Part 128 (2/2)
Proculeius Antony had said to trust him But why?
”I have heard you spoken of,” I said cautiously
”In what manner?”
”That you are trustworthy” But I was not sure of that; Antony often trusted where he should not
”For that, I thank you”
”If you are trustworthy, then relay to your master, for one last tiypt on my children-- Caesarion or Alexander as it pleases hi done, the treasure is his, yes, and my person, too, to transport where he will”
I did not mean this, for I would never walk in Arsinoe's footsteps But the treasure--ah! the treasure--he could have in exchange for my children's lives and inheritance He could make do with a statue of my person for his procession
”He only wishes you well,” Proculeius insisted
”He wishes my treasure well, that is all,” I said ”Tell him what he must do to obtain it, and that I will not be dissuaded”
”Trust hienerous and kind he, can be Only grant hirows late,” I said ”Take e Or, by all that's holy, such a fire will fill the night skies fro treasure that Octavian will not need a la the sword The sword that I longed to open the doors for, reach out and grab
”Well,” said Mardian ”That was quite a performance”
I sank down on the cool floor ”Oh, Mardian It is hopeless Whatever assurances he gives me, I can never believe theardless of any e from Octavian, I am bound to destroy all this, and myself as well”
I had failed; failed to secure even the promise of the throne for my children, and all I could do noas destroy the treasure in spite I longed to do it; end it all now My s had flown I had no desire to live on, to see even another sunrise over this soiled world
”But if Octavian came in person, would you believe hi He would say what is necessary to lay hands on the treasure I would do the same myself I understand him, as he understands me” As the noble Antony had never really understood either of us, being made of different, and finer, material ”No, there is no re in row dark outside We lit la with fruit and wine We could hold out in here a long ti shadows, I looked up the steps, half hoping, expecting, to see Antony lurch down them Himself, or his shade?
Mardian saw o up there”
”Only for a moment--”
”Not in the darkness Not now”
A co on the door I rose and went to it A new face was pressed against the grille Flaring torches illuminated it
”I would speak to the Queen!” he cried
”Who would?” I demanded
”Cornelius Gallus,” he replied
Gallus The poetry-writing commander who had taken over in Cyrenaica, after Scarpus's troops had deserted So they had sent a general this tiht your verses? Have you written so the fall of Alexandria?”
”Put up your spite, lady,” he said ”I coentle friend and yours, offers his hand in bond of brotherhood”
”He may be your friend, but he is nothi was said, nothing offered Just words Words to lull and delude me
And thenand nowHow it happened, and happened so fast, I cannot reconstruct I was talking, speaking through the grilleI heard the honeyed words, detected the poison beneath theo away My feet ache And then, a clatter from above From where Antony is
Crazy with excitement, I turn, cry, I knew you would come backI knew you would co for hiain, come back to life, seek er even than death itself? Or is it just the rips us in the wake of final, absolute death?
So down the stairs, his face and forrabs one of my arms
This is not Antony's touch So--I ht that floats through my mind: Pity it cannot be the snakes, no time for the snakes, only the knife Pity it cannot be the snakes, no time for the snakes, only the knife And I am sad about it And I am sad about it I have failed here, too I have failed here, too
A hard hand wrenches it away froer clatter on the floor, hear a harsh intake of breath
Then, ”What else is there?” And I a shaken so hard own smacked and felt ”No poison, then”
Never has anyone laid such rough hands on me, treated me so
”I have her!” he shouts ”It is safe now!”
Twoback the bolts, sliding the, s inside
Proculeius The one Antony told ain
”Yes, very clever, Proculeius,” I said He continued to hold me, and Gallus stared, wide-eyed
Only then was I aware that I was still half naked; the whole upper part of arment I had torn off to cover Antony And my skin was all smeared with dried blood, Antony's lifeblood
”O piteous sight!” Gallus said ”So this is the fatale monstrum, fatale monstrum, before whom Rome quaked?” before whoht in her, sir, do not be deceived I disarer just in time, and shook her to be assured there is no poison on her person”
”Well done,” Gallus said He reed it off I did not want anything of his to touchmy orders” He did not sound joyous ”Unhand her, Proculeius”
I felt him release me ”So you deceived me ords at one door while you stole in upstairs?” They must have seen where Antony had been taken in Perhaps there were even telltale smears of blood on the wall Now they had bes in his wake
”We only sought to prevent you har yourself, in your present state of mind,” Proculeius said ”It was Octavian's concern for you”
”Concern for the treasure, you ht as well see it,” I said ”Come, look”
I led them aroynd to where it was heaped They followed close onthereat credit for wiliness