Part 122 (2/2)
”As for Antony's request--surely it was a jest?” He looked genuinely puzzled ”Single co only that if Antony wished to die, there were many methods he could choose”
I winced inwardly What other answer could Octavian give? It both shamed and insulted Antony for his foolish offer ”I see,” I said The less said about it, the better ”And ypt to hiht if he promises to put your children on the throne to succeed you, and not ypt a Roman province Now thathas many considerations”
”I should have reypt, when hisadoptedfather Caesar fought the Alexandrian War But he wisely did not annex it to Roypt as it was Can his political heir be less wise than Caesar the God?” I was anxious to know Octavian's mind; why did this fellow not speak it out?
”Caesar did not take Egypt because he was a captive himself--captive to your charm It was in deference to you that he held back” He paused, as if he were debating whether to speak further ”And his glorious successor, the young general Octavian, is not as proof against them as he appears”
I had not expected this What a clever trap Butlong ago Antony had muttered, I know he has a lust for you I know he has a lust for you ”Is it so?” I replied cautiously ”Is it so?” I replied cautiously
”Yes, although I hesitate to reveal it,” he said He seeer to have the opportunity to prove hih My friend! ”Is that why he has declared war on er our feelings, the crueler our words, to allantly
”Oh, I a in hatred, not in friendshi+p”
”You are wrong But give hiood intentions Lay down your arypt, as you did Caesar Then he will prove a kind lord to you and yours”
”Is this before or after I present hiet about Antony,” he said ”He is negligible, inconsequential between great rulers of your stature”
”I see” And I did, to my sorrow But Octavian's desire to lull ainst hie an interviehile I still held my treasure safe ”Now let me reiterate my situation I know that what Octavian desires is not me, but my treasure He needs it to pay his soldiers, who have been living on proet it until he has met my conditions Otherwise I will destroy it Let me show you how” I rose from the throne and came down to stand beside him ”Come with me”
”If you would only welcoreeable”
Why did he keep using that phrase? Did he htforward in his dealings, as Caesar e could co,” Thyrsus said, sighing ”Is it not tie knows not”
”Then Octavian would not find , as I am older than he”
He pretended to be surprised ”Is it even so? But you look so young”
”It ic arts that Octavian swears I practice that have preserved me,” I said ”But he himself seems a child to e as Alexander when he died Was Alexander a child?”
”A glorious and eternal God-child,” I said ”Come” I would lead him to the h the connecting rooht hurt nified by the white marble of the city and the flat mirror of the sea, was so intense it bleached colors fro?” he asked, shading his eyes
”To a place where the sun never penetrates,” I said, pointing across the grounds to the mausoleum, next to the open Teh you are Greek, you have succuyptian fascination with death?” He asked it curiously ”Even in this city of high noon, the shadow of the to the building It loorow up in Egypt is to rub shoulders with the dead It is inescapable; the monuments are part of the landscape We do not believe that a body should burn like a candle and then be emptied unceremoniously into an urn” I paused ”But all this is not for many years,” I assured him, ”if Octavian will listen to reason After all, why should any of us die prematurely?”
Let us live, I wished fiercely Let us spend as many years as natural life allows us, here beneath the sun It ht be possible If
I led the way up the steps surrounding the h the open doors Beside rated on the stone
Inside, the shadows engulfed us It took a moment for our eyes to adjust
”This is all for you? And Antony?” he asked, His voice hushed
”Yes We will lie apart fro darkness to recede so I could show hie It was cool in here, cool in a suspended, seasonless way
”Why have you brought me here? I don't like tombs”
”Ah, but this is a very special to, these doors” I extended my arm and pointed at them
”What about theineered so they can be closed only once When they descend down the tracks of their posts, they seal themselves shut forever After the last funeral--mine or Antony's--when the mourners depart, the doors will enclose us in solitude for all eternity” I paused ”It is an old Egyptian idea, grafted onto a Greek-style temple We will not be disturbed by tomb robbers, for no valuables will be buried with us”
I sensed, rather than saw, his shudder ”Let us leave”
I ignored his request ”The valuables I aiven to Octavian, and the rees to my request”
Now at last we could see I led hii and around the polished black pillars to theat it, taken by surprise at last He had not been prepared for this
I walked around the pile ”Here it is--gold, silver, pearls, lapis, eh to pay any debts Octavian has, no e This represents many times the annual income and treasury of Rome It was accumulated by my ancestors--the last unplundered source of wealth in the world, save that of the Parthians Think what your master can do with it! And it is all his, without a drop of bloodshed, without the loss of a single life, if he just agrees that either Caesarion or Alexander and Selene can be crowned ruler of Egypt As for my person, I will reo” I nodded toward the sarcophagi
”By all the Gods” His voice was faint
”And this is not all,” I assured hiypt at her disposal, year after year That would be part of the bargain”
”I do not think Octavian pictured this,” he finally said ”But, fair lady, this could never e for your life”
”Oh, I iine he could force himself to appreciate it,” I said ”So What will be his answer?”
He reached out and stroked a bar of gold ”It isn't even cold,” he said wonderingly
”That's right,” I said ”Whoever describes gold as being hard and cold has never had the privilege of touching large pieces of it in pure forer to shape itself to you; and it never feels frigidly cold like iron Ame your master's answer as soon as possible For you can see that I have theit all if his answer does not please me” I indicated the wood and pitch at the bottom of the pile
”He desires to please you” Thyrsus took my hand and kissed it ”It is his deepest wish” He stepped closer, and did not let go of my hand ”Trust him, and trust the power you already wield over hishis feelings” He kissedthes hidden cannot be responded to”
He kept kissingout frouiltily