Alexander watched as the hoplites were organised into five teams of four and set about their grim task to recover the bodies. The Samians had already moved their own dead and had stripped the dead Athenians of armour, weapons and sandals.

“Right men,” Nicanos said. “Get as many bodies a we can to the bottom of the ridge. If we get them off the battlefield, they might allow us to remove them from there after sunset.”

“That’s a gamble, sir,” replied Methiodos. “What if they don’t?”

“If they don’t, then I’ve failed, Methiodos. Then the bodies we’ve moved will stay with the ones we don’t get to.”

“It’s a good plan, sir,” Methiodos said. 

Methiodos had each of the teams assigned...

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