Part 108 (2/2)
”The fitting place to make love is wherever I find you,” I said And it was true
He sighed, and I could tell he had hated the long abstinence
”Here,” I said, ”render yourself into my hands” I pressed on his shoulders and turned him over He lay motionless on his back, mine to do with as I liked ”Oh, if an enemy should find you so,” I murmured
”They never will,” he vowed ”Only you”
Standing on the deck of the flagshi+p Antonia in the earlyhours, I touched my helmet to make sure it was securely in place This tiu; both Antony and Sosius were only too glad that I had a helmet and breastplate, and fitted me with sturdy boots as well, and a thick fireproof cape in the earlyhours, I touched my helmet to make sure it was securely in place This tiu; both Antony and Sosius were only too glad that I had a helmet and breastplate, and fitted me with sturdy boots as well, and a thick fireproof cape
”There may be fire thrown on deck, and most likely arrows and stones as well,” said Antony ”Keep the shi+eld with you at all times” He had handedallop off over the mountains ”Do whatever Sosius tells you”
Yes, I would be up on deck Belowdecks, with the rowers, I would not be able to see if the shi+p was raht be trapped If we should be hit, there was a small rescue boat we could launch to escape fro away from action did not suit me
”Yes,” was all I could answer I took his hand and looked at him This was too public a place for private farewells I had to believe it was not a farewell at all And e had to say had already been well said the night before
The plan was for us to sail around to Iolcus--the port froolden fleece--and shi+p with our treasury, which weighed it down But it was the shi+p est of the fleet, a ”ten,” and the safest place for our treasure, which is always risky to move
Noaited for the tide to turn to help us in our efforts to get clear of the narrow ulf Our et We would row as far out as possible before raising sail so that the afternoon breeze (Isis! Let it not fail today!) co from the west-northould carry us past the mountainous bulk of Leucas and out to open sea
As for Octavian's fleet, it rode at anchor near the entrance of the gulf, blockading it But the best fighting shi+ps were aith Agrippa, and these leftovers were commanded by Tarius Rufus, no one to worry about
Antony clasped my forearetically ”It grows later and later” He was rowed back to shore, and I saw him disappear into the ranks of his men
Noon, and the as still The fiery sun reflected off the water, which was as flat as a table, no ripples anywhere The far horizonwas ready We had taken six legions on board the vessels, ar We hoped to surprise Rufus and slip away rather than engage in combat, but that was probably too optimistic
My helmet was hot, and I felt stifled inside the cloak I opened its front; no need to be bundled up now On deck, the archers with their store of arrows, the slingers and javelineers stationed in the towers, were eager to set off At both prow and stern werestones and shoot arrows Oh, ere a proud sight But it would be better not to have to use any of it
At the signal froan toWe had close to three hundred shi+ps, and keeping theed safely, and from what I could see, Rufus's fleet was anchored to the north, not near the entrance at all Then, as we streaulf, there was ht; Rufus had been startled into action The oars on his ”six” were digging frantically and the shi+p wasin his ere two others, hoisting their collapsible towers and preparing to pelt us with rocks and arrows And behind them a host of triremes and quadriremes stirred themselves into action
Our oarsmen speeded up so we could escape the confined waters We shot out past the two guard towers at the entrance to the gulf, but Rufus and his shi+ps were closing in on us
”Down!” yelled Sosius, just in time for us to duck and avoid a volley of stones He then stood up and signaled to his own men to fire back Fireballs followed, but rolled har quickly for our sides were two smaller shi+ps, perhaps trireh speed, and their gleah out of the water, were aiainst us, but was thrown back by our reinforced timbers The other poised itself for an attack below our waterline But a stone fro A cheer went up froed and were fighting This was not going to be easy ”Faster!” Sosius ordered, to move us out into open water We could not help our brother shi+ps other than to fire on their ene to sink them
Suddenly our shi+ps broke free; Rufus's vessel had been injured, and all was thrown into confusion We had a clear shot to escape I felt iot away!
But still no wind, and we could not raise our sails Where was the wind? Why today, of all days, must it be late? The rowers could not keep up their speed for long Behind us there wereto come out into the open water And thenthena heavy inate from the far side of Leucas, white and i around the island, to the gulf entrance and, with astonishi+ng speed, over both fleets We could not steer, except blindly
On faith we had to keep rowing forward, not at all sure ere going straight We had to slow our speed for safety I clung on to the rail, trying to see soh the ht about by the confusion It looked likeit looked likeit could not beenemy shi+ps!
Oars lifted out of the waves in perfect rhythrippa's ”six” reared itself not three hundred feet away And di pack of lions
”Back water!” yelled Sosius, seeing it at the sae direction and try to ram him head-on, rather than present our side to him ”Prepare to fire!” Soldiers climbed up on the towers, and the rest lined the rails, bows at the ready
But the size of our shi+p e course quickly We were in the process of turning when Agrippa was upon us, and the shi+p shuddered with the impact I was thrown toacross the deck Crawling to the rail, I saw Agrippa's shi+p below, reeling from his assault on ours Our stout reinforcements had saved us; his ram had not been able to pierce our sides Our soldiers were now unleashi+ng a hail of arrows at hied to start a fire on his deck A swarm of men ran out with hides to smother it
”Let the Queen surrender!” I heard sorippa himself? I pulled myself up to my feet and looked down Could that be he, the tall, wide-shoulderedhis spear? But in the melee it was impossible to tell, and it had been years since I had seen him, just a boy, in Rome
The enemy had now formed a barrier out to sea that we could not cross; their nureat they could afford to fornaled to the others to change course
”Back?” I cried After all this, ould have to return? I ran up to hihly he yanked it off ”We must!” he said ”We are outnumbered and surprised Would you lose the entire fleet?”
”We couldn't--soh,” he said ”We cannot risk it”
I had the authority, but not the naval experience, to countermand his orders I had to meekly stand by while we--oh, the sha those shi+ps which had never er and frustration
I reentered the headquarters which I had thought never to see again How different it looked nohat a hated prison! It looked--it ought to have been--deserted! Is there anythingthan to return like that?
And Antony was gone, already crossing the mountains with Dellius and Aions When he got to Iolcus, and eren't there-- I flung myself down on the abandoned bed and beat it with my fists The bed, not s and straps
Antony returned when he heard of our disaster It wasn't only forto abandon his fleet and half his army Noere all back where we had started, except for the unfortunate shi+ps lost in the atte that late in the day”--he shook his head--”and Agrippa co to the rescue in his tiet that the wind failed, as well” One would almost think that the Gods had deserted us, that our cause was doomed But I must not allow ht that way at Alesia7 That was no way to win battles That was no way to win battles
”Uncanny” Antony was sitting, his ar li the saive in to thatus to see ere made of, that was all This was not final
”It is time for another attack on the river Louros,” he said ”I think ill have conviction behind our assault this time”
The day stood fair, the wind--obedient now, perfect for an escape, as ifearly Antony would lead the attack in person, co the Roman cavalry and supported by Amyntas and his Galatian horseions behind the a wider battle, Canidius and the other legions were ready for the signal to swarm up the hill
As before, they would ride around the head of the ten-ulf and approach the river fro or overpowering them quickly, Octavian's forces would be without a water supply Let the my protective helmet and shi+eld, I waited with Canidius No, I did not expect to fight; I was not trained with swords or spears But I could not bear to wait out of eyesight, not knohat had happened until it was long over And so, properly prepared, I satfor any betraying movement
Canidius rode over beside me His horse looked thinner than was ideal, but that was not surprising
”Hail,” he said, reining up His helht that estured toward the east, jerking his horse that way ”Today, the Gods willing, the tide will turn in our favor”
Yes The Gods willing The Gods willingThey had been stubbornly against us so far But theircharacteristic was capriciousness A shove here from Apollo, and Patroclus stumbles, a whisper from Athena and a mortal blow is avertedLet this work in our favor today! Let theainst us so far But theircharacteristic was capriciousness A shove here from Apollo, and Patroclus stumbles, a whisper from Athena and a mortal blow is avertedLet this work in our favor today! Let them embrace us!
”What must be, will be” I was surprised to hear these words come from my lips They were not exactly what I meant ”And ish, will be,” I assured hi patiently, as they had been trained to do I could sear and hear the low murmurs of their voices
”How are their spirits?” I asked Canidius quietly