Simon Hawke - The Cleopatra Crisis

Drummond and Andell had both hated the idea, as had Travers.They thought it was much too dangerous, but Andre had overruled them, and totheir surprise. Priest and Delaney had hacked her up. The timing. they hadsaid, was too good to pass up. They thought it was a chance worth taking. AsDrummond and Andell were conducted into Cleopatra’s presence, each of themtried to keep his nervousness from showing. If this goes wrong. Andell thought.we could all be dead in the next few minutes. “Stop! What have you there?”

“A gift from Caesar,” said Andell, trying to keep his voicesteady. “For Queen Cleopatra.”

A tall, well-built man approached them. His head and facewere both shaved and he was dressed in Roman style. in an immaculate white togaworn over a gold-embroidered tunic. He was slim. but his muscular definitionspoke of a man who was given to sport and exercise rather than luxury. He had,thought Andell, the bearing of a soldier. He frowned as he met Andell’s gaze.Andell tried to keep his expression neutral. he lowered his eyes. as a slavewould be expected to do.

“Have you examined it?” the man asked the two guards who hadconducted them inside.

The guard hesitated. “No, Apollodorus. But if it is fromCaesar..”

“Fool!” Apollodorus said. “Set it down at once!”

Suddenly Andell heard a throaty. feminine laugh.

“Apollodorus. do you not recall what day this is?”

Andell glanced up and sucked in his breath sharply. It washis first close glimpse of Cleopatra. Her hair was jet-black, worn in theEgyptian style. long and straight down to her shoulder. on the back and sides,in bangs over her forehead. She was a small woman, delicately framed, with anarrow waist, full breasts, and long, shapely legs. The thin, silky white shiftshe wore was diaphanous and it clearly outlined the lush curves of her body. Herface was sharp-featured, with a graceful, Macedonian beauty and her eyes weredark and striking, outlined in kohl and heavily shadowed.

“He remembered,” she said with a smile.

“Caesar’?” said Apollodorus. frowning. “Remembered what?”

“Do you not recall, Apollodorus?” she said. “It was on thisvery day that you first brought me secretly into Caesar’s presence, concealedwithin a carpet. And now he sends me one, to commemorate the occasion of ourfirst meeting.”

It should still have been carefully examined.” said Apollodorus.still frowning. “We do not know it came from Caesar. You have many enemies inRome. my Queen. We cannot be too careful.”

“You worry too much. Apollodorus.” she replied. “Do you reallythink that some assassin would dare attempt to murder me here in this veryhouse, with all your guards’? And with Caesar’s soldiers outside? I am as safehere as I would be in my own palace.” She turned to Drummond and Andell. “Unrollit. Let me see.”

Andell bent down and untied the fastenings. then he andDrummond unrolled the carpet. The guards gasped and reached for their swords asAndre was revealed, rolled up inside the rug. Cleopatra stared in astonishment.

“What is the meaning of this?” said Apollodorus angrily.

Then Cleopatra laughed and clapped her hands. “Oh. it is wonderful!Do you not see? How witty of him! Caesar has sent me a slave girl as a gift!And he has presented her in the same manner in which I arrived to him!”

“I hope that you will not take offense, Your Highness,”Andre said, rising to her feet. “but I am not a gift from Caesar. Nor am I aslave.”

Cleopatra frowned. “I do not understand.”

“Who are you?” Apollodorus said. “Explain yourself this instant!”

“I am Antonia, wife to Marcus Septimus,” said Andre.

“Septimus?” said Cleopatra. “You mean Caesar’s friend?”

“That is Lucius Septimus,” said Andre. “My husband, Marcus,is his brother. These two men are his slaves. To be truthful, my husband knowsnothing of this. I fear that he would not approve. But I had heard so muchabout you and I wanted so very much to meet you! I had heard it said that youfirst came to Caesar in this manner when you met in Egypt and I struck upon itas a way to meet you. I thought that you might be amused. but I had no ideathat your first meeting with Caesar took place on this very day. I apologize ifmy little ruse had made you angry. Such was not my intent.”

“This is insufferable!” said Apollodorus. “You must leavethis house at once!”

“She shall do no such thing,” said Cleopatra.

“But. my Queen …”

Cleopatra smiled. “Do you not see. Apollodorus? It is anomen. Since I first came to Rome. I have had no one save yourself, my guards,and my female slaves for company. Except when Caesar comes, I am always lonely.And, unlike other Romans, who merely suffer my presence, this woman has soughtout to meet me. The manner in which she chose to do it shows cleverness andwit. No. Apollodorus, she shall stay and dine with me this evening.”

“But, my Queen,” protested Apollodorus, “we know nothing ofthis woman!” ‘“We know she is the wife of the brother of Caesar’s closestfriend.” said Cleopatra. “Septimus has always treated me with courtesy,deference, and kindness. Caesar’s regard for him speaks for his quality. Iwould expect no less from his brother.”

“But we do not know his brother.” Apollodorus persisted.

“Then we shall arrange to meet him,” Cleopatra said. Shesmiled mockingly. “Or do you believe that he has sent his wife to murder me Ido not know what has come over you, Apollodorus. You see conspiracieseverywhere. Come. Antonia. Pay no mind to my servant. He is merely overzealousin his duties.”

“Perhaps he would like to search me, to make certain that Ihave no weapons,” Andre said.

Cleopatra laughed. “Your wit appears to be a ready weapon.”she said. “Come, sit with me. Apollodorus, we shall have some wine.”

“As you wish. my Queen.” Apollodorus said, though he wasobviously displeased.

Cleopatra led Andre over to a couple of couches and a smalltable.

“I must admit,” said Cleopatra. “that I am disappointed thatCaesar did not choose to commemorate our meeting with this gesture, butdoubtless, he has much on his mind now that he is preparing to leave on newcampaigns. I fear he has forgotten. Still, I am pleased you came to see me inthis fashion. It has added spice to a most dreary day.”

“I was afraid that you might be angry at such an intrusion,”Andre said.

“I might have been,” said Cleopatra with a smile, “but Ihave too many other things to occupy my emotions these days.”

“What things’?”

“My son. Caesarian. who is growing up more Roman thanEgyptian; my servants and my guards, who bore me; Apollodorus, who stifles me;Romans. who despise me.. and Caesar, who maddens me when he is absent, butwhose presence fills my heart with lightness. But tell me about yourself.Antonia. What made you want to come and see me?”

“I was curious,” said Andre. “My husband says that it is myworst trait. I had heard that you were very beautiful and that your beauty hadmade Caesar your captive. Ever since I had arrived in Rome. I have heard oflittle else but you and I was seized with a compulsion to meet you.”

“You do not live in Rome, then?” Cleopatra asked.

“We live in Cumae,” Andre explained, reciting her cover. “Ihad never before visited Rome. Marcus came to visit Lucius. as they had notseen each other since Lucius left for the wars. We came with our friend FabiusQuintullus. Marcus, Lucius, and Fabius have been friends since childhood.Marcus is very interested in Caesar’s Gallic campaigns. He thinks that Caesaris a great general. Perhaps even greater than Alexander.”

Cleopatra smiled “Caesar would love to hear that.” she said.“only do not say ‘perhaps.’ Tell him that he has eclipsed the fame of Alexanderand you will make a friend for life.”