Mission to Marathon Read Online Free PDF Page B

their backs on an unbeaten army almost three times the size of their own.
    Philip turned his gaze back, despairingly, to the Greek encampment in the Sanctuary of Heracles. Despair turned instantly to disbelief.
    The troops were already on the move. But the first marching column was not wheeling south along the road back to Athens. It was turning into the Marathon plain and heading straight for the Persian camp.
    â€˜There’s going to
be
a battle,’ he said.
    They stared down, speechless, as they tried to take in the scene.
    Only Argus, nosing about happily as usual, had no idea that history – perhaps tragedy – was about to be made. His keen questing eyes were only at their knee-level. Perhaps he couldn’t even see what was happening far below. And what would his dog’s mind have made of it if he could?
    The Persian host was already ranged in order of battle in front of their camp. Their backs were to the sea. Some of their fleet, both war galleys and transports, were lying off shore, but there was no sign of any horses being disembarked again. They were no doubt in the other ships that were already far-off specks, heading for Athens.
    Probably, thought Philip, the Persian commander was not unduly worried. He had no cavalry against him. He had such superior numbers of infantry that they could surely cope with the Greeks alone.
    That superiority was more obvious than ever now that Miltiades was forming up his own battle line. It was so thin bycomparison with the dense mass facing it. And so
short
. Both to right and to left the barbarians extended further.
    Miltiades had realised the danger of this. His own left and right wings had been stronger than his centre. Now they were both thinning out to lengthen the Greek line until it faced the Persians from end to end. More files of men were leaving the centre and marching away to one flank or the other.
    For some reason the general seemed determined to keep those wings up to strength. Was he taking chances, Philip wondered, making his centre so weak? What if that barbarian horde smashed its way straight through?
    â€˜Ought you – ought you to go back?’ he asked Nycilla.
    â€˜How can I?’ she answered fiercely. ‘My brothers are down there, just as yours are.’
    â€˜I was only thinking – if the worst comes to the worst—’
    â€˜Well?’
    â€˜If our people have to fall back – some of them might come up here – with thePersians close behind them—’ He groped for words. How could he explain to her the horrors in his mind? Those murderous barbarians would be scouring the mountainside for fugitives!
    â€˜I’d run then,’ she promised.
    â€˜You must. And so will I. We mustn’t let them see us – or the way we go. We must get down to the cave – but we mustn’t lead
them
to it.’ That would be the final horror. Even their grandmother wouldn’t be spared if they found her.
    The Greek line was moving forward now. They had no idea where their brothers were. Not on the extreme left wing, thought Philip – that position, he imagined, would have been given to the Plataeans. They might be anywhere else in the battle line.
    â€˜They’re shooting!’ Nycilla whispered.
    Clouds of arrows were flying from the enemy archers. The Greeks continued their advance without faltering. Those helmets and breastplates and shields were giving the protection they were expected to. A trumpet sounded. As one man, the glittering ranks broke into a run.
    A great shouting arose, a din of clashing weapons, as the two armies met.
    â€˜I can’t bear to look,’ cried the girl in a strangled voice.
    â€˜We’re pushing them back!’ Philip shouted joyfully.
    Argus just paused, his puzzled head cocked, mystified by the medley of noises from below.
    Philip had been only partly right. The Plataeans seemed to be doing well. So were the Athenians at the far end of the