Part 22 (2/2)
When he arrived--punctually--at the appointed hour, I was shocked to see as probably the handsomest man I had ever beheld, outside of statues and works of art, stride into the room What had I expected? I suppose a hts, inspecting er books Maybe he did all these things But he still had riveting blue eyes, as blue as the waters surrounding the harbor rocks, as clear as the purest sunlit shallows His lionlike mane of hair, black and shi+ny, framed his face like a classic portrait of Alexander Ruby-red robes
I just stared at hiht you would be old!” I blurted out
”I aly from Athens itself ”Perhaps that is old to you, since you are only twenty-tworacious Majesty,” he added carelessly
He did not look forty-five ”Epaphroditus,” I said, ”is your name? How did you coave it to me, Your Majesty I fear she had read too many poeoing to h life enduring it ”And what does Hezekiah mean?” I asked ”You should know that I speak Hebrew,” I added
”Oh, do you prefer to conduct our business in Hebrew?” he asked I had to look in his eyes to see that he was teasing; his voice had not betrayed it ”Hezekiah th of God' ”
”No, I do not care to hold our discussion in Hebrew,” I said ”Mine is good enough for following diplomatic conversations and set speech formulas, but, as you undoubtedly know, your Greek is perfect”
”They said you knew Hebrew,” he said ”I was surprised Why did you learn it?”
”I like studying languages I seereat advantage to be able to forgo translators as much as possible”
”A wise decision People always interject their own es” He paused ”For exas, rather than 'reflect,' it would give a different shade to the words”
”Just so Now, Epaphroditus--”
I went on to explain ht away; before relief un, the records would all have to be in order
”That is a full-time job, Your Majesty,” he answered with no hesitation ”I already have one Several, in fact”
”Could you not take this teency!”
”What, on an hour's notice? Do you have any idea of my responsibilities? The harbor would have to shut down if I suddenly abandoned my post Then ould happen to your revenues? Find someone else”
”Please! Help us, even just to review the books I will find so this conversation, he had reht folds down to his feet, which were clad in expensive gazelle-hide shoes He was so perfectly contained, so still
”And no,” I continued ”I certainly do not expect you to take it frodom to direct one of its rieve me--I would say 'amuse' if it were not so vital--that subjects want their rulers to be wise, humane, and honest, but then wish the most incompetent and stupid ministers on them! They complain all the time that their ruler surrounds himself with second-rate people, but if a first-rate person is tapped, he hurriedly makes an excuse and runs back to his family business You have no one but yourselves to blame, if your ruler's ministers are inferior”
”I adom who can run a business effectively,” he said stubbornly ”And perhaps an Alexandrian is not the ypt”
”Money is money!” I said ”A drachma is a drachma, whether in Alexandria or Aswan!” The truth was, he did not want to be connected to overnment ”It is not that you are an Alexandrian, but that you and your people disapprove of my rule I know you dislike me!”
For the first time he betrayed an emotion besides detachment ”No, I do not dislike you It is true, sohted that they were excluded from special decrees that favored the Greeks But certainly Caesar Caesar”--he paused to give the naenerous to those he perceived to be his friends in his hour of need”
”And so was I! And this is another hour of need Need is not just battles between men, but also battles between men and nature”
”We were pleased to help Caesar”
Why did he keep repeating that? His real question must be, Who will be our true ruler, you or Caesar? Who will be our true ruler, you or Caesar? Obviously they preferred Caesar! Obviously they preferred Caesar!
”In helpingrespect for him”
He shook his head almost iht a war to keep me on the throne! It was his wish that I be Queen!”
”And you are the mother of his child”
How bold of him to say it so bluntly!
”Yes And that son will follow ypt's ruler Of course Caesar will be pleased if you help ht to my warehouse,” he said abruptly, like a merchant whose price has beenin case you change your mind ”I will look at them I cannot promise to have them back by to To for seven to ten days No one would have thought tomorrow possible! Except Caesarand this Epaphroditus, beauty-of-Aphrodite-in-a-manI would would be served by the best, after all I need not compromise The only drawback is that such people spoil you for anyone else, anyone whose talents are merely human be served by the best, after all I need not compromise The only drawback is that such people spoil you for anyone else, anyone whose talents are merely human
”I thank you,” I said ”The books will be there at the hour you request”
As he left the roo in the noonday sun, I wondered how he and Mardian would find working together
Winter caales of seawater and storms I celebrated my twenty-third birthday quietly; far more important to me was Caesarion's six-month birthday on the same day I had missed him so ere separated; now I let myself watch him as he crept slowly off his mat and onto the marble floor ofabout one's own baby that aand enjoy the experience--but it is true
The Nile flood had begun ebbing, but the dareater than we had predicted Thanks to our preparations, and the organizedout our plans, the people had fared as well as could be hoped for The swollen Canopic branch of the Nile near us had flooded Canopus, and the notorious pleasure gardens and drinking pavilions had floated away, perhaps with their patrons in them They did not need any help to rebuild their bowers of indulgence; somehow that is always the last place deserted and the first place rebuilt
All was calm; all was in order
Then caht it toCaesarion unwinding a large ball of wool, pushi+ng it slowly across the floor, inching after it to examine it solemnly at each roll
As always, I was pleased to see Mardian There are some people whose nature has a mysterious effect on one's own, and in their presence you find youron the joyful Such was Mardian, with his big square face, his ever-ready quips and penetrating co it to e cushi+on andhis entire attention to Caesarion
It was exactly what I had longed for, waiting anxiously My agents in Ron in North Africa, where he still was
Caesar had crossed over safely, taking only six legions--five of them brand-new recruits--and two thousand horse Then--evil omens!--he was driven northward by a storm and did not land where he wished, nor withthe shore, he had stuasp Mardian looked up with a jerk
But then, the report went on, he grasped a fistful of sand and cried, ”I hold thee, Africa!” He had never been one to heed oions strong!--were commanded by Metellus Scipio, and the people had a superstition that a Scipio could never suffer misfortune in Africa, because Scipio Africanus had decisively beaten Hannibal there Another thing against Caesar But he had countered it by appointing a Scipio in his own aruished fellow of that saathered together to make their last stand: the two sons of Pompey, Gnaeus and sextus, as well as the stern, fanatic Republican Cato Scipio had taken the shocking step of allying hi hi of Nu was considered beyond the pale Juba contributed war elephants to the contest, as well as cavalry and four legions The total cavalry at the rebels' co in winter was unexpected, the ene with no interference But he soon found hih food was a proble so far outnumbered, his instinct was to try to force a battle as soon as possible-- Again I heard my sharp intake of breath, and Mardian looked up atfor et to the horrible part?
”Is he dead?” I burst out ”I cannot bear to sit here and read of all the things leading up to it, and have you waiting to see me read it!”
”No, my lady, he is not dead,” Mardian assured me ”Nor even wounded”