Tomb of the Lost (19 page)

“
Wait!
”
Falco shouted.

They stopped. He went over to them and dipped his hand into the water which was sloshing from side to side and brought it up to his mouth and tasted it. It was salty. He spat the water out, not concerned that it splashed their feet.

“
Where did you draw this water from?
”
he asked.

Neither of them spoke Latin so they both looked at him puzzled for a moment. Then one of them said something to the other and dipped the ladle into the water and offered it to him. Falco shook his head.

“
No! Where?
”
he pointed at the water then gestured with his arms,
“
Where?
”

The other servant now understood. He pointed across the courtyard, then motioned with his hands a right turn, then a left and then drew a fountain in the air.

“
Show me!
”

Once again there were blank looks so the huge centurion placed his hand on the mans shoulder, turned him around and pushed him forward.

“
Show me!
”

This time he understood and he took Falco to the fountain.

“
What do you think is happening?
”
Gaius asked.

“
I don
’
t know,
”
Marcus Iunius still massaging his wrist answered,
“
But if it was a practical joke I wouldn
’
t want to be the bloke who did it. Did you see the look on Falco
’
s face.
”

“
Better shut up,
”
one of the others said,
“
He
’
s coming back.
”

Falco went straight to Lucius Scato. The two men were in deep conversation.

“
Can anyone hear what
’
s being said?
”

“
No. They
’
re too far away. Look at how close they
’
re standing. Must be so no one can overhear. Falco hates anyone to be close to him.
”

“
Apart from when he
’
s shouting at you then he
’
s right in your face,
”
someone said.

The legionaries were starting to group together. One soldier came over to Falco
’
s group.

“
Hey Marcus Iunius what
’
s going on?
”

“
Publius! We don
’
t know. Not yet at least.
”

“
Did your water taste of salt?
”

“
Yes. Yours?
”

“
Yes. At first we thought it was a joke.
”

“
Us too.
”

“
Here you don
’
t think it was sabotage do you?
”

“
I
’
m not sure.
”

“
It can
’
t be the palace servants can it?
”

“
No. They wouldn
’
t have the balls.
”

Another officer rushed up to Scato and Falco.

“
I guess we
’
re about to find out,
”
Publius said.

This new officer spoke to Scato and not being careful with his voice the legionaries nearby overheard.

“
Did you hear that. All the fountains are contaminated,
”
one said.

“
Does that mean we have no fresh water?
”
another asked.

“
I hope not because we won
’
t last long trapped in here.
”

“
Keep your voices down!
”
a nearby centurion shouted.

“
But sir you heard what was being said.
”

“
Yes I did but until we know for sure there is no need to spread panic.
”

“
Well there is nothing else I can do,
”
Scato said,
“
I
’
m going to have to tell Sejanus and he
’
s going to have to tell Caesar.
”

“
Caesar will have to sort it out. We can
’
t go on without water,
”
someone shouted.

“
WHO SAID THAT?
”
Falco roared.

No one came forward.

“
It is true sir,
”
Marcus Iunius said,
“
We can
’
t go on.
”

“
Do you stand alone here Iunius?
”
Scato asked.

There was a long pause. Then others of Iunius
’
group stepped forward.

“
I
’
m with Marcus. We can
’
t go on without water sir.
”

They looked at Gaius Domitius. Slowly he got to his feet. He stepped forward and swallowed hard. It was the bravest thing he
’
d ever done. Falco stared at him. Gaius couldn
’
t hold the big man
’
s gaze. At one point he looked up and Falco half smiled and nodded slowly to him. Then he swung around and in his deep voice, he bellowed.

“
Who else among you refuses to carry on without water to drink?
”

Slowly legionaries began rising. Falco and Scato looked out over a sea of heads. Now everyone was standing.

Marcus Sejanus suddenly appeared alongside his two officers. The noise of shouting voices had woken him though he hadn
’
t slept long. He was now rubbing his stiff neck.

“
What
’
s going on?
”
he asked.

Falco and Scato turned to face him.

“
Sir I think we have a problem.
”

Julius Caesar, Germanicus and his honour guard marched along the corridor from his bedroom. They turned the corner. At the end was Cleopatra
’
s bedroom. The Egyptian guards stiffened when they saw the Roman party approaching. Apollodorus was with them and he took a step forward ready to greet the Roman General. Caesar
’
s face remained as it was despite the excitement he felt at seeing the young Queen again. He almost smiled when he first realised that Apollodorus was waiting for him.

‘
I like this man,
’
he said to himself.

The Roman party stopped five paces away.

“
Good evening Caesar,
”
Apollodorus said with a bow.

“
Good evening. Queen Cleopatra sent for me.
”

“
That was yesterday Caesar.
”

“
I
’
ve been busy. Now I need to speak to her about an important matter.
”

“
I
’
m afraid the Queen may not be disturbed.
”

Julius puffed his chest out.

“
I beg your pardon.
”

Apollodorus knew that his Latin was near perfect.

“
I
’
m sorry Caesar did I not say it clearly. Queen Cleopatra is not to be disturbed.
”

Caesar
’
s fists were by his sides and he clenched them, trying hard not to lose his temper.

“
May I be permitted to know why?
”

“
She is taking a bath.
”

“
Taking a bath
…
.
”
Julius nodded to his guards,
“
Cease him.
”

They rushed Apollodorus and grabbed his arms.

“
Don
’
t hurt him. Don
’
t struggle Apollodorus. I
’
m sorry that this was necessary. But it was obvious that you weren
’
t going to grant me access.
”

Apollodorus struggled against the iron hands holding him.

“
I was just doing my job Caesar.
”

“
As you always do and well.
”

Julius looked at the two Egyptian guards in their white kilts with their spears. They were both a head taller than the Roman. He put his hand on one of the large door handles and pushed the door open a notch.

“
Gentlemen if you
’
ll permit me?
”

The two guards moved silently out of the way. He turned to his own guards still holding Apollodorus.

“
You may release him. I won
’
t keep your Queen for long Apollodorus.
”

The door closed with a quiet click. Once inside he realised he was in a long hall with rooms branching off on both sides. The walls were covered in Egyptian art. A statue of the Pharaoh Ramses the great dominated the centre of the floor. Large terracotta pots were placed at intervals. Caesar walked over to the statue and stood for a moment gazing up at it. Then the sound of laughter came to him and he went off in pursuit of it. Through another door Caesar stopped behind see through curtains. He could see people moving and sitting and talking and laughing and the sound of someone playing a stringed instrument. The sound of running water was near. On a couch two women were kissing, their tongues touching, their hands caressing, exploring each other
’
s oiled bodies. One of them threw her head back as her neck was now being kissed, her long dark hair hanging down over her shoulder. She rolled her head towards him as a little shudder went through her. Then she opened her eyes and saw him and a small smile spread across her lips. She opened her mouth and touched her teeth with her tongue which he found very erotic. She whispered something and now the other was looking at him. Their cheeks pressed together. Both were seducing him with their eyes and he imagined them on him, loving each other. After a few more moments they giggled and turned their attention back to each other again. Caesar shook his head vigorously to clear his thoughts. He stepped through the light blue curtains and a female servant, wearing very little, and carrying a tray with little cups on it, gasped when she saw him. Others heard the gasp and now he was in full view of them all. They stopped what they were doing to stare at him. The eunuch playing the lyre stopped.

Cleopatra was in her large, circular bath, laying on a sunken seat with only her head above the water which was covered in floating, pink rose petals. Her eyes were closed. She was dozing in the hot water.

“
Mardian why do you stop?
”

“
There is a man in the room highness.
”

“
Men are not allowed in my bathroom,
”
she replied, the heat of the water sapping her strength,
“
You know the rules.
”

“
I don
’
t think this one cares my queen.
”

She opened her eyes. The light was bright. The man in front of her in silhouette. She shielded her eyes with her hand. Now she could see the expensive red tunic, luxury boots, gold breastplate, ivory handled sword at the hip.

“
Oh it
’
s you Caesar.
”

“
Yes.
”

“
Didn
’
t Apollodorus stop you?
”

“
He tried.
”

“
Well clearly not hard enough. I must speak to him.
”

Julius was growing impatient. He planted his fists on his hips.

“
How is the water?
”

She raised a shapely leg out of the water and ran her fingers up it, from the ankle to the knee.

“
Lovely,
”
she replied blissfully.

“
Good,
”
he said,
“
I
’
m pleased. I can now return to my men and tell them that while they fight a war to reinstate Cleopatra as queen of Egypt and have nothing to drink the queen at least can bathe in luxury.
”

“
What are you talking about Caesar?
”
she asked, her eyes closed again, irritation in her voice,
“
have your men thought about going to the wells for water?
”
she asked sarcastically.