Tomb of the Lost (25 page)

“
It must be true sir,
”
Marcellus said,
“
Our source is not usually wrong about such a matter.
”

“
It is true,
”
Caesar held up a scroll,
“
Queen Cleopatra was sent this in an attempt to win her away from our side. She dismissed it and sent it to me.
”

“
Can I ask what it says sir,
”
from Dolabella.

“
I
’
ll read it. Just the facts. Not word for word.
”

Julius opened the scroll and began.

“
Basically it states that Arsinoe along with her servant Ganymedes, I believe he may have been or is her teacher, escaped from Roman confinement and quickly sought out the forces of Achillas. Once with the army of Achillas she was almost instantly hailed as the Queen of Egypt. She then almost repeatedly quarrelled with Achillas over his leadership of the Alexandrian army. Unable to oust him willingly she then bought his soldiers with promises of gold and had him assassinated. She then installed Ganymedes as his successor and her representative in the war against Rome. Ganymedes is now General in chief of the Alexandrian army.
”

“
Is Ganymedes a capable General sir?
”

“
We don
’
t know certainly, not for sure. But then of course Achillas was. Arsinoe? Unlikely because of her youth but I must stress that we should not, for one minute, underestimate her intelligence.
”

Lucius rushed up to Caesar and whispered into his ear. Caesar listened, thanked and dismissed him. Julius looked at his expectant officers.

“
It seems gentlemen that our fire has spread.
”

There was the sound of raised voices from outside the door and then a female shriek. All attention turned to the door.

“
Marcellus!
”
Caesar gestured towards the commotion.

Marcellus strode to the door and ripped it open. Now they all heard and recognised Cleopatra
’
s voice. Under Marcellus
’
orders the guards moved out of the way and allowed the young Queen entry. Apollodorus attempted to follow but the guards stopped him.

“
The Queen only,
”
Marcellus said.

Apollodorus craned his neck for as long as he could see before the door closed on him.

It was the most beautiful Caesar had ever seen the Queen. All conversation in the room had ceased. Each man watched in awe as Cleopatra gracefully approached them. Julius, expecting trouble, stepped around his desk and sat down. Cleopatra strode through the generals, who moved out of her way, and stopped at the desk. Caesar was rummaging through sheets of papyrus ignoring her. Irritated by his attitude she placed her fists on his desktop and leaned her face in close. Finally he could ignore her no more and he looked up.

“
Yes Cleopatra what is it?
”

“
Do you smell burning?
”

“
Yes Cleopatra I can,
”
he replied without looking up. He continued to read a sheet of papyrus.

She waited, speechless. He still hadn
’
t looked at her.

“
Well what do you have to say for yourself?
”

“
Can we do this some other time Cleopatra,
”
he said leafing through more sheets and choosing one to read. She suddenly reached out, snatched it from him and bunched it in her fist and shook it under his nose.

“
How dare you set fire to my city!
”

Dolabella came forward to restrain her but Caesar shook his head. The general stopped. Cleopatra was shaking with rage. Caesar pushed himself away from the desk, stood up and flexed his legs.

“
Gentlemen if you could all wait outside please, only for a minute, this won
’
t take long.
”

He waited until they
’
d left and then moved forward to embrace her but she put her hands out and pushed him away.

“
No! Not until you tell me why.
”

He sighed, walked over to the window and looked out across the city at the fires burning from rooftops.

“
It was necessary to set fire to my fleet. I couldn
’
t defend so many ships with so few men and I couldn
’
t afford them to fall into Achillas
’
hands.
”

“
Achillas is dead.
”

“
How did you know that?
”

“
Do not presume Caesar that you
’
re the only one in the palace with spies.
”

“
No of course not.
”

“
If your men set fire to your ships which were in the water then please kindly explain why my city is burning.
”

“
My flagship had the tallest mast and it fell into the street near a warehouse of oil and some of the oil exploded thus spreading the fire.
”

“
And set fire to certain public buildings.
”

“
Yes I
’
m very sorry.
”

“
One of which is the great library.
”

“
I know. My officers are currently trying to organise fire fighters from the prisoners we
’
ve taken.
”

“
Oh I see,
”
she said placing her hands on her hips,
“
Your men can start fires but they can
’
t put them out.
”

“
We
’
re doing everything we can.
”

“
I would beg to differ. Do you know what the loss to scholarship would be if it were to burn down?
”

“
Like I said, I
’
m sorry Cleopatra
…
.
”
he said trying to put his arms around her again.

She put her hand up to her mouth and fled from him straight to the nearest basin. She was very sick. Caesar watched her as she was bent over the basin retching. He filled a clean cup with water and took it to her. She took the cup and sipped from it.

“
Are you sick Cleopatra?
”
he asked moving her hair away from her face.

She sipped some more water.

“
Are you ill?
”
he asked again, genuinely concerned,
“
Or is it the smoke that
’
s making you sick?
”

She wiped her hand across her mouth and shook her head.

“
No! I
’
m pregnant.
”

This took him completely by surprise.

“
Pregnant?
”

“
Yes pregnant.
”

She put an unsteady hand out to pull herself up and he grabbed her under the arm and helped her up. He looked at her flat stomach. It wasn
’
t showing.

“
Are you sure?
”

“
We
’
ve done all the tests, there is no mistaking it.
”

“
How long?
”

“
Our first night together.
”

He moved away from her, the realisation sinking in.

“
The baby
’
s mine.
”

She ran at him and pounded her fists against his chest angrily.

“
You stupid ignorant man! Of course it
’
s yours!
”

He grabbed her wrists.

“
Cleopatra I
…
.I don
’
t know what to say.
”

“
There is not much to say. I
’
m having your child.
”

She moved away from him again and sat on a stool.

“
I pray to the gods Caesar that we have a son, you and I. A son to rule over your world once you are gone.
”

He rushed over to her and went down on one knee and clasped her hand in his.

“
I will pray for that also. I will sacrifice each day until we get what we want.
”

“
Will you also give me what I want?
”

“
Anything you name.
”

She leaned over and whispered in his ear.

“
Of course my love.
”

They kissed long and hard and didn
’
t break apart when the door opened.

“
I
’
m sorry to interrupt you Caesar,
”
they heard Dolabella say.

Slowly they turned to him.

“
You asked me to tell you if there was imminent danger. We believe there is sir.
”

“
Thank you Dolabella. I
’
ll be with you in a moment.
”

To Cleopatra he said.

“
I
’
m sorry my love but I must attend to this.
”

He got up, his head held high, his emotions mixed.

’
I
’
m going to be a father again,
’
he thought. He almost burst out laughing. Then Dolabella
’
s words echoed in his brain,
’
Imminent danger
’
and the smile vanished from his lips.

At the door he turned.

“
I do love you,
”
he said.

In response she blew him a kiss. Then he was gone and the corridor was empty.

Julius Caesar, dictator or Rome, stood at the top of the lighthouse of Alexandria, Egypt and gazed out, horrified, over the burning city.

“
Mars, God of war, what have I done?
”
He asked the night sky.

Hot embers rose into the air with the choking black smoke from a hundred fires, a thousand. To the west he could see a stream of people leaving the city, the roads choked with refugees. In the harbour all ships had been moved to a safe distance. Across to the east he could see smouldering ruins. Caesar looked again at the night sky.

“
Jupiter I pray this city survives.
”

Dolabella joined him on the terrace.

“
How bad is it?
”

“
The news is good sir in some ways. The fires have stopped spreading east. The royal palace should remain untouched thanks to the fact that we pulled down buildings earlier in the fighting which have acted as a fire break.
”

“
Queen Cleopatra is safe?
”
he asked,
’
Please, gods, don
’
t let anything happen to her.
’

“
Yes. She is safe.
”

“
My child is safe.
”
Thank the gods!

“
The library on the other hand is certain to be destroyed. It
’
s blazing out of control, helped by five hundred thousand scrolls.
”

“
It will be a great loss to mankind.
”

Their eyes met.

“
And Alexander?
”

“
In immense danger.
”

Julius watched as the roof of a building collapsed, sending sparks a hundred feet into the air.

“
Then we have little choice. Move the tomb.
”

“
Yes Sir. What will Cleopatra say?
”

Julius smiled at the burning city.

“
She will have enough to worry about.
”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The rider brought his horse to a stop at the top of the dune. It was near midday and the April temperatures were beginning to climb. He had been travelling for six weeks. Six weeks of following a road which sometimes wasn
’
t even there at all due to the shifting sands of the Sahara.

It had been three days since he
’
d left the last signs of life. The small oasis in the desert. There he had found fresh water, an abundance of fresh fruit and most importantly, warm hospitality. There he had discovered from the locals that just one week before men dressed like him with the same weapons had stopped by for water and provisions. He had quizzed them with signs in the sand. Neither of them able to understand the other
’
s language.