Part 24 (1/2)
I studied her features: the shi+ning dark skin, the high-bridged nose, the curving lips Facially she resembled them, but her body was in no way like the two types predominant here
The city was one of wide streets and circular dwellings made oflike theh stone ith a ateway to the royal enclosure, carved with Pharaonic-looking figures Guards in kilted uniforms flanked it; they wore silver caps topped with colored plu over their shoulders; Nubia had been known as ”the land of the bow” since ancient times, and the Nubians' proith the weapon was fearsoate; the heavy studded doors swung open with a deep groan, revealing a tender green vista
Spread before us was a carpet of tiny ground flowers, framed by jewel-toned shrubs; arbors covered with the heavy, twined vines of grapes and cli roses waved their multitude of pointed leaves and blossoed us to enter into their scented shade and linger I saw a movement from the shadows; so down in aimless repose Farther in the distance I saw an orchard of fruit trees, their branches frothy with bloorounds were s: what looked to be teolden sandstone
Pathways paved ide stones wound throughout the enclosure, and servitors, wearing thin red and green tunics, passed froraceful palms sheltered them from the noonday sun
They set the litters down before a square building with entrance steps of uide ”We have many envoys, merchants, and traders fros It is not our wish to dishonor you by lodging you in their quarters, but rather to honor the them to experience royal accommodations” He bowed ”Besides, we find it reements,” he added
”Yes, flattery will do that,” I said, stepping out of the litter As ruler of the greatest trading city in the world, I appreciated all the tricks I would have to see about building a palatial visitors' lodging in Alexandria
Iras and I were led up a flight of wide steps of gleas were of fretted cedar--obviously iet it here? Certainly the fifty-foot timbers could not have survived a trip over the cataracts--let alone all five of them They et there? Ia hard-hearted businesswo (It is primarily Octavian and his mouthpieces who say this) But all calurain of truth, and in standing in theabout trade routes, I show myself where this later slander caold I think of mines, and when I see silk I think of India and trade routes, and when--oh, why try to explain it? It is both th and my weakness And I notice that Octavian lusts after my treasure inahead of s I noticed immediately was a service of silver vessels on the table--a tall, gracefully spouted pitcher, slender cups, an oval tray Silver is rarely used in Egypt because it is actually scarcer than gold; now it caughtits feel in my hand, and poured out some brownish liquid into a cup; it proved to be tamarind juice
”From India, Exalted One,” said a voice from the doorway I set the pitcher doith a jerk
A wraithlike girl, wearing what appeared to be both an odd and strangely familiar costume, stood in the door ”I a up her cupped hands in a gesture of submission ”My Kandake wished you to have our favorite refreshlided across the floor and took the handle of the pitcher and poured, in one gracious, sinuous motion She handed both Iras and me a cup ”Drink, and welco irl said, ”There is honey for that” She gestured toward a shi+ny black-lidded jar Now I saw that Iras's extreirl had the sae shi+pments of the tamarind come to us on the winds of the monsoon,” she said ”We can tell by the flavor which area of India they co,” I said The taste was strong, bracing: a drink for soldiers, sailors, traders--and queens ”You may tell the Kandake I am pleased And whenshe would like to receive you, at the pavilion by the water sanctuary”
As she turned to go, I realized what it was about her costuypt, in the sort of clothes we had not worn in a thousand years I recognized thes
At sunset I was led along the winding path, with its border of flowers, to the water sanctuary We would have called it a pleasure pool, for it evidently existed to provide a passive sensual indulgence for the ruler The eyes were pampered by the azure-colored tiles at the bottoically blue; the nose by the scent of the water lilies; the skin by the cool air wafting across the water; the ears by the discreet chorus of tiny frogs cheeping, and the twittering of birds a the lilies A few butterflies swooped in and out of the water garden's thicket
I was alone in the falling evening Servitors lit silver lanterns, and behindreat, uht, the fringe over its parasol dancing wildly I saw a bejeweled hand draped over the side
The curious vehicle, borne by sweating, broad-shouldered men, approached the pavilion Just before the steps, they set it down and stood back The curtains parted, pushed aside by another hand just like the first A head poked out, then a leg draped in voluure burst forth, her enor the medals pinned to her sash It was like an elephant crashi+ng through the underbrush I expected her skin to be gray and wrinkled But it was richly black, and smooth as polished nity, and, with a disproportionately s and vulture-Goddess headdress
”Your Majesty, most honored Kandake Amanishakheto,” I said, ”I ahed, and the medals on her bosom shi+mmied ”Queen Cleopatra,” she said ”You are as beautiful as they say Welcome to Meroe You are also as clever as they say, since you knew the journey was necessary, and as detered to reat surprise and pleasure to see sos are” as it is reputed to be So few things are”
”I thank you, Your Majesty From what I have seen, Meroe exceeds the fables It is an unknown treasure”
”Good We do not want to be overrun with settlers of the wrong sort When a place becomes popular, that's the end of its charestured, and out of the shadows a servitor appeared and began fanning her with an enorold, and blue, made a rainbow in the air
”Let us seat ourselves” She walked with slow, deliberate steps over to a stone throne--the only type strong enough to support her weight I saw the outlines of her legs through the sheer pleated fabric of her gown, and they looked bigger in dia Her feet--like her hands, strangely solden sandals
She sank doith a sigh, and all her clothes see at the ends of silk cords, rustled and swung at her hem like barley in a windstorm
”I know this boy is not your brother,” she said quietly ”But others are all too ready to believe Why do impostors always attract followers? It is best we deal with him between ourselves I detest lies and deception, and I especially abhor those who turn their backs on the truth to follow falsehood!” Her eyes--soft, brown,ones--flashed as hard and black as obsidian
”It is part of the human condition, I fear,” I said I did not want to stir her up; she seeitated
Does this mean I ithout ideals or honor, as rown up in the court I did and held any illusions about what people are capable of And then there was CaesarEver since he had left, Caesar had destroyed what little belief inthat Ainal trust Obviously no one but an enemy had ever betrayed her--never a friend or a lover It is the latter that crush us
”It should be punished whenever it occurs, then perhaps it won't rear its head so readily!” she said ”Even a born behavior can be whipped out of someone” She nodded e, stealing, and fighting”
”But it does not cure hatred or plotting or ingratitude,” I said
”No, it cannot cure the heart, only the hands,” she agreed ”But it is the hands that ruin a kingdo as they keep their hands folded nicely in their laps”
I laughed She had a point ”I think the people of Meroe are fortunate to have such a wise ruler,” I said
”And the Egyptians are fortunate to have such a resourceful one,” she shot back at me She was quick ”I think perhaps we should consider a partnershi+p”
I looked at her carefully In the dull twilight it was hard to study her face without being rude I had not had the opportunity really to look at her, and before I have a serious conversation with someone I like to have taken their measure I believe I am able to read much in a face
I turnedher equal attention toa queen,” she said ”And already so --not tranquil years, either Difficult to ination, at any rate Do you really have any intention of sharing poith your brother--your real real brother, that is?” She was s serenely, aserenely, a , deadly questions, asked as if she expected straight answers ”No,” I said, obliging her ”No, I plan eventually to share the throne with, and pass it to,in approval ”That is e do in Meroe The Kandake's son will reign--we call him the Qore--but his wife becomes the next Kandake The truth is that it is the Kandake who has power”
”Your son?” Where was he? Was there one?
”Oh yes, hty boy, doesn't pay much attention to his duties But that is typical of men, don't you find?”
”I arown hty One, Natakaood wife, Aood Kandake after me”
”Is there a--the father of Nata--Natakam--?”
She rolled her eyes, then closed theone to his pyramid” She certainly seemed happy that he rested there, and not in the palace
”May he reside there in peace,” I said piously
”I haven't heard any stirrings,” she replied ”No rustling of his ba”
I thought we should leave her unna While she was talking old bracelets she wore on both her upper and lower arypt; the two heavy halves were secured with a thick pin
”Here” She seemed to read my mind, for suddenly she extended her arm to me ”Look” She undid the bracelet and handed it to me
It was very heavy; it felt almost like a manacle But the workure of the Goddess Mut with four outstretched wings, each feather gleaeometric lapis stones
”Take it Wear it It is yours”