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Heading for Purple Snail Island

The first coastal feature he clearly recognized was the giant rock turtle of Soleway. With brailed-up sail, monotonous drumming and heavily working rowers the ship reached the stone pier of the Keftian trading station at around sunset.

While the men were still noisily busy handling a confusing multitude of ropes and docking the ship next to another galley already moored at the pier, her Excellency jumped on land and hurried into the building. The women on board began unloading their ponies by cajoling them into crossing a narrow plank, when she returned in the company of the master of the emporium and a guard. The master wore the same knee-length multi-layered skirt, Areus had admired when he saw her during his clumsy attempt to sell his lucky stone; she displayed the same artfully pinned up black hair, painted eyes and lips. Different from last time now she wore a short bodice full of colorful patterns, leaving her breasts all exposed. Her nipples were painted matching her lips. She greeted Ida by placing the back of her hand first onto her own forehead, then to Ida's. She turned to Areus, who couldn't help gazing at her, and said: "So we meet again. You dwell in dangerous areas, indeed." - Then she asked both to follow the guard into the building.

Past some tradesmen from Messenia, who in their plain loincloths had settled down on blankets in the courtyard amongst their bags, the guard directed the two visitors into a small room, where Areus had been before. He seated both at the wooden table and invited them to bread, wine, nuts and fruit. When later the master came in, the guard stood to attention and so the two guests stood up as well. She however sat down, offered Ida to take a seat and amiably asked her: "You have been with the Kurgan for five years?" - "Yes, mistress" - "Not mistress, Ida", she smiled, "My name is Clymene. And you speak their language?" - "Yes, fair Clymene" - "You learned their ways and manners?" - "Maybe to some extent." - Clymene rose. - "Make yourself comfortable and rest. We have no time to loose. Be ready to depart tomorrow morning before sunrise. Now please excuse me; I am needed elsewhere tonight." - And gone she was.

Areus had followed the conversation and noticed how friendly this outrageously attractive, mysterious and powerful lady from Keft had been to the bald bruised black-eyed female from Argolis, clad in a simple gown made of plain cloth. On him, however, the Keftian hadn't wasted a word.

Soon sleeping mats and blankets were brought in. Ida gave Areus a hostile glance and retreated into a corner of the room. Areus made no advances and settled in the opposite corner. Both didn't speak a word, and while Areus waited for sleep he listened to the sounds of steps and low murmur from the rooms around them and above.

"Get up both of you. Come along." - It was still pitch dark. Clymene had a white plaid over her shoulders and a little oil lamp in her hand and led the two to the pier. Hidden behind the two big war ships of yesterday was a third boat, unimposing and small. It was one of the scout ships regularly visiting his home and negotiating the deal before the large trading vessel showed up. It had just five rowers on each side, a helmsman and a high mast with a furled sail. No artful cabin, instead abaft the mast a small part of the deck was lowered, allowing Clymene and the two Pelasgians to take a seat, squeezed together.

"We get you to Porphyris, the island of Aphrodite's purple snail", Clymene explained. When the first foreboding of the new day was visible on the eastern horizon, they cast off, while the soldiers together with the guards of Soleway prepared the emigration of the inhabitants of Polichni to the peninsula and layed the foundation for a new town which in a far distant future should become famous for its wine, but much earlier for the purple extracted here from the sea.

As soon as the scout ship had gained enough distance from the shore, the sail was hoisted and the steady northeastern wind freed the rowers of their work. When the sun had climbed the sky, an awning was tightened between mast and rail, some food was unpacked and everyone except the helmsman relaxed and shared a comfortable breakfast. Later Clymene began questioning Ida about her life with the Kurgans. Initially, Ida was very monosyllabic about it, but Clymene wanted to know every detail and kept asking, kindly but insistingly, and after a while Ida loosened up and started telling her story.