Chapter 2

           —You,Cochrane,whatcitysentforhim?

           —Tarentum,sir.

           —Verygood.Well?

           —Therewasabattle,sir.

           —Verygood.Where?

           Theboy’sblankfaceaskedtheblankwindow.

           Fabledbythedaughtersofmemory.Andyetitwasinsomewayifnotasmemoryfabledit.Aphrase,then,ofimpatience,thudofBlake’swingsofexcess.Iheartheruinofallspace,shatteredglassandtopplingmasonry,andtimeonelividfinalflame.What’sleftusthen?

           —Iforgettheplace,sir.279B.C.

           —Asculum,Stephensaid,glancingatthenameanddateinthegorescarredbook.

           —Yes,sir.Andhesaid:Anothervictorylikethatandwearedonefor.

           Thatphrasetheworldhadremembered.Adulleaseofthemind.Fromahillaboveacorpsestrewnplainageneralspeakingtohisofficers,leaneduponhisspear.Anygeneraltoanyofficers.Theylendear.

           —You,Armstrong,Stephensaid.WhatwastheendofPyrrhus?

           —EndofPyrrhus,sir?

           —Iknow,sir.Askme,sir,Comynsaid.

           —Wait.You,Armstrong.DoyouknowanythingaboutPyrrhus?

           AbagoffigrollslaysnuglyinArmstrong’ssatchel.Hecurledthembetweenhispalmsatwhilesandswallowedthemsoftly.Crumbsadheredtothetissueofhislips.Asweetenedboy’sbreath.Welloffpeople,proudthattheireldestsonwasinthenavy.VicoRoad,Dalkey.

           —Pyrrhus,sir?Pyrrhus,apier.

           Alllaughed.Mirthlesshighmaliciouslaughter.Armstronglookedroundathisclassmates,sillygleeinprofile.Inamomenttheywilllaughmoreloudly,awareofmylackofruleandofthefeestheirpapaspay.

           —Tellmenow,Stephensaid,pokingtheboy’sshoulderwiththebook,whatisapier.