Part 121 (1/2)
”Yes,” I said ”Fro until this moment”
”Moments,” he mused ”I wonder how many of them we have left?”
”You should stop this now,” I said briskly ”It's tiresoone”
He rolled over, with me in his arms ”You are so determinedly down-to-earth,” he teased
”And you should know,” I told hi some earthly pleasures, ”that I know the name of the new society is stolen froinal Sharoaned ”Oh, I should never try to put anything over on an Alexandrian I hope no one else knew!”
”They probably did,” I said ”After all, they are Alexandrians, too”
When I awoke in the early dawn, it was utterly still in the chas; Kasu the monkey--quite elderly now--slept peacefully in her basket under a table Antony was deeply asleep on his back, the rise and fall of his chest pulling soundlessly on the linens He sighed and turned onto his side In the growing light I could see his eyesa drea He had dark, thick eyelashes that locked together when his eyes closed, and I used to tease him and call the lashes to keep the sand out of their eyes I had said only cairls were supposed to have such lashes, not Ro lay the fact that I envied them I was pleased that the twins had inherited them
My mind was fully awake now, but I did not wish to arise yet I would lie pretending to be asleep; soht best that ith just a touch of drea tome feel safe Safe forever and ever But not so
Octavian was coed to see him in person? A face-to-face interview could accomplish much that for; it was th If I saw him, looked hiht shudder Those eyeswhat had Olyrayish blue, utterly erayish blue, utterly emotionlessa flatness with life yet behind it I remembered those eyes I did not really care to look into them But if I couldperhapsI remembered those eyes I did not really care to look into them But if I couldperhaps
Antony twitched and jerked, starting to wake up He would never want o I had decided to do anything There was no line I would not cross, unlike the proud and noble Antony In that way Octavian and I were alike Years ago I had said, May the best man win, May the best man win, between the two of us The contest was not over yet An intervieith him, alone, could work in my favor between the two of us The contest was not over yet An intervieith hihtened around hts, he probably would have recoiled rather than eainst mine affectionately
At the movement, the monkey made her arthritic way across the floor and jumped stiffly up onto the bed to join us
Antyllus stood before us, seea virilis He earing it now, its natural white as pure as theit now, its natural white as pure as the reet your cousin respectfully,” Antony was instructing hirown up in his sister's home, and known hihter”
”I didn't know him well,” well,” he protested he protested
”No one knows Octavian well,” said Antony, ”probably not even his own daughter That does notyou as old to him Give him the letter in which I remind him of our years of friendshi+p, of joint rulershi+p, of ties of kinshi+p I ask him to let me retire into private life and live in Athens After all, Lepidus did so If he refuses, give hio all the way to Ptole Antyllus directly into the eneht take hie? It seeh,” said Antony ”It is only three hundred miles by sea”
”Don't remind me how close Octavian is!” Luckily he would have to h the Sinai, too ”And that's not what I meant I meant, why put your son in his hands?”
”I have to send the highest-ranking emissary I can, and that isless”
”He may respond in a way you won't like,” I said ”I think it's a dangerous risk”
Antony sighed ”We must hope for the best Now, Antyllus, no one must see the contents of the second letter but Octavian, in privacy Make sure of it”
”What's in it?” I was suddenly suspicious
”I said no one but Octavian,” Antony said firmly ”Not even you” He put his hands on his son's shoulders ”I have the ut the answer you bring back”
The boy--young man now--squared his shoulders, proud of his mission ”Yes, Father I am honored to do it”
While aited, Antony and his Synapothanou around to each hout the city Each tried to outdo the last in abandoned profligacy, as if deterlory, like a funeral pyre I found theood distraction Why has no one ever written on the fact that ianzas leave asas does complete privacy? One is equally alone in both held hout the city Each tried to outdo the last in abandoned profligacy, as if deterlory, like a funeral pyre I found theood distraction Why has no one ever written on the fact that ianzas leave asas does complete privacy? One is equally alone in both
Mardian brought the two muscular men in tattered clothes before us
”Here are those you seek,” he told them To us he said, ”Your champions are here”
They were utterly unfamiliar ”Good sirs, who are you?” I had to ask
”We are gladiators froa! We have not gone over to hi was stout and had a shaved head I wondered what his weapons of choice were Thracian? Samnite? He would not do ith the net; his ar Herod once we reached Judaea The rest of our party is detained there; we escaped to cos and dark skin of a Nubian Good gladiators caot away?” asked Antony
”Yes, lord I am afraid so”
”You and your cos with their effusive vows of allegiance,” said Antony Was his voice trerateful You are the heroes aold of their deserving, and let them be housed in the palace”
”You will have to be retrained,” I told the Still, I iine you can adapt”
They bowed in a most professional manner
Hard on their heels, Antyllus returned I was deeply relieved that Octavian had not ”detained” hiladiators, but Antony was disappointed in the reply
Alone with us after the dinner welco him home, Antyllus recounted his experience
”He treated h,” he said, ”but it was as if I were a stranger! He did not betray any familiarity with me, let alone warmth”
”He spoke with you in private?” Antony asked
”Yes, in the old Phoenician palace he was using for headquarters,” Antyllus said ”It overlooks the sea, so close that breaking waves send spray in the s It made quiet conversation difficult But I was alone with hiuards, of course He was seated casually--he even crossed his legs! He told me to pull up a chair, then chatted away”
”Well, what did he say?” Antony pressed
”His chatting was nothing I don't re not to”