't any nets of their own.
Odysseus, who could hardly stand, ordered we fill the aft catapult with our 'gift from Posheidon'.
We shot three salvos at Achaemenides and his crew before the General retired to his quarters. -I hope no one was hurt.
Anyway, I spent the rest of the day dealing with the mess. I instructed Elpenor to cook or begin to dry what fish we could, and had the rest pushed back into the sea.
After dumping our catch, we then had to clean the mess caused by the gulls we attracted. -It wasn't until dark before our work was done.
Every time I passed Baius, he just shook his head.
Ironically, I didn't eat a single fish today.
