ρθ′
Odysseus is sick.
The morning started of nicely with a lamb roast, thanks to Elpenor and Mnestheus' sheep.
Elpenor did a fantastic job, and everyone appreciated a lunch of fresh meat. -It seems a few of our ships followed our lead and did the same.
Oddly, Odysseus didn't show up.
In fact, Odysseus hadn't been seen by anyone since yesterday morning.
After it started to get dark, I went to his cabin to check on him. As I knocked, the General quickly opened the door, almost as if he had been standing behind it. -He was naked, looking glassy-eyed and a bit sweaty.
Without saying anything, Odysseus plodded back to his bead and collapsed.
His room stunk.
Leaving the door open, I walked over to his bed. -Odysseus had vomited and I stepped in it.
As I had never seen Odysseus ill before, I was somewhat concerned. However, once I started to speak, the General belted: "I'm fine! I just need some rest. Go away now. -Orders are to go away!"
It was pretty dark, so I stepped out to grab a lamp.
Returning to the General's bed, I immediately saw the cause of his ailment.
Cursing me for the light, Odysseus rolled onto his side, which revealed a nasty looking wound on the back of his ribs. The wound wasn't particularly deep, but it was red and was oozing. -He must have gotten it in Ismara.
I'm not sure why, but I immediately went for Elpenor.
Predictably, Elpenor was distressed at the site of the General. Pacing about Odysseus, he began to shake his head, repeating: "No, no, no."
Elpenor then began to give orders.
He wasn't giving orders directly to me, but I was the only one around to take them.
"More light!" he demanded. "Lots of water!"
I obeyed. -I gathered a number of men, and we provided him whatever he needed.
At Elpenor's behest, we lit up the General's quarters, scrubbed Odysseus and the entire room down with sea water, and for some reason, stacked all the furniture but his bed up against a wall.
Oddly, Odysseus remained silent throughout the whole ordeal. In fact, he seemed almost pleased with all the attention.
Anyway, after about an hour of fussing, Elpenor had Odysseus lying on his stomach, wrapped tightly in a green silk cloth. -The silk was Elpenor's.
By that point the General seemed comfortable, and was snoring loudly as our men filed out.
I intended to stay behind with Odysseus, and started to thank Elpenor. However, he cut me off and escorted me to the door.
"We'll be fine, Eurylochus." he said as he shuffled me out.
Frustrated, I tried to turn the tables. I began to tell Elpenor to stay by Odysseus' side, but he smiled and shut the door as I did.
To be honest, leaving Odysseus with Elpenor made me feel a bit uncomfortable. It's not so much because Elpenor is that way, but because he can get so overzealous when it comes to Odysseus. Furthermore, it kind of pissed me off he had taken such a patronizing tone with me.
Whatever. It's not like I was looking forward to a night of sitting with the General. Besides, Elpenor seems to know what he's doing.
I made a couple of rounds about the deck before turning in.
I saw Baius and related Odysseus' condition to him. -He just nodded in acknowledgement.
Baius then told me it should be windy tomorrow.
The morning started of nicely with a lamb roast, thanks to Elpenor and Mnestheus' sheep.
Elpenor did a fantastic job, and everyone appreciated a lunch of fresh meat. -It seems a few of our ships followed our lead and did the same.
Oddly, Odysseus didn't show up.
In fact, Odysseus hadn't been seen by anyone since yesterday morning.
After it started to get dark, I went to his cabin to check on him. As I knocked, the General quickly opened the door, almost as if he had been standing behind it. -He was naked, looking glassy-eyed and a bit sweaty.
Without saying anything, Odysseus plodded back to his bead and collapsed.
His room stunk.
Leaving the door open, I walked over to his bed. -Odysseus had vomited and I stepped in it.
As I had never seen Odysseus ill before, I was somewhat concerned. However, once I started to speak, the General belted: "I'm fine! I just need some rest. Go away now. -Orders are to go away!"
It was pretty dark, so I stepped out to grab a lamp.
Returning to the General's bed, I immediately saw the cause of his ailment.
Cursing me for the light, Odysseus rolled onto his side, which revealed a nasty looking wound on the back of his ribs. The wound wasn't particularly deep, but it was red and was oozing. -He must have gotten it in Ismara.
I'm not sure why, but I immediately went for Elpenor.
Predictably, Elpenor was distressed at the site of the General. Pacing about Odysseus, he began to shake his head, repeating: "No, no, no."
Elpenor then began to give orders.
He wasn't giving orders directly to me, but I was the only one around to take them.
"More light!" he demanded. "Lots of water!"
I obeyed. -I gathered a number of men, and we provided him whatever he needed.
At Elpenor's behest, we lit up the General's quarters, scrubbed Odysseus and the entire room down with sea water, and for some reason, stacked all the furniture but his bed up against a wall.
Oddly, Odysseus remained silent throughout the whole ordeal. In fact, he seemed almost pleased with all the attention.
Anyway, after about an hour of fussing, Elpenor had Odysseus lying on his stomach, wrapped tightly in a green silk cloth. -The silk was Elpenor's.
By that point the General seemed comfortable, and was snoring loudly as our men filed out.
I intended to stay behind with Odysseus, and started to thank Elpenor. However, he cut me off and escorted me to the door.
"We'll be fine, Eurylochus." he said as he shuffled me out.
Frustrated, I tried to turn the tables. I began to tell Elpenor to stay by Odysseus' side, but he smiled and shut the door as I did.
To be honest, leaving Odysseus with Elpenor made me feel a bit uncomfortable. It's not so much because Elpenor is that way, but because he can get so overzealous when it comes to Odysseus. Furthermore, it kind of pissed me off he had taken such a patronizing tone with me.
Whatever. It's not like I was looking forward to a night of sitting with the General. Besides, Elpenor seems to know what he's doing.
I made a couple of rounds about the deck before turning in.
I saw Baius and related Odysseus' condition to him. -He just nodded in acknowledgement.
Baius then told me it should be windy tomorrow.
