Home is the Hunter (2 page)

(Catching
EUMAEUS
’
arm, knocking the knife to the ground)

Not even Ulysses?

(He throws his cloak open, takes off his hat, stands erect.
EUMAEUS
stares unbelievingly.)

EUMAEUS

That grip is the same—but it can’t be—it can’t—

ULYSSES

(As
EUMAEUS
still stares,
ULYSSES
points to the outside of his leg, where a scar runs above and below the knee.)

Recognise this scar?

(He claps
EUMAEUS
on the shoulder.)

Yes, it’s still the same old Ulysses. A bit older. That’s all.

EUMAEUS

(Recovering)

Seventeen years older.

ULYSSES

(Amused, as
EUMAEUS
suddenly grabs him and begins to laugh)

As long as that? Yes, I suppose it is. Ten years at Troy, seven years wandering—Eumaeus, stop that—stop it! Hold on, there. You’ll have everyone come running—quiet, now, quiet! Take it easy. I’m home—home to stay.

(He frees himself from the hysterical welcome. He grins, takes a seat on the ground, his back against the shack’s wall.)

EUMAEUS

Yes, the same old Ulysses, playing his damned tricks.

(He squats down near
ULYSSES
,
and studies him.)

But why play one on me? Didn’t you trust me?

ULYSSES

I had to make sure of you. Everyone is changed. The minute I stepped off the ship, this morning, I knew something was wrong. I kept silent, told no one who I was, listened, and looked. I didn’t like what I saw. It’s a dead village.

EUMAEUS

It’s a frightened village. They close their doors and shutter their windows, whenever they see a ship coming into the harbour.

ULYSSES

But why? They used to welcome strangers. This island used to be a friendly place.

EUMAEUS

No more, Ulysses. No more. When people are scared, they turn selfish, keep to themselves. We’ve had enough of strangers coming here, pretending to be honest travellers, pleasant young men—

ULYSSES

Young men?

EUMAEUS

—until they got their grip on the whole island, and took what they wanted.

ULYSSES

Took?

EUMAEUS

Everything and everyone—some by persuasion, some by promises, some by threats. Except Penelope. She has held out against them.

ULYSSES

(Worriedly)

She is well? She’s safe?

EUMAEUS

Barely.

ULYSSES

What do you mean?

EUMAEUS

For three years, the men have been living in the Big House.

ULYSSES

Penelope let these men into my house? God damn it, what the hell was she doing?

EUMAEUS

Strangers were always welcomed into your house, Ulysses. That was your custom.

ULYSSES

But, a bunch of—

EUMAEUS

And who was to throw them out, when they stayed on—and on—and on? Your son was only fourteen when they arrived.

ULYSSES

My son... Did they kill him?

EUMAEUS

Some of them planned that, but it didn’t come off. Thanks to Penelope. She has managed to keep him—and the rest of us— alive. He’s a good lad, but useless against eleven men.

ULYSSES

(Slowly)

And how did Penelope manage all that?

EUMAEUS

She used her head, that’s how.

ULYSSES

(Rising abruptly, angry)

Was that all she used?

EUMAEUS

(Sharply)

It was! Penelope keeps to herself. She’s a prisoner in her own room. The men may be masters of your house, but she is still your wife.

ULYSSES

(More subdued; still bitter)

All right, all right... So I come home, and I find eleven men living in my house. That’s just the welcome I wanted.

EUMAEUS

You’re lucky. There used to be more of them. Nearly a hundred at one time.

ULYSSES

What?

EUMAEUS

Sure, sure... Then some got killed—a quarrelsome lot they are. And the cowards gave up, and drifted away. Now there are only eleven. But they are the dangerous ones. There are two, in particular—real bastards they are... The women seem to like them, though.

ULYSSES

Just how young are they?

EUMAEUS

Younger than you are.

ULYSSES

How do they fight?

EUMAEUS

They can fight, all right. They’re strong. Well set-up. Women would call them handsome.

ULYSSES

(Puzzled)

But what keeps them here? I’d imagine that the attractions of Ithaca are a little limited for eleven handsome braggarts.

EUMAEUS

Well—you see—

ULYSSES

I don’t. They aren’t the type to work the land. Food is short, you said. So what
keeps
them here?

EUMAEUS

They have the idea that one of them is going to marry Penelope and become lord of this island. That’s what they are gambling for—power, and a beautiful woman. Isn’t that enough to keep them waiting?

ULYSSES

Marry my wife?

EUMAEUS

You’re dead, aren’t you? That’s what brought them here, in the first place.

ULYSSES

(Boiling up)

And who is this lout, this pretentious oaf, who’s going to marry my wife?

EUMAEUS

She will decide.

ULYSSES

(Exploding)

Penelope will
choose
?

EUMAEUS

That’s the agreement. Women have brains, too, you know. She has kept them dangling and bickering and waiting for three years. Don’t ask me how she does it, but—

ULYSSES

(Grimly)

I won’t.

EUMAEUS

Now, Ulysses—

ULYSSES

Eleven of them...

EUMAEUS

And their servants, of course. They each brought two.

ULYSSES

All men? Can they fight?

EUMAEUS

Constantly. But they wouldn’t have much stomach in facing you.

(As
ULYSSES
gives a short, bitter laugh)

No, I’d just worry about their masters, if I were you. Fight them, and the rest will run.

ULYSSES

So that’s all I have to do? Fight eleven men.

(He drops the irony, and becomes serious.)

How many can we put up against them?

EUMAEUS

Well—there’s me; Telemachus, your son; and Philetius. Of course, he isn’t what he used to be—still feels the wounds he got in the war. The Trojans tore out his tongue, did you know that? So he is dumb. But he’s faithful. He has stayed here—

ULYSSES

Philetius... so he got home safely, did he? He’s a good man in any fight.—Who else?

EUMAEUS

That’s all.

ULYSSES

(Swings round to stare at
EUMAEUS
)

Two old men, and a boy—that’s all who are left?

EUMAEUS

But you can handle a sword better than ten men put together!

ULYSSES

That old myth!... We’ll need more than our swords.

(He sits down, thoroughly depressed.)

We’ll have to put our brains to work, Eumaeus.

EUMAEUS

(Hesitating)

I don’t suppose they gave you anything to eat or drink in the village?

(
ULYSSES
is lost in his worry and dejection.)

That’s what you need.

(He hurries into the shack, comes out with a hunk of bread and a small flask of wine,
ULYSSES
takes them, with a nod, still lost in thought.)

You know the best idea? Now that you’re home—

(
ULYSSES
breaks the bread, and shares it with
EUMAEUS
.)

—we could all escape. There’s a boat in the Bay just below your house. Remember it? Penelope had Philetius keep it in good order.

(
ULYSSES
looks at him now, but still goes on chewing.)

It takes five men to sail it, but with you as one of the crew, we could manage it. We could all leave—tonight—when it’s dark.

ULYSSES

And give up my land and my home to these invaders?

(He drinks from the flask, then passes it over to
eumaeus.)

Like hell I will.

EUMAEUS

But we could come back—with more men, a small army—

ULYSSES

If no one came to help Penelope, in all these years, they wouldn’t come now. Why didn’t they come, the damned cowards?

EUMAEUS

They had their own lands to put in order, once they got back from the war. Hey—did you hear what happened to Agamemnon? Got his throat slit in his bath on the day he got home.

(Drinks quickly)

Yes, his wife, Clytemnestra, and her lover took over his palace at Mycenae—

ULYSSES

(Grimly)

Are you trying to warn me that I’ll get my throat slit, too?

EUMAEUS

(Shocked)

Penelope isn’t like that. She’s—

ULYSSES

Sure, sure. Just kept eleven men hanging around for three solid years. Who’s the one she is going to marry?

EUMAEUS

Now, look here—

ULYSSES

I think—I think I’d like to talk with my son. Go up to the house, Eumaeus. Find him. Bring him here.

EUMAEUS

Right away?

ULYSSES

Right away. But be careful. Tell no one else that I’m alive. Or that I have come back. No one.

EUMAEUS

Not even Penelope?

ULYSSES

(Softly)

Least of all Penelope.

(He draws his cloak more closely around him, sits brooding, biting the knuckles of his right fist, ignoring
EUMAEUS
,
who leaves, shaking his head.
ULYSSES
is motionless. Suddenly he strikes his fist on the ground. He speaks in anger.)

You gods in Heaven—do you never give a man any peace?

ATHENA

(Speaking sadly, from the darkness)

Ulysses—have you forgotten me?

ULYSSES

(His anger changing to anguish)

Athena! In the name of Reason!

ATHENA

(Her voice brightening as the light strengthens to show her more clearly)

That’s better! It was I who brought you safely home, don’t forget.

ULYSSES

Why should this be my home-coming? Why,
why?

ATHENA

(Sighing, as she speaks to the audience)

It’s always the way. When things go wrong, all you human beings start asking, “Why, why, why?” As if the gods were to blame for your troubles.

(She walks slowly, gracefully, over to
ULYSSES
.)

Look into yourself, Ulysses. Look deeply. Everything changes, nothing stays as it was. That’s why the human comedy goes on, and on...

ULYSSES

(Angry again)

It’s a joke on me. A bitter, sour-smelling joke.

(He rises.)

I’ve had enough of it. Old Eumaeus was right—there’s no sense in staying. I have my pride.

ATHENA

Your vanity, you mean. Oh, it’s badly wounded, I admit. But perhaps it needed a little deflating? What is a cruel joke but just another challenge? And
you
will walk away from it? And call it meaningless?—Then the joke
is
bitter: you’ll turn it into tragedy. Ulysses—
listen
to my voice. I’m putting reason into your head. Use it!