17 Achilles and Hector Meet

CHAPTER 17 Achilles and Hector Meet The men of Troy moved through the gates and into their city. Once the gates closed, they were safe again. The men wiped away their sweat. They quenched their thirst with cool water. They thanked the gods that they had made it home. Only Hector stayed outside the gates. He was waiting for Achilles. Achilles raced toward Troy, shouting for Hector. King Priam watched from his lookout as Achilles approached the gates. Priam called down to Hector, who was waiting for his

enemy: "Do not stand there, my son! Come inside the gates of the city. Don't you feel Achilles's rage? Don't you see his hatred? I have lost too many sons to this man and this war. Do not fight him here and now!" Priam cried and tore at his hair. Hector's mother cried and wailed, too. Hector's wife watched silently with tears in her eyes. But Hector stood in front of the gates of Troy. If he turned back now, he would be considered a coward by his fellow Trojans. He would not be able to hold his head high ever again. Hector could not live in disgrace. To him, that was worse than death. Hector saw Achilles approach. He saw the rage in Achilles's eyes and was scared. Rather than battle Achilles face to face, Hector ran away in fear. Achilles chased him faster than a wild mountain hawk chases its prey. They raced around the walls of the city. Hector ran for his life. Achilles followed.

They raced around the city's walls four times.

As the two men reached the fountain for the fourth time, Zeus took out his scales. This war had gone on far too long. The mortals had been fighting for almost ten years. Now gods and goddesses were fighting one another. Zeus set up the scales and measured the fates of Achilles and Hector. The scales of fate weighed down on Hector's side. Athena flew down to Achilles and gave him the news. "It is time for you to meet Hector face to face. He is destined to die in this battle. You must seal his fate," she said. Hector realized he could not run any longer. He turned to face Achilles. "I will run no more, Achilles. Let us end this. But first I will make a pledge to you: if I win this battle, I will return your body to your people. Pledge that you will do the same." Achilles laughed. "We will have no pledge,

Hector! A wolf does not make a pact with his prey. There is no love between us. Draw your spear and let us finish this battle once and for all." Achilles quickly threw his spear. Hector ducked out of the way. "Ha! You have missed me," Hector mocked Achilles. He pitched his own spear. It hit Achilles's shield dead in the center. A clang rang out, and his spear shattered. Hector was shocked. He did not have another spear. He knew instantly that his fate was to die. Achilles and Hector drew their swords. They clashed. They lunged. They slashed through the air. At last, Achilles knocked Hector down with his sword. "You killed Patroclus and stole the armor he was wearing—my armor! You thought you would be protected by the gods. But you were wrong. And now you will die," Achilles roared.

Hector begged Achilles to promise that his body would go to his family for a proper burial. Achilles refused. "I can see that you will have no mercy on me. Your chest is filled with iron, not a heart—" But Hector's speech was cut short by death. Achilles took back his sword from Hector's body. He then stole Hector's armor. Achilles announced to his soldiers, "Hector is now dead. We need not fear him or his army any longer! And I have killed the man who killed Patroclus. My friend will always live in my heart. I have gotten my revenge for his death." Achilles's men brought him his chariot. He stood atop it and faced the walls of Troy with great pride. "Your prince is dead!" he shouted. "I have his armor and his body. You are left with nothing!" Achilles then dragged the body of Hector back to the Achaean