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You don’t hesitate –
“King Menelaus, lord of men – we must retreat from the beach and force a pursuit at sea. We have the strongest advantage there, and it is possible that they give up the chase once their ambush fails.”
Menelaus breathes deeply, his bearded face framed with his ruddy mane – his typical good humor is not present, and he instead projects absolute focus on the matter at hand. He has the appearance of a regal lion, with the sea air ruffling his beard and hair. He looks about all of you, nobility of Hellas, standing atop the foredeck, and then he nods, his decision made.
You cover your ears – you know the look of a commander about to give orders at a deafening volume.
“CREWS! WE LEAVE THE BEACH NOW! NOW! NOW! SWEEP NORTH AT ALL SPEED!”
There is controlled pandemonium as the crews race to their respective vessels, preparing to draw them into the shallows. You’ve barely taken two strides before Ajax is grasping you at the neck – “Follow me, Nikandros!”
You leap to the sands, and join Ajax Telamonios at the stern of his Salaminian vessel – he braces his shoulder against the oak and gestures for you to do the same. “No time to argue – we need every second!”
You place your hands widely against the ship, and as Salaminian crewmen join the effort along the sides, heave with all your power. The ship is moving in fits and starts, building momentum as the grade of descent towards the water increases. Hot fire sears your veins, and in the distance, you hear the brazen horns of the adversary – clearly, they have given up any chance at subtlety in favor of the charge.
Step after step, you drive your feet through the soft sand into the hard-packed earth below – looking to your side, you see that Menelaus’ vessel has not made the same progress, despite all Spartan hands assisting the retreat. Menelaus himself is urging the men on, and Odysseus is coordinating pushes amongst the crew, but their vessel isn’t moving quickly – some quirk of the sandy beach has created a depression under their ship’s bow and stymies their efforts. Odysseus is quick to respond, leaping into the ship and tossing out a number of oars – you watch as he guides the Spartans in placing the oars underneath the ship, using the leverage to hoist it up and out of the sandy pit. All the while, you continue to strain with Ajax, your muscles burning.
The brazen horns are growing louder, and for the first time, you hear the shout of the enemy commander carried on a seaward gust – “Pelasgen, houd gelijke tred! Blijf opladen!’ The man’s voice cuts through the air clearly like an enormous bell.
Turning your attentions back to your own efforts, the Salaminian galley hits the shallows with an enormous splash, and the ship is borne aloft by the shoulders of briny Pontos. You heave a sigh of relief as you prepare to board the vessel, but Ajax growls in frustration...
>cont
