Electra Read Free Page B

plodding up, oblivious.
    At that moment Clytemnestra turned her head and saw us. Her black eyes raked us, cataloguing each person: golden man, dark man, Trojan prisoner, her own daughter, with equal calculation. I could almost hear what she was thinking. She had not expected witnesses to her dreadful act. However, if she stepped down to kill us, she would lose her main prey, my father. Like a hawk who lets four mice escape in favour of a hare for which it has whetted its beak, she held us all for a long moment and then released us, turning back to the King.
    Eumides, one arm across his face to fend off those Gorgon's eyes, seized Cassandra by the shoulder and she came to him. She seemed to be tranced, for she said no word as they pulled her through the doorway, pushing me before them.
    'Father!' I screamed, struggling past them and gaining the stair. 'Help! Help!'
    There was a thud and a great cry, and then another thud.
    Diomenes lifted me, flung me through the water-carrier's door, shoved it shut and leaned on it.
    'Let me go!' I struggled frantically, ripping at his face with my fingernails. He trapped my arms by my sides in a wrestler's grip and clapped a hand over my mouth.
    Cassandra the slave came close, so close I could smell perfume and wine on her, and said, 'He is dead, Electra.'
    Her eyes were unfocused, as if she was dreaming, or saw things other than with sight. She stilled me. I was not resigned or calm, I was boiling with fury and loss, but I could think again. All my thoughts were of revenge for blood.
    'We must leave,' said Diomenes shakily. 'Now, before the murder is known and the gates are shut.'
    'Good counsel,' agreed the sailor, one arm around Cassandra and one around his friend. He seemed to be dizzy.
    Cassandra began retracing my journey, which was fortunate for I had lost my way. I did not recognise any landmarks. I groped along in an ocean of darkness. I heard the unsteady steps of Eumides and the steady pace of Diomenes, burdened with his friend. After a while he recovered and walked on his own. I watched the sure feet of the Trojan slave, moving like a dancer.
    We skirted guards, avoided pitfalls, doubled back and went on after the fluttering green chiton and the faultless pace. She did not pause until we were back in the megaron. She stopped suddenly and fell. Diomenes caught her as she crumpled in a jingle of gold.
    'Cassandra,' he said, and shook her almost roughly, so that the jewellery rang like bells. 'This is not time for a prophetic swoon! Wake, Lady, we are in deadly danger.'
    'Princess,' said Eumides gently, 'Wake and smile, Lady, on your suppliants.'
    'Oh, my dears,' she said. She slid an arm around each neck and drew their faces down to hers. 'Oh, my golden ones. My most faithful. I had given up hope. Did you follow the army all the way from Troy?'
    'Every weary step, though we did some trading on the road. Come, can you stand?' Eumides encouraged.
    'I don't know.' They lifted her and she shook her draperies into place with one brisk, cat-like movement.
    'Princess Electra,' she said. 'Come with us.'
    'Why?' I hung back from her warmth, stubborn and shocked.
    'Because your mother may find your presence inconvenient,' said Eumides grimly. 'She kills people who inconvenience her. The boy, too - the son of Agamemnon - what is his name?'
    'Orestes,' I said numbly.
    'Do you think he will survive the death of his father?'
    'The death of his father?' I repeated stupidly.
    'Come or stay, Princess. We are leaving,' said Eumides, unwinding the plaited line from his waist and balancing the grappling hook.
    'Where are you going?' I asked.
    'Delphi. If you are coming, fetch the boy and bring some provisions for a journey; and change your sandals, they aren't fitted for the road. And hurry!' he shouted after me as I ran from the room.
    I found Orestes, gathered his clothes into a bundle and thrust him before me into my room, all without a word. I clawed three chitons from my chest, rolled them in a