Part 74 (1/2)

”I knew it!” He shook his head ”And why, pray tell, should I go to Ronored the last question ”Because I prize your talent for healing But time has marched on; there are new techniques in the world ofa physician yourself,” he said with a snort

”I know that the Ro wounds and lacerations--they have practical knowledge, not just theories That's because they've fought so many wars in the past hundred years--they've had a lot of soldiers to practice on! Oh, Olys fros from Romans”

”As you have?”

I let that barb pass ”I have heard they kno to operate on eyes to remove cataracts, and that they can seounds so they won't fester And that they have invented instruments that clamp blood vessels, and others that hold wounds open so that arrows can be extracted--”

”Of course I know that,” he snapped ”Do you think I don't keep up?”

”But wouldn't you like to go and learn about the that it even compromises your work?”

Now he looked e--I have duties here--”

”You have soone longer than half a year When the seas open again in March, you could go Stay until autuet into trouble while you're gone--nothing that your assistant can't et into a lot of trouble in six months”

”Well, I promise I won't”

He looked halfway pleased Perhaps he really needed a change; and his innate curiosity would enjoy the challenge of a new discipline

Now that I had his cooperation, it was time for the next part ”And, yes, there is soo to Antony You know I hate the man”

His flat statement took me by surprise I did not knohat to say-- certainly I couldn't defend Antony to him After all, there were times when I hated him myself Finally I said, ”I don't expect you to ers--someone Antony has never seen, ill find a way to attach hiroaned ”So I am to accompany a spy of yours to Rome? You want to put eyes and ears in Antony's household?”

”No,” I said ”I don't care about his eyes and ears What I want to use is his et out of Rome”

”Why? Why should he leave Rome? So he can come back here?”

”No I don't expect him to come back here I don't want him to come back here” Not as Octavia's husband and Octavian's obedient servant, I thought

”I find that hard to believe”

”Nevertheless, it's true But he should get out of Octavian's shadow He cannot even think clearly around him--it's as if Octavian corrupts and disables his very est nature that's nearest him That's why he's unreliable I warned you”

”You were right--he does And that's why he ain, why?”

”I want him to stand clear, on his own!”

”You haven't answered my question” Olympos was relentless ”Why should it matter to you?”

He was determined to o down to ruin Because I love hio down to ruin But I only said, ”Because Antony's task is to administer the east and conquer the Parthians If he dallies too long in Rome, he will lose his chance And that would be bad for all of us in the east” But I only said, ”Because Antony's task is to administer the east and conquer the Parthians If he dallies too long in Rome, he will lose his chance And that would be bad for all of us in the east”

Oly reports about Roossip there,” he said

”Yes, of course,” I answered ”It has been five years since I left Many things will have changed I ae s--and I hope you will avail yourself of the best”

I knew that was irresistible bait for his to be profligate Doing it at someone else's expense should satisfy both needs

My dear friend and Queen: After a ghastly ocean voyage, and an equally unpleasant stint up the Tiber on a s almost choked to death by the foul odors on the docks, I can attest that we are indeed in Rome Never have I appreciated Alexandria more, now that I have seen Rome!

I have acquired quite luxurious quarters--remember, you told told me to--but one of the horrors of Rome is that poor and rich dwell side by side, so just next door tofilled with the most unsavory inhabitants Undoubtedly there would be an opportunity to practice a great deal of unusual medicine there, but me to--but one of the horrors of Rome is that poor and rich dwell side by side, so just next door tofilled with the most unsavory inhabitants Undoubtedly there would be an opportunity to practice a great deal of unusual medicine there, but no, thanks! no, thanks! I a skin lesions and lice in the process I a skin lesions and lice in the process

Through inquiries at the hospital of Asclepius on Tiber Island, I have been introduced to a retired arrand master of the new science--everyone who is anyone in that discipline seeracious in taking me on, and translates Latin into Greek with nary a co e to your plots and plans

And as for that, I can report that Hunefer has departed into Antony's household to do your bidding It all caate near the vegetable e information about positions in Roer he had no difficulty in insinuating himself into Antony's There he will disseminate your advice into Antony's ear

I have been here long enough to have learned that Antony's fathering of your children has caused hireat embarrassment in Rome, and that Octavian is said to be positively apoplectic about it Perhaps to nant

Farewell for now, and do not neglect your chervil drink Keep building up your blood

--Your servant and friend, Olynant! That horrible dreaer start to course through er that was not even rational I had known known they were ry at ry they were ry at ry

I put the letter down So Olyood use What more did I want?

And our children had caused Antony aard moments in Rome? Good Let Octavian stew on that--let him think on it, just as I was tor as Octavian's May the best s fro s wo off blood vessels of a a large gap in the skin, like that caused by an ulcer, by cutting two flaps on either side, then drawing theether overhead But I will not trouble you with the descriptions of these wounds, as they are generally repulsive I know you prefer to dwell on reat stir here is that Octavian and Antony havea treaty with him at Misenuing Lepidus to the verge of retirement, and are unlikely to want hirain is flowing back into Roain, and this eases the discontent with Octavian People's memories are very short--as short as their as their last meal, for the most part last meal, for theto their nancy, and now it see as well--at about the saht it o The saiving the offspring the sa of horoscopes, Hunefer reports that Antony consults hiularly It seeainst his dear brother-in-law, Octavian alins Hunefer has used this opportunity to tell him that his noble spirit will always be vanquished by Octavian's superior luck, and therefore he should keep far away fro poured into Antoni's Antoni's ear Look for hiain soon Antony has already dispatched general Bassus into Syria to give the Parthians a preliain soon Antony has already dispatched general Bassus into Syria to give the Parthians a preli

Pat the babies on the head forthe custards I warned hiotten entirely too fat, and you can tell him so from me I told him myself before I left

Keep yourself well, and do not let your thoughts be troubled

--Your entirely loyal Oly hts be troubled-- that was not so easy I was restless and discontented, unreconciled to the present state of things with no clear viehat I preferred instead I was envious of Antony--envious because he had everything He could have asas he liked, and all with the world's approval--it was even for the greater good of Ron to conduct in Parthia

I should have been happy to be spared all that, I should have rejoiced in the peace my country enjoyed, its prosperity, my healthy children, my own quiet life I did But there was that inAntony I did not like sitting still; at heart I was a warrior, too

Dearest Queen Cleopatra, Forgive me if I write just this short letter, but I feel you , since it concerns you As I told you earlier, Octavian was offended about the children you bore Antony--now his beloved brother-in-law--and made no secret about it Evidently lately, at a banquet where the twoenvoys fronant wives at their sides--Octavian raceful that Antony should have been so careless and allowed such a thing Then (so my informants told oblet and said in a ringing voice, ”The way to spread noble blood through the world is to beget everywhere a new line of kings My own ancestor was got by Hercules in this le woainst fornication and adultery He didn't fear the audits of his copulations He freely let nature have its way and founded as , since it concerns you As I told you earlier, Octavian was offended about the children you bore Antony--now his beloved brother-in-law--and made no secret about it Evidently lately, at a banquet where the twoenvoys fronant wives at their sides--Octavian raceful that Antony should have been so careless and allowed such a thing Then (so my informants told oblet and said in a ringing voice, ”The way to spread noble blood through the world is to beget everywhere a new line of kings My own ancestor was got by Hercules in this le woainst fornication and adultery He didn't fear the audits of his copulations He freely let nature have its way and founded as many families as he could”

I was ashamed for you when I heard it I knew I must tell you immediately When I think what you suffered as a result of his Herculean imitation--! No one who had witnessed what I did would have spoken thus It is good I was not there, or--by Zeus--he would not still be walking this earth I ood a swordsman as he, but there are arden