Part 132 (1/2)
I handed the note to Dolabella, who read it carefully He nodded ”I shall do all that I can, my lady”
”It is important to me I cannot leave without it Surely he will not be so hard-hearted as to deny uard me all the while”
But not in thethe in They would not suspect the danger already inside, waiting
Let the basket still be there, in the shadohere it had been hidden!
”I will do rieve yourself over it It is I who have broughtYour kindness only makes it easier to bear” I reached out and touched his aro Do what I ask”
He nodded, then turned quickly and left
So little time I called my friends--for so they were, rather thanas to coe hiive me, friend!) ”What was it?” asked Mardian, his noritated Behind hih to infor me back to Ro and protesting! I begged the Gods And , just nodded
”We will make you ready,” said Charmian, and we all knehat sheby land, as he does not like the sea,” I said But I did Another sea journey for me, to another destiny This one I declined to take ”I may well arrive in Rome before him” If news truly traveled on the wind, then it was a certainty
”When is this to be?” asked Iras
”In three days' time,” I said I turned to Olympos ”I wish you to return to your wife now You are the only one of us with a fao there You have done all you can for me--see how I mend?”
”No, I must stay until that shi+p sets sail!” he insisted
”No,” I said ”Remember your task? It is imperative that you depart now Distance yourself from us while you can You already have the completed scrolls--all except this last, which I a, and will finish, before I am taken away Be sure to cos I rite instructions allowing it, which they will honor Then fulfill your promise To Philae, and Meroe In your own tirasped rip it hurt the bones ”I cannot just walk away, out of the palace, back to the Museion”
I looked deeply into his eyes, and tried to make my command clear ”You must” I paused ”It is over Do not failso si
”We mustit out”
He let go of , hawklike, at ave up, yielded, and he leaned forward and embraced me He kissed my cheek I felt his to be wet
”Farewell, my dearest,” he said ”I have preserved you safely to this hour Now--I ive you to the Gods”
He pulled away and walked resolutely to the door, his back tobeentoward this hour”
He lurched out of the roo between hiuards, but they had no orders to hold him, and had to let hione--forlorn feeling!--I gathered the re three around me
”Listen,” I whispered, to thwart any eavesdroppers ”We will carry out our plan tomorrow I have asked Octavian for permission to visit the mausoleum and perforarments, and partake of a funeral banquet, in privacy Do you understand? I will send for my crown and jewels, ask Octavian to lend them He will not refuse Then ill be ready toDepart and make our journey”
”To Rome?” asked Mardian, an ironic twist to his h to be heard, should anyone be listening
”Yes, ill go ether”
”Then let us begin our preparations,” said Iras
”Yes, you must help me select my clothes For the most important occasion of all”
Noas thankful that Octavian had sent so owns to these roo to occupyhours
Silently Char it hang free She had just finished folding all of them; the labor to be undone so soon The sorrow of it, part of the larger sorrow
How s had I draped myself for? Each of them had seemed pivotal at the time, each of them indeed important, but none had approached this
Rustles of silk, whispering in all the colors of the sun and the fields: white, prihthouse Each had brought joy to ht for--this I needed a singular gown in which to meet Isis at last
”There” There it was, never yet worn A green so pure that beside it eypt's fields, the fierce green of her crops under the sun, glowing under the eye of Re Green seeyptian of all colors: her Nile, her crocodiles, her papyrus And Wadjyt, the cobra Goddess of Lower Egypt, whose very nareen one”
”I shall wear this one” I reached out and took it from Charmian
The fine silk was soft in my hands The neckline was low, square Perfect That would allow for a wide gold collar, as in an old to
”And your hair, o under my royal headdress,” I said ”It reed
”Weoils and perfumes,” said Char rant whatever we ask,” I said ”Let us make the request now, so he has ti dark, and the enereeted hiood evening
”The supper is on its way,” he said ”I trust you will find it tasty”
”There is little I do not find agreeable,” I said ”My appetite is not finicky”
He waved the burning stick he used to light the lamps ”That makes it easy,” he said He paused ”As to your requests--I expect an answer soon”
”I realize the Imperator has lect this,” said Epaphroditus
The supper finished, the dishes re, silent In the last hours, there is no busywork to make time pass It was quite dark outside, and a brisk breeze co in the sof the water against the seawall The harbor was playing tonight, saying, Listen! I a! Take your boats, ride upon me! And perhaps the lovers, the friends, the children, all the free citizens of the city, would accept the invitation And perhaps the lovers, the friends, the children, all the free citizens of the city, would accept the invitation
Yes, the city was free It would endure And my children would take up the trust I left them, as I had taken my father's I had done all I could to ensure that Caesarionwhere was he? On his way to India?