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Glaukos of Crete: "Into the Wind"

by Elo K. Glinfort; Cover Illustration by Tom Matthews

256 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #04-0652; ISBN 1-4120-2824-8; US$23.50, C$27.00, EUR19.50, £13.00

This well researched story set in the late Bronze Age follows Glaukos on many adventures in the Mediterranean. Through his eyes learn about daily life in the fascinating Minoan Society.

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About the Book      About the Author      Table of Contents or Excerpts      Catalogue Information

About the Book

The setting is Crete, Greece, Egypt, Tyre and Cypres (Alashiya) during one of the most exciting periods of human development: The late Bronze Age. Through the medium of an adventure story, my intent is to bring well researched information about life around the world in the sixteenth century B.C. to a broad, general audience.

In this, the first of a planned series of novels we follow Glaukos from his conception in a temple in Knossos until, at the age of eighteen, he invents the lateen sail and captures a pirate who has been terrorizing the eastern Mediterranean sea.

The story begins by describing the experiences of his mother, Alexandra, while she is undergoing the mandatory temple service prior to marrying Eumenes, a young captain, who later becomes an admiral in the Cretan navy.

After a leap in time of twelve years, we meet the young hero, his brother Ekhinos, sister Dionne, and his friend Diomedes. Through the eyes of Glaukos we learn something about daily life in Minoan society, participate in the colorful midsummer festival, and watch the breathtaking spectacle of bull jumping, for which this culture is so well known.

Four years - and four chapters - later, Glaukos rescues a Hittite youth, Anitta, whose parents had set him adrift on a raft to save him when they were attacked by pirates. The two youths are destined to become inseparable friends.

During an interlude, we accompany Glaukos' father, Eumenes, who is commanding a Minoan fleet on a punitive expedition to Athens, and we learn how the myth of Theseus might have originated.

Later, the two friends find themselves on a ship visiting Pylos. During a storm Glaukos discovers the principle of sailing 'into the wind', when the boom tears loose and one end lodges in the bow creating a triangular sail.

In Pylos, Glaukos meets an old boxing opponent, whose sister, Clio, falls in love with him, while he still dreams of a Greek slave girl, Helen, back in Knossos. A dramatic boar hunt is partially responsible for delaying the friends' return for several months. In the meantime Glaukos experiments with the new shape of sail.

Upon returning home to Crete, news of the pirates attacking Anitta's parents has resulted in the preparation of a fleet by the Minos to stop the menace. Glaukos becomes steersman on one of the ships, while Anitta mans an oar.

The fleet departs in early summer. During the first stop in Mersa Matruh, Glaukos has a near fatal experience with the governor's wife - reminiscent of the biblical story of Joseph.

A meeting with an Israeli tribe in the ruins of the old Hyksos capital of Ataris leads to new hope concerning Anitta's parents. First contact with the pirate fleet is only a minor victory. A longer stay in the city of Tyre finally provides information about the pirates' home base on the island of Alashiya (Cypres).

A combined Cretan/Tyrian fleet blockades the pirate stronghold in the village of Kition. After fierce fighting, the pirates are defeated, but pirate chief Castor escapes and the Cretan admiral is killed. Anitta is briefly reunited with his father, who dies in his son's arms. The Cretan fleet departs for home with prisoners and loot, leaving only three ships - including that of the newly appointed Captain Glaukos - to assist the Tyrians in taking control of Kition.

Returning to Kition from a visit to Tyre, Glaukos spots Castor's ship. Setting a trap, he finally captures the pirate by using his new found capacity to sail into the wind. He returns home in triumph to the love of Clio and royal rewards from the Minos. Hints about the fates of his old friend Diomedes and Anitta's mother suggest strongly that the next installment in the saga of Glaukos will take place in Egypt.

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About the Author

Born in Denmark in 1928, Elo K. Glinfort studied law at the University of Copenhagen and criminology and social work at the University of Toronto after arriving in Canada in 1955.

Spanning all facets of criminal justice, he has been a probation and parole officer, director of a private after-care agency and superintendant of Ontario's treatment centres for drug addicts, alcoholics and sex offenders.

After fourteen years as Director of Planning and Intergovernmental Affairs and Senior Consultant on Criminal Justice for the Canadian Federal Solicitor General's Department he took an early retirement in 1987 to pursue a lifelong interest in ancient history, travel, golf and writing.

He lives with his wife, Dorothy, in villages of Glancaster in Mount Hope, Ontario.

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Table of Contents or Excerpts

The western sky was aflame in hues of crimson when the chief butler came out to greet the Cretans and show them to the roof garden, where tables were set for the banquet. Before sitting down, they were offered a cool, refreshing drink. Then Nomarch Harkhuf and his wife, Nephtys, made everyone feel welcome by going from person to person asking their names and making small talk.

'Lampsakos wasn't lying about her beauty,' thought Glaukos, as he introduced himself. While Harkhuf's paunch and sagging chins betrayed years of indulgence, Nephtys' smooth skin and tempting curves under the clinging gown, suggested the buds of youth blossoming into maturity. Her silky, ebony-black hair, held away from her forehead with a sparkling diadem, cascaded over the soft, naked shoulders. Her eyes were darkened with kohl, and her sensuous lips were coloured cherry red. Even the flush of her cheeks resulted more likely from careful application than from spontaneous agitation. Glaukos only saw her radiance, and savoured being close when she stayed and continued talking, after her husband had moved on to the next person. He, however, soon returned with a frown to bring her along. The look he gave Glaukos was a harsh reminder of Lampsakos' warning.

When the chief butler announced that dinner was ready, Nomarch Harkhuf and his wife, Pharaoh Thutmose's ambassador, Admiral Turius, and a group of senior captains were seated at a long table along the back wall facing the rest of the guest. Glaukos was shown to a table with Captain Lampsakos and some fellow steersmen, off to the side, but not far from the head table. Looking around, he was elated to see that his old foe, Ikaros, was in a group far away at the opposite end of the room. Sitting down, he noticed that he had a clear view of Nephtys across the tables in front of him. Although trying to avoid looking in her direction, Glaukos' eyes met hers twice during dinner. Each time she smiled almost imperceptibly and crinkled her eyes as if to say something. Embarrassed, he stared at his food, until Captain Lampsakos poked him in the side and asked if he was ill. "You will love the dancers," he said. "They are sure to make you feel better fast. I have seen them once before, in Memphis. In fact, I became so excited that afterwards I gave a silver bracelet to a woman in the market place, where a small trinket would have been enough."

The famous Nubian dance troupe, which was to entertain in the courtyard after the banquet, had been the main topic of conversation throughout the day, and anticipation continued to mount as the captains and young steersmen fantasized about them. When the trays of fruit were carried in, signalling the end of dinner, the table chatter had grown to a loud murmur, drowning out the butler's announcement of a special messenger for Nomarch Harkhuf. It was only when the nomarch rose to speak, calling for silence in a voice rising to a near shout, that the guests finally paid attention.

"I regret that I will have to leave now and to take your admiral with me," he said raising his arms in an apologetic gesture. "A messenger has just informed me that one of Castor's spies has been captured in a village some three hours ride along the coast. He is badly hurt and cannot be moved. The ambassador is anxious to interrogate him personally, and since it is our first opportunity to learn about the pirates, we have decided to go there immediately."

Admiral Turius, who was already standing up, then called the names of five captains, including Lampsakos, and asked them to come along. "Unfortunately we have to leave immediately, because we don't know how long the spy will survive," he explained. "However, I hope you have all had as good a time as I have. On your behalf I thank Nomarch Harkhuf for his great hospitality."

A downcast silence had replaced the mirth, and one could almost taste the disappointment.

Puzzled, the nomarch spoke again. "Why the gloom? It shouldn't affect the rest of you at all. The entertainment will go on as planned, and I hope you will all stay as long as you please and have a good time!"

Relieved, the Cretan mariners resumed their prattle and settled back to enjoy the fruit and the wine.

"Have a good time and tell me all about the dance tomorrow," said Lampsakos as Glaukos followed him downstairs to the entrance. Having noticed the glances at Nephtys he added, "Be careful! Don't forget that Harkhuf is very jealous!" and winked conspiratorially.

Watching the nomarch and the captains disappear around the corner towards the stables, Glaukos stood for a while, leaning against a pillar, enjoying the cool evening breeze. Servants were arranging chairs and placing additional pitch-torches around the already well-lit courtyard. In the far corner, some of the performers were limbering up. As he was about to step back into the house, he spotted somebody moving along the wall towards the stables, staying in the shadows, and walking quickly past the torches. There was something familiar about the broad shoulders and the slight stoop, but Glaukos couldn't place him. Curious as always, he waited until the person's face was lit briefly by the next light, revealing a scar across one cheek. It was the man he had seen enlisting in the fleet earlier today! He wondered idly why the man wasn't at the beach party for the crew. 'I guess he must have some unfinished business here before sailing away with us tomorrow,' he muttered to himself, then went upstairs to rejoin the party on the roof garden.

Most of the captains and steersmen were standing around in small groups engaged in animated conversation. Looking for acquaintances, Glaukos became aware of Nephtys watching him. As their eyes met, she smiled openly and waved him closer. She was talking to a heavyset captain and two young steersmen, whom Glaukos knew slightly. As he approached, she dismissed them and, taking him by the hand, led him to a bench in a quiet corner. Flustered, he scanned the crowd to see if anyone had noticed. As far as he could tell nobody paid any attention.

He left enough room on the bench for another person to sit down between them, but she immediately closed the gap, as if he just had made a small mistake. He couldn't suppress the stirring under his kilt, as the smooth material of her dress brushed against his leg, and her pungent perfume wafted about him. Nervously he shifted around on the bench and blurted out, "I am sorry your husband had to leave the party so suddenly. Does that happen often?"

She looked curiously at him, then replied with a twinkle in her eye, "It happens now and then, but I try to cope as best I can."

When his only response was an embarrassed silence, she continued, "Did you get a chance to look around the garden before dinner?"

"Yes, the garden is beautiful. One of your servants conducted a tour of the estate when we arrived," Glaukos confirmed. "The only bigger places I have seen were the royal palaces in Knossos and Pylos. The villa itself seems huge. You must have a lot of rooms. Do some of the servants live right in the house?"

"Oh yes," she said. "Most of the important servants have their quarters here. But let me show you the rest of the house." Nephtys stood up. Just then the chief butler announced that the dance performance was ready to commence in the courtyard.

"We'd better go down and see that first. Afterwards I will show you the villa - and you must tell me all about yourself," she insisted.

As they came down the stairs Nephtys was shown to a special chair in the front row, and Glaukos quickly found a seat in the back. He was greatly relieved. Sitting next to her during the dance might be suspicious, he thought, unaware what such thinking revealed about his suppressed fantasies. He wasn't even aware he had such fantasies, until the beautifully endowed lead female dancer came gliding gracefully across the stage, swaying sensuously to the accompaniment of soft, lingering drum beats. Her flimsy dress was made of numerous veils, which she untied slowly and seductively one by one, flinging them into the eager hands of the loudly cheering audience. Egged on by the steadily increasing drumbeat and the excited gasps from the enthralled Cretans, the tempo of the dance grew wilder, and the dancer's suggestiveness more and more intense. Finally, the orgastic frenzy culminated in her removing the last veil and collapsing in front of the male lead. Breathing heavily, Glaukos was shocked to discover that his inner eye had replaced the dancer's naked, quivering body with that of Nephtys. For a while he sat in a trance, oblivious to the people around him.

"I had better get out of here as soon as possible," he mumbled.

"What did you say?" inquired Nephtys, who suddenly stood behind him.

Startled, he looked up and saw that the performance was over, and that the guests were preparing to leave.

"I must get back to my ship," he said unconvincingly. "As you know, we are leaving very early tomorrow, and it is getting late."

"The admiral and your captain cannot possibly get back until late morning. I suppose the fleet won't leave without them," she countered, adding firmly,"I will simply not let you go until you have seen the house and told me about yourself!"

Unable to think of another excuse, he followed her reluctantly across the rapidly emptying courtyard towards the house. Casting sidelong glances at his departing colleagues to see if anyone was paying attention, he spotted Ikaros looking back over his shoulder as if searching for somebody. Instinctively Glaukos took a couple of quick steps to the side and ducked behind a pillar. He watched until his old foe was out of sight, reasonably sure that he had remained undetected. Just then Nephtys turned, noticed him standing there, and impatiently called him. In a few running leaps he caught up. She took his arm and lead him into the house. As she prodded him light-heartedly about his life while they wandered through the maze of rooms in the villa, he finally began to relax. After all, he was doing nothing wrong, and she obviously liked him. Soon he chatted easily and related jokingly some of his experiences in Knossos and Pylos, carefully leaving out any references to Clio and Helen.

It was only when he saw the big bed and realized they were in Nephtys' apartment that he again became wary. Torn between the agitated cravings of his body and the dire warnings of his mind, he took a step back and cried, "I must leave now!"

Nephtys walked slowly and provocatively towards him with an exaggerated sway of the hips. "You cannot leave now," she whispered in a husky voice, putting her arms around him. "Stay until dawn, and I will have one of the servants drive you to the ship in a chariot."

"No, no, I must leave. This is all wrong. Your husband would kill me if he came back and found me here," he insisted, trying meekly to wriggle out of her embrace.

"You know he won't return until late morning at the earliest," she retorted, feeling through her flimsy dress that his body was winning the fight over his mind. Suddenly stepping backwards, she unclasped her gown, letting it slide seductively to the floor, revealing a deliciously ripe, naked body.

Eyes bulging, Glaukos could resist no more. Willingly he let Nephtys guide him to the bed, undoing his belt on the way.

* * * It was still dark when Glaukos opened his eyes. Nephtys was curled up on his arm fast asleep. She muttered softly, as he carefully pulled the arm away. Regaining circulation, he stretched contentedly with a feeling of well-being and relaxation, which he couldn't remember having experienced before. The house was silent except for a distant murmur of hushed voices coming from somewhere outside. As he listened, now fully alert, the voices came closer. He heard the faintly squeaking sound of a door opening, and then a third voice joined the others. Suddenly he sat up with a start, while cold fear ran down his spine. Could it be .....? He shook Nephtys awake. She rubbed her eyes and said sleepily, "What is the matter?"

"Listen!"

She listened for a moment. Then she sat up with a startled cry, "It is my husband!" Jumping out of bed, she whispered harshly,"I don't understand how he could have got here so fast. Quick, run through the corridor to the right and take the far stairway to the roof garden. From there you can jump to the ground and get away - Go, now!"

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Catalogue Information