The Dancer from Atlantis (20 page)

She took her time, repeating, elaborating, until she felt she had engraved belief on the ill-defended mind. Moonset and sunrise
drew nearer with each breath, but she
knew
she would see Duncan again. In the end, she left Peneleos on the bed, in the dark, while she went ‘to fetch your lord Diores
so we can plan what to do.’

The rush-strewn passage was cold under her bare feet. Shadows jumped around the streaming lampflame. Uldin’s room was a few
doors down. She entered. He lay snoring beside a new slave girl, his first being too heavy with child. (I will not have another
by Duncan, went through Erissa’s thoughts like a bat that flies forth every twilight. I seem to have become barren since the
last one Dagonas gave me. Welladay, I could not have done what I have done here were matters otherwise; let the memory of
Deukalion comfort me. Unless, after this strife is over, Rhea will grant—) The Hun had kept to his shaven head, three tufts
of hair, and barbaric earrings. The scarred coarse visage was hideous to her. But where else was help?

She shook him. He came immediately awake. She laid a hand across his mouth, stooped, and whispered: ‘Rise at once. I’ve laid
the Sleep on Peneleos and learned something terrible.’

He nodded and followed her, unclad but gripping his iron blade.

Early in winter, still dwelling alone and remembering Duncan much too well, she had recalled a thing he told her. In future
centuries Dorian tribesmen from the north were to overrun the Achaeans because their iron weapons were cheap enough that any
man could bear them, whereas a full bronze panoply was only for a nobleman. So later she asked Peneleos: ‘Are your leaders
wise to let Uldin create the horse archers he speaks of? Once that usage spreads, will it not spell the end of the war chariot,
even of the whole state founded on charioteer lords?’ At intervals she strengthened the suggestion while he lay in the Sleep.

Her act had seemed nothing but a minor wedge she might drive. However, it took effect. Peneleos repeated the idea to Diores,
Theseus, and others, who grew thoughtful. They did not outright forbid Uldin to carry on, but they found pretexts to gradually
withdraw support until they should fully have reconsidered.
In the end he sat about idle and smoldering.

Tonight, from a Peneleos who thought he was Diores, the Hun learned of a scheme to kill him. He did not learn that Erissa
had anything to do with those words aside from extracting them. Peneleos had been ordered to forget that; and Uldin’s acquaintance
with shaman arts was limited.

‘Ungh,’ he grunted. After a moment, he shot her a glance from a countenance otherwise gone motionless. ‘Why do you warn me?’

I’ve also learned of a plot to fall on Crete when it lies racked and broken,’ she said. ‘The warning we bore was never allowed
to reach the Minos. Those are my people. I want to save them. I can’t get there alone.’

‘I’d wondered about that Tyrrhenian expedition.’

‘And think, Uldin!’ Erissa seized his arm. ‘The mainland does have reason to fear your kind of soldier. That’s why they’ve
delayed and hampered you here. Crete, guarded by the sea, never would. Rather, they should welcome a cavalry to help control
that mainland. The more so when you come as their deliverer.’

He snapped to decision. ‘Very well. You may be deadly wrong, but if you’re right, we’re fools to linger here. And a man dies
when the gods will.’ Somehow, for the moment it flashed, his grin took away his ugliness. ‘Besides, this gives me less sea
voyaging to do.’

‘Go make yourself ready,’ Erissa said.

When he was gone, she bent again over Peneleos. ‘Sleep now, my love,’ she whispered. ‘All has been done. All is well.’ With
moth gentleness she closed his eyes. ‘Sleep late. Forget what we have spoken of. The gods and prudence alike forbid that more
than your lord Diores know. Sleep. Wake refreshed. Do not seek after me. I will only be away on an errand. Sleep deeply, Peneleos.’

His breathing became still more regular. On an impulse she did not quite understand, she kissed him. Then she grew busy gathering
clothes, blankets, jewelry and utensils and weapons to wrap them in.

Uldin returned, clad in his old foul-smelling outfit. He pointed at the bed. ‘Shall I stick him?’ he asked.

‘No!’ Erissa realized she had answered too loudly. ‘No, that could start the hue and cry after us hours before it need happen.
Follow me.’

They had no trouble leaving palace or city. Since Athens was choked with king’s men, no one saw reason to post guards. The
moon was still up, approaching the full. (When that happens during Asterion’s feast, the Keftiu believe it bodes an especially
good year, Erissa thought; and her feeling of being an embodied purpose could not keep the sting from her eyes.) The road
to the Piraeus stretched gray and empty, between silvery fields and silver-tipped shadowy trees. Stars were few. The air was
cool and still, so that their footfalls crunched noisy and they lowered voices as they made what scanty plans they could.

‘Walking!’ Uldin spat once in disgust.

Sentries were awake at the beach, where boats and the cargoes of ships lay valuable. Uldin let Erissa pick the craft she thought
best: a fifteen-footer with mast and sail. Their vessel should not be too big for him to do some rowing or sculling at need,
yet sufficiently big to make Atlantis in reasonable safety. For the most part they would depend on the wind, and entirely
on her navigation.

He had to bluster before he succeeded in commandeering the boat and a few provisions. But he was good at that; and as far
as the warriors knew, he was still well up in royal favor. Erissa stood aside, unrecognized in a male tunic and cowled cloak
of Peneleos’. The story oi: a secret and urgent mission that she had concocted was finally believed without sending a runner
back to ask Diores. She was not surprised at that, nor at the favorable breeze they caught beyond the roadstead. For she remembered
how these same planks bore her and Dagonas toward Troy.

Wind faded out at dawn. The boat lay becalmed in a nearly flat sea, which glittered across its dark blue to the rosy-clouded
luminance in the east. Westward, Argolis rose in mountains and shadowy woodlands – Troezen, where Theseus was born. Attica
was low on the after horizon. Elsewhere a few islands were strewn, white and green. Erissa shipped the now useless steering
oar and doffed her cloak, for the dawn was fast warming.

‘Best we eat,’ she said. ‘We’ll be busy later.’

‘Or idle,’ Uldin growled by the mast. ‘We can’t get far on strength alone. When’ll it blow again?’

‘Before long, I expect. Then we can await noontide calms,
brisk afternoons and evenings, little or nothing throughout most nights.’

‘Ungh. And the fleet due to start forth tomorrow. They’ll have rowers to overtake us, and whoever sees us may well think we’re
worth a closer look.’

‘I said we would go around behind the islands, taking cover at need. We can see a galley before it can spy us.’

‘Days at best, then, traveling.’ Uldin scratched under his shirt, caught a louse, and cracked it between his teeth. ‘Death
along the way, not unlikely.’

‘If I am to meet Duncan again, as I told you long ago I would—’

‘You never said I’d be there.’ Suddenly her heart wavered. He drew his dagger and wagged the point at her. ‘See here. You’re
an eldritch one. More so, I think, than the lover you’re taking us to. I’m none too sure you didn’t trick or bewitch me into
coming along. And you’d cast me aside like a worn-out pair of breeches if you’d no further use for me.’

‘Uldin, no… I—’

‘Keep quiet. I can take my chances with you, or I can turn around, give you to Theseus for killing after they’ve wrung what
you know from you, and take my chances with him. Which is it to be?’

She rallied her courage. She
knew,
she did, she knew. With clamped fists and quick breath: ‘Me. You must.’

‘I must not do one befouled thing I’m not bound to do, and I’m not bound to you.’ Uldin’s scowl eased. ‘Here’s what I want.
Blood brotherhood sworn between us. Faithfulness to death, you for me and I for you, by all our gods, demons, ancestors, hope
of descendants, and blood of our veins that we mingle. Then I’ll know I can trust you. I’ve never heard of its being done
between man and woman, but you’re different.’

Relief weakened her. ‘Of course, Uldin. Gladly.’

He grinned. ‘You’re not that much different, however. Don’t fear. I’ll not stand between you and the man you’re after, when
you’ve found him. We can put that in the oath too, if you like. But meanwhile we’ll be by ourselves for days, apt to get killed
on any of them, and plenty of free times like now. Keep me happy.’

She stared at him. ‘Oh, no,’ she pleaded.

He shrugged. ‘That’s the price of my oath. You’re setting a price on yours, you know.’

She tried to recall the maiden who danced with bulls and fell in love with a god. But she couldn’t. The road back was too
long.

Well, she thought, Oleg was right about this much: Where-ever a road may lead, you walk it a step at a time. ‘As you will,
then,’ she said.

They didn’t treat Reid disrespectfully. Lydra explained to the guards that he had been afflicted by visions which she recognized
as false and unlucky. He was forbidden to utter a word about them and was to be gagged if he tried. But otherwise he was simply
confined to quarters. After her return she would lift the curse off him.

In fact, since no other male guests remained, he had the freedom of that wing. Escorted, he was allowed to walk through the
gardens. From there he watched the ships depart for Knossos.

The Ariadne’s galley went first, long and wide, the Horns on its prow, the Pillar amidships, the Labrys on the sternpost.
He saw the maidens crowded eager on deck and tried to make out Erissa – she’d be the quiet, disappointed one – but the distance
was too great for midde-aged eyes. Behind came two escorting warcraft, then a line of ships and boats belonging to those lay
folk who could afford the trip. All were bright with paint and pennons; wreaths hung at every rail; a breeze carried snatches
of song as well as coxswains’ chants. The colors were the more brilliant against the black mountain behind.

He was surprised that his rammer wasn’t in the party. Then he realized Lydra would have forbidden it, and no doubt its crew,
to go, on some pretext or other. Too many questions might have gotten asked; or it might even have managed to stand off the
Achaean fleet.

So we’re both left behind, Dagonas, he thought.

The fleet marched through the channel and out of Reid’s sight. That was the first of the ten festival days.

On the second, what priestesses had stayed behind were rowed to town and conducted ceremonies. Reid saw that this involved
the fisher craft. After those were blessed they put to sea, turned around, and came back to an elaborate reception. That must
be more or less simultaneous with Erissa’s arrival at Knossos.

On the third day he saw a procession leave town for the highlands and wind back down some hours later: music, dancing, and
herded bulls. A guard, not unwilling to talk – for
though his assignment kept him from joining the fun, the Ariadne had told him how much prestige and merit he gained by thus
looking after the unfortunate – explained that this was a small version of the Grand Drive into Knossos. That night the volcano
showed fireworks, awful and beautiful, till nearly dawn; thereafter it fell quiet.

On the fourth day the corridas began. They would continue for the rest of the celebration period. Atlantis was unique in that
only girls took part, chosen by lot from the instructresses and those novices deemed ready. In most towns the show was comparatively
modest. Knossos drew the champions of the Thalassocracy. There, on the last day, the youth and maiden judged to have performed
best would dance with the best bull, which the Minos would then sacrifice; and Asterion, resurrected, would claim his Bride
and beget himself.

I wonder if Erissa will win the garland of sacred lilies, Reid thought; and then: No. We’re too near the end. I’m going to
die when Atlantis does, and she….

On the fifth day he scarcely stirred from his bed, lay staring at the ceiling and thinking: What have I accomplished? Nothing
except harm. Oleg and Uldin at least have skills useful in this age; they’ll make their way. Erissa will survive and set herself
free. I … I let every decision be made for me. In my smugness as a scion of the scientific era, I let myself be duped into
telling the enemies of her people exactly what they needed to know. J brought on the fall of the Thalassocracy! The horrors
my Erissa has to live through go straight back to me. … My Erissa? I wasn’t good enough to make my rightful wife happy. But
oh, yes, I was good enough to take advantage of a woman’s need and faith, a girl’s innocence. Atlantis, hurry and sink!

On the sixth day, after a white night, he saw that the game wasn’t played quite to an end. He and Erissa, young Erissa, were
to meet again and – and if nothing else, by God who had yet to be created, he should keep trying to return home. His duty
lay there. It came to him that duty was not the stern thing he had always supposed; it could be armor.

Escape, then. But how? He got Velas, the amiable guard, into conversation. Would it not be possible to visit town, attend
a corrida, maybe hoist a few rhytons in the merriment that followed?

‘No, sir, the Ariadne’s orders were clear. Sorry, sir. I’d like to. Got a wife and kids there, you know, and believe me, they’re sad
about this. Youngest girl must be crying for Daddy. Just two and a half, sir, the cutest tyke – and smart? Why, let me tell
you—’

That night Erissa came.

He was dreaming. He wanted to build a blastproof fallout shelter because World War Three was now unavoidable and Atlantis
was a prime target area but Pamela said they couldn’t afford it because Mark’s teeth needed straightening and besides where
would they find room for those bulls which bellowed and tried to gore her whose face he couldn’t see and she sprang between
their horns which were iron and clanged—