CHAPTER 51

 

Between Marcus Licinius Crassus and Gaius Julius Caesar

65 BC Rome

 

‘What about the theft of the golden sarcophagus of Alexander the Great?’ asked Caesar provocatively ‘The first Ptolemy called Alexander was so impoverished he took it, melted it down into gold coins and replaced it with the present rock-crystal sarcophagus’

 

‘And there you have it!’ said Crassus scornfully ‘Truly, all these ridiculous stories! […] But where’s your common sense, Caesar? A transparent rock-crystal sarcophagus big enough to contain a human body –yes, yes, I am aware Alexander the Great was a tiny fellow! –would cost a dozen times what a solid-gold sarcophagus would cost. And take years to fashion once a big enough piece was found […] The priests of the Sema wanted the people to actually see Alexander the Great’

 

‘Ugh!’ said Caesar.

 

‘No, no they preserved him perfectly. I believe he’s quite as beautiful today as he was in life’ said Crassus, thoroughly carried away (1)

 

-o-o-o-

 

The King wasn’t sleeping, he had been talking and drinking with Kleitos and Krateros about their next plan of action. He didn’t call Hephaistion because he knew how much his best friend hated Krateros and also because he knew how tired Hephaistion was taking care of a sick Achilles.

 

- Tomorrow we will pass Mt Climax –said Kleitos, watching the rudimentary map they had in front of them on the table. How did the King to obtain it? He had no idea, but Alexander always managed to know what was ahead of them, no matter how difficult it seemed to gather information.

 

- According to the guide we are going to arrive to the Pamphylian plain –said Krateros before emptying his cup of un-water-wine in one gulp—We’ll encounter no opposition here, it would be like taking a nice walk through the country.

 

Alexander didn’t answer. He filled his cup again, his eyes on the map. Krateros was right, it would be a nice rest for the troops when they reach the Pamphylian plain, and it would also be warmer than here. He smiled thinking how the change of weather would make Achilles feel better. 

 

- Em…Excuse me…may I come in? –speaking about Achilles. The King heard his voice outside the tent, but what was he doing here at that hour?

 

- We should hurry to join forces with Parmelio again –said Kleitos when he saw Alexander standing up.

 

The King went to the tent’s entrance and found Achilles, or a cocoon with Achilles’ face, standing in front of his guards. Where was Hephaistion?

 

- What are you doing here, Aki? –said Alexander before his guards could say something.

 

Achilles lifted his head.

 

- Daddy sends me, he said he wants you to come to his tent –explained the boy before coughing again, and Alexander blinked in total confusion. Why Hephaistion didn’t sent Kyros or one of his guards?

 

- Come, it’s cold out here –Achilles entered, looking like a giant teddy bear with the oil lamp in his hand. Kleitos and Krateros saw him with curiosity. It had been weeks since he arrived but never ceased to amaze them how much he looked like the King.

 

Achilles saw the two tough men there and walked near his uncle.

 

- Joy to you! –he said in a sweet low voice. Neither man answered so Alexander had to clear his throat.

 

- Joy to you! –they answered like school boys.

 

- Did Phai say why he wants to see me? –asked Alexander. For one second he thought that maybe Hephaistion had a surprise for him. He smiled imaging a very sexy and naked Hephaistion, they hadn’t been together in weeks, and what better way of taking Achilles out of the tent that sending him to his tent?

 

- No…but 2 strange men came and attacked daddy –said Achilles, successfully catching their attention and erasing the King’s smile.  

 

- What? –Alexander took his sword and his cloak. Either Kleitos or Krateros had to make an effort to know where the King was going, they took their swords too and followed him, it could be dangerous.

 

Achilles had to run after his uncle to catch him on his way back to Hephaistion’s tent. His pages were behind the group with torches.

 

- Phai! –the King entered fearing the worst, but his inner cricket told him if Hephaistion were injured, then Achilles wouldn’t be so calm.

 

- I’m here!

 

- What the… —exclaimed Kleitos when he saw the intruders tied on the floor, they were awake now, but having Hephaistion with his 2 swords sitting in front of them, made them think twice before attempting to escape.

 

The King’s pages lit all the lamps inside and they could see the intruders better. They were Persians.

 

- Do you understand me? –asked Alexander in Greek, they fell silent until the one with the wound moved his head from side to side— Erasistratus! –he called one of his pages—Go for the interpreter.

 

- Yes, sire –the boy went running and then Kyros appeared, very confused seeing so many people inside his master’s tent.

 

- Are you all right? –asked Alexander in a low voice, near were Hephaistion and Achilles were sitting.

 

His best friend nodded, and Achilles leaned his head against his father. His father patted his back.

 

- You did a great job bringing your uncle –whispered Hephaistion, against his son’s hair, making him smile. 

 

The interpreter arrived moments latter with Erasistratus and, as soon as he was informed of the situation, he asked the captives who had sent them.

 

- Sire, this man says the Great King himself sent them –the interpreter’s words cause a great surprise among the present.

 

- To kill Hephaistion? –asked Krateros as if he hadn’t heard something more ridiculous in his entire life—Why would Darius want to kill him? –Hephaistion narrowed his eyes.

 

The interpreter saw the King and Alexander nodded.

 

- Ask them.

 

The wounded prisoner answered, but it was obvious that his companion didn’t wanted him to talk, because he kept growling something they didn’t understand and the interpreter didn’t translate for them.  

 

- He says they didn’t come to kill the General –said the interpreter, and Hephaistion snorted.

 

- Then, why did they sneak in my tent and kill my men? –he asked angry.

 

- General, they say the Great King ordered them to kidnap you –that answer left Hephaistion speechless.

 

- Why? –Alexander was the first one to recover. Now, he was concerned. Why on earth would Darius want Hephaistion?

 

- According to them –the interpreter yawned— Because the Great King wants to meet the General.

 

Krateros laughed rudely.

 

- What for? –asked Kleitos. 

 

- They don’t know –said the interpreter rubbing his eyes, he had been sleeping when the hysterical page arrived—They were promise one gold talent to bring the General to Susa, and that’s all the information they have.  

 

Kleitos whistled. One gold talent was too much money.

 

- What do you want to do with them, Alexander? –asked the hipparch.

 

- May I give my opinion? –asked Hephaistion.

 

- Go ahead –said the King.

 

- You should execute them –his best friend’s words caught Alexander by surprise—They killed my men, they deserve to die.

 

- Well, well, Mr. I-so-cute-that-I’m-promoted is getting tough –Krateros mocked him.

 

- Go to hell –Hephaistion wasn’t in the mood for Krateros.

 

- All right, they are going to be executed –Kleitos saw Alexander through narrow eyes.

 

He agreed that execute them was a good idea but, what didn’t make him happy was the power that Hephaistion had over the King, he had convinced him in 2 seconds.

 

I suppose I must be grateful of not being Krateros, one day Hephaistion is going to get rid of him, and it’s not going to be pleasant –thought the hipparch. 

 

XXX

 

- What news do you have of the Macedonian swordsman? –asked Darius to the messenger while eating his magnificent breakfast in the palace terrace. He had a beautiful view from there, the city at the distance with it’s majestic buildings, the marvelous garden, and the sweet smell of flowers floating to where he was. Being there, among that splendor and peace was very difficult to imagine that something could change, that someone could destroy the way in which the Persian Empire existed.

 

- Great King, the men sent to kidnap the Macedonian were executed –said the messenger, prostrated on the floor.

 

Darius made a pause; he swallowed his piece of cookie, without looking at his messenger.

 

- Interesting, what happened?

 

- Apparently, your divine majesty, the Macedonian captured them and then the King had them executed –explained the messenger.  

 

And to everybody’s astonishment the Great King laughed.

 

- This is what I expected –he said, delighted with the news—It wouldn’t be fun if he was so weak as to be kidnapped so easily, don’t you agree Bessus?

 

The satrap of Bactria, who was eating with the Great King, cleaned his mouth before answering.

 

- Of course your majesty.

 

Bessus was a strange man, he was related to Darius and, as him, he had dark hair, dark eyes, but the satrap had a very thick beard. He was a man of few words, he only spoke when he had something to say, and nobody knew what he thought.

 

- What to do now? What do you think Bessus? –asked Darius.

 

- Great King, you surpasses me in wisdom, but if you require my humble opinion…

 

- Speak freely –those two words were the most dangerous ones a King could pronounce.

 

Speak freely… Kings never like to be told the truth, and to someone like Bessus, who had more ambitions that hairs in the head, this was his opportunity to become a trustful advisor of to win a ticket to his execution.

 

- You could send him an invitation –said Bessus.

 

- An invitation? –it was so simple that was almost stupid—Why do you think that?

 

- Your grace, this Macedonian is strong enough to resist if you tried to bring him here by force, therefore you should treat him like a guest –said Bessus—I heard your Greek General kidnapped him while he was injured, and at the end he managed to escape.

 

- Mm –Darius thought for a moment—Yes, you are right, I should send him an invitation, and let’s see what happen. Speaking of which, have you heard what is Memnon planning?

 

- No, your majesty –answered Bessus with interest.

 

- He said the wisest thing to with the Macedonian King is to attack Macedonia –explained Darius, playing with a grape between his fingers—According to Memnon if we attack his Kingdom he will have to go back. He is already in contact with some of the Greek enemies of this Macedonian King.

 

Bessus nodded.

 

- You don’t seem to approve this plan, your grace –he noticed.

 

- I think Memnon is exaggerating. This…King, if you can call him that, is nothing but a boy with a heated head full with dreams of grandeur –said Darius—Macedonia is a poor kingdom, in time he would get tired or run out of money… Did you know –the Great King, left the grape and turned to see his satrap—That this King leads his army from the front?

 

Bessus laughed. For them this was unthinkable, why would a King diminish himself doing servants work?

 

- He is a peasant, not a King –said the satrap.

 

- My thoughts exactly –said Darius.

 

XXX

 

Barsine was very happy when she saw her husband again. She thanked all her Gods and the Greek Gods when she saw him safe, unharmed and again at her side without the annoying presence of Hephaistion. Their sons’ were delighted too and everything would have been perfect if Barsine hadn’t found she was pregnant. 

 

Over and over again she made her calculations and knew there was impossible that this child was her husband’s. She was going to have a son of the Macedonian King.

 

More than once she thought of the possibility of getting rid of the child, but she couldn’t, because as soon as Memnon heard she was pregnant he assumed it was his and was extremely happy.

 

What she was going to do when the child was born 3 months earlier? She had no idea, but Memnon had gone again and that had given Barsine a little more time to think what was she going to do now. 

 

XXX   

 

The Macedonian army reached the Pamphylian plain and, as the guide had said, here the weather was warmer and the place was very beautiful and tranquil. It was such a nice day that Hephaistion rode on Alastor at the front of the army with Achilles, for the boy’s utterly delight. He and Alexander noted that Achilles liked a lot to see the army marching, that vision had him fascinated, with his mouth open. 

 

The Macedonian army marched on column. A serpent where you could find: “bodyguards, older Macedonians exempt of combat duty, hostages, servants, seers, physicians, sophists, poets, a historian, a tutor, secretaries, surveyors, the transport guards […] Phoenicians traders, courtesans, a harpist, a siege train, engineers and women and children”(2) And of course the different taxeis of pezetairoi, the regular hypaspyst, the Agema, the hetairoi cavalry, the arches, slingers and many more troops.  

 

- Do you like it? –asked the King, following the boy’s eyes.

 

- Yes, uncle –said Achilles excited, he was feeling much better now. 

 

Alexander pressed the flanks of Boukephalos to move closer to his best friend.

 

- This, Aki –said the King, extending his arm back—Is the best army in the whole world. The Great King of Persia can have more soldiers but I have the bravest ones, there are no better and strongest boys than mine –his words made Hephaistion, Kleitos and Perdikkas smiled. Achilles opened his mouth even more, sincerely impressed by Alexander’s words—Do you know how the army travels? –Achilles shook his head—Come.

 

The King carried the boy, with Hephaistion’s help, to sit him in front of him on the saddle. And rode Boukephalos at the side of his army.

 

- Where are you going? –asked Kleitos, but Alexander ignored him. 

 

- Don’t worry –said Hephaistion, pulling the reins of his horse—I’ll go with him, after all I’m now in charge of his security.

 

And his best friend went behind him. They rode the opposite direction of the march, and Alexander took the opportunity to exchange some words with his officers and to joke with some of his men.

 

- Dionysophanes! –the King called one of his pezetairoi, they always loved to see their King knew their names—I heard you are loosing all the money I pay you playing dice –the men near Dionysophanes laughed. 

 

- It’s just a momentary bad luck, sire –said Dionysophanes smiling.

 

- I hope so –the King continued his march— My father –said Alexander to Achilles—Wanted to have a fast army, but to march with so many men is extremely difficult, so he forbid having wagons for military use, and instead he used mules. He also ordered to have only one servant every 10 foot soldiers, and one per cavalry man. Each man has to carry his own equipment and provisions.

 

- Why? –asked the boy with interest.

 

- Because you move faster if everyone carry his own equipment –said Alexander—Wagons are difficult to move across rugged ground –the King made a pause, watching his men and the camp followers at the end with the baggage train— But, my father never took his army very far from Macedonia, I don’t like to have carts and wagons but sometimes is necessary, to transport siege equipment or wounded soldiers. I don’t like using ox, mules move faster and can transport tents, hammocks, medical supplies, firewood, booty, and of course our food supplies.   

 

- Uncle, I saw chickens when I was traveling with aunt Eni –said Achilles, lifting his head to see him.

 

- Yes, Aki, we need animals to eat –said Alexander, happy to have someone to explain these things—But we can only carry supplies for 14 days.

 

- Why?

 

The King laughed.

 

- Imagine the size of our baggage train if we carry more than that –he said. 

 

- Uncle, are you going to fight against the Great King? –asked the boy, for him this was the most exciting thing he had ever heard.

 

- Yes, I will.  

 

- Can I go too? –the King laughed, making Boukephalos turned to go back to the front of the army.

 

- To fight against Darius? You are still very young Aki –said Alexander, ruffling his hair.

 

Achilles seemed disappointed, but he recovered quickly.

 

- But when I grow up, I’ll be strong like my dad –said the boy. They reach the front again.

 

- I thought you said you were going to be like the other Achilles –said Hephaistion, he had heard the entire conversation, but didn’t want to intrude. Alexander looked adorable explaining everything to the boy.

 

- Yes, but you are even stronger –Hephaistion blushed.

 

The King laughed, but before he could speak again, they heard behind them a racket that made them turned their heads immediately.

 

- What’s that? –asked Perdikkas, narrowing his eyes trying to see.

 

Leonnatos kneeled on his horse and shielded his eyes.

 

- I think something is happening at the rear, near our baggage train –he said. 

 

Alexander frowned. He had passed near the rear and hadn’t seen anything unusual. He was about to send someone to check what was happening, when a man came riding as fast as he could.

 

- Sire! –exclaimed the man, one of the servants in charge of the mules—Sire, we are under attack.

 

It was as if Alexander were a completely different person; he was suddenly serious emanating that powerful aura that could intimidate the bravest of men. Nobody had expected an attack here, and the King took this as a personal insult, he had been careless and that was unforgiving. If Alexander was strict with others, he was even stricter with himself.

 

He organized the hetairoi cavalry in a heartbeat and shouted orders for the pezetaioi taxeis to take battle formation. Achilles went back to his father, and Hephaistion saw with horror that he would have to fight with his son there. He cursed.

 

Every single one of the hetairoi thought that the Persians were attacking, and more than one thought Memnon was coming after them.

 

XXX

 

Grandfather Demetrios and Berenike saw thousands of men howling and running to where they were. Some of them on horses, others on foot, armed with swords, bows or slings. They were an amorphous and disordered group that looked more like a herd of wild animals.

 

- Who are they? –asked Berenike taking her bow, and hiding her children and Netikerty in the wagon.

 

- I have no idea –shouted grandfather Demetrios, taking his 2 magnificent swords: Castor and Pollux—But I won’t make things easy for them.

 

Berenike felt her heart racing, this was the second time she had to aim against men, but this time she was driven by the powerful need to protect her children and she didn’t vacillate to shoot her arrows; while her grandfather showed why he had been known as the “Barbarian” when he was younger.

 

Around them everything were chaos. The camp followers and the servants tried to run away from the attack, others stayed and fight but soon grandfather Demetrios noticed something very curious. The enemy’s goal wasn’t to kill them; they ran directly to the mules and the animals.

 

These are not Persians troops; these are thieves –thought grandfather Demetrios, when he heard the horses’ hooves.

 

The cavalry was coming but these thieves were very crafty and ran away as fast as they had appeared. Hephaistion sat Achilles facing him, and the boy leaned his head against his father’s chest. He didn’t wanted Achilles to see the battle. Hephaistion covered him with one arm, and, in that moment, he truly regretted not using a shield. With his right hand he attacked taking the lives of more than one. 

 

He saw an arrow coming directly to him and the first thing he thought was to protect his son. Hephaistion didn’t know how he did it, but listening to his instincts, he moved his sword just before the arrow hit him, breaking it in two.

 

- How, in the name of Ares, did you do that? –asked Kleitos near him, his face was the vivid image of astonishment.

 

- I… don’t know –that was an honest answer.

 

The cavalry killed several men, but the damage was done. The thieves had taken many of the army’s supplies.

 

- What happened here? –asked Alexander when the battle (if you could call that a battle) was over. Eumenes had his people running for one side to the other, to make an account of the damages.

 

They were standing in the middle of the mayhem that had been the battlefield. Several mules and horses were wounded or dead, and one of the few carts was burning, several sacks of grain had been stolen and others were cut during the battle, the grain spreading on the ground.

 

- Sire, a group or armed men appeared of no where and attacked us with outstanding speed –said the officer in charge of guarding the baggage train, he had a very nasty cut on one arm, but was more worried about his King’s wrath than about his wounds—First we thought they were Persian troops, but they were very disorganized. 

 

- Who were these people? –asked the King, pointing at a dead body with his sword.

 

- I…I… —the officer stammered, he had no idea of what to say.

 

- Thieves! –exclaimed grandfather Demetrios, dragging a wounded man behind him—They are thieves, Alexander.

 

- Grandpa?! –exclaimed Hephaistion in a low voice. 

 

- This piece of scum –grandfather Demetrios threw the man to the ground—Speaks a little Greek; he said they are Pisidians, a band of marauders that lives near a rock fortress in the foothills.

 

- Alexander –said Eumenes, not wanting to be left behind—I have the report of our losses –the King settled his icy-cold uneven eyes on his secretary making him shivered—I-I-I…the thieves got away with several captives and pack animals…and, and we have heavy casualties. 

 

One look at the King’s face told Hephaistion he was beyond fury. Alexander had a very bad experience with thieves back when they had gone into voluntary exile in Illyria, and if in those days he hadn’t rested until he made the thieves paid, this time he felt sorry for the Pisidians.

 

- Demetrios –said Alexander to Hephaistion’s grandfather—Ask this man about the fortress: where is it, how many men are there, how are they armed, whatever is useful. 

 

- Yes, Alexander –answered grandfather Demetrios, extremely happy to be useful again in the army.

 

- Why do I have the feeling that we are going after these thieves? –whispered Perdikkas to Hephaistion.

 

- Because we know our Alexander –answered Hephaistion smiling.

 

- We are going to camp here –said the King raising his voice to be heard—Krateros, take your taxei and start digging a ditch around the camp palisade.

 

- Yes, Alexander.

 

- Perdikkas! Take a cavalry squadron and go the nearest villages to ask more about these thieves –said the King.

 

- You can count on it –said Perdikkas, closing his fist in front of his face.

 

- Eumenes, see that this mess is cleaned –said Alexander, opening his arms to encircle the anarchy around him. A couple of chickens ran near him.

 

- I’ll see to it immediately –the secretary practically ran to obey the King’s orders.

 

XXX

 

It took a while to have the camp ready, but when things were quieter, Hephaistion went to Alexander’s tent. He frowned when he saw the King had his meal intact, resting on the table next to where he was checking the maps.

 

- You haven’t eaten –said his best friend walking to him.

 

- I don’t have time to eat –said Alexander, his eyes on the map.

 

Hephaistion sighed, took the plate and sat at the King’s side.

 

- Open you mouth –Alexander turned to see him, and found his best friend with fork in hand, ready to feed him in the mouth as if he were a small child.

 

- What are you doing?

 

- Feeding you, like I do with Aki –said Hephaistion simply—Now, open your mouth and, if you eat everything, you will have a reward.

 

Alexander laughed, truly amused.

 

- And what reward do I get?

 

- Well…I give candies to Aki, but I think –the moved closer to the King’s lips—You can have something… –he kissed him softly, languidly pulling his lower lip with his teeth—Different –there was something in the way he said “different” that heated Alexander’s blood in 2 seconds.

 

For Hephaistion utterly amusement, the King let him feed him in the mouth and ate all his dinner, like a good boy.

 

XXX

(1) Colleen McCullough. Caesar’s Women, p 220

(2) Donald W. Engels. Alexander the Great and the Logistics of the Macedonian Army, p 11