"Is that in the book, how Achilles died?"
"No. But he knows he will because he has fulfilled his death-fate."
"Didn't the diviners warn him?"
"Yes, he was warned that his death would follow Hektor's, but he still killed him. He was avenging Patroklos, his friend, whom Hektor had killed."
The boy considered this intently. "He was his best friend of all?"
"Yes, from when they were boys together."
"Why didn't Achilles save him first, then?"
"He had taken his men out of the battle, because the High King had insulted him. The Greeks were getting the worst of it without him; that was as he'd been promised by the god. But Patroklos, who had a feeling heart, when he saw old comrades falling came to Achilles weeping for pity. 'Lend me only your armor,' he said, 'and let me show myself in the field. They will think you are back; it will be enough to scare them off.' So Achilles gave him leave, and he did great deeds, but..." He was stopped by the boy's shocked stare.
"He couldn't do that! He was a general! And he sent a junior officer, when he wouldn't go! It was his fault Patroklos died."
"Oh yes, he knew. He had sacrificed him to his pride. That was why he fulfilled his death-fate."
Sayfa 71 - Vintage Books – March, 1977Kitabı okudu
