The Princess and the Pirates(28)

“Not likely,” Silvanus said. “There are plenty of wealthy merchants reeling home drunk every night. No idiot is going to attack a band with trained bodyguards for what might be in their purses.”

“The whole city knows you’re here to crush the pirates,” Gabinius said. “Most likely that’s what they were—pirates who wanted to get you first.”

“Or thugs who wanted to ingratiate themselves with the pirates,” Silvanus put in.

“Or hirelings of some merchant who has been getting rich receiving pirate loot,” I said. “Yes, the list of possibilities is a long one. Political motives, anyone?”

“Cleopatra wanting to do Rome a dirty turn?” Silvanus hazarded. “I’m still not clear on why she came here in the first place, and as her host I can’t very well ask probing questions.”

“I think that very unlikely,” I said.

Gabinius grinned maliciously. “She got you out into the street at night, didn’t she? None of this night’s little adventure was your idea, if we’re to believe you. She could’ve set the whole thing up.”

That blow struck home. No man likes to admit he’s been manipulated, especially by a mere girl, however royal. “Apollodorus killed one of them,” I protested lamely.

“The boy may not have been in on it,” Silvanus said. “In any case, he’ll automatically kill anyone who gets too close to his mistress in a situation like that.”

“Or she may’ve told him to kill one just to take suspicion away from her,” Gabinius pointed out with some relish. “Maybe she figured seven would be plenty to deal with a half-drunk senator and his slave. She didn’t bargain on that ugly villain you hired. Nobody expected him to fight like a damned champion gladiator.”

It was all too true. “Well, there’s plenty of suspicion to go around,” I admitted.

“Feeling so keen about taking her out with you now, Senator?” Silvanus asked.

“Absolutely,” I said, enjoying their perplexed expressions. “From now on I want her right where I can see her.”

Gabinius laughed, that great Roman laugh that sounds like swords banging on shields. “You’re Caesar’s friend, all right! That’s the way he thinks. I hear he keeps the sons of Gallic chiefs he’s killed in his bodyguard.”

“Senator,” Silvanus said, “I know you need rest and you must be at your ships early, but bear with me a moment and let me explain a few things about the situation here.”

“Please do.”

“When we annexed Cyprus it was partly to sort out the usual dynastic bungling of the Ptolemies, but partly, also, to tighten the Roman hold over Egypt. It has not yet been decided what to do with Cyprus. We may wish to keep it. As a naval base, it would give us effective control of the whole eastern seaboard. Or we may decide, graciously, to give it back to Ptolemy. Or, perhaps, to his son, in recognition of certain treaty clauses and concessions.”

“I understand all that,” I said. “We’ve been propping up weak kings in Egypt for generations.”

“I say conquer the place, make a province of it, and be done with it,” Gabinius growled.

“You would,” Silvanus observed. “If you were to, as you almost did a short time ago, how long before Caesar and Pompey dropped everything, pooled their strength, and marched against you?”

“About a day, maybe two.”

Egypt was so rich that no Roman general would stand by to see another take the place. The man who conquered Egypt would immediately be the richest, most powerful man in the world, richer than Crassus. It was bad enough when Sertorius set himself up as independent ruler of Spain. At least he was no great threat there. A general with his legions based in Egypt could aspire to conquer Rome and become, for all practical purposes, the ruler of the whole world.

“So you see, Senator Metellus, my position here is not just that of Roman governor over a mixed pack of Greeks and Phoenicians. There is a balancing act going on here. Future relations between Rome and Egypt are in that balance.”

“I spoke with Cato before I came here,” I said. “He said he set things in order with no trouble.”

“That’s Cato,” Gabinius said. “And he had little concern save the local population and local affairs. He gave them a taste of the Roman whip and, as usual, they settled down. That was while I was busy putting old Ptolemy Auletes’ fat rump back on his throne. Now things are different.”

“When Caesar finishes in Gaul,” Silvanus said, “all of Rome’s attention will be turned eastward. There are matters to settle with Parthia, and something will have to be done about those squabbling Jewish princes. They’re disrupting trade and foreign relations in a crucial part of the world. We’ll want Ptolemy’s support in those operations: supplies, auxiliaries, garrison troops—he has them all to spare. So please try not to get his favorite daughter killed, even if she did conspire to have you murdered.”