Greek Warriors Read Online Free PDF Page A

or sneeze to be heard now. The soldiers inside the wooden horse strained to listen to the gatekeepers.
    Beneath the trapdoor, Tom could hear the scuffling of sandals in the sand.
    â€œWhat do you think to that then, Aeneas?” one man said.
    There was a belch. Then a sniff. “Dunno. Who ever heard of a wooden cow being left at the gates of Troy?”
    â€œDo you think it’s a cow? Looks like a giant goat to me. Or a horse, maybe. Go and fetch Heroditus. He’s a clever fellow. He’ll know what to make of this.”
    More and more men seemed to gather beneath the horse. Tom wondered whether they could hear the thumping of his heart in his chest. Across from him, he could see Odysseus holding his hand to his face, desperately trying to stifle another sneeze.
    The hubbub from the excited Trojans beneath them suddenly fell silent.
    â€œHere he is! Go on, Heroditus!” said the first man who had spoken. “Tell us what you make of it.”
    â€œWhy! This is a gift to the gods from the Greeks,” Heroditus said in a hearty voice.
    â€œA gift? Yes! A gift!” called out several voices.
    Everybody seemed to be listening to Heroditus, as though he was in charge.
    â€œIt is an apology from the Greeks, for them spending ten years trying to break down our mighty city walls,” Heroditus said. “It is a fitting tribute. Wheel it inside, men!”
    But amongst the babble of general agreement, Tom heard the croaking voice of what sounded like an elderly man.
    â€œIt’s a trap, I tell you!”
    â€œOh, be quiet, you old fool.”
    The trembling voice started up again. “Beware gifts from the Greeks!”
    Isis clasped her hand to her forehead. Some of the soldiers breathed in sharply, their shoulders hunched up near their ears.
    Is this it?
Tom thought, waiting to be discovered.
We get to the gates and we’re turned away? No ambush? No amulet!
    A fist rapped on the underside of the horse. “Seems solid enough to me,” Aeneas said. “Ignore the old misery guts there. Wheel it in, men!”
    Inside the belly of the horse, some of the soldiers thrust up their thumbs through the fingers of their clenched fists and punched the air. Tom remembered from his history books that this was an Ancient Greek way of wishing each other good luck. He couldn’t help but join in. Suddenly it didn’t feel as gloomy in there as it had before.

    The wooden horse started to rumble and shake again as the Trojans pushed the giant gift into the city. Tom heard the gates clang shut behind them.
    â€œWe’re in!” he whispered to Isis. “Now all we have to do is find the amulet and go home!”

“Right men,
ATISHOO
!” Odysseus finally whispered. “The sun has been down for a good while. It’s time to spring our attack!”
    Tom marvelled that the Trojans had not discovered the Greek soldiers, hidden away in the belly of the horse. But judging by the shouting and singing that had been going on outside for hours, the Trojans had been too busy celebrating the Greeks’ departure to hear Odysseus’s constant sneezing. Now though, the sound of merriment had faded.
    The Greek soldiers shifted about in the blackness. They grunted and groaned. Pins and needles jabbed at Tom, as the life started to flow slowly back into his arms and legs.
    â€œOn the count of three, pull the trapdoor up!” Odysseus said quietly. “One…
ACHOOO
… two!”
    Tom’s heart started to gallop. There was a rattle as the soldiers round him gathered up their weapons. Tom found himself wishing that he and Isis had swords of their own.
    â€œThree!”
    In almost perfect silence, the trapdoor was lifted up. Cool night air and the salty smell of the sea wafted up into the crowded wooden horse. All was silent below. The first few soldiers swung down on the rope. Tom quickly followed, then Isis. They hit the ground with a dull thud and looked