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their kin bring down the three avengers on themselves….

    â€œStop for footnote,” said Corrig, flipping to the back of the book. “What are Erinyes? I can never remember.”
    â€œFuries,” Stavia replied, taking another sip of tea.
    â€œAh yes. ‘Anger, Vengeance, and Jealousy, who return from the underworld to earth to punish certain acts, particularly the murder of relatives, et cetera.’ Was Helen a relative? Were the Greeks?”
    â€œShe was sort of married to one of their countrymen. I don’t know, Corrig. I think in school they said it means all women are kin, sort of.”
    â€œHmm,” he mused. “Well. Back to text….”

    A NDROMACHE I wasn’t cursing kin. I cursed at her and at those Greeks who brought my Hector down. They are no kin of mine.
    H ECUBA She’s a woman, Andromache. A sister of ours. Perhaps she even thinks herself a Trojan. Long years she’s walked the torchlit halls of Troy.
    A NDROMACHE One day was too long.
    H ECUBA Even one hour’s too long, Andromache, but do not risk what little we have left on her behalf.
    A NDROMACHE What little’s that?
    H ECUBA YOU are my son’s loved wife, and you’re alive. Your baby Astyanax
is
alive. And even I’m alive, though that may be sparse comfort for us both.
    A NDROMACHE Your daughters, Polyxema and Cassandra, are alive. Such as they are.
    H ECUBA That’s true, so let’s not tempt the Furies down for the sake of mere cursing.
(She takes the baby from Andromache)
Oh, baby, baby. Little Astyanax. He’s trying so hard to fall asleep.
    A NDROMACHE Speak of reasons for cursing. Here comes Talthybius.
    (Talthybius enters left)
    H ECUBA
(Fumbling in her skirt)
Do you come like the raven, messenger, to croak dishonor in my aged ears?
    T ALTHYBIUS I bring such messages as I am sent with.
    H ECUBA They do not ever send you with good tidings, do they, Talthybius?
    T ALTHYBIUS Priam’s wife, if they had good to say, they’d come themselves with joy salving their lips.
    A NDROMACHE But you they send with vomit in your mouth and Hector’s blood still warm upon your tongue.
    H ECUBA Shh, shh, daughter. The messenger brings only what he’s given. What are you given now, Talthybius?
    T ALTHYBIUS Some word about your children, Priam’s Queen.
(He casts about for some acceptable part of the message)
Cassandra. I bring word of Cassandra.
    H ECUBA
(Nodding)
She went quite mad, you know. She ran throughout the palace, up and down, dancing with Hymen’s torches in her hands, whirling until she’d set fire to her hair. We threw wet blankets on her, holding her until the flame was out. Her nuptials shall light afuneral pyre, or so she says. What else
is
there to know about Cassandra?
    T ALTHYBIUS Agamemnon will take her home with him. She pleases him.
    A NDROMACHE One can account so little for some things. He’s pleased with her? Then he is likely pleased to taunt the Gods and court his own destruction. What will he do with her?
    T ALTHYBIUS He will bed her, I think, madam.
    A NDROMACHE Hell bed the virgin priestess of Athena! When he
is
done, then will he curse at Zeus and piss upon the image of Apollo? Or
is
he turned by madness that he seeks a mate most like himself…?
    H ECUBA Shh, shh, daughter. Do not curse the Greeks who seem well able to proscribe themselves. So, Talthybius. Agamemnon will take Cassandra. What of Polyxena?
    T ALTHYBIUS
(After an uncomfortable pause)
She was assigned by lot, as were you all.
    H ECUBA Where? To whom? What Greek takes Polyxena?
    T ALTHYBIUS She has been assigned to serve the tomb of Achilles.
    H ECUBA Slave to a graven tomb! How dreadful for her. She loves the lively arts, Talthybius. Dancing. Eating. To think that she must serve Achilles’ tomb.
    T ALTHYBIUS Count her as happy, Queen. Her fate frees her from troubles that still follow you….
    H ECUBA What troubles have I? So, I’ll be a slave.