Part 50 (1/2)

Standing a little distance behind them was a dark, handsome face Epaphroditus! I was shocked to see him there, as if his primary business were here now, instead of in a warehouse on the docks

”Welco forward

”I am pleased to see you,” I said And I hen had he decided that palace business was not beneath him?

Inside the palace, the fa it all anew The es in it, the kind we n Was this corridor always so dark? Were there always torch holders here?

Was this how a dead person would feel if he came back to his own hohost, walking those corridors again

Caesar s househousethe room that had been ed, alien to hione, fresh paint on the all, the mosaic movedCleopatra the room that had been ed, alien to hione, fresh paint on the all, the one

Stop, I told myself Stop, stop Picture that roo inwith the harbor air, the blue-tinted, diffuse light filling the chamber It was pristine, as only a place can be where no one lives Without hu on into eternity without a wrinkle, until nature puts an end to them with an earthquake or fire And then it is a clean, bla visions I was having! ”Dear Iras,” I said, to break the spell, ”have you received any letters from me since the winter?” If she had, then that shi+p had beaten ours, and we had sailed almost as soon as the seas permitted it

”No, my lady,” she said

”Then you will read it when the news is old Is not a letter that arrives after its author a peculiar thing?”

”Not as peculiar as a letter that arrives froan, then brought myself up short How absurd He would not have writtenmad? ”--from anyone in that state?” I attempted to ently Froht ”Perhaps you would like to rest now”

The bed did look inviting The horror of Ronancy--all had drainedfor a bed in the daytiin that way; I must not present such a picture of htly,”What sort of person would sleep at noon?”

”Any person who needs to,” she said pointedly ”But, my lady, ould you have told me in this letter--this letter you have outraced?”

I could not bear to repeat the news over and over ”I will tell it once, and wait until everyone is gathered to hear it,” I said ”For I need to knohat news has reached Alexandria, as well”

The reover the views fro harbor, runningin my workroom where the shelves were laden with brass-bound boxes containing old correspondence, copies of decrees, inventories of furnishi+ngs, and suh the full archives were elsewhere, a precis of the kingdom's business was here

My ypt as was possible, but the long delays in communicationsu up I was devoutly thankful that harvests had been good and no catastrophes had happened while I ay

Perhaps, while I ith him, some of Caesar's luck had accrued toI could endure until that hour This day, beginning withto see Alexandria, would be extraordinarily long A bath and a change of costuain Floating in the scented water, I looked out on yet more water in the harbor below me The tub was positioned behind an ivory screen, between the bedchah it was poised just above the sea, the palace used pure rainwater for its baths and washi+ng, and for this deep tub it was first heated and then cooled slightly, with perfumed oil added to it I saw the soft sheen of the oil on the surface of the water,balm for the senses It seemed preposterous that such comfort, such innocent luxury, could offer itself side by side with a world of violence and death--and still have the power to please us At bottoly simple creatures

I was dressed in clothes I had left behind and alold jewelry in the Greek style, earrings and necklace, but kept on the pendant Caesar had given me It must learn to be a friend to all my other necklaces, for it would keep company with them fro; this enabled edown There would be no food--I did not wish to call attention to myself by whether I did or did not eat

First to enter,the chaold-fringed tunic He s on the very first day!” He bowed ”I brought all the records--”

”Oh, I don't propose to look at records tonight,” I assured him ”That's much too specific I merely wanted to speak with you about what has happened in both Roypt since our last communication”

Epaphroditus appeared in the doorway, resplendently dressed, as I had come to expect He had looked so darkly handsome in crimson; now he looked equally forceful in a deep blue robe

Others arrived: Allienus, co the city (Caesar had lately added another); the overseer of the tax collectors; the head custouardian of the state treasury; the chief priest of Serapis; the inspector of canals and irrigation And, of course, several scribes

One by one they forh all the set phrases, but I could tell by their expressions and the tone of their voices that they were genuinely happy I had returned

”I am blessed to be able to return so safely,” I said ”And blessed to find that you have taken such care of the kingdouarded and nurtured her so well” I looked around at all of thein with the event that loomed over all others ”You have heard about--what has happened in Rome?”

”Indeed,” said Mardian ”The whole world hasHeard of it I expect that even the Kandake in faraway Nubia has heard of it--nay, even in India The tallest cedar has fallen, and the sound has shaken the world”

”I--I was not there,” I said, fighting to keep my voice steady ”But I was told immediately afterward, and it was I who conveyed hiave him into the hands of--of his wife, Calpurnia” I paused All eyes were fastened onto questions ”I was there at the funeral, when he as cremated on the bier I saw the crowd turn frenzied, and behave as if they wished to elevate Caesar to the state of a God”

And what afterward? I reht--but after that, nothing, until I found myself on the shi+p, But they th and sanity ”As for afterward--what have you heard?”

”That Antony, as Consul, has taken his place as head of the government,” said Mardian ”The assassins are very unpopular in Rome, and have failed to keep control They will probably leave soon, for their own safety”

”And what of Octavian?” I asked Had he received the news yet?

”The young Caesar--for so he wants to be called now--left Apollonia immediately to claim his inheritance;' said Mardian, ”He should be in Ro into that nest of confusion and danger! I was surprised; I would have expected hi Caesar?”

”Why, yes, that is now his name--Gaius Julius Caesar Gaius Julius Caesar Octavianus”

That na to only one person! This was a travesty! Before I could say anything, General Allienus spoke up

”The legions have hailed him as Caesar,” he said ”Not all of theic in that name, and they want their old commander back” He paused ”As do we all,” he added dutifully

”Antony had best come to terms with him,” said Mardian ”He will have to share the poith hi more than this”

This was unexpected Shocks kept spreading out froypt had just been recognized as Friend and Ally of the Rouaranteed independence and security But now--the whole world is unstable”

”My legions remain as Caesar positioned theypt frohted of Caesar to have stationed theether,” I said, ”and keep Alexandria well But what of the rest of the country? Perhaps we should raise then the line of defense up and down the Nile, as well as east to west along the coast”

”If we can afford it,” said Mardian

”What is the present situation of the state treasury?” I asked the guardian of it

”Recovering, slowly It will take years to recoup the losses to Rabirius, and repair the war da as there are not other extraordinary expenses, ill first survive, then live well, and finally be rich,” he said ”And of course, Egypt always has her food, and that in itself makes her rich She can feed not only herself, but others if need be”

I hoped ould not have to feed anyone but ourselves, or customers who could pay, and pay well