Part 109 (1/2)
”Were they higher, I would be well content,” he replied tartly ”The conditions day after day wear away at them And then there are the taunts froes, fired right into ourwhat?”
Silently he handed love ”I picked this one up this ”
I opened it ”ANTONY IS NO LONGER HIMSELF YOU FOLLOW A MADMAN HE CANNOT PROVIDE FOR YOU”
”Tired old lies,” I said lightly
”They are taking their toll,” said Canidius ”I am hard put to counteract theathered the reins intothem around my palms
”Yes,” he admitted ”But the lies wear away at the they touch They wonder, in their hearts, how Antony can give thehts in Italy now And that is what they really want”
”But the purpose of war is to in! Just as Octavian will seize Egypt if he wins'--horrible thought! insupportable outcohts in Italy will be restored” It was all so siypt if he wins'--horrible thought! insupportable outcohts in Italy will be restored” It was all so sirown faint,” said Canidius bluntly ”Perhaps there have been too many years of civil war, and it is hard for the anymore They are just tired, and want an end”
”Then theythe men; my exhortation fell only on Canidius's ears His words were chilling, ominous Had Antony lost his power to inspire and lead theround, mired in the faintheartedness of histo topple an empire!
”Yes, I know,” he said He turned his head abruptly to the east, his attention instantly riveted in that direction
Now I could see the sun glinting on soht danced as riders approached the swa the approach to the precious river
”There!” I said, almost under ions; he had forgottenthat ht that would unfold at the river, and hoe could win it
He trotted off to take his position, and I was left to stare at the tiny ulf No sound carried across the water; all I heard were the cries of gulls swooping and diving
I clutched the reins and waited If there was a charge up the hill, I rieve Antony by placing er, but I must be there,I was surprised; I had not thought htly wound with anticipation The troops were drawing the the hand-straps on their shi+elds
Then, from far away, a rise of voices--cries and shouts The faint sounds of a tumult reached us
”Ready!” Canidius ordered, his horse nervously prancing before the lines
A horn sounded frona inferre!” It was not the coe, but only an order to advance The troops marched briskly in formation, aimed toward the hill, Canidius at the fore It was not the coe, but only an order to advance The troops marched briskly in formation, aimed toward the hill, Canidius at the fore
O Zeus! O Hercules! Be with your son today, give hilory! I prayed prayed Let Antony ride, resplendent, into the ene them into confusion Let Antony ride, resplendent, into the ene the note sounded from the attackers, the music suddenly choked off in midnote What had happened? I was halfway up the hill, but through the lines of troops and the distance, I could see little lone, wavering note sounded from the attackers, the music suddenly choked off in midnote What had happened? I was halfway up the hill, but through the lines of troops and the distance, I could see little
I saw so Canidius and his legions were still uard seemed to halt
And then I heard the hoops, the cheers; sonorant of what I saw horses galloping ard, but whose? Was it Antony leading the attack? They werenow reached my ears Even if one had never heard it before, it was identifiable The most sequestered scholar, who had only read Plato, would have recognized it instantly
The allop forward Waiting was agony, but it would only last a little longer And then-- and then--!
My heart had leapt, utter relief buoying it up The moment that would decide all had coh I had dreaded it as I would an e we are, even to ourselves Our ranks bristled with swords drawn, horses tre at the ready And then, Antony's lines far away see west; the rest milled and then headed downhill, in our direction
”Canidius!” I cried, searching for him What had happened? I must know; he ionaries stood their ground, proceeding no farther A horn sounded Retreat!
Retreat? Whyback, but I moved off to one side and let the past, but still I stood aside, waiting
I recognized Antony's bay warhorse, flashi+ng with all his trappings, heading down the hill, followed by hisfast I signaled to him as he approached; he motioned to rimly ahead, and he barely looked athe would hear me and be able to respond
He did not answer, just leaned forward, urging his horse
”What has happened?” I called again, leaning sideways toward hi his cavalry with him”
Amyntas and the Galatian riders! The backbone of the cavalry!
I alrip with my knees This was a body blow!
”No attack,” he said ”We were betrayed by our own forces”
So the river was still secure! Octavian could drink all he wished, in safety
We galloped back into our ca Roman cavalry to accompany us Canidius and Dellius were left to deal with the untried legions, ould tramp back into camp behind us
Antony retreated into his wooden headquarters, brusquely fending off questions and entreaties Eros went in after hi distressed Outside the headquarters a crowd of soldiers gathered; they were bewildered and wanted their Imperator to explain what had happened Even Sosius was not adrily by the door, insulted
Antony had to coh the crowd,my shi+eld to push the men aside I tried the door and found it bolted froh to carry through all the rooms, to reach him wherever he was
There was no answer
”Open this door, in the naypt!” I commanded
-Still silence I hammered on the door, and finally I heard a sound inside
”The Queen of Egypt demands to enter these headquarters,” I repeated
”The request of the Queen must be deferred for now” Antony's voice was muffled and sounded far away
How dare he? In front of all these ht;his mind!
”The Queen will enter!” I insisted, loudly
”Who?” he asked ”Who will enter?”