Gary Corby - The Pericles Commission

I said, “Pericles, you should not assume everyone thinks the same as you about the state of Athens. Political assassination happens; we’re looking at it right now. I’d prefer not to have to say ‘I Told You So,’ while pulling an arrow out of your chest, or a dagger from your back. At least arrange for some bodyguards.”

“Certainly not! What would the people think? However, Nicolaos, to appease you I will avoid dark alleys, and ignore dubious summonses to meetings in lonely corners of Athens. Now, tell me of my father.”

“If you’d asked me two days ago, I’d have sworn he did it. Now, I’m not so sure.”

Pericles long face brightened to a smile. “You have evidence in his favor!”

“No, I have too many suspects, all of whom could be killers.” Pericles’ face fell once more.

I said, “Ephialtes left his mistress Euterpe that morning. She says she doesn’t know where he was going, but we have only her word for that. Of course it’s ridiculous to think she could have pulled the bow, but she could easily have sent a man.”

“A man willing to commit murder just because she asks? Is that realistic?”

“I see you haven’t met her.”

“It sounds like I should.”

“You see, Pericles, only someone who knew Ephialtes was going to be on the Rock of the Areopagus at that time could have killed him. Euterpe could have known the time and place well in advance. She’s one of the few.”

“But surely she would be the last person in the world to want him dead. Even his wife has a better motive.”

“Yes, that annoying little detail gets in the way of my otherwise sound theory. If Euterpe is behind a murder plot, then I need a very good reason for it.”

“What about the wife then?”

“I hadn’t thought about her.”

“Why not?”

“Because I can’t get near to question her, because it’s unlikely she might have known where he was going, and because she doesn’t have Euterpe’s outstanding powers of…er…persuasion to cause a man to act for her.”

“But she might have family. What about a male relative avenging insults to her?”

“Pericles, this doesn’t sound promising to me.”

“But it’s possible, isn’t it?”

“Yes,” I reluctantly conceded. “But why reach for the top of the tree when there is low-hanging fruit to be plucked?”

“Your meaning?”

“Your father. He knew the time and place. He has the motive, he had the opportunity.”

Pericles leaned against the wall and shut his eyes. “Could I bring my own father to trial for murder? Should I? Would it count as patricide?”

“You would have to ask a priest that, or a philosopher.”

“Perhaps I’ll have to ask Archestratus to act for me.”

“On that subject, Pericles, what would you do if Archestratus is the killer?”

Pericles opened one eye. “Are you saying he might be?”

“He did have a reason for wanting Ephialtes dead. Look at the way he’s behaved since. I think he already has more followers than you do, Pericles. You need to watch out for him. You don’t seem to be doing much to build your position.”

Pericles laughed and said, “Ah, Nicolaos, Nicolaos! How we do change! It wasn’t so long ago, my young friend, a mere four days, that you had to ask me my name. Now you are my political advisor!”

Our meandering had taken us close to where the fishwives were screeching at the tops of their voices, the aroma of warm fish was not enticing, and somewhere close by someone was cooking goat meat in garlic. Pericles screwed up his face and said, “Come, let’s go for a walk elsewhere.”

He guided me south along the Panathenaic Way, away from the crowd. Archestratus was speaking to some men on the other side of the Agora. As I looked in that direction a face surfaced among the sea of heads, and I thought I glimpsed the young man who had disappeared at Xanthippus’ house and then Euterpe’s, but I couldn’t be sure. I said to Pericles, “Wait here,” and pushed my way through the crowd. But either I was wrong, or the man had spotted me yet again and disappeared, easy enough to do in the noisy, busy crowd. In frustration, I elbowed my way back to Pericles, who lifted an eyebrow but chose not to ask me what I’d been doing. We continued our walk.

Where Pericles walked, men followed. A few came up to Pericles to discuss the killing, urging him to take action. Some had other issues.

“Tell us true, Pericles, will you put your hand on the leadership of the people, or won’t you? Do it now!”

“Pericles, there isn’t enough corn in Athens, and what there is I can’t afford. My children starve while farmers send their corn to richer markets. What can be done about it?”

“Pericles, the tax on imports is ruinous.”

“Pericles, what do you say to Archestratus leading the people?”

“Pericles, my neighbor is moving the boundary markers between our farms…”

“Pericles, they say you saw your father murder Ephialtes, is it true?”

Pericles abruptly stopped, and turned to face the crowd. His piercing, intelligent eyes looked down on them. They fell silent.

“Was Ephialtes a tyrant, that the city should collapse in a heap without him?” Pericles singled out the importer. “You there! The taxes are the same they were yesterday, and the day before, and the day before that. So why do you come to me now? Taxes are a question for the Ecclesia.” Pericles pointed to the farmer. “There is a court for grievances such as yours. If the boundary markers are moved, they will be put back, and your neighbor fined. And while you are about it, sell some of your corn to this man whose children hunger. Perhaps we need a law banning export of corn while any Athenian starves.” He looked over the people, who now seemed abashed at the way they had thronged about him. “Neither Archestratus nor I can be your leader, because in our city the people lead themselves. Are you sheep without a shepherd, or are you the men of Athens, living in the democracy of your own making? Talk to each other instead of to me.”

Pericles turned to go, but hesitated, then said, “And for the future, I will advise the people of Athens as best I can.”

After that we walked silently for some time. We came to the spot where Ephialtes had fallen, and gazed awhile at Ephialtes’ blood, which still stained some of the small rocks.

I asked, “What will you do, Pericles, if Archestratus is the killer?”

He hesitated. “Do you have anything against Archestratus other than his ambition?”

I had failed to discover where Archestratus had been that morning, but I wasn’t going to admit that.

“Not yet.”

“I want you to forget about Archestratus. Your job is to find the link to the Areopagus that we both know is there.”

“No Pericles, my commission is to find the killer, whoever it might be.”

“It’s the same thing,” he said.

Much against my will, I was forced to recall the words of Archestratus, that Pericles might be using me to deliver the answer he wanted.

“Pericles, why did you choose me for this investigation?”

“You pick a strange time to ask the question. I explained at the time: you impressed me when we found the body, you are intelligent and energetic, and you don’t panic in a crisis.” He raised an eyebrow and with an arch tone said, “Are you saying you want to resign your commission?”

“No!” I said, suddenly afraid he might be about to take it from me.

“Then trust me on this, Nicolaos, you are wasting time on extraneous issues.”

“There are some who might call that interference.”

“Let us say instead that I am directing your energies in the most fruitful direction.”

I took a deep breath. “I will pay close attention to any hint of a link to the Areopagus, as well as other suspects that come my way.”