Spartan by Valerio Massimo Manfredi Read Free Book Online Page A

is,’ said the athlete, smiling.
    ‘I’m sure he must know your name. He spoke to me about the Olympics once. He told me about the valley where the athletes compete. The river that flows there has its source not far
from here, in our mountains. And so,’ he continued, ‘you’ve made it here in just three days. Your mission must be a very important one.’
    ‘It is. Not only for me, but for all of the Greeks,’ he said, suddenly serious, a shadow passing across his green eyes.
    ‘I think I know what it’s all about,’ said Talos. ‘The fishermen of Gytheum said that the King of the land of the rising sun has sent hundreds of ships full of soldiers
to plunder the islands.’
    ‘Not only the islands,’ said the athlete darkly. ‘They’ve already landed on the continent. They’re as thick as locusts, and they’ve set up camp on the beach,
just a little over two hundred stadia from Athens, at a place called Marathon. All of our warriors are down there, but they’ll never suffice to push back that multitude. At night their fires
are as numerous as the stars in the sky. The prows of their ships are as tall as towers. They have thousands of horses, servants, carts . . .’
    ‘You’ve come to ask for help from the Spartans, haven’t you? They will never agree to it; my grandfather Kritolaos says that the Spartans are awesome warriors, the best, but
they are dull-minded, and can’t see past their own noses. Besides, their city doesn’t have walls, you know. They’d never be willing to abandon it, or leave it unprotected.
That’s another stupidity: if they’d only build walls around the city, a few of them would do to protect it, and the warriors could go to meet any danger instead of waiting until it
reaches the banks of the Eurotas.’
    ‘You are very wise, Talos, for such a young boy, but I hope you won’t mind too much if your grandfather has made a mistake for once: about the stubbornness of the Spartans. They must
listen to me. If they allow us to be destroyed, it will be their turn tomorrow and there won’t be any Athens to help them.’
    ‘I know. It’s too bad that you don’t have to convince me. I’d be willing to fight at your side if I could. Your words are so straightforward and persuasive. Are all the
Athenians like you?’
    The athlete smiled. ‘Ah, there are far better men than me.’
    ‘I don’t believe it,’ said Talos, shaking his head. ‘You won the Olympics.’
    ‘That’s true, my boy, but in my city it’s not only muscles that count. No, the mind is far more important, and our citizens always try to choose the wisest men to govern the
city, not the strongest.’
    ‘Do you mean that in your city the people choose who will govern them? Don’t you have kings?’
    ‘No, Talos. We did once, a long time ago, but not any longer.’
    ‘How strange your city must be!’
    ‘Yes, maybe, but I think you’d like it there.’
    ‘I don’t know. Do you think there is anywhere a slave could be happy?’
    The athlete stood up, gazing sadly at the boy. ‘I must go, now,’ he said, but instead of walking away, he turned to Talos, taking off his leather armlet decorated with copper studs,
and handed it to the boy.
    ‘This is for you, Talos. I wore it at the Olympics, but I don’t think I’ll be needing it any longer. Remember Philippides every now and then.’ The athlete tightened the
belt that lay across his hips and set off running towards Sparta. Talos stood speechless for a moment, and then took off after the athlete, already so far away.
    ‘Champion! Champion!’ Philippides stopped a moment and turned around. ‘Good luck!’
    The athlete raised his right arm in a wide salute, and began running. He swiftly disappeared into the blinding rays of the sun.
    *
    The Athenian sat wrapped in his white pallium before the noble Aristarkhos, who was attentively listening to his words.
    ‘I thank you for your hospitality, Aristarkhos. The nobility and valour of the