Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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27 The Odyssey The Sixth Form presents its compliments to the shade of Sir George Somers with this story of another great sea adventurer. A pretty poem, Mr. Pope, said a sniffing scholar, on another such occasion, but you must not call it Homer. A home run, then? Homeward, rather. After the downfall of Troy everyone who had not been slain or cap- tured returned home. But Odysseus did not reach Ithaca; instead, he had been imprisoned, on the island of Ogygia, by Calypso, who wished to marry him. At length the gods pitied him and thought the time had come to let him come home to recepture his kingdom from the irresponsible Suitors who were laying it to waste. Poseidon Earthshaker, the sea god, was the only one who hated Odysseus, but as he was feasting at the other side of the world, he was not likely to cause trouble. So the father of the gods called a meeting, at which Athene, the God- dess of Wisdom, asked that Odysseus be set free, to come home to his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus, who both suffered greatly on his account, wondering whether he was dead or alive. Zeus agreed to Athene ' s request and so Hermes was sent to Calypso ' s isle to release Odysseus. At the same time Athene went in disguise to put new hope into his son. When she arrived at Odysseus ' house she was warmly greeted by Telemachus. She told him to call an assembly of the Suitors who were singing and feasting at his house, and who all wished to wed his mother for her riches. He was to complain about their behaviour and then leave Ithaca for Sandy Pylos and Sparta to seek his father. Telemachus went to bed in his room, which was built high above the courtyard, and there he thought long about the news, curious that a goddess should take interest in his affairs, confident that all would eventually come out well. At last he slept. When dawn came, showing her rosy fingers through the early mists, Telemachus got up, dressed and went to the Council himself. He told all those present that his announcement was not a public matter, not a warning of a raid for example, but of domestic affairs. His speech became more and more an angry one and at the end he dropped the speaker ' s staff and bust into tears of rage. Antinoos answered, saying that Telemachus was childish and a boaster; he complained bitterly to the others about Penelope, who taunted her Suitors saying that she would not choose one of them until she had finished weaving a shroud for her husband ' s old father and yet who, every night, undid the weaving she had done during the day.

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26 that some of the destroyers had come fairly close with shots overhead but that fortunately none had landed within 100 yards of Porte St. Jean. The ship has a very small radio room equipped with audio and morse receiving and transmitting gear, and also a small table for making up and decoding massages. In the adjacent wheelhouse, equally small, is a radar set with a range of approximately twenty miles. The bridge is completely open; it is from this platform that a grounded Air Force pilot, assisted by two lookouts, guides the target drones by radio. The target drones are of all aluminium construction with detachable — and thus replaceable — wings and tailplanes. They are about seven feet long and have a wingspan of eight feet. They weigh five hundred pounds and have an estimated value of $2,500 each. Their 85 h.p. engines give them a speed of 250 knots. They can carry fuel for ninety minutes of flight. They are launched on a catapult by compressed air at a pressure of 250 lb. per square inch. Each drone must be launched into the air within ten seconds of starting its engine, otherwise the engine, with no rush of air to cool it, overheats very rapidly and seizes up. During a shoot these drones are flown at an average altitude of 2,000 feet in huge circles around the destroyers who use their radar- controlled guns on them. Notwithstanding the great speed of these tiny targets, they occasionally receive a direct hit. On the understandably many occasions when this does not happen, the engine, by ceasing to turn, allows a lever to open a small door in the side of the aircraft. Through this a small pilot parachute drags a larger on e, suspended by which the drone drops gently to the water whence it is soon picked up. These drones may be used any number of times, provided a direct hit does not make them irrecoverable, and so the ten which Porte St. Jean carries supply her with all she is likely to need on a six month cruise such as the one in which she is now engaged. We wish her good luck, and her attendant hunters good shooting. K. H. CHIAPPA Upper Sixth Form

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28 Many more spoke against Telemachus; few stood up for him. Finally the Council broke up and Telemachus went to the seashore and prayed to Athene. His prayers were answered; he obtained a ship, supplies and men for the voyage to Sparta and to Sandy PylOs and that night he set out in his ship with Athene at his side. P.W.P. Upon entering the harbour at Sandy Pylos, Telemachus was able to see crowds of people, feasting, for it was the day of Poseidon the sea god. This feast was being presided over by Nestor, one of his father ' s old comrades in arms. Nestor ' s son, Peisistratus, at the head of a crowd, welcomed him and invited him to join the feast. When Telemachus asked for news of his father, Odysseus, long-winded Nestor recalled all the happenings at Troy and the journey home but could not tell Telemachus where Odysseus might be at the present time. Telemachus, having passed the night in a fine gallery, arose with the rosy-fingered Dawn and went out to prepare a sacrifice to the gods. Nestor then sent his son Peisistratus with Telemachus to help him con- tinue his journey to Sparta by land. The two young men went in one of Nestor ' s own chariots, with some of his high-mettled tireless horses. All day they thundered on. When they reached Sparta, they found King Menelaus giving a wedding feast for both his daughter and his admirable son at the same time. Menelaus became angry when one of his lords suggested that they send the strangers away. He reminded him of the help they had them- selves received on the way home from Troy. So the two men, Tele- machus and Peisistratus, were warmly welcomed and conducted to the baths. After a superb supper and long conversation with Telemachus, King Menelaus was positive he was the son of Odysseus. The king then recounted a story concerning Odysseus, his bravery and homecoming adventure. After a night ' s rest. King Menelaus questioned Telemachus about his journey and its purpose. Telemachus revealed that he was searching for his father. In his turn, he questioned Menelaus, explaining that his mother ' s hand was being sought by many Suitors who were a coarse and quarrelsome lot. Menelaus then recounted his return to Troy and consequent adventures. He claimed that Odysseus had been seen alive on Calypso ' s isle, Ogygia. This raised Telemachus ' hopes. Refus- ing the king ' s offer to stay he decided to return at once to Ithaca and there await further developments. In Ithaca, the Suitors heard of his return and planned to murder him. S.C.H. As dawn arose from her bed. Almighty Zeus sent for his messenger Hermes and instructed him to tell Calypso that Odysseus was to build a raft and sail to Scheria with then intention that when he should become