Part 51 (1/2)
His words were hard, but it was a relief to have them spoken so boldly
”I am sorry,” he said ”I am sorry about what happened to Caesar”
”I know you didn't like him You never did, and you were honest about that”
”That has nothing to do with lareat reat ht he orthy of you you He attained you too easily; and I thought it meant he would not treasure you as you should be treasured” He attained you too easily; and I thought it meant he would not treasure you as you should be treasured”
”I think he came to, in time”
”Well, time ran out for him And I am sorry”
”I thank you” I paused ”But I also do not feel well, physically I fear therePray, tell me what you think”
He tapped around and listened to my heartbeat, felt my neck and ankles, had me breathe on him, squeezedof all the syth he said, ”I cannot find anything overtly wrong--nothing that cannot be accounted for by the bad experience you have had Coarden
Or rather, it is your garden, since I planted it on palace grounds! We alk, and I will teach you a little about medicine”
Outside, the air was soft and perfumed with the last bloo new leaves were creating a dapple of sun and shadow on the green lawns beneath therounds were fro hite flowers, and seemed to call out for a rich purple cloth spread out for a picnic Come, and enjoy yourself and enjoy yourself, the lahispered in the breeze
Ptole under one of the trees, and we called to hi this bird's nest” He pointed to a neat round nest on a forked branch above his head
”The mother bird won't return if she sees you,” said Oly to show you”
I looked over at hied while I ay His features had sharpened, and noould describe him as saturnine That, and his dark sense of humor, must isolate hi in a physician, or kept people away And what of his private life? He was near e--had he plans to marry? Such infored himself to his feet and then ran over to us I noted hoeak his legs looked, and how out of breath even that little run had arden while ere in Roarden! That's for woarden for murderers and for miracle workers,” said Olympos ”I think you'll find it unlike any other”
It lay on a flat expanse not far fro the harbor rather than the open sea It was bordered by, first, a low stone wall, then, inside that, a hedge covered with red blossoate to let us in
A fountain was gurgling in the center, and froarden ”Behold--death in one corner, life in the other”
All I saere beds of plants, so, soly
”I came across a manuscript in the Museion that had a list of poisonous plants,” said Olyinary-- such as a plant that eulfed bystanders But others--I became curious about them How did they work? Why di< they=”” if=”” if=”” ill=”” i=”” thought=”” it=”” would=”” be=”” helpful=”” if=”” someone=”” compiled=”” a=”” treatise=””><n them after=”” all,=”” some=”” of=”” them=”” are=”” harmless=”” or=”” even=”” beneficial=”” in=”” small=”” doses=”” and=”” i=”” must=”” admit=”” i=”” was=”” curious=”” to=”” study=”” them--plant=”” equivalents=”” of=”” poisonous=”” snakes”=”” ill=”” i=”” thought=”” it=”” would=”” be=”” helpful=”” if=”” someone=”” compiled=”” a=”” treatise=””></n><n them after=”” all,=”” some=”” of=”” them=”” are=”” harmless=”” or=”” even=”” beneficial=”” in=”” small=”” doses=”” and=”” i=”” must=”” admit=”” i=”” was=”” curious=”” to=”” study=”” them--plant=”” equivalents=”” of=”” poisonous=””></n>
Ptolerown round ”Poison!” he said ”Which ones?”
”For one thing, the entire hedge is poisonous” Olyestured to it
”But it is so beautiful!” I said It was; it shone with deep-green leaves and was studded with flowers
”Nonetheless, it is violently poisonous It is called the Jericho rose, and if the flowers are placed in water, they poison it If the twigs are used for cooking meat, the meat will be poisoned; even the smoke from it is poisonous Honey made from the flowers is poisonous, and horses and donkeys die frooats are immune!”
”So, if you wanted to kill an enemy, you could serve him the poisoned honey?” asked Ptolemy
”Yes I don't kno ht have to eat a great deal”
We began walking along the pebbled pathway On each side lay neat beds of plants
”I have arranged all the deadly ones to the left,” said Olympos He paused before a clu about a foot tall Buds of floere visible, furled on top of the stalks ”Can you guess what that is?” he asked us
”Just a weed, like e see in meadows everywhere,” I said ”And so out of crevices in walls”
”It's henbane,” said Olympos, with satisfaction ”It can kill you in only a fewthat it could actually beBut there is no way to control the strength of it The poison probably varies from plant to plant, and the leaves have different a and dancing and talking to i you vivid drea an animal Then death One cannot predict”
”What about just touching it?” I asked
He sloves” He strolled a little way down the path, then pointed to a patch of white, star-shaped flowers swaying on slender stems They looked like ' ”
”What an ugly name for such a pretty flower,” I said
”All of it is poisonous, but especially the bulbs,” said Olyuised in flour, to bake a pretty loaf of bread Of course, it's somewhat bitter, so it would have to be dipped in Jericho rose honey to entice the appetite” He laughed
”What happens if you eat it?” asked Ptole you'd notice is shortness of breath,” said Oly Then--you'd die”
”All in just a few h I have trouble getting my breath”
”No,” said Olyle to make a joke of it ”There are no enemies to put a poisoned loaf of bread at your plate”
”Look! What's that?” Ptolemy was enthralled He pointed to a bushy stand of plants, topped with bunches of delicate white flowers The stand was alh
Olympos stood by them proudly, almost paternally Yes, it was time he married, and had children to dote over, rather than his plants ”You kno to select the most illustrious This is none other than hemlock, which ended the life of Socrates”
Hemlock! I stared at it in fascination The white-topped stalks, with their drooping foliage, looked h ”What happens when you drink it?” I asked
”Oh, you needn't drink it, although a draught can be made It has a characteristic odor of” ”You can also use the leaves to make a tasty salad It takes a little while before the symptoms appear You would have an opportunity to finish your meal in polite company”
”What does it feel like?” asked Ptoleradual weakening of theparalysis The h”
”Is it painful?” I asked It did not sound like a bad way to die