the-song-books.yossr

Chapter Twenty-Four
YEARS PASSED AND A SOLDIER, ONE OF AJAX’S, BEGAN TO complain about the
war’s length. At first he was ignored; the man was hideouslyy uglyy and
known to be a scoundrel. But he grew eloquent. Four yyears, he said, and
nothing to show for it. Where is the treasure? Where is the woman? When
will we leave? Ajax clouted him on the head, but the man would not be
silenced. See how theyy treat us?
Slowlyy, his discontent spread from one camp to the next. It had been a
bad season, particularlyy wet, and miserable for fighting. Injuries abounded,
rashes and mud-turned ankles and infections. The biting flies had settled so
thicklyy over parts of the camp theyy looked like clouds of smoke.
Sullen and scratching, men began to loiter around the agora. At first theyy
did nothing but collect in small groups, whispering. Then the soldier who
had begun it joined them, and their voices grew louder.
Four years!
How do we know she’s even in there? Has anyone seen her?
Troy will never submit to us.
We should all just stop fighting.
When Agamemnon heard, he ordered them whipped. The next dayy there
were twice as manyy; not a few were Myycenaeans.
Agamemnon sent an armed force to disperse them. The men slunk off,
then returned when the force was gone. In answer, Agamemnon ordered a
phalanx to guard the agora all dayy. But this was frustrating dutyy—in full
sun, where the flies were most numerous. Byy the end of the dayy, the phalanx
was ragged from desertion and the number of mutineers had swollen.
Agamemnon used spies to report on those who complained; these men
were then seized and whipped. The next morning, several hundred men
refused to fight. Some gave illness as an excuse, some gave no excuse at all.
Word spread, and more men took suddenlyy ill. Theyy threw their swords and
shields onto the dais in a heap and blocked the agora. When Agamemnon
tried to force his wayy through, theyy folded their arms and would not budge.
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