Read Online Argos by Phillip Simpson - Free Book Online Page B

hallway. I raised my head, immediately alert, but made no sound for fear of waking Telemachus in the adjacent room.
    I thought at first that it might have been Penelope but remembered that she had gone to bed hours earlier. If not her, who? The figure approached wearing a long robe with the cowl pulled up. Features were obscured by shadow but they needn’t have bothered with such elaborate schemes. I caught a familiar scent.
    It was Amycus.
    My hackles rose. A low, threatening growl emerged from deep in my throat as I pushed to my feet.
    â€œCome now, Argos,” said Amycus in an urgent whisper, nervously sidling toward me. He stopped an arm’s reach away. “We used to be friends, you and I. Don’t you remember all those times I looked after you? How I cared for you when you were but a pup, sick and hungry? Here, look what I have for you.” One hand delved into his robe and emerged holding something wonderful.
    With one sniff, I knew exactly what it was. Boar. Not just boar, but a prime cut, something I’d never had before, something that was always reserved for human mouths. To my shame, my mouth began to water. Droplets of saliva dropped on to the tiles at my feet.
    Tentatively, Amycus stretched it out to me, smiling. Now I may be many things but I am not stupid. I knew that Amycus must have done something to the meat. But rational thought is not really in a dog’s vocabulary when it comes to food. Especially this kind of food. And as unusual as I was, I was still just a dog.
    I was about to snatch it from Amycus’ hand when a firm command froze me, mouth still open and drooling.
    â€œArgos! No!”
    From the shadows, another figure emerged. Odysseus. So clever and silent was my master, that not even I had been aware of his presence.
    He stalked towards us, a naked bronze blade in his hand and grabbed the meat from Amycus’ hand. He shoved it into Amycus’face, trying to force it into his mouth. Amycus twisted his face away but dared not try and escape as Odysseus’ blade pressed up against his belly.
    â€œNo? Don’t want it?” snarled Odysseus. “I wonder why? It’s not poisoned by any chance, is it, Amycus?” Odysseus kneed the Master of the Kennels in the gut, dropping the man to the floor before me.
    â€œNo … no, of course not, my lord,” gasped Amycus. I snarled and locked my jaws around his arm, more to stop him escaping than any real desire to hurt him. He deserved it. If I was honest with myself, I would probably have welcomed an opportunity to do him harm but one thing stopped me: Odysseus had not given the command.
    â€œThen you won’t have a problem eating it yourself,” Odysseus said, thrusting the meat toward Amycus’ face again. I could see the terror plainly etched on his face.
    â€œI didn’t think so,” said Odysseus. “Stand up,” he commanded. I let go of his arm and Amycus did as he was told, cowering before his lord.
    â€œHow much did they pay you, Amycus?”
    â€œI … I don’t know what you’re talking about, my lord Odysseus.”
    Odysseus hit him again in the stomach. Amycus doubled up.
    â€œI will ask you one more time. If I don’t get the answer I want, my sword rather than my fist is going to start asking questions.”
    â€œWait. Wait!” wailed Amycus. “I’ll tell you! Just don’t kill me. They promised to make me the Master of the Kennels on both islands,” he sniveled.
    â€œI find it interesting that you were offered something that wasn’t theirs to give,” said Odysseus drily. He kicked Amycus again. “Go back and tell your new masters that you will accept only one of those posts. I have a feeling, however, that they might have changed their minds and you will find yourself without either. Now, get off my island. If you ever set foot on Ithaca again, I will kill you.”
    Terrified, Amycus fled.
    Odysseus looked