One factor in whether Thoas' ship can escape to Cyprus is:
"'...whether we get a wind or not.'" (p. 130)
Egyptian slaves can outrow Thoas' mixed crew but, with a good breeze or in the open sea, the latter can outrun the former.
Consequently, we are reassured when the following narrative passage opens with:
"Toward morning the breeze stiffened to a murmuring wind that filled the sail, and Thoas let his weary oarsmen sleep." (p. 131)
Poul Anderson's winds nearly always mean something. This wind murmurs, so it maybe comments on the action, but it does not roar or threaten and might confirm their escape.
That mixed crew - described as barbarians, as port sweepings and as "...a mixed and ragged band..." (p. 127):
Syrians
Cretans
Cyprians
Nubians
Phoenicians
indescribables
robbers
paupers
runaway slaves
- all armed with edged metal.
Thoas might not be safe captaining them.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I have my doubts all of Thoas motley crew would be so well armed in reality. The metal still mostly used for weapons and tools in late XVIII Dynasty Egypt was bronze. Which was costly and rare, dependent on imports of tin from distant locations to be made. Iron was only just starting to be used and was still costly.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean,
But these guys were from other parts of the Mediterranean.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
But that does not mean Thoas and his men would not find it difficult to obtain an adequate supply of bronze weapons. It would be more realistic to expect only Thoas and his best warriors to have bronze weapons/armor.
Ad astra! Sean
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