Part 127 (1/2)

”If you would keep ht before Think you not that at this verydeath preparations? It e of Alexander It lies in your power!”

”Whatever lies in my bodily power, you can rely on me to perform,” he said ”But the Gods--”

daht We will defy them!

Antony closed his eyes and lay still, his ar In the diers curled the way they are at rest, a graceful half-circle His breathing was not as deep as true sleep, but he was drowsing lightly

As I lay there I heard faint strains of ? The pall of unnatural quiet, so un-Alexandrian, had persisted until now

As I listened, I heard it again, more distinctly now There were pipes and tambourines It sounded like a distant procession But ould parade through the streets tonight?

I slipped out from under Antony's arm and stole across the cool ht in the roo The city lay still and waiting in all directions; few torches were burning anywhere, and only the whiteness of the stone served to light the whole

The sea shone back, reflecting the starlight and e just beyond the breakwaters Froination that the sky was faintly red froain Louder now, distinct, co froe co the pipes, the drue on the other side, going eastward, and I would see the as if it were directly underground, passing under the palace itself, a noisy coh the sound passed by, and noas on the other side of the Canopic Way, I still could see nothing I opened the doors of the terrace and stepped out, straining to see down the wide marble street, which wasempty Yet filled with sound, a sound suddenly, horribly, faht my father died

It was Dionysus, Dionysus acco us Leaving Antony!

The noise was growing fainter now, and it was passing out of the city gate, out of the Gate of Canopus, toward the east

Antony's God had deserted him, as he had deserted ly leave-taking

My heart was pounding, and I clung to the rail Without his God, without Dionysus, he was lost

That coward of a God! I hated hiood is a God who deserts you in your last hour? He does not deserve to be a God, he is lower than Plancus, than titius, than Dellius!

O, would that the house of Ptolemy had never trafficked with Dionysus!

Had Antony heard it? I rushed back to the bed and climbed in He seemed to be still asleep That was merciful I lay down beside hiht

But you, Isis, will never desert your daughter You are the supreme Goddess, able to deliver I must trust in you Even now Especially now

Chapter 85

He came awake easily--if he had ever been asleep It was still alo on forever, end forever--his feet down over the bed and shook his head ”I had strange dreams--such dreams as it were better I had stayed awake I dreamedodd musicHe shook his head as if to clear it

”Think nohis clothes, and he clapped for Eros, who appeared in only ajust outside the door--or rather, staying For it was doubtful any of us had slept

Had Eros heard it, the leave-taking? I could not ask, but frouessed that he had

Holding the bowl of heated water, Eros let Antony splash his own face and neck Then, very gently, he wiped the water away from his master's face

The clothes went back on: the undertunic of red wool, the heavy cuirass, the scarf to protect the sunburnt neck, the high-strapped sandals He fastened the sword on his right side, tucked the dagger in its proper place on his left The hot helmet would not be put on until he actually rode forth

Light had stolen bit by bit into the chamber, and now I drew back the curtains to ad, the two fleets riding on its boso each other

He stood there and we looked at one another across the expanse of floor Eros slipped out, disappearing into an adjoining cha motionless in his armor The proud head, head that had carried ers, stared mournfully at me I could not bear that look in his eyes, a look that said, Farewell, farewell, now all unwilling weweainst the hard metal of his armor Already he was beyondmy head back to kiss me I lifted my face to meet his and receive the kiss

”Good-bye, my love,” was all I could say

I kneould never see hiain

Quickly he turned and left the chalance

And so it was over Is over I wait now, , for the news I do not want to receive After he left, I dressed ed and played with them Mardian is here, and the others Olympos came I showed him the scrolls, where I had stored them He promised Then he kissed er had passed I told him there would be just this one scroll to add to the rest; I would have that with me, wherever I was He seemed to accept it; at least he asked no questions

One hy one they leave I am stripped bare like an athlete before a contest

Mardian touches my shoulder ”What is their battle plan?” he asks

”Publicola will command the shi+ps,” I say ”Antony will lead the cavalry, Canidius the infantry This tiive battle They have been enca in well enough to resist an attack” No second Actium

He shakes his head ”And we shall knowhow?”

”By the sound of the returning soldiers If the day is ours, the shout will be 'Anubis!' ”

”How fitting,” he says

High noon, but not as hot as yesterday The slight breeze cools us I aain on the ramparts, and I see the motionless fleets, still drawn up in battle lines Why does no onethe e down into the water, rise, shoot the shi+ps forward Our fleet is on its way out of the harbor, heading toward the breakwater, to confront Octavian's

The ene back They will lie in wait like a panther, let us coh to start firing stones and fireballs at them Why don't we? Fire! Loose a volley on them!

But they stream on, harmlessly InsteadI cannot believe my own eyesthey turn themselves broadside and salute Octavian's shi+ps! They raise their oars to signal nonaggression And nowa shout of careunion! The two fleets join in brotherhood Our navy, the survivors of Actium, and the new-built shi+ps, have joined the eneo I knew then that the day was lost Dionysus had laid us low Calmly (for as there to be wild about? it was over), I ordered the children to their hiding place, took my mantle and this scroll, and walked slowly to thea trunk, in which my royal robes and crown and scepter were laid This croas finer than the one I had sent Octavian, as he would doubtless note when he beheld it Another slave walked behind the trunk, carrying a large basket with a tightly fitting lid Now these had been deposited on the floor of the monuht here except what enters fro to proceed, in case I heard the miraculous word Anubis Anubis The story of the arardless of what happened at sea The story of the arardless of what happened at sea