CHAPTER 95

 

Gaza was a city that shared a similar history with Sidon; both had many masters in their many years of existence, and both were very ancient cities. Gaza had been dominated by: the Egyptians and the Philistines in old times; King David had ruled it years before this day, the Assyrian Empire had controlled Gaza and, when the Assyrians were defeated by the Babylonians, the city became part of the Persian empire, ruled by the Achaemenid dynasty. But now, the city was going to have a new master…

 

That morning, Achilles was listening Bahman talk, without paying much attention, about the Great King Cambyses I, son of Cyrus the Great, who had attacked Gaza more than 2 hundred years in the past, successfully taking it to form part of his vast possessions. The Macedonian Prince swung his legs on the edge of the chair, he was bored; not that he didn’t like learning, but that day, what he really wanted was to go  to Alexander’s side and see how was the siege going.

 

The Macedonian army had been surrounding Gaza for a week now, and even Achilles was aware that many soldiers resented the fact that they had to besiege a city, again, after they had just taken Tyre.

 

There were fewer things that bother soldiers more than a siege. Sieges were tiresome, long and full with hardships, and this in particular was also a pain in the tushy thanks to the heat and the dry weather. Water rations were strictly controlled and any man caught wasting water was severely punished. But, once Alexander gave an order things were done, no matter what the rest of the army thought. The siege equipment had arrived without delays and the engineers started to work as soon as possible while the army camped a few miles from the city.

 

But, even if it had been the King’s decision to besiege Gaza that didn’t mean he was in a particular good mood, on the contrary, knowing that Melkar was so close and so far had him extremely grumpy and the situation didn’t improve when Batis sent his men to try to set his siege equipment on fire under the cover of night 2 days ago.

 

Achilles turned his head to the window, he could see the city at the distance, standing high on a hill and surrounded by tall and strong walls. He had heard Alexander saying that Gaza was the last town before reaching Egypt, and his uncle was determine to subjugate the entire area before continuing with his journey. It was a matter of personal prestige.        

 

The boy sighed, praying that a God would descend to grant his wish of being older. If he were 17 years old he could be at his uncle’s side, and he would show Kleitos what was he capable of by being the first man in climbing Gaza’s walls, like his uncle Nikandros had did in Tyre. Achilles imagined himself wearing a shining armor with a dark red cloak, 2 swords in his hands, like his father; all the Macedonian soldiers watching him with awe and all the enemy soldiers running away from him with fear in his eyes…

 

- Young Achilles –Bahman voice was like a needle popping the balloon of his dreams—I’m afraid, young man, that now its not the time for daydreaming.

 

- I’m sorry, professor –said Achilles, straightening himself and Cyrus laughed softly at his side.

 

Bahman cleared his throat and continued with the lesson. He always gave his classes in Persian, reason why the little Macedonian Prince was learning the language quickly. Two days a week Achilles took classes with Bahman, the rest of the week he spent his time with Kallisthenes and all afternoons he went to train with Kleitos. If it were for Alexander he wouldn’t have any free time, but Hephaistion had insisted that he should have at least one day to rest and do whatever he wanted.

 

- I didn’t have free time when I was Aki’s age, Leonidas had me training all day and I also had to take classes with Lysimachus –had said the King weeks ago.

 

- You are you, and I don’t want my son working all week without time to play –was Hephaistion’s answer—You decided to name him the Crown Prince, now thanks to you, when he grows up, he won’t have time to have fun like the rest because he would be full of responsibilities, so hear me very well. You will let my son play and have a normal childhood or you will have to answer me.

 

And that had settled it. Hephaistion never talked like that to Alexander, he never forced his will upon the King, but Achilles was a completely different issue and he would not let Alexander do to his son what King Philip and Queen Olympias had done to him. Achilles would have the most normal childhood he could have in his present situation and the General would see to it.

 

Achilles sighed inside the well-ventilated classroom and rested his face on his hands. Everybody was very busy besieging Gaza, Kleitos didn’t have time to train him and thanks to this he was spending more time with Alexander, again the King took him everywhere, the Prince was like his shadow, but he wasn’t allowed to skip classes. The boy would have to wait until Bahman finished the lesson to go and look for his uncle.

 

It was a hot day. Inside the Persians’ tent temperature was nice thanks to the slaves who fang their masters inside the rooms with big windows, but as soon as Achilles put a step outside and, the sun hit him with all it’s mightiness and power, he considered the idea of going back inside. He didn’t like hot days. The Prince wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand, holding his many books with one hand, when one of the Persian servants caught his attention. It was a tall man, slender, with dark curled short hair; he had seen the man before but there was something about him that always caught the boy’s attention. And this day was no the exception. The servant looked suspicious, he was nervous and continually looking over his shoulder to see if someone was following him. 

 

What was the servant’s name? Achilles frowned trying to remember, but he couldn’t. The man entered the tent and he gave up, lost interest in the servant and went to the King’ tent to leave his books. Since Hephaistion wasn’t in the camp he was staying with Alexander, after all even Kyros had gone with the fleet and he really didn’t like the idea of staying alone with Xsayarsa. He liked the eunuch, but not that much. The Prince went to look for the King. It was funny to walk in this place, the area surrounding Gaza was coved with deep sand and Achilles had a great time dragging his feet. 

 

He was laughing while imagining that one of his feet was a Persian war ship and the other a Macedonian Galley but, when he stopped, he lifted his head and saw that he was lost. He didn’t recognize the men around him or the tents, he looked for the standards of each unit to have an idea of where he was, but he didn’t recognized the standards either. Where was he? Achilles turned his head and found 2 soldiers talking and laughing and walked to them.

 

- Excuse me –both pezetairoi turned to see him—I’m lost, could you please tell me where is the King?

 

The tallest of both soldiers bent over in front of him.

 

- You are Prince Achilles, aren’t you? –he asked with curiosity. He had only seen the boy once, and at a great distance, the same day the King announced he was his adopted son and heir, but it was easy enough to recognize him; who else, besides Alexander, had eyes of that color? 

 

- Yes, sir –answered the boy. Alexander had told him always to look men at the face and he had learned to put his shyness behind. 

 

- Don’t call me “sir” Prince, I’m not your superior –said the pezetairoi smiling—Come, I’ll take you to the King.

 

Achilles followed the man extremely grateful to have someone guiding him. He knew the camp distribution in theory, but he had never before been so far from the King’s and the officer’s quarters, usually he only walked from his father’s tent to the King’s, from there to the Persians’ tent, to aunt Berenike’s tent and to Kleitos’ place. Achilles saw with curiosity this new side of the camp, following the pezetairoi until they left the safety of the camp to reach the place where the artillery and the siege equipment were concentrated. Even at the distance Achilles could distinguish the silhouette of the King, he wasn’t the tallest among present there but there was something in him that made Alexander stand apart.

 

- Sire, we are trying our best to hit Gaza’s walls, but the city stands on high ground –Artorius, the chief engineer, explained while pointing at Gaza to emphasize his words—You can’t take it by assault, sire.

 

Alexander didn’t take well to be told what he could and could not do, but he said nothing while his uneven eyes surveyed the strong walls at the distance.

 

- Well, here we are Prince –said the pezetaioi a few paces from the group of officers.   

 

- Thank you –said Achilles and the man gave him a last smile before leaving.

 

The boy walked to the King. Something important was going on, even he was aware of that. He could see that Alexander was deep in thought and Achilles didn’t want to bother, so he stayed behind the guards, following the conversation with all his attention.

 

Even if Alexander knew his men were tired after the extremely long siege of Tyre and even if he had no time to waste besieging Gaza, he hadn’t other choice than staying here and fight for 2 reasons. First, if he left Batis unharmed after his defiance, Darius and the Greeks would take this as weakness from his part. The King knew he had achieved great victories, that he had proven all his enemies that he was a brilliant commander and that his army was the most powerful in the world. But, even with all his victories and successes his position was a delicate one. One mistake could cost him dearly.

 

He had many enemies, and they just needed one single sign of weakness to rise against him. What would happen if the Greeks decided to ally themselves with the Persians or to accept Persian gold? It wouldn’t be the first time, and not even Alexander could fight them both at the same time. Once he had told Hephaistion that he needed to be a God for his men, well, he also needed to be an invincible opponent to his enemies and so far he had made sure that in Greece everybody knew that he was undefeatable. 

 

The second reason was Melkar. Melkar was inside Gaza, and he would not rest until he had punished the Carthaginian for all the suffering he had cause him and his beloved, what kind of man lets a grievance like this unsettle? He had vowed to make Melkar paid and he wouldn’t rest until the Carthaginian’s bones were rotting under the sun. 

 

No, he was not going anywhere and Gaza would fall one way or another.

 

Alexander surveyed the city; he saw that the hill, on which it rested, wasn’t too high, and an idea formed in his mind.

 

- The problem is that the artillery can’t reach the city, is that true? –asked the King without looking at the chief engineer. 

 

- Yes, sire.

 

- And, what if we make an earthwork in front of the city to place there our siege equipment? –those words started many murmurs and Artorius thought about this for a moment.

 

- It could work…

 

- See to it at once –Alexander interrupted him— Concentrate on the south sector, the wall looks more vulnerable there –he pointed at the front— Match the ground so a taxei can march on it and attack the city at the same level, that will save us many problems –the King didn’t wait for a reply, turned his back and left the chief engineer with the monstrous task of bringing earth, from wherever he could, as fast as he could to level the ground. Artorius sighed.

 

- Alexander, the water supplies just arrived –Eumenes rushed to talk to the King, several scroll under his arm and his clerk following him with even more papers. The secretary was still mad that Hephaistion had been assigned to supervise the water supply when it was his job, but when he had tried to complain Alexander gave him a very eloquent look and Eumenes had done the wisest thing: close his mouth—Again, the ships arrived late –he didn’t lose a chance to voice his opinion about the horrible work that, according to him, Hephaistion was doing with the supplies. 

 

- Not now Eumenes –Alexander warned him, he wasn’t in the mood, and he was going to keep walking to go back to the camp when he saw Achilles standing behind his guards. Even if he wasn’t in the best mood, the sight made him smile.

 

- What are you doing here, son? –the secretary saw the little Prince there and pursed his lips until they looked like a thin line. 

 

It was bad enough to endure Hephaistion’s presence but his son…Eumenes took a deep breath, he had to calm down and get use to the idea that Achilles was the Crown Prince and one day he would be King.

 

If the Gods have mercy they would let me die before the son of that man becomes King –thought the secretary.

 

- My classes ended and I thought in coming to see you –said Achilles and Alexander ruffled his hair. It was just like Hephaistion’s hair, gold-bronze, silky and straight, and that only served to remind the King how much he missed his beloved. 

 

- I’m glad you came –the boy smiled at him happily—Come here, we are going to supervise the supplies and see if your father sent a letter. 

 

But, to Alexander utterly disappointment, Hephaistion only sent an official dispatch, a report of the fleet status and it’s activities with a list of the gallons of water he was sending.

 

- This is all? –asked the King to the officer who delivered him the dispatch.

 

- Yes, sire.

 

- The General didn’t send anything else? –he insisted.

 

- No, sire.

 

Alexander hid his disappointment. It had been weeks since Hephaistion left with the fleet to ensure the water supply, and he hadn’t received one single letter, personal letters, because official dispatches he had plenty. It wasn’t until Achilles took him by his cloak that he didn’t notice that he had been staring at the officer in silence, making the poor man feel extremely uncomfortable.

 

- That would be all, you are dismissed –he said at last.

 

- Sire –the officer saluted and left the King.

 

What’s wrong Phai? –thought Alexander, running a hand through his blond hair—Are you mad at me?

 

He should write him and asked his beloved what was happening instead of being wondering.

 

- Come Aki. 

 

Yes, I’ll do that, write to Phai and ask if he is fine –he said to himself, walking back to his tent with the boy behind him.

 

XXX

 

- Alexander, what are you doing there? –asked Ptolemy from the comfortable living room of the blond’s house.

 

He, Perdikkas and Kleitos where there relaxing, with a couple of beers, after 6 months of intense emotions on their first world tour and, telling Leonnatos all about their adventures as the best heavy metal band in the world. But Alexander had been awfully quiet, sitting at the table with a MacBook opened in front of him.

 

- Nothing –said the blond absently.

 

- Nothing? You have been there the whole afternoon –said Kleitos, his feet on the coffee table in front of him.

 

Leonnatos, who until now hadn’t paid much attention to what was Alexander doing, saw the MackBook with curiosity, narrowing his eyes.

 

- Isn’t that Phai’ computer? –he asked, catching the attention of the rest.

 

- Yes, so? –Alexander cursed again, hitting the table.

 

- What are you doing with his computer? –now Perdikkas was curious.

 

- Trying to find out what’s his password –the blond rubbed his eyes, before trying again. 

 

- Why? –Ptolemy couldn’t think in one explanation for this, at least not one that didn’t Alexander look like a stalker—Don’t you have a computer of your own? 

 

- I do, but I want to know if Phai keeps writing to his Roman friend –said Alexander thinking really hard what could be the password.

 

His friends saw him as if he were nuts.

 

- Why? –asked Ptolemy again. He was starting to give up and seriously considering that the blond was out of his mind.

 

- I wasn’t here for 6 months thanks to the tour, and I want to know what did he do in that time –the explanation only served to make him look even crazier.

 

- You don’t trust Phai? Why don’t ask him instead of hacking his computer? –asked Leonnatos, crossing his arms behind his head.

 

- Oh, I do trust Phai, I don’t trust the rest of the world –said Alexander, his eyes on the screen—And Scipio was too amicable with Phai the day of our wedding.

 

- Because he is his friend! Phai married you, what else do you want?  –exclaimed Perdikkas.

 

He remembered the wedding day. It had been one hell of a party, and not only Perdikkas thought that, a bunch of people in the media though the same; and, as far as he recalled, Hephaistion was so happy that he couldn’t stop smiling the whole day; he looked as if all his dreams had come true.

 

- Why are you so happy? –had asked Perdikkas— After all you already lived with Alexander and things aren’t going to change much.

 

Hephaistion had smiled at him sweetly.

 

- Well, it’s quite simple, you see, now I can announce to the world that he is legally mine –he has said. 

 

Perdikkas shook his head watching Alexander behind the computer. He would never understand him.

 

The blond fell silent, crossed his arms and turned to look at Leonnatos.

 

- Leon, you work for a videogame company, I’m sure that if you can program battles you can hack a MacBook –said Alexander and Leonnatos shook his head emphatically.

 

- Oh no, I don’t want to take part in your madness –the blond leaned to the front, resting his arms on the table. 

 

- Leon, you know I’m going to figure out this password in one way or another, so you can make yourself useful or I would make your life miserable –said Alexander slowly in a sweet tone that gave Leonnatos the creeps. He knew the blond was talking seriously.

 

- Ok –his friend stood up, walking to the table like a sentenced man heading to the gallows— Just for the record, I was never here and I don’t know anything about this. 

 

- Fair enough –said Alexander, pushing a chair for him.

 

- Coward! –Perdikkas teased him and Leonnatos returned to punch his shoulder.

 

- I truly don’t know why Hephaistion married you –Kleitos shook his head, taking another beer—You are worst than the secret service, if Hephaistion it’s not careful you will end putting him a GPS, as if he were a pet. 

 

- Do you think he would notice? –asked Alexander and his friend turned to look at him at the same time with eyes wide open—It’s a joke –they weren’t so sure about that.

 

- There! –announced Leonnatos after a moment, successfully unlocking the password—Aw! He had a picture of you as his wallpaper –he cocked his head and raised one eyebrow—I don’t get it, are you naked? 

 

The blond took the computer away from Leonnatos and opened Hephaistion’s email.

 

- You know what would have been funny? If Hephaistion had a picture of Scipio naked as his wallpaper –said Kleitos making the rest roar with laughter until Alexander turned to look at them. That was enough to freeze them on their spots.

 

They heard voices outside the house and Peritas stood up and ran barking to the front door.

 

- Did you hear about the old hospital? –said Ptolemy, changing the subject to a safer ground.

 

- The one people say is haunted? –asked Perdikkas, stretching his arms up.

 

- The same, Thais said a group of 5 teenagers entered the place last week –said Ptolemy in a mysterious tone— They had to be taken to the psychiatric, one of them can’t talk; other committed suicide, he cut his veins and wrote with his own blood on the floor: “she is always watching you” And the other 3 have lost their minds.  

 

Leonnatos felt a cold sweat running down his spine.

 

- Is that true? –he asked scared.

 

- Of course it is! –exclaimed Ptolemy as if it were the most natural thing in the world to hear about haunted places who made people crazy.

 

- That’s just a bunch of crap –said Alexander, checking all the emails from Publius Scipio. He wrote almost daily to his beloved and that didn’t make the blond happy.

 

- No, it’s not –Ptolemy insisted—Want to bet? Let’s go to the hospital tomorrow night and see for ourselves.

 

Leonnatos swallowed hard.

 

Alexander lifted his head, looking directly to his friend and an evil smile curved his lips.

 

- Really? Do you want to go to this abandoned hospital? –he asked amused.

 

- Yes, and if I win and the place is really haunted, I’ll kiss Hephaistion –said Ptolemy and the blond laughed; but it was a malevolent laugh that gave his friends the creeps.

 

- You want to kiss Phai –the blond laughed as if that were the funniest thing he had ever heard—You are so funny, but that would only happen over my dead body –and his friends knew he meant every word. 

 

Ptolemy swallowed.

 

- Ok…mmm… if I win you will dress like a bunny and run like that on the main street –Perdikkas and Kleitos laughed.

 

- Fine –Alexander didn’t think it twice, he was sure of his victory but he would never bet one of the precious kisses of his beloved—But if I win you will play naked in our next concert.

 

- Ohh! Julius is going to love this –said Kleitos imagining the face of their manager; Julius always did the impossible to keep certain image of the band on the media, and Kleitos couldn’t wait to see what was he going to do when he heard about the bets.

 

He could already see the headlines: “The leader of the heavy metal band Reign runs in a bunny costume on the main street”

 

- Speaking of Julius, does your mother still have a crush on him? –asked Perdikkas, remembering the expression on Olympias face when they had introduced their manager to her. It was the first time they had seen that face on her.

 

- Oh please, I’m trying to forget that! –said Alexander taking both hands to his face—She calls me everyday because she wants his cell phone. 

 

- You are kidding! –exclaimed Leonnatos amused.

 

- I wish I were –the blond sighed.

 

- Be careful, of she will end giving Julius a love potion from her cauldron –said Ptolemy laughing.

 

- By the way, where is Phai? –asked Leonnatos, looking around, as if he expected his friend to appear in any moment.

 

- Still at work…did you know that Scipio is dating a guy name Gaius Gracchus? –asked Alexander, reading one particular long email—He even sent Phai a picture.   

 

- There! Do you still think Phai is cheating on you with Scipio? –exclaimed Perdikkas.

 

- I never said I thought he was cheating on me, I just don’t trust this Scipio guy –said Alexander, opening another email.

 

- He lives in Rome! –exclaimed Perdikkas when the blond’s cell phone rang. 

 

The phone was resting on the sofa next to Kleitos, and his friend threw it to Alexander.

 

- It’s Phai –said the blond, reading the text message—A moron hit his car and he is coming late…–he stood up—I’m going with him, so when are we going to the “haunted” hospital? –he asked while looking for his jacket.

 

- Tomorrow night, bring Phai with you –said Ptolemy and Alexander left them.