Tomb of the Lost (10 page)

“
Guards,
”
he called.

The door opened instantly.

“
Escort the Queen to her bedroom.
”

Eight guards waited for her in the corridor.

She was about to leave then she suddenly reached up and kissed him on the cheek.

“
Until the morning then,
”
she said.

She joined the guards in the corridor and they closed in around her as the door closed. Their footsteps receded into the distance. Caesar reached up and touched his cheek where she
’
d kissed it. He brought his fingertips in front of his face and looked at them. Then he looked at the door from where she
’
d left moments before.

“
I think I
’
m beginning to fall in love with her,
”
he said to the night.

CHAPTER FOUR

“
It is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.
”

Julius Caesar was standing in front of the spectacular tomb of Alexander the great. They were in a room bigger than his entire house in Rome. Its walls were decorated with the very finest paintings, scenes depicting the great Alexander
’
s life. The room was lit by hundreds of torches. The fumes from which escaped by a series of chimneys. It was almost as light as daylight.

Caesar paused for a moment in front of a painting of the battle of Issus. The detail was fantastic. Here Alexander on his favourite horse
’
Bucephalus
’
runs through a Persian officer as Darius only a hairs breadth away looks on from his chariot.

“
I like this,
”
Caesar said.

As soon as he had seen it he had decided he would, on his return to Rome, have a room in his house painted just like it.

’
My wife Calpurnia will understand
’
he said to himself.

Now he focused on what he
’
d come to see. Standing on a magnificent plinth with steps leading up on all four sides was the sarcophagus of Alexander the great. The base was cut from the finest marble, intricately carved. The four corners facing each other were Babylonian lions, once again carefully crafted in exquisite detail. Between them the sides were of the best quality Phoenician glass. The lid was marble, the carvings on it showing scenes of Greek warriors, heroes and Gods. The sarcophagus towered four feet above them and was twice the length of a man.

Inside were the finest quilts and cushions of silk. On them lay Alexander himself. He lay on his back. At his feet, which were together and pointing upwards, lay his shield and helmet. His boots were gold, so was his robe and the mask that covered his face. His arms were folded across his chest, his hands held his sword close to his body.

Cleopatra sat down on a stool while Caesar climbed the steps in front of her, his back to her, and peered inside at Alexander. Cleopatra had seen the sarcophagus many times.

“
It has been kept in perfect condition,
”
the Roman said,
“
It
’
s keepers are to be congratulated. It
’
s as if he was buried only this morning.
”

“
The tomb has not been opened since the day it was sealed nearly three

hundred years ago.
”

Caesar turned to look at her open mouthed. She was wearing a sheer sky blue dress today which revealed much of her cleavage. She wore a simple head dress of black and gold squares. He took his eyes off her chest to look at her face.

“
How is this possible? To keep him preserved I mean.
”

“
When the tomb was made and Alexander laid to rest inside its designers used bellows in those holes you can see that have been plugged. The bellows created a vacuum leaving absolutely no air to allow the corpse to deteriorate.

Caesar turned back to look at the body of his hero.

“
Ingenious.
”

“
Of course Alexander also had the best embalmers Egypt had to offer to attend him.
”

Caesar turned back to her.

“
Yes of course. Only the best.
”

“
Would you like me to continue the story Caesar? About Alexander and my ancestors and my family.
”

He smiled.

’
She looks so beautiful today
’

“
Please Do,
”
he said turning back to the sarcophagus.

Cleopatra began telling the story that she loved to tell. The story her father had told her time and time again. She could remember it word for word.

“
Alexander could not have imagined the city Alexandria would become. From his marking the city out with rocks, sticks and string to the commercial port and chief trading city of the Mediterranean. Jewish immigrants arrived in their droves, traders from Africa, Arabia and as far away as India. Alexander would never again see the great city he founded. Did you know he founded over twenty Alexandria
’
s throughout his world.
”

Caesar nodded.

“
Ptolemy brought him back here, eleven years later, after he died in Babylon. It was the proudest day in the history of this city. Everyone attended the funeral procession. From the richest noble to the lowliest peasant. Everyone wanted to see him, some for their first, others for the last time. The Pharaoh had returned. Though now Egypt was without a ruler. Ptolemy! Alexander
’
s general was welcomed as a hero. There were many days of mourning. When it finished Ptolemy gave huge amounts of gold and money to the city, Persian gold. And it was all spent on Alexandria. Palaces, temples,

baths and monuments were built Caesar. Egypt became once again the richest country in the world. Not since Ramses the great did we have so much wealth. I think this is why Rome is so interested in Egypt is it not?
”

“
You couldn
’
t be farther from the truth,
”
Julius lied.

“
Mighty Rome built on Egypt
’
s gold.
”

Caesar ignored this comment. He continued staring through the glass at the man on the bed, wishing he was like him, was him. He suddenly felt a great sadness come over him.

“
We have a line of unbroken Kings descended from one Macedonian. From the first Ptolemy to my father Ptolemy Auletes. Twelve Ptolemies and now my brother, the thirteenth. My father died three years ago. It was he not Pompey who kept Egypt her independence. Do you know how much gold he had to pay Rome as a tribute just to keep his throne, even after his exile.?
”

“
Considerable!
”

“
Yes considerable amounts, but you Caesar, you supported my father did you not?
”

Julius turned to face her again.

“
Ten years ago when I was in Gaul, as a consul, I restored your father to his throne. I grieve his passing.
”

“
Or grieve the money he promised you.
”

“
It
’
s not about the money Cleopatra. It never was.
”

“
For Pompey it was. Did he not send Gabinius of Syria to collect his share. But Gabinius did not collect did he? So his soldiers deserted didn
’
t they. They married locals, became mercenaries.
”

“
Yes.
”

“
Are those the men that Pompey came looking for?
”

“
Yes.
”

“
To fight you with?
”

“
Yes.
”

“
But you would have beaten them.
”

“
Possibly. I hoped to reconcile with Pompey.
”

“
They thought killing him would please you didn
’
t they? But it didn
’
t did it?
”

“
No.
”

“
To be like Alexander would please you wouldn
’
t it?
”

Julius turned back to the gold clad figure. When he turned to Cleopatra again tears were running down his cheeks.

“
Why do you weep?
”
she asked, surprised at his show of emotion.

“
I have wasted my life.
”

She got up and approached him.

“
You have achieved much Caesar. You can achieve more, as much as the great Alexander.
”

“
I am fifty two. He was thirty two when he conquered the whole world.
”

“
You have years left.
”

“
He failed at thirty two.
”

Cleopatra now hoped her timing was right.

“
What about us?
”

He looked at her, open mouthed.

“
Us?
”

She took his hand in both of hers.

“
Yes. Us. You and I together Caesar, ruling Egypt, the Roman world, the Mediterranean.

He threw his head back and laughed.

“
Young lady may I remind you that just yesterday your entire life
’
s assets consisted of a rolled up carpet and a servant called Apollodorus.
”

He came in close and spoke to her like a man would a child.

“
You have no throne, no wealth, no army.
”

“
But you do. Oh Caesar,
”
she said resting her head on his chest,
“
Make me sole ruler of Egypt and you will have her gold.
”

“
I
’
m afraid not. As I said before I am to be arbiter between you and your brother. I can only side with you if he acts against me.
”

“
Then let us hope he does.
”

“
And as for Egypt
’
s gold I can take that whenever I want.
”

“
For you or for Rome?
”

“
For Rome of course.
”

“
And you Caesar? What about you? What do you want? What would you take of Egypt?
”

He looked down at her, lifting her chin with his hand to look into her eyes.

“
Maybe her Queen.
”

He kissed her hard on the mouth. She melted into his arms. Her breasts in the thin material pressed against his leather breastplate. Her tongue darting into his mouth stirred him considerably. The kiss was long and passionate. There was a polite cough from behind. Caesar pulled his mouth away and kissed her forehead, his eyes closed.

“
I said I wasn
’
t to be disturbed.
”

“
I
’
m sorry Caesar. But the Egyptian army has reached the outskirts of the city.
”

“
I have to go,
”
Julius said to Cleopatra.

She nodded. He kissed her once more on the mouth. She held his hand as long as she could as he moved away. Dolabella waited patiently at the door. Caesar turned back to her.

“
I will grant you your wish my love,
”
he said.

Then he turned and was gone.

CHAPTER FIVE

Julius Caesar, his Generals and most senior officers were crowded around the wooden model of Alexandria. Cleopatra sat some distance away with her one maid, Iras, that Julius had permitted her to have in the room. It was late evening.

“
At the moment Caesar,
”
Germanicus was saying,
“
We control the three gates here. The sun, the moon and the Star,
”
he pointed to each one in turn,
“
The fourth gate is controlled by the Alexandrians and it is this gate only that their people can come and go by.
”