The Emperor's Elephant(100)

‘Really!’ Musa’s eyebrows arched in surprise on the great egg-shaped face. ‘History tells us that every great ruler tries to look into the future. The Greeks consulted their seers, the Romans opened the entrails of chickens and goats.’

I paused before replying, not wanting to make Carolus seem too credulous. ‘Carolus believes in his dreams.’

‘Ah!’ said Musa. His tone managed to be understanding and disapproving at the same time. ‘And how does he know what the dreams mean?’

‘He consults with family and his council, and . . .’ here I hesitated – ‘there was a time when he had access to a Book of Dreams.’

‘I expect you mean the Oneirokritikon,’ said Musa casually.

Osric and I exchanged glances. It was startling to come across Artimedorus’s work in Baghdad, although our copy had been an Arabic translation from the original Greek.

‘There’s a rumour that you’ve brought a book from Carolus as a present to the Commander of the Faithful,’ said Musa. ‘I hope it is not the Oneirokritikon, because I’m fairly sure we already have a copy.’ He levered his great bulk to his feet and walked to the book shelves, and within moments had pulled down a volume. ‘Yes, here it is.’ He looked up at us.

‘No, no,’ I hastened to assure him. ‘We are carrying a book of beasts, a bestiary.’

‘Our librarian will be pleased.’ Musa’s sardonic tone indicated that he was not on good terms with the gaunt librarian. ‘He already has a team working on a new volume of natural history, a complete list of the animals and plants mentioned in the various texts we own. A couple of artists are drawing new illustrations. Nadim Jaffar ordered the book as a present for the caliph on his birthday next year. Doubtless your bestiary, as you call it, will be placed in this library once the caliph has received it formally from you. It will be an additional resource for us and much appreciated.’ He half turned, about to replace the Oneirokritikon on the shelves.

‘I wonder if it would be possible to check something that Artimedorus wrote?’ I asked.

Musa swung round to face us. ‘Of course. You read Greek?’

I shook my head, and thought it wiser not to say that Osric and I had once had our own copy, and still kept a few pages. ‘I had a couple of dreams on the journey here. They might be significant. Perhaps the Oneirokritikon can offer an explanation.’

‘What were they?’ asked Musa.

‘I dreamed of a man covered with bees and, in another dream, someone was climbing inside the body of a dead elephant.’

It took Musa some time to find the first reference, then he read out: ‘“To see a man covered in bees, who is not a farmer, is to foretell his death.” ’

I was aware of the accusing glance that Osric flicked in my direction.

Musa was leafing further through the book. Then he read, ‘ “If one dreams of a person breaking the skin and entering the body of a dead elephant it means that person will one day derive great riches.” ’

He closed the book. ‘The problem with the Oneirokritikon is that far too many of the explanations deal with making or losing money. Very Greek . . .’ He gave a throaty chuckle.

He replaced the Oneirokritikon on the shelf. ‘And naturally the author covers himself against mistakes.’ He thought for a moment and then quoted, ‘“A dream that comes through a gate of horn is false; a dream that comes through a gate of ivory is true.” ’

His fleshy shoulders moved in a dismissive shrug. ‘What on earth can that really mean?’

He reached down another volume from further along the same shelf. ‘I don’t suppose the librarian would approve, but we have an hour or so before he comes to collect you – why don’t I illustrate how astrology is more reliable than dreams when indicating the future?’

He brought the large, heavy book across and opened it on the desk.

From where I sat I could see that the page was covered with columns of numbers, various symbols and drawings with lines and circles that vaguely recalled the geometric patterns in the courtyard.

‘I’m no expert like old Yakub outside. I just dabble in these things. But if you tell me some of the key dates in your journey I may be able to put together a simple prediction of how it will end. For a start, I need to know the date when you started on your journey. Also the dates and places of your births.’

Osric and I provided the information as best we could, and Musa carefully wrote it down. He then spent a long time turning back and forth the pages of the great book and making calculations on a sheet of parchment. Finally, after a good twenty minutes, he sat back. ‘Interesting,’ he said. ‘I’ve calculated – very roughly, you understand – the star signs, the houses of the planets, mansions of the moon, both on your birth dates and when you began your journey, how the constellations varied along your path, and the timing of your arrival here.’