The Girl From Ithaca Read Online Free PDF

nodded, hoping to avoid a repeat of them. It didn’t work.
    “Don’t ask too many questions. You can’t help being interested in the wrong things, and the gods know how hard I’ve tried to change you, but you must learn to hide it.” She gave me a stern look. “Never let them know you know something they don’t. It upsets a man and they’ll not like you for it.”
    It was impossible to reason with my mother. It just brought more lectures and extra sewing practice. She didn’t approve of the plan I’d thought up as a twelve-year-old, of staying on Ithaca looking after father’s apple trees and never getting married. She was shocked at such an idea, as though it wasn’t quite respectable, and warned me not to mention it again, to anyone. So now I smiled and pretended to be listening.
    Not for the first time, Penelope came to my rescue. “I’m explaining what she must expect. Then with your permission, I’ll see to Neomene’s hair myself. I have braids that will bring out the green of her eyes.”
    “And her clothes? You’ll make sure she takes suitable ones? If you don’t watch her, she’ll go in something like this awful tunic that doesn’t reveal her figure.”
    There was no point in annoying her further by explaining my tunics were comfortable and useful. The last thing I wanted was a long robe that tripped me up along one of the cliff paths.
    “I’ll make sure she looks wonderful when she arrives in Mycenae.”
    “It’s what the men think of her that matters the most. If she can catch the eye of a wealthy prince, she’ll have a far easier life than the one I’ve had. So tell her about King Nestor’s sons.”
    Staring at my hands, I didn’t move or say a word, hoping she’d think of something else to worry about. But it wasn’t a subject Mother gave up easily and like a piglet scrambling over the weary sow for milk, she set her sights on what she wanted and kept on going.
    “There’ll be others to watch for. It’s said Achilles has a good-looking friend called Patroclus. Not as wealthy and important as some, but Achilles must reward him well. If you find Iphigenia a good friend, it’d be wise to think of him.”
    Penelope saved me again. “I’ve been explaining who she might meet and I’m confident she’ll be ready for the journey tomorrow. Neomene will prove an excellent escort for Iphigenia, I’m sure of it.”
    Mother kissed Penelope. “Thank you, my dear. The gods were generous when they sent you to join our family.” Then she patted me gently on the shoulder, looking at me with green eyes so similar to my brother’s. “When you cross to the mainland, always remember you’re from Ithaca and never be ashamed of your home or your people, whatever others might say.”
    I’d never heard my mother say anything like that before. She’d always seemed conscious of the Ithacan lack of treasures and of what the influential people on the mainland thought of us.
    She studied me for a moment and then returned to the crib. She chatted to her grandson, telling him of all the things Odysseus would teach him when he got home from Troy. For a brief moment, the years fell away and Telemachus was Odysseus, and she was a mother not a grandmother. Her hair darkened into ebony and the green eyes sparkled. I caught a glimpse of the beautiful woman my father had fallen in love with, after he’d tracked his stolen sheep to her father’s estate on the mainland.
    “She made it sound like I’ll be gone forever,” I said, as soon as Mother left.
    Penelope opened the lid of her clothes chest. “You’ll have a long journey tomorrow.” She drew out her special deep blue cloak and handed it to me. “This is most essential. If the weather turns cold, it’ll keep you warm and dry. It was a present from my grandmother when I left Sparta. She thought the weather in Ithaca would be as wild and rugged as the scenery!”
    I stroked the wool and admired the thick lining. Penelope had always taken great