The Temple of the Muses(55)

These were sobering words, and the men in the hall were Roman enough to understand their import. Whether in business, government or the legions, Romans were accustomed to thinking in terms of the world rather than just a tiny corner of it as most people did.

“What about Antonius in Macedonia?” someone asked.

Creticus snorted. “First off, the Macedonians beat him. Last word we had, he hadn’t yet been relieved. It’s a bad time of year to move troops by sea, and Macedonia is a long way from here by land.”

“Then what is to be done?” said the book exporter

“If you men feel all that concerned,” Creticus said, “perhaps now would be a good time to take a vacation from Alexandria. Cyprus is a pleasant place, as is Rhodes or Crete. Take your families there and leave your business interests in the hands of your freedmen.”

“But we cannot just leave!” protested Fundanius. “We are men of substantial property. Our homes and warehouses will be looted and burned. Most of our freedmen are Romans, too. They will be killed.”

“Gentlemen,” Creticus said, “there is no need to grow so alarmed. Events may not take so grievous a turn. I shall continue my efforts to get Ptolemy to take action against this absurd cult.” He rose and, on that unsatisfactory note, the audience ended.

“How is Ptolemy really acting?” I asked when they were gone.

“Like a flute-player,” Creticus said. “He refuses to believe that this activity presages anything important. He says he has instructed Berenice to have nothing further to do with Ataxas, but I doubt that bubblehead pays much heed to the old drunk.”

“Have you sounded him out about that arsenal on the lake?”

“I have. He professes total ignorance and insists that Achillas is the most loyal of his servants. Funny thing about that …”

“What?”

“Well, whenever he spoke of Achillas, he had the unmistakable air of a man who speaks of someone who terrifies him.”

“Achillas is overweening and ambitious. Even little Cleopatra says he and Memnon behave insolently, and she’s only ten years old. What do you think are the chances of Achillas pulling a coup?”

Creticus cogitated for a while. “The Egyptians are resistant to any sort of change. There hasn’t been a change of dynasty since the first Ptolemy. They don’t like rule by non-natives, but they haven’t much choice in that. Before the Macedonians it was the Persians and even the Nubians. Conquest by Alexander wasn’t so bad, since they think he was a god. In any case, they’re used to the Ptolemies now, and they don’t want to see anyone else on the throne. Achillas is just another Macedonian upstart to them. Even if he married one of the princesses, they wouldn’t recognize him as legitimate ruler.”

“And with the nomes in a state of unrest, the whole country could dissolve in civil war.”

“That makes it all the more unlikely that he’s planning a takeover, doesn’t it?” Creticus said.

“If he could build a reputation as a great general,” I pointed out, “he would be more palatable to the Egyptians. And the only people left for him to fight are the Romans. How many of our recent wars have begun with an uprising of the local populace against Romans?”

“Most of them,” he admitted.

“Mithridates did it, and so have others. It’s what will precipitate the war with Gaul, if that comes. The local king or chief or whatever sends out agitators to stir up bad feelings against the local Romans—never difficult to do at the best of times. The next thing you know, there is riot and general massacre. By the time people have come to their senses, it’s too late. They’re at war with Rome and they have no choice but to support the leader who encouraged their folly in the first place.”

“It’s effective,” Creticus allowed. “The Roman public is always for war when foreigners slaughter Roman civilians. If Egypt wasn’t so damned rich and tempting, I wouldn’t mind a quick war of conquest myself. But it’s the wrong time for a war in Egypt. Macedonia’s a fiasco and we’re preparing for war in Gaul. Even Roman legions can get spread too thin, and there would be that many more veterans to settle.”

“Keep working on Ptolemy,” I advised. “If he’s afraid of Achillas, he might not be upset to see the man out of the way.”

“What are you suggesting?” Creticus demanded.

“Just that one less troublesome, subversive soldier would be infinitely preferable to riot and war, both civil and foreign.”

“Why, Decius, I never took you for an assassin.” There was something akin to family pride in his voice.