Part 126 (1/2)
”He's here!” he said ”Just sighted, down the road to Canopus He's rushi+ng, pushi+ng the et here and pitch camp before sundown”
The plumes on his hel his eyes But his voice sounded young, eager
”I see nothing,” I said
”The dust cloud should be visible soon,” he said ”He is kicking up quite a stor the place”
”What, now?” It could not be now; it was already afternoon andI had had it so firmly in my mind that the confrontation would be a massive battle
”Catch hiuard” He patted his sword ”Ah, to do a lected pet
”What shall we do here?” I asked I would have to ready the ather the childrenO Gods! Was it all to be set in motion no, on this cloudless, still day? Deeds set inof their own accord, unstoppable like the tomb doors on their tracks?
”Pray to all the Gods for our success,” he said, taking boththem ”They will hear you”
I looked at his sunburnt face, his eyes still invisible under the helmet's shadow ”Kiss me,” I suddenly said It seemed very bad luck for him to venture forth without it
Quickly he bent and kissed me, his mind already far away ”Farewell, then,” he said
Was this all? I kneas all it could be, but it see him turn and disappear down the steps, a swirl of cloak
I clung to the sharp edge ofunable to s in e on the horizon The shi+ps were co Octavian's fleet was on its way, under oars rather than sail
So this, un it And it is fitting Ten is a nuic, perhaps, as seven or three or twelve, but it will do well enough to contain ers, there are ten lunar yptian week Isis at Philae visits Osiris on his island every ten days And all men revere the nu with everything else, provision is made for thee, scroll, and all thy brothers I will fill thee up until my hand can write no more And if it chance that all this is silly and premature, why, then there may be twenty scrolls someday, as my life continues to unfold--not stopped on a hot, still day
The hours crept by The water clock dripped The shadowlessness of noon gave way to the slanting pools of darkness that grow out of buildings, stones, trees And I sat, waiting, alternately writing this and gripping the arms of my chair
Mardian joined me It is not true that another person can distract you Waiting together made it worse At one point he reached over and took my hand in his It felt different
”Why, Mardian,” I said, ”you have taken off your rings” He was never without them, his emerald and lapis beauties
”Perhaps it isaway all that which cannot help me now, and Pll be cursed if I allow it to help another!”
Mardian had no family, no one to leave it to And no one tobut that, is--whatever those things would be But they would never let him do so, and he would suffer punishment as if he were of my own family
”Mardian,” I finally said, ”we have talked of ave you instructions to carry out--afterward I see no unthinking that was Not because you are unreliable, but because I provided a refuge for everyone but you Forget about the instructions and conal”
”Come--where ?”
”With me, Charmian, and Iras We are resolved upon our course of action I need not describe it; I aainst You are welcome to join our circle I ae I can offer The only one that is unanswerable to Octavian”
”I see” His voice was sad Had he expected that I had come up with some other, miraculous solution? Or surely he had not believed that I had just meekly accepted Olyravely
”No,” I said ”Olympos does not control all the keys that can unlock the secret house of death Although he would like to!”
Olyo and carry out o to Rome and observe the Triumph! Yes, he would have entire freedom
”Thank you for your invitation,” Mardian said, as if I had invited him to a fine banquet And, in a way, I had ”If necessary, I will accept But perhaps it will not be necessary The city is well prepared, and the troops fairly evenly matched Lord Antony seemed in his old form, and--”
”Yes He has come back to himself” But even his old self had lost battles
Dusk had come, a deep, rich purple one--as intense as the noon it followed The tender violet seemed to well up froht the Alexandrians would have reveled in, holding dinners and lectures and debates, all flavored with i evening there was no stirring in the streets
Servants ca I had dismissed the freedmen and sent them home Now only slaves and very loyal attendants stayed on Gone were the hordes of attendants who low of the lit oil made yellow halos in the chaates We both stood and clasped hands Whatever it was, thebreaths
More noise, the sound of horses and ar torches in their hands showed the riders to be-- Ro and flushed, juy
Then I saw, bareheaded, Eros He heeling his horse in circles, drawing arcs with his torch
”Eros!” I cried, and then I saw Antony behind him
He looked up, and his face was exultant Without waiting, I grabbed Mardian's hand and together we rushed down the steps and out into the courtyard, into thehorsemen
”My Queen!” cried Antony, as we reached hi me all the while I was suspended in the air while his lips clamped down on mine and barely let me breathe
”We've done it!” he cried, as he helped me into the saddle in front of hiet onto their horses--routed the back to Octavian!” He laughed, and kissed ain ”You should have heard them yell! Like scalded cats!”
Canidius had pulled Mardian up onto his horse, and noe s us limp The death instructions receded, seemed an obscene dream
”Come! A feast! A feast!” Antony cried to his ed, my love?”
”The kitchens are as ready as need be,” I assured hih to rejoice us but not impair us for the ht, anything”
Details followed Of how they had streaalloped down the road sorove of Nes of a ca set up The trenches had been started and the streets outlined, but nothing else Thewith their horses, and scarcely had ti down on theth to counter the attack A nu in all directions
”Some of them even rode out into the sea!” said Antony ”As if they expected Poseidon to rescue the cup, and he sed a draught of wine ”Ah And here is the bravest soldier of all--ht into theirhis own person”
I looked up to see a burly younghis armor--stained leather cuirass and battered helmet tucked under his arm Antony had swept everyone in for the feast dressed as they were
Celsus bowed stiffly ”It was my pleasure and duty”
”He is too modest,” said Antony ”The truth is, he was the very hand of Mars I would be content--no, proud--if any of my sons made such a soldier”
”It seeear,” I said ”We will make your reward useful as well as profitable” I nodded to one of old armor that was old Polemo's--it shall be yours” The storehouse of military treasure was not heaped in the htly