Part 23 (1/2)
”Then, pray, stop looking at me so anxiously!” I returned to the report
Cato warned the army of Porow stronger in ti routes under their control Caesar's horses were already being fed seaweed rinsed in fresh water Caesar launched a food-foraging expedition that was a a classic military tactic, in which alternate lines of cohorts turned each way so all sides were covered, were they able to escape under cover of darkness back to their caement had been a setback--Caesar's first since Dyrrhachiu for Caesar's other legions to join the the sea
”So,” I said ”He waits Nothing has been decided”
”No,” said Mardian ”Nothing has been decided”
There were only a few ud, the two kings of Mauretania, as African allies to counter Juba They said he was castigating Scipio publicly for groveling and serving under an African king, Juba, taking orders froeneral's cloak in Juba's presence Scipio had countered by saying that Caesar had gone to bed with Eunoe, Bogud's wife, cuckolding his own ally on the field
”What?” I cried Again, Mardian jerked his head up Now I knehy he had been watching ”Is this true? Is this true about Caesar and Eunoe?” My voice was rising Control yourself, I told myself
”I--I--” he stammered
”I know you can find out! You and your spy system!”
”I--I don't know for certain, but my initial information says that yes, it is true”
Caesarion batted the wool ball just then, and it rolled under a table He crept after it deter at him I can never describe
”Another queen,” I finally said ”I see he has acquired a taste for the beds of queens” I could barely get the words out I could scarcely even breathe But I did And I never raised o now, Mardian,” I finally said ”I would appreciate your finding out exactly what is going on I know I can always rely on you” Quickly I stood up and left the room
I had to be alone I felt as if I had been hit with a heavy log right in theone another across the sky, tuht, so I could close off the curtains and be undisturbed for hours Curse the daytis and busyness! I walked stiffly into my innermost cha myself to look at her, for the instant she sawwrong Then there would have to be talk about it I did not wish to talk; I wished only to feel
Here was the roos brought back some memory or essence of hi dies; the very inani serve to wound us What should be a comfort causes usout at the harbor--the little table where he had often rested his hand--the mosaic he had admired-- the lamp he had lit to study his papers---they all rushed uponme
No need to pretend to myself that it was just a rued Not changed, after all
It was I as the fool for hoping he would Soypt had transformed him But it had not
Eunoe What kind of a name was that? It sounded Greek But she was the wife of a Mauretanian A Moor? A Berber? Was she old? Young? And as she even doing with her husband out in the field?
What matter? And what matter even if it is not true? I suddenly askedis that I have found it in myself to believe it is true In that way I have also betrayed hi the turabbed handfuls of the curtains and crushed them in my fists My hands ached for it to be his flesh instead of the filmy curtains I did not know if I wanted to claw him or caress him I left theand sank down on a couch I was drained A thick blackness seehing me down I sat very still and closed o away And what may have been ain, the knowledge I hated was still there
In late March a dustythat he had traveled all the way froent news for uards were suspicious of hi hie marble table that (more memories, but I was used to them now, it had been weeks since I had heard the report from Africa) Caesar had used to spread out his e nu at the rolls of figures that Epaphroditus had co the duties of a financeall the while that he was utterly uninterested in doing so Men! How could I believe anything they said?
Briskly I pushed aside the figures Life had become monotonous, and always in the midst of the monotony, like a sore that would not quite heal, was the fear that bad neould coedy
Yes, tragedy For the death or defeat of Caesar would be nothing less than that for me I still loved him, and alould I knew that now, and I accepted it, just as I accepted iven, apparently never to be shaken A source of joy and immense pain
”Well, let the h I was not seated on a throne
The high doors swung open on their oiled bronze hinges, and a tall Nubian entered the roo hiuards
”Most gracious Majesty Queen Cleopatra, I ahty Kandake As!”
The man's voice boomed out like a warrior's
”Unchain him!” I coers were bound! Neither will the Kandake”
I knew that kandake kandake was their word for queen Meroitic was siyptian, and to Ethiopian, which I spoke I had always had great curiosity about Meroe, our sister kingdom to the south was their word for queen Meroitic was siyptian, and to Ethiopian, which I spoke I had always had great curiosity about Meroe, our sister kingdom to the south
Hastily they bent and unlocked the chains Thethe water frorow even taller
”I have come, O Majesty, many, many days' journey on the Nile I have traversed the Five Cataracts, and passed from the land of the ostrich and hippopotayptian was heavily accented It was hard for old, ivory, and leopard skins”
”For which your land is renowned,” I said
”The box was taken from me to be searched,” he said ”It will be presented when your servants have inspected it But I have a e which only you may hear These attendants must leave”
This was not wise I must not be left alone with this unknown uards must stay,” I insisted ”And I will send for my senior minister, Mardian”
”No The Kandake said no one”
”Then I cannot hear herMy uardto decide what to do Clearly he revered every word his queen said, and was as obedient thousands of miles away as he was in her presence--the sort of servant I would treasure
”Speak to uard and my minister cannot understand it”
The man's face broadened in a wide smile He nodded enthusiastically ”Very well, Your Majesty,” he said
I had a little trouble following him, but could understand the e?” I asked
”It is this: Ato be Ptolemy XIII has been captured in Meroe”
I was stunned ”What?” was all I could e, al an army when the Kandake's soldiers captured him He demanded to be taken for an audience with her, and in her presence he swore he was your brother, the true ruler of Egypt, who had escaped after the battle with Caesar's forces and made his way into Nubia He was most persuasive My Kandake wishes to know your instructions We are holding him in confinement”
An impostor! I had seen olden ar out his nostrils He was entoht here in Alexandria, in the mausoleum of the Ptolemies