Scene 2.

Enter AGAMEMNON, MENELAUS, ODYSSEUS, DIOMEDES, AIAS, the other Akhaian kings, their servants and slaves.

AGAMEMNON. --Guard, what are these sounds I heard above the gale? What, fire? Ships? Ships on fire? --Guards!

1 GUARD. Yes, sir!

AGAMEMNON. What are these alarms that woke me? What these sounds
Above the gale? Is it these ships that seem to be on fire in the bay?

SERGEANT. Sire, I sent to find out.

Enter a guard, a messenger.

MESSENGER. My lord, my lord Hektor!

AGAMEMNON. Report. What are these sounds beyond our walls?

MESSENGER. Sir! The Trojan grain fleet! from Larissa! has, has arrived. It's suffered! -- heavy damage -- heavy, heavy damage -- damage from the storm.

LIEUTENANT. The grain fleet? damaged? Our grain fleet?

MESSENGER. Yes, sir -- the besieging Akhaians,
Seizing the hand of fate then offered them,
Attacked the floundering ships with fire and men;
And 's if they were gamblers with daring armed,
Sank most our vessels.

SERGEANT. Akhaians -- sank them? Our grain ships? Damn Zeus's eyes!

HEKTOR. Lieutenant of the Guards, report!

LIEUTENANT. Lord Hektor! our grain . . . from Larissa . . . has arrived! It's suffered heavy, heavy damage . . . from the gale. Th' besieging Akhaians attacked our struggling ships . . . with men and fire . . . The Akhaians sunk or captured . . . most our vessels.

HEKTOR. The Akhaians? The damned Akhaians? attacked our grain fleet? Our grain fleet damaged?

SERGEANT. Yes, Defender. The grain fleet's damaged . . . and most the vessels sunk.

HEKTOR. Sunk!

LIEUTENANT. The crews are still under attack . . . A few reached the shore.

HEKTOR. Then we will rescue them. We will rescue them from the shore. We need those crews, and whatever oats and barley we can save. Lieutenant, full alert.
Reinforce all Troy's walls and gates. Summon to me Aeneas,
Deiphobus, Helenus, the Sacred Band.
Send messengers to the king my father.

LIEUTENANT. Hail, Champion! --You, sergeant; Lord Aeneas, Lord Deiphobus, the Sacred Band. --You, you; his Majesty. Hurry! Go!

SERGEANT and 4 GUARD. Hail Hektor!
They exit.

HEKTOR. Now it will all come out. It must be dealt with.

Enter ELLA with Hektor's garments.

HEKTOR. See that that messenger is carried in my house, wrapped in my warmest robes, his needs Provided!

MESSENGER. Thanks, my liege.

ELLA. My lord, you're almost naked!

HEKTOR. Ella, don't fuss.

ELLA. Lambie, wrap yourself in this. It's cold.

Enter ANDROMAKE.

HEKTOR. And you waked too, Andromake? Here to my arms.

ANDROMAKE. Mmmmmm, my lord . . .

More screams far off.

ANDROMAKE. What . . . what is that sound?

HEKTOR. Andromake, men screaming . . . as they fight and drown.

ANDROMAKE. Screaming? Men? Drown?

HEKTOR. There. The winter gale begins to die. The fleet I sent to Larissa, Andromake. The ships we lean on for our grain. There! They sink beyond the harbor.

ANDROMAKE. Sink? Sink? the grain ships?

HEKTOR. Our only hope . . . Brave lads, do you see them? Sinking, and they're still trying to fight . . . Ram them, boys! . . . There, behind th'Akhaian campfires . . . Still, our only hope . . . Unless . . . unless . . . --ARMORER!

ANDROMAKE. My . . . My lord, you cry for your -- are you ... can you ... --

HEKTOR. I'll take it all in hand. How's our son Skamander?

ANDROMAKE. You always call him that. Astyanax woke screaming, but I hushed him. He's with his nurse.

HEKTOR. I must to the harbour. No. No protest. Where's that armorer?

ANDROMAKE. But my lord -- to the harbour? through the besieging enemy's lines??

HEKTOR. My sweet Androm'ke, order double guard about the house. Make certain after I leave, the doors are double-bolted.

ANDROMAKE. Double-bolted?

HEKTOR. This night I learned the enemy b'yond our gates,
Th' Akhaians who these nine years besiege us from their camp, suborned some . . . disaffected in the city. The plan's to kill me, perhaps as I stroll abroad, and all the ones I love.

ANDROMAKE. To kill -- you? My lord . . .

HEKTOR. To kill us all, but me in chief. They blame me, many in the city high and low, that the war goes on, since I lead those who'll not surrender.
Love, pay heed. The streets at night are dark.
These traitors, disguised as soldiers, may break in,
To houses or climb over walls.

ANDROMAKE. I understand.

HEKTOR. I fear not for myself, but for you, Skamandrius.

ANDROMAKE. I'll take it all in hand.

HEKTOR. I knew you would, brave heart.
I'd not have --

Enter a Guard below.

GUARD. My lord, messages! from Lord Antenor!

HEKTOR. --Hold them!

ANDROMAKE. I will, my lord, in every way try to please you.

HEKTOR. The catastrophic time draws me away.
Trust the lieutenant of guards and the king my father;
None else, not ev'n Aeneas nor my brothers.

ANDROMAKE. Yes, my lord.

HEKTOR. "Hektor", if you please, my dear.

ANDROMAKE. Yes, my lord.

HEKTOR. . . . I wish I had more time, fair love. We must take events by the handles. --WHERE is that . . . ARMORER! Wake him!

ANDROMAKE. Do you require anything, my lord?

HEKTOR. No. The house secure, go back to bed. I'll take care of all.

ANDROMAKE. Yes, my lord.

HEKTOR. "Hektor".

ANDROMAKE. My lord. . . .

HEKTOR. Let me embrace you, fair one. We'll thrive yet, dearest.

A Sergeant runs on below.

--Officer, more news?

ANDROMAKE starts to exit inward. DAVIK the ARMORER runs onto the balcony.

SERGEANT. Lord Aeneas comes, sir!

DAVIK. My lord --

HEKTOR. Davik, arm me. --Androm'ke?

ANDROMAKE. Yes, my ... I mean, my ...?

HEKTOR. Nothing. A mountain-height of sweetness just to look at you.

ANDROMAKE. My --

Enter Aeneas, Deiphobus, and several officers below.

AENEAS. Hektor! Hektor!

HEKTOR. Aeneas? Cousin, I'm with you instantly. --Ella, look after your lady and Skamandrios. Arm yourself. Davik, follow, and arm me as we go! Farewell!

Hektor exits inward in haste with Davik the armorer.

ANDROMAKE. Once again, I've not said what I wanted.

ELLA. My lamb?

ANDROMAKE. I wanted to tell him how much I love him.

ELLA. I think he knows.

HEKTOR and Davik appear below.

HEKTOR. Hurry, good Davik. --Is that Aeneas? Sergeant, more light! Aeneas, give me your hand. Deiphobus, brother. Officers, give me your hands. Zeus, but my memory is terrible, or I'd remember your name, sir, as I seem to do your face.

1 OFFICER. Koroebus. Never mind, sir.

HEKTOR. Koroebus? New lieutenant, is it not? Help Davik.
Friends, you've heard the news? Then gather your men; run after me in silence.

AENEAS. My company's outside, and ready.

HEKTOR. Aeneas, I'll tell our strategy. --Open the gate!

SERGEANT. Open the gate!

Men open the gate.

HEKTOR. The gods now love all foolish men who love their cities and defend them against besiegers. -- Remember, our city's life hangs on your silence now. Turn your hearts bronze, your lips to lead; and follow me.

HEKTOR exits, followed by AENEAS and the officers. The gate is immediately shut and heavily barred.

ELLA. Where do they hurry?

ANDROMAKE. The harbor. Our grain fleet from Larissa's drowning.

ELLA. Drowning? The grain fleet? But we depend...! oh, oh, o Zeus!

ANDROMAKE. Ella, the city's almost out of bread.

ELLA. Rumor is, lord Hektor will cut the rations.

ANDROMAKE. My lord is doing all he can. His last gold piece paid for those ships.

ELLA. O, if we lose the grain, we're done, done! What will we eat? O Zeus ...

ANDROMAKE. My lord will never fail. Rise up, Ella, come!

ELLA. My lady?

ANDROMAKE. Come, Ella! We must double-bolt the doors.

[To Be Continued]