Part 19 (1/2)
The Temple of Isis, farther out on the peninsula, seee, perhaps because it was out of range of the rocks and missiles lobbed by the townspeople over the walls of the palace grounds But the nearer we got to the walls, the more destruction I saw The stables, the storehouses, the baths, the cisterns, all were daed in some way--either the walls had been cracked and broken, or the roofs burnt One of iant sycato look back at the ly black stains left by firebrands hurled against its sides My beautiful white palace by the sea! I gave a groan of unhappiness
”It will be repaired as soon as you give the word,” said Mardian
I was impressed by the inventory he had coe of the restorations
”Dearyourself,” said Charmian, in her husky-sweet voice ”Save the rest of Alexandria for too into Alexandria to it is still standing”
”You may rest assured it is,” said Mardian ”One or two of the colued, but other than that--fine”
”I must place myself in her hands, for I shall need her help at the hour of childbirth” I felt a bit unsteady on my feet, a little dizzy I put out ,” I said weakly, ”I think I would like to consult with Olympos”
I waited for him in my most private chamber As I looked around at thelamp holders, and the footstools, I became aware that each object now seemed to bear Caesar's imprint in one way or another Either he had asked a question about it, sat in it, or used it It is thus that inanis, and later cause pain or pleasure e merely look at them
I was seated in one of the few chairs with a back, and I rested e, when I ith Caesar I had not paid es in my body, but noas all too aware of thee, as a childhood friend and as soh, when he ca
”Greetings,” he said Then, iht there is?” He indicated the floor laht others,” I said There were several ht ”I am not sure what it is you need to see”
”I can see well enough the !” He looked directly at ht you how to prevent it! What happened to the silphion? You were supposed to make it up into Cyrenaic juice that would have prevented this”
”I did carry it with !” ”You ht fro into his bed” He waited for a denial When I did not give one, he seemed shocked It is not easy to shock Olympos, and even when he is shocked he usually hides it better He gave a groan
”I cannot expect you to be sy/' I said
He snorted ”Even so, probably the first tiyou could have taken the proper measures then! It was not too late! After all, he is not Zeus, so that he only has to visit a mortal wo ”I do not expect you to understand my decision You must know that I am content that this has happened; happy happy is a better word It was not at all as I had i co--” is a better word It was not at all as I had i coave another snort ”Save me the mush It makes me sick”
”You just don't like him”
”No, and I never will”
”That is honest”
”I alad you appreciate that Now, as to your questionsould you wish to know? It seems to me you have no need of my prescriptions or advice!”
”You have studied with the fore is iive birth?”
”No Only within a certain span of days It varies a great deal” He caently on my abdomen, and felt carefully all around the sides as well ”When did you first feel it stir? Usually it is about a hundred and fifty days after that”
I could remember exactly It had been when an enorrounds, and itexplosive sound as it hit a well My stoht it was in response to the noise But when it caain a few hours later in a quiet ti else And that had been just before we heard that Mithridates was at the eastern borders of the country
”Late February,” I said
”Then it will arrive in late Quintilis, next month”
”Quintilis! That is Caesar's own birth usted ”No doubt the great general will be honored,” he said
”He is honored,” I answered How could Olyht? ”So I have another fifty days or so? It seeeable s, but young women who have been trained well”
”What about your oomen?”
”They will be there, of course, but I wish others to be present who have had experience After all, Charins”
He rolled his eyes ”Charinal That voiceit wouldin coreat knowledge of in”
”Not for long And not if she follows your exa in This is not Roins here”
”Yes, we Greeks and easterners are ins, but have as their leader so his third wife, Pompeia, that 'Caesar's wife must be above suspicion' What about his friends' wives, whenever he was in Ro you cannot retract”
”So he is to come between us! It is always thus Rulers say they wish their friends to treat them as always, but sooner or later they turn i i as any woman would to slander about the father of her child I do not wish to de it, nor you by allowing you to speak in such a manner”
”So you will silence the truth!” His voice was getting pompous
”I will not silence it But neither will I belabor it” I looked over at his face, still scowling ”Olympos, I treasure your friendshi+p As a ruler, I am blessed to have such a friend as you I know Caesar hasbeen with many women I do not delude myself about his past But I see no need to torture myself about it I look to my future with Caesar, not to his past”
”The past predicts the future,” he said stubbornly
”Not always,” I said ”I have a , very early, I made myself ready to visit the Great Shrine of Isis at the Serapion I wished to go as any other supplicant, for Isis is the protector of all woht her blessings and help I would have to go through childbirth like any other woman; my baby would be born the same way Like any ordinary woman whose husband was a soldier or a sailor, I loved a er I came before you, Isis, my Mother, my succor and hope, as the humblest petitioner
I robed myself in dark blue linen, and made sure I had a cloak to hide my shape I also had a cowl that I could pull over nize oat milk, and drew a veil overas I left my litter at the foot of the hill of the Serapion and mounted the stairs slowly The cli burden, but when I reached the suliold in the new light Behind me, at a discreet distance, came Iras
I prayed I would not be too late They had already opened the teent sweetness I stopped to wash my hands and face with the ceremonial water in its bronze vessel at the entrance, to purify , toward the shrine of Isis, I saw that the white-robed priests were only just sprinkling the sacred Nile water at the entrance Behind the hyypt, Mistress of Heaven, Mistress of the House of Life' ”
The deep, sonorous tones of the voices rose and fell like the Nile itself The shaved heads of the priests and acolytes were like s, they walked slowly toward the pedestal where the veiled statue of Isis stood, and then prostrated theth the chief priest rose and approached the statue, delicately drawing aside the veil Reverently he placed necklaces of gold and turquoiseAround her neck, and a headdress of vulture's feathers