Part 72 (1/2)
As well he knew, his presence could be very persuasive
Thanks to Epaphroditus,banquet was a cos hateful to a practitioner of the Jewish religion, and the table was set with newly acquired brightly patterned plates from Rhosus, in Syria--unsullied by forbidden foods
Herod had changed clothes--for a near-refugee he seeht an extensive wardrobe--and was now in royal purple, with a diadem He was a prince, and wanted that made clear He and his loyal co their rank, and acquitted thehtful dinner companions, conversant with all the fashi+ons in poetry and art, dining and entertain an embarrassment, was not discussed But Epaphroditus relentlessly atterip of the Parthians,” he said, shaking his head ”May it soon be liberated” He paused ”And when it is, you must immediately cleanse and restore the Temple!”
Herod turned those liquid eyes on him ”Oh, I plan to do more than that,” he said quietly ”It is time that the Temple of Jerusalem be rebuilt in accordance with its i ”Forgive me, I don't understand”
”The Temple is holy,” said Herod
”So are all te smile ”Our temple to Serapis, for exaive explicit instructions for the construction of his te to slip ”Ours did”
Mardian laughed ”Gods have their ways”
”We believe there is only one God,” said Herod ”And he gave us instructions”
”But ours--” an Egyptian started to say, but I stopped him with a look
”The day after tomorrow is the Sabbath,” said Epaphroditus ”Surely you ish to coest synagogue in the world--since you are so devout”
Herod sue?” someone farther down the table asked
Herod stayed in Alexandria for twenty days, fending off Epaphroditus's attempts to force him to take a stand one way or another--to declare himself a true Jew or not I sensed in him the conflict between a person who is born, or called to, a particular allegiance, only to find it blocking his a Only a very few find glory in being martyrs--Cato for the Republic, Spartacus for slaves, the Israelite prophets for their God All others long to fulfill their talents, their destinies; they do not easily sacrifice the them like a placid white bull In that, Herod was only human
In the end, he sailed away in a shi+p I provided tracking ard into the setting sun, seeking Italy What he would find there we could not guess And I was back to waiting, waiting, waiting, for the outcome, which affected me as much as Herod
”I don't want to be cruel, but you are simply enormous enormous'” Olympos blurted out when he came to see me about a uarded, registered dismay and bafflement
”Dear old Olyhtful!” His words ounding I kneas big The gowns, and even the brocade coat, no longer served I was big The gowns, and even the brocade coat, no longer served
”Are you absolutely sure about the--the ti?” he asked cautiously
”Well, I know a date it could not be before,” I said ”And that is the one I chose”
He shook his head ”Please--o ahead,” I said ”And you ht as well feel it directly Be my physician today instead of ht onthe front panel--lately added--of htenment came to him
”Ah,” he said, finally He took his hands away
”Well, what?” I dean ”But--”
”Just tell me!” I barked
”I think there are two of them in there,” he said ”What?”
”Twins,” he said ”Two You know, like Apollo and Artemis”
”I knoho Apollo and Arterinned ”Yes, of course But are you prepared to be Latona?”
”To wander about, forsaken and persecuted?”
”You won't have to wander, and you won't be persecuted, but forsaken--I ment on that”
”Sos you don't want to hear,” he said lightly ”I'd be thinking about two na ”Ah, what a man is Marc Antony!”
”Go away!” I hurled a pot of oint
After he left, I put e in my front There did seem to be an inordinate aht hands and feet than only four
Two The names were the least of my problems
Chapter 51
”Marc Antony is married,” said the sailor, who had been hustled into the palace by Mardian He stood before , his cap in hand
”Yes, I know he is married,” I said patiently What was this7 ”What news is this? I want true news--of the war” ”What news is this? I want true news--of the war”
The ive me, Majesty--he is re about?” Why could he not speak clearly? Mardian was leaning up against the wall, his ar
”I mean to say that the Triumvir was briefly a er Fulvia died, and then--”
Fulvia Died? He had been freed from her?
”--he has married Octavia In Rome” ”What?”