CHAPTER 58

 

The army marched directly to the Cilician Gates, and, after spending days in the volcanic mountains, more than one thanked the Gods when they started to see green pastures again. The Cilician Gates was, like the Thermopylae back in Greece, a very narrow road flanked by 2 mountains, two eternal and silent guardians to whom time and men meant nothing. They had to cross through this passage to reach the city of Tarsus, their goal, but things weren’t as easy as it seemed, they were facing a new obstacle; their problem was that the road was too narrow, 2 camels couldn’t cross it at the same time, making the defense of this extremely easy. 

 

- Who is in charge here? –asked Alexander, in his tent, to his military council. They had camped for that night, a nice change after being in the mountains, but they still were running out of supplies at an alarming speed.

 

The supplies were always the Macedonian army major problem, the Achilles’ heel of the young King, and the reason why Alexander didn’t bring more men to Asia. It was virtually impossible to sustain an army of more than 50 thousand men on the field, something King Xerxes didn’t understand when he invaded Greece almost 2 hundred years ago. 

 

- A man named Arsames –said Eumenes looking among his notes—He is in charge of this zone.

 

- That name rings a bell –said Leonnatos, thinking hard where he had heard that name.

 

- He fought at the Granicus –answered the King, who never forgot a name, and his secretary nodded.

 

- What are we going to do if this Arsames decides to hold the gates with his whole army? –asked Parmelio, looking at the map. No matter how the old General saw this, to cross the Cilician Gates without precaution could lead them into a mortal trap.

 

- Hold the gates? Who do you think this Arsames is, Parmelio? King Leonidas? –said Perdikkas with mockery, he truly didn’t saw where was the problem and why was Parmelio so serious—I doubt his men could fight like the Spartans.

 

- They don’t need to be Spartans to hold his passage –said Kleitos, his black eyes on the map—A blind man, with a group of women armed with sticks and knives, can defend this –he hit the map with his finger 

 

Alexander coughed and Hephaistion frowned. He was sick and for what the General knew, the King hadn’t gone to see the doctor.

 

- Kleitos is right –said the King, coughing and looking for his handkerchief—It’s too easy to defend the Cilician Gates. If Arsames decides to hold the Gates, with his whole army, we’ll have to go back –he blew his nose.

 

- Go back?! –Leonnatos exclaimed in dismay, this march across the mountains had been extremely difficult for him and his family. He was truly mortified, he loved his wife and if it were for him, he would treat her like a Queen, with a caravan of servants to match the Great King. This was precisely why he didn’t want to bring her with him like a camp follower—We can’t go back, we have no supplies.

 

- Then, I suggest you start praying that Arsames is fool, Leon –said Alexander very serious.

 

XXX

 

Hephaistion closed his cloak when he went outside. He had many things to do before the army approached the Cilician Gates and, was thinking in what he was going to say to Dismas, when a familiar and annoying voice called him.

 

- Hephaistion! –he had to take a deep breath before turning to face Philotas.

 

Seriously, this has to stop –though the General. 

 

- Yes, Philotas? –he had to remain calm, and think of a polite way to tell the hipparch that there was nothing between them and there would never be.

 

- The men you sent me –Hephaistion held his breathe—Are good men –he sighed in relief.

 

- I’m glad to hear that.

 

- Hephaistion, I was thinking maybe you and I…

 

- Philotas! –they turned and found the extremely serious expression of General Parmelio, standing a few paces from them—A word –said his father in the usual commanding voice of a man used to give orders.

 

- I’m afraid this would have to wait.

 

- Health to you, Philotas! –Hephaistion almost sighed again when he saw him go, until he found that Alexander was standing near him, watching him with an intensity he knew very well. He wasn’t please.

 

This is not my night –thought Hephaistion.

 

- What are you doing talking with Philotas after what happened? –the King’s voice was full with cold calm.

 

- He asked me days ago for new men for the hetairoi cavalry, and he was thanking me, that’s all –explained the General, but he knew this was far from over.

 

Alexander closed the distance between them.

 

- That’s not all, isn’t it?

 

Hephaistion changed his weight from one foot to the other, and settled his gray eyes on his sandals, his arms crossed over his chest.

 

- No, that’s not all –he said after a moment—Philotas…he has the idea that after we slept together we could have some sort of relationship…

 

- Slept together? –Alexander’s voice made him lift his head—In the name of the Great Zeus, where did you get that idea?

 

For a moment Hephaistion didn’t know what to answer, so he remained silent. His brother was right, Nikandros had told him he couldn’t trust Philotas, and now, he was starting to see he had been a fool.

 

- Phai –the King continued when his best friend said nothing—I entered your tent when that pig, who calls himself my hipparch, was about to rape you.

 

Holly Mother #%&/ With #%&/ On top! –thought Hephaistion angry—The son of a bad mother tricked me… —he was about to say that aloud, to explode in indignation claiming for the head of the motherless dog who had taken advantage of his good nature… but one look at Alexander’s face told him to keep silent. The King would be even more furious if he knew, and Alexander couldn’t afford a fight with Parmelio, not now.

 

- I thought we had slept together –said the General, taking a deep breath and counting to 10—Why you didn’t tell me otherwise?

 

- We never talked about this and I just…assumed you would have known –said Alexander—I’m tired of Philotas, but as soon as I can, I will dispose of him, be sure of that…

 

As soon as he could he did just that, but for now it was almost impossible. Philotas commanded the 8 Ilai that conformed the hetairoi cavalry, almost 2 thousand men, and the best cavalry of the world. And yes, before you ask, Philotas was the superior of my brother Nikandros. 

 

XXX

 

- What do you think you are doing with Hephaistion? –asked a very angry Parmelio when they arrived to his tent—Your brother Nikanor wrote to me and told me what you did, you rape Hephaistion and the King almost killed you –the old General hit the table, but his son remained as if he had said nothing, with his arms crossed.  

 

- I didn’t rape him, he was…

 

- He was DRUNK! –his father interrupted him—Listen to me Philotas because I will only say this only once. I don’t want you near Amyntor’s lad –he shook his index finger in front of him, marking each word.

 

Philotas uncrossed his arms.

 

- I am not a child anymore, father.

 

- Then, stop acting like one –Philotas was confused, he had never seen his father like this before—I had enough with King Philip’s obsession with Hephaistion, and I am sure that Alexander was the one behind Pausanias, he had all the reasons to want him dead. Alexander is obsessed with Amyntor’s lad, the same as his father was, and I don’t doubt even for a second that he killed his father, not only for the throne, also because King Philip rape Hephaistion. 

 

- He WHAT?! –those were news, really interesting news for Philotas.

 

Parmelio took a seat; he was getting old even if he wasn’t going to admit that aloud, but in his bones he knew how truth that was.

 

- I told King Philip to stay away from him, but he didn’t listen –his father continued—He forced Hephaistion into his bed many times while he was his page, sometimes he left him in a very bad shape, and doctor Philip had to take care of his wounds…He would have continued raping him if Alexander hadn’t take Hephaistion to Mieza with all of you –he made a pause— Beauty is a curse, son, and nobody can be as beautiful as Hephaistion without consequences. I couldn’t stop King Philip, but I can stop you, so stay away from Hephaistion, it’s for your own good.

 

But Philotas had other ideas; this information was as valuable as gold, and he was planning in using it, because since the day he had tasted Hephaistion’s lips and enjoyed the sensation of his creamy skin under the touch of his fingers, he couldn’t forget him; and he would not rest until he had Hephaistion again. 

 

XXX

 

The Gods decided to smile at Alexander because the Persian Arsames was indeed a fool. He couldn’t forget Memnon’s plan, the one he had just before the battle at the Granicus River, of burning the crops and scorched the earth while avoiding a direct confrontation with the deadly Macedonian phalanx. Arsames thought over and over again about this plan, about Memnon’s passion when he had explained to them, to Arsites, Spithridates, Mithridates, to him that this was the best course of action...

 

- The Macedonian phalanx is far superior than the Persian infantry… The Macedonian King doesn’t have money, doesn’t have supplies, we must avoid direct combat with him and he would have to retreat…

 

And Memnon’s voice rang with an echo in Arsames’ mind. After all, Memnon was one of the most brilliant commanders they had ever had, it was he who almost defeated the Macedonian at Halicarnassus, so, why not listen to his advise now? He would avoid a direct confrontation at the Cilician Gates and burn the crops. 

 

Poor Arsames, he should have known that Memnon’s strategy was perfect for the battle at the Granicus River, but it was an utterly stupidity at the Cilician Gates. Why? Well, you saw 300 movie, don’t you? You know how easy is to defend a narrow pass through the mountains, even if you don’t have a lot of men. But Arsames left only a small group doing sentry duties at the gates, and all that Alexander had to do was sent a night attack with the regular hypaspist and the Agrianes, leaving Parmelio behind with the heavy infantry. He led it personally and, as soon as all the Persian defenders knew he was coming for them, ran for their lives as if their god, Angra Mainyu, the source of darkness, destruction and death, were chasing them.  

 

 

You don't seem to understand

The reason for this bitter end

You served a cause but the cause is lost

As words escape we turn to dust

(Disarmonia Mundi, Nihilistic Overdrive)

 

- Can you believe it? –said Alexander beyond excitement to his best friend, while the rest of his army was crossing through the Cilician Gates, it was near dawn now—Can you believe my luck? –the King laughed and patted Boukephalos’ head—This is an amazing piece of luck, Phai.

 

- Yes, it is –said Hephaistion, cleaning the bloody blade of his sword and smiling back, until he heard Alexander coughing again.

 

- Alexander! –Seleucus came running—Alexander –he took a deep breath—We have… a prisoner… he says –he breathed again—He said… Arsames is heading to Tarsus to evacuate the city and…take with him all the treasure...

 

- Now, now…we can’t let him do that –said the King thinking—Seleucus, go to General Parmelio and tell him to go immediately to Tarsus with the cavalry and light-armed troops, he must stop Arsames before he loots the treasure.

 

- Yes, Alexander –and Seleucus went running again to follow his orders, and the King looked for a handkerchief. 

 

- You are sick –said Hephaistion very serious; he was worried for him.

 

- I told you, it’s just the weather –said Alexander, resting importance to his health and blowing his nose.

 

- Well, I don’t give a damn if it’s the weather or not –said the General in the same tone he used with his men—You are going to see doctor Philip and you will do it now.

 

The King saw his best friend as if he didn’t know him and blinked in confusion. Hephaistion had never before given orders to him like that.

 

- Yes, sir –said Alexander as if he were a simple pezetaioi, his best friend saw him through narrow eyes.

 

- I’m serious.

 

- Of course you are, General –said the King in the same tone—But I can’t leave now, do you give me permission to go tomorrow?

 

- Tomorrow at first hour.

 

- Yes, sir –answered Alexander with military efficiency.

 

Parmelio arrived in time to Tarsus. Arsames could escape and he went directly to Darius, who was already on his march from Babylon to meet us. But, the treasure was ours. 

 

XXX

 

- You took the wrong way –said Hephaistion, looking at his map through his sunglasses while Alexander was driving.

 

- No, I didn’t.

 

- Fine –by now his best friend was tired of being arguing with him.

 

Since they had vacations, they decided to go to Turkey. Hephaistion was of the idea of traveling by plane, but Alexander insisted that it would be much more exciting if they drove from Thessaloniki to Tarsus.

 

Exciting to whom? –thought Hephaistion tired. They had got lost at least 5 times and the blond totally refused to stop and ask for directions, so by now, Hephaistion had given up. The only good thing was that Achilles was peacefully seated on the back seat, beside Peritas, watching Hercules Disney movie on the Jeep’s screen. He had watched so many times that movie, that by now, he knew the dialogs by heart.

 

- Daddy?

 

- Mm?

 

- Daddy I want a horse –said Achilles, holding a Pegasus plush doll.

 

- You already have Pegasus –said his father absently, still looking at the map.

 

- No, I want a real horse –the boy insisted.

 

- And where are you planning to put him? –asked Hephaistion, turning to see him, taking off his sunglasses—We live in an apartment Aki.

 

- He could stay in my room.

 

- I don’t think so –the boy pouted. 

 

- There! –exclaimed Alexander in triumph—I told you it was the right way, there are the Cilician Gates –he pointed at the front.

 

Sure enough, they took the right detour and were crossing through the ancient gates, while hearing the sweet and innocent laugh of Achilles, who was very amused watching his movie.

 

- Finally! –exclaimed Hephaistion.

 

- Did you know that through these gates crossed the 10 Thousand of Xenophon? –said Alexander and he coughed—And not only them, here the Romans fought a major battle against the Parthians and the Crusaders had to pass through here on their way to the Holy Land.

 

- And now here is a highway… and if you don’t keep your eyes on the road we are going crash –said Hephaistion, taking his hand to the blonde’s cheek to make him turn.

 

- Phai in Tarsus is where Mark Anthony and Cleopatra met –said an excited Alexander, if there was something he liked a lot, besides Hephaistion of course, was classic history—Can you imagine what would have happened if Caesar had gone to invade the Kingdom of the Parthians? It was a shame he had died before coming to the east, it would have been great if he had conquered them. You see, he wanted to recover the silver Eagles that were at Ecbatana after Crassus lost the battle of Carrhae –Alexander coughed—I would never understand why he forgave Brutus; I would have executed him for taking Pompey’s side in the Civil War.  

 

- Some times I wonder if you have a crush with that man –said Hephaistion smiling, and teasing him—How many times have you read his Commentaries of the Gallic Wars and Civil War?

 

- Oh, come on! If I were born in his time, I would have loved to be a conqueror like Caesar –said Alexander absolutely sure of what he was saying—The man was great, he circumvallated Alessia, Phai, with fortifications of 18 kilometers of 4 meters high constructed in three weeks. And he fought in two fronts, the forces of Vercingetorix one side and the Gauls on the other, with minimum forces and without supplies...and won!

 

- Right. Now I know I should be concerned; you love him more than you love me.

 

 - Ha-ha, Phai –said the blond without humor—But, if I were born in that time I would have been even better than him.  

 

- Alex you can’t get from Thessaloniki to Tharsus without getting lost, how would you have lead an army from Rome…?

 

- Macedonia –the blond coughed again.

 

- What?

 

- Yes, we are from Thessaloniki, in that time it was Macedonia, so I would have lead an army from Macedonia –explained Alexander—Do you have a tissue? 

 

His best friend gave him one.

 

- OK, whatever, the point is, you couldn’t have led an army from Macedonia to the East without getting lost –said Hephaistion.

 

- Oh, sure I could –he blew his nose—If you were with me. 

 

- Aha –his best friend smiled— Turn off the air conditioning. 

 

- Why?

 

- Because you are still recovering from your Bronchitis, and it’s making you cough –explained Hephaistion.

 

- But it’s hot –his best friend shook his head and turned the air off.

 

- Dad!

 

- Yes, Aki –answered Alexander. He was “dad” and Hephaitsion was “daddy”

 

- The other day I was with uncle Leon and he showed me his comics –said the boy, swinging his legs on the seat.

 

- Really? –exclaimed the blond.

 

- Yes, and I think you look a lot like Wolverine.

 

That made Hephaistion roared with laughter.

 

- Why do you think that? –asked Alexander intrigued.

 

- Because you both are short, stocky and tough –said Achilles—And my uncle Leon said you 2 are a small lethal weapons and have a…a…bad ass attitude.

 

- Achilles! –both adults scolded him.

 

- How many times we have told you to not repeat everything you hear? –said Alexander.

 

- Sorry.

 

- But Leon has a point, you know? –said Hephaistion amused.

 

- Shut up, Phai!

 

- Dad, you said a bad word –that made his best friend smiled.

 

They stopped near the Cydnus River, which ran, since ancient times, from Mount Taurus with clean and cold waters. They were tired, and couldn’t feel their legs after hours in the car, including Peritas, so, they decided it was a good idea to eat their lunch there. Alexander went ahead and Hephaistion was left behind, he tried to put the excited Peritas his leash and Achilles went running to the river following his uncle. It was a beautiful and extremely hot day, but the surroundings of the river were cool and full with green pastures and trees. The smell of grass was intense, filling their nostrils. 

 

- Aki, stay away from the river! –shouted his father, and Peritas tried to lick his face—And you stay still –he said to the dog, at last putting him his leash. 

 

- Daddy!

 

- What?

 

- I think dad is drowning! –shouted Achilles.

 

Hephaistion ran to river and Peritas went after him, his leash flying behind him like a cape. Downing? What was Alexander doing in the water in the first place? Sure he hadn’t thought about swimming there, he was still sick. But, when he arrived, he saw that Alexander was at the middle of the river, almost naked, having a cramp so severe that it appeared as if the was having a convulsion.

 

- Shit! –he didn’t think twice, and threw himself to the river with all his cloths on. Peritas stayed at the edge at Achilles’ side, barking and moving his tail frantically.  

 

The water was freezing, no surprise there since this river had the water of the melting snow from the mountains. It was like jumping into a needle nest. Hephaistion felt his entire body numb, it was a hot day and the contrast between the heat and the freezing water was terrible, what on earth had made the blond jump into the river? He couldn’t breath, but he made and effort to dragged Alexander to the riverbank, forcing his arms and legs to move. Peritas came running, crying and scratching Alexander while licking his master’s cheek.

 

- Alex, Alex –his best friend shook him, but the blond was half conscious and as pale as the moon. Hephaistion felt his heart was aching; Alexander did not look good, and he was barely breathing—Oh please, don’t do this to me… Aki, stay here –he said trembling from head to toe, because of the cold and his concern, and Achilles moved his head up and down, embracing tightly his plush horse.

 

He ran back to their Jeep, and took a pair of blankets and a towel and went back to the river. His heart beating savagely against his throat. 

 

- Dad? –Achilles sat at Alexander’s side and shook him, but he didn’t wake up.

 

Hephaistion dried Alexander the best way he could, taking off the rest of his cloths, and wrapping him with the blankets. He too was wet and freezing but he didn’t care.

 

- Pha…i? –the blonde’s jaw trembled so much, that his best friend almost didn’t understand his words, and his usually sensual lips were blue and that Hephaistion at the edge of a hysterical attack.

 

- Shush, don’t talk. I’m going to take you back to the car –said Hephaistion concerned, embracing him and rubbing his shoulders—Aki, come here.

 

An hour later they were in Tarsus, in the Emergency Room to be more exactly, after Hephaistion had drove as if he were in a persecution inside an action movie. Peritas had to stay in the Jeep and Hephaistion and Achilles were waiting for news. Well, Hephaistion was waiting for news while filling a form and Achilles was sleeping.

 

- Name? Alexander Argead…birth? July 26…–said Hephaistion aloud while writing, the nurse had given him a form he had to fill with Alexander’s information— Height? 1.60 m…weight? 62 kg…no wait, he had been eating a lot lately, I’ll go for 64 kg…Allergies? To Shrimps …blood type? O Negative…allergic to any medicine? Sulfonamide… history of mental illness in the family?…Oh, hell yeah, you should meet his mother…

 

- Hephaistion? –he lifted his head when he heard a familiar voice and found the pale blue eyes of Memnon—What are you doing here?…and all wet? 

 

- I should be the one asking that…I mean, why are you here? –said the Macedonian standing up with a big smile, leaving the form aside, he couldn’t help it, he was very happy to see the Rhodian again.

 

- I came with my family on vacations and my son sprained his ankle –the new comer explained—What about you?

 

- Em…I also came on vacations and…well, Alexander had a…hypothermic attack –he truly didn’t want to explain what had happened. 

 

- A hypothermic attack? Here? With this heat? –the Rhodian frowned.

 

- Em…he was swimming at the Cydnus –Memnon laughed, truly amused.

 

- Seriously? –Hephaistion felt like a fool for dating a fool, who jumped into the freezing water, when he was still recovering from a Bronchitis infection.

 

- Seriously –answered the Macedonian, brushing his hair back his ear.

 

They both fell silent.

 

- I missed you –said Memnon at last—I truly wanted to call you but…I thought it would cause you troubles with your “King” –he smiled— I don’t know why is he so jealous, you love him more than anything and still he has his fears.

 

- Don’t be so harsh on him –said Hephaistion holding his gaze—Alex is a man who needs a lot of love, he…didn’t have the happiest of childhoods or the best family. I sometimes think he is afraid of being alone.

 

- Well, be careful with him –said the Rhodian—He has too many dreams in his big head and those dreams are going to consume him one day, don’t let them consume you too. I don’t know him, but I have the hunch he has a great destiny in front of him and he is going to make you suffer.

 

- Gee, thanks for the good wishes.

 

- I’m just concern for you.

 

- Thanks.

 

- Patient Alexander Argead –called a nurse.

 

- That’s mine –said Hephaistion feeling nervous, he didn’t know why but Memnon always made him feel like that.

 

- Hephaistion, this is probably the last time we saw each other –said Memnon very serious—But I would never forget you –he took a step closer to the Macedonian and caressed his cheek, sliding his thumb to his lips—Our lives could have been so different if we have met before –he slightly parted Hephaistion’s lips with his finger, leaning closer to him—With a man like you at my side, I could have conquered the world. 

 

Memnon kissed him, playing with his thumb at the corner of the Macedonian’s mouth, pressuring him softly and making him shudder. It was a sweet, passionate and sad kiss that locked up all the emotions that assailed them in that moment. Hephaistion closed his eyes and allowed himself to enjoy the last kiss he would feel of those lips.

 

- Good-bye, Hephaistion.

 

XXX

 

- What do you mean Alexander has pneumonia? –asked Hephaistion to the doctor while carrying a sleeping Achilles.

 

- He would have to stay in the hospital for 5 days –explained the doctor— We are going to give him antibiotics intravenously, and we had to connect him to a support machine.

 

- Why?! –now he was scared. Was the blond dying?

 

- He can’t breathe –said the doctor—He is going to be fine, but he needs to stay here, and then, rest from two to four weeks.

 

- Some vacations –sighed Hephaistion.