13 Odysseus Is the Eagle

CHAPTER 13 Odysseus Is the Eagle Telemachus went to bed. He was worn out from the day. He couldn't believe that just that morning, he had arrived on Ithaca's shores. So much had happened. But best of all, Telemachus was reunited with his father. He went to bed happy with this knowledge. Odysseus walked slowly upstairs to Penelope's rooms. Her maids announced him, and she let him in. Odysseus found her sitting by the fire, looking as lovely as a goddess. He bowed his head to her, since she was royalty and he was disguised as a beggar.

"Please," she said to Odysseus, "sit down. Tell me about yourself. Where are you from? Who is your family?" "Dear Queen," he responded. "Please ask me any other question. Those memories will only make me weep." "Oh, stranger," Penelope replied. "How I understand! You see, I lost everything when my husband set sail to fight in the Trojan War. Until he comes back, my sadness will continue." There, by the fire, Penelope told Odysseus all about the suitors. She told him how they were trying to win her love and wasting her husband's wealth. "I even came up with tricks to delay them," she said. "I sewed a large tapestry every day. I promised to marry one of them when I was finished. But I unraveled my work every night." "That was a good idea," Odysseus said,

nodding. "It was," Penelope agreed, "until one of my disloyal maids told the suitors what I was doing. Now, sadly, I am out of ideas." She smiled. "But come now, I have told you my own sad story. Won't you tell me yours?" Odysseus answered, "Madam, I would prefer to tell you this: I once met your husband when he was on his way to Troy. I found him to be an excellent man." Penelope was excited to hear any news about Odysseus. But she did not completely trust this stranger. So she tested him. Penelope asked him to describe the clothes Odysseus had been wearing. He did this, and even described the cloak she had given her husband. Penelope began to cry. "Dear Queen," Odysseus continued, "do not cry. I have also heard news of your husband. He is possibly alive and on his way

home. It is said he is bringing back great treasures from his travels. These things will be enough to replace all the wealth the suitors have stolen." This news calmed Penelope. She decided to ask the stranger for his opinion about something. "I had a dream," she explained. "Twenty geese were wandering around our property. But then a great eagle swooped down from the mountain. The eagle killed the geese and flew away. In the dream, I worried and cried. My maids all gathered around me. Then the eagle came back. It said to me, 'Do not cry. This is not a dream, it's a vision. I am not an eagle. I am your husband, Odysseus. I am coming back to you. I will punish the suitors.' "When I woke up," Penelope finished, "my geese were wandering around the property,

as usual." She paused. "What do you think this dream means?" Odysseus smiled. "Well, I am no dream expert. But I think the dream explains itself. Odysseus is the eagle who will destroy all of your suitors, who are the geese. Now, will you promise to stop being so sad?" Penelope thanked the stranger and promised she would try. Deep down, though, she didn't believe in dreams. She thought they were unsure things. Penelope was the type of woman who took matters into her own hands. And that, she resolved, was exactly what she would do. But not tonight. "I could sit here and talk with you forever," she told the stranger. "You feel strangely familiar to me. I am very comfortable around you. But I need to get some rest. Let me call one of my maids to make up a guest room for you."

Odysseus then surprised Penelope. He asked that an older, respectable woman prepare his guest room. He did not want a pretty young maid. Penelope told him that the faithful old family nurse was such a woman. The old nurse had been in the house the night Odysseus was born, many years ago. She was the most respected in the house. "She sounds perfect," Odysseus said. He wished Penelope a good night. The old nurse entered the room. When she saw the stranger by the fire, her emotions were stirred. He reminded her of Odysseus. Of course, Odysseus was happy to see his old nurse. She had aged much while he was away. He looked fondly upon her, but did not reveal himself. The old nurse brought Odysseus to his guest room. While he changed into