Zama

by Dan Armstrong

  Sophonisba finally smiled with all her dazzling radiance, increasing her beauty and further disarming the young king. “If I am to be your plunder, then may it be in my own bed.” She took him by the hand and led him up the palace stairs to the royal chambers.

  CHAPTER 90

  Sophonisba had enchanted Syphax with her beauty and her capacity as a lover solely because of political necessity, meaning every kiss, every act of love was faked and her passions forced. That was not the same woman who gave herself to Masinissa with pleasure, real emotion, and a passion equal to his. The new king and the deposed queen surrendered completely to love, the tender and the animal, a love they had both felt three years earlier, but had never had the chance to express to each other. If ever there was a night given to the throes of Eros, if ever there was a night that the gods might blush, this was that night.

  Many hours after disappearing into the royal bedchamber, Masinissa lay awake in the tangled bed sheets with Sophonisba asleep beside him. Lit with love, but also equally troubled, he climbed from the bed and crossed the huge room to one of the windows that gazed out over the city of his youth.

  Sophonisba roused from her sleep and immediately sensed Masinissa’s absence. She sat up, and looking around the room, saw him before the window. “Masinissa,” she said softly, “why are you not by my side?”

  Masinissa turned to face her, but said nothing.

  Sophonisba slid from the bed, and wearing only moon shadows, joined him at the window. “What troubles you on such a glorious night, my love?”

  Grim and silent, Masinissa reached out with his hand and stroked her cheek. She eased into his arms and pressed herself against him, then looking up into his eyes, that were no more than shallow caverns in the darkness, hesitantly queried, “Was I not what you had hoped?”

  Masinissa ran his hand down her back to her hindquarters. “You were more than I imagined, Sophonisba. More than I believed possible. No, that’s not what worries me tonight.”

  “You’re concerned about protecting me from the Romans.” She gripped him tighter, as though it would make them permanently one.

  Masinissa sighed. “I have been awake now for some time puzzling over what I might do. Should I hide you in the palace? Should I tell the Romans that I had you executed?” He took her by the waist and held her at arm’s length, appraising her beauty, her skin opalescent in the pale light of the moon. He ran a finger over her lips, then down her neck to her left breast. “There is only one answer.” He ran his finger tip around her nipple and watched it rise with his touch. “We must be married now, before the Roman forces arrive. Then you are officially my queen and no one, not even the Roman Senate, can take you away from me.”

  Sophonisba reached up with both hands and pulled his face close to hers. “Yes, to be your wife is my greatest desire. It can’t happen too soon.” She kissed him on the mouth. They sank down to the floor in each others’ arms and made love yet again.

  An hour later, Masinissa sent one of his guards to the dwelling of Cirta’s highest priest. With only his personal bodyguards and Sophonisba’s two maids as witnesses, the lovers were wed. They shared a breakfast of pomegranates and figs, then watched the sunrise from their bedroom window. Sophonisba had Felicia brought to the room so she could introduce her to Masinissa. He stroked the cheetah as he would a loyal dog, and the big cat took to him immediately. Felicia lay on the floor and watched passively when the newlyweds climbed back between the silken sheets to consummate that which they both believed secured them as one for life.

  CHAPTER 91

  Late in the afternoon of that same day, while the royal couple dozed in each others’ arms, a loud pounding on the bedroom door shook them from their slumber. Masinissa abruptly sat up and shouted, “Who dares to interrupt the king?”

  “It is I, Laelius,” replied the Roman tribune with ten armed soldiers standing at his side.

  “Go away, Laelius. I’m not available at the moment.” Masinissa turned to Sophonisba to reassure her.

  “I have heard things that are upsetting, Masinissa,” Laelius called back forcefully. “I order you to open this door immediately.”

  “A king sees who he wants when he wants to see them!” answered Masinissa, his ire growing. “Go away. I will meet you in the great hall when I am ready.”

  Laelius turned to his men and pointed to one of the heavy bronze stanchions in the hallway used for holding a torch. Two of the soldiers took hold of it like a battering ram and slammed it into the door.

  “You risk your life to enter this room!” screamed Masinissa, leaping from the bed and grabbing one of the swords from the wall.

  The soldiers rammed the stanchion into the door again and again until the wood splintered and the door fell from its hinges. Laelius strode through the opening. His men remained outside peering into the vast chamber.

  Masinissa stood naked in the center of the bedroom, his sword upraised. “How dare you enter the king’s bedchambers? Out or your life!” Behind him Sophonisba lay covered in the bed sheets.

  Laelius looked around the room assessing the situation. Masinissa glared at him, furious at the intrusion.

  Laelius boldly approached the bed and stared down at Sophonisba as though she were a common whore. “If this is Syphax’s queen, Masinissa, she is the property of Rome.”

  “This woman is no one’s property!” shouted Masinissa. “She is my wife. We were married last night.”

  Laelius ignored him and took Sophonisba by the arm.

  Like that—Masinissa’s saber was across his neck. “Let go of her, Laelius, if you wish to keep your head. You have no authority here.”

  The ten legionnaires pushed through the broken door into the room, their javelins pointed at Masinissa.

  Laelius glared at the Numidia king. “Have you lost your senses, man! Take heed of what you’re doing. The future of your kingdom lies before you. You can’t possibly want Rome as your enemy.”

  Seething, Masinissa wouldn’t back down. “Stand away from my queen or I will kill these men as well as you!”

  “No, Masinissa,” pleaded Sophonisba, pulling from Laelius’ grip and running to her husband’s side with only her long hair to cover her. “There has been too much bloodshed already.”

  Outside the room Masinissa’s body guards could be heard coming down the hall.

  Laelius shook his head at his comrade. “You are making a grave mistake, Masinissa. Married or not, this woman is Roman plunder.”

  Masinissa stared him down. “Rome may have Carthage, but Cirta and all within are mine. Get out.”

  Laelius took a quick glance over his shoulder as the Numidian guards swarmed up behind his men. “If you won’t listen to me, then you must face the wrath of Scipio. He will not be pleased.” He appraised the naked woman at Masinissa side. “We leave for the coast in two days,” he said sharply. “Hopefully by then you will have had your fill of this Carthaginian trash and regained your senses.”

  He abruptly turned. The guards at the door parted and he strode out of the room with his men behind.

  CHAPTER 92

  Meanwhile in south Italy, the situation remained stagnant. Hannibal had occupied the south for nearly six years as though it were his own private colony. But desperately needing reinforcements, he hadn’t entered into a pitched battle in over two years. There had been minor conflicts, skirmishes between foraging parties, and the loss or gain of a few minor towns, but with neither side forcing the issue, Hannibal’s only hope for relief was his brother Mago.

  Unfortunately Mago remained in the north, blocked from coming south by four Roman legions. He was no closer to his brother than when he had arrived two years earlier, although he had assembled a force of some thirty thousand soldiers and was itching to make a move. Midsummer he was confronted in the Po Valley by two armies commanded by Marcus Cornelius and Quinctilius Varus, a force totaling nearly forty thousand. Tired of preserving his men for a reunion with his brother, Mago accepted the challenge.
/>
  The battle went back and forth all day until Mago received a spear in his thigh and was carried from the battlefield. Without his leadership, his troops, almost entirely barbarian mercenaries, gave way, and Mago, watching the battle from a stretcher, was forced to call for a general retreat. Mago and his surviving army huddled in the security of their camp until the middle of the night, when they quietly packed their baggage and left for Genoa. He was met there by envoys from Carthage ordering him to return to Africa.

  Hannibal received these same orders from a second set of envoys two days later. Although Hannibal was furious, he had heard of Scipio’s victories in Africa and reluctantly accepted his fate.

  CHAPTER 93

  In times of great happiness or deep depression, Sophonisba sought peace through communication with the goddess Tanit, Mistress of the Moon. On first coming to Cirta, she had instructed a trusted slave to build a temple to Tanit in the palace garden. It became her sanctuary, her place to be alone to pray or write poetry. The day after Masinissa left with Laelius, she went to the temple to contemplate her recent change in fortune and pray that Masinissa’s meeting with Scipio would go well.

  Gaia found her there that afternoon. “My lady,” the slave whispered, entering the temple cella where Sophonisba knelt in prayer.

  Sophonisba could be sharp when disturbed, but she faced her maid with a smile. “Yes, Gaia, what is it?”

  “I’m sorry to interrupt you, my lady, but this is the only place,” she looked out to the garden, “where I can speak to you in private.” Gaia was sixteen years old. Four years younger than Sophonisba.

  “Come closer, Gaia. What is it you want to say?”

  “I saw it on the ship when we were out at sea.”

  “Coming from Carthage?”

  Gaia nodded anxiously. “Nycea pushed her over. I saw it.”

  “Nycea pushed Zanthia overboard that night?”

  “Yes, I saw her do it.”

  “Why didn’t you say something?”

  “I was afraid of Vangue.”

  Sophonisba had not been happy that Syphax had brought this man to Cirta. She had said nothing at the time, but now found her ire rising. “For what reason are you afraid of Vangue?”

  “He told Nycea to do it—on orders from Syphax. The king used Vangue and Nycea as his eyes and ears in your chambers.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me this sooner? Didn’t you know you could trust me with this information?”

  “I was afraid I would be killed if I said anything, but now that the king is gone, I thought you needed to know.”

  Sophonisba was furious, but contained her anger. “Thank you, Gaia, for telling me this. Perhaps it’s time I found a new handmaiden.”

  Sophonisba dismissed Gaia, then prayed to Tanit for guidance.

  The next morning Sophonisba went down to the great hall to conduct the business of the day. She enjoyed the work and had taken care of the kingdom’s affairs when Syphax had been gone. Now she did it as a habit and wanted to share this duty with Masinissa when he returned. Gaia and Nycea always accompanied her to the great hall and stood behind her throne. Felicia lay at her feet on a leash. Vangue was also there, presuming to be her advisor.

  After receiving several wedding gifts from local merchants, Sophonisba attended to the business of paying bills and collecting fees. In the process of reviewing the numbers with her accountants, a slave dealer was announced by the guards. Sophonisba stopped what she was doing and had the man brought to the throne.

  The man was a Cretan with deep-set, unfeeling eyes. His dark hair was slicked down across his head to cover his baldness. “Your Highness,” he said with a deep bow, “you requested my presence. How can I help you?”

  “I would like you to sell three slaves for me.”

  “It would be an honor, Your Highness.”

  Gaia and Nycea exchanged a look. Who might she be selling?

  Sophonisba glanced over her shoulder at the two women. “These two young Numidians, and the ex-king’s attendant.” She pointed at Vangue, who suddenly started looking around like she must be mistaken.

  “What do you mean? I’m not a slave any longer. I can’t be sold,” snapped Vangue, stepping up close to Sophonisba.

  Felicia didn’t hesitate. She leapt at Vangue and took hold of him by the neck. He fell to floor as the cat continued to go at him. Sophonisba abruptly stood, but took a moment to let the cat tear at Vangue before yanking the cheetah off him with the leash. With Felicia pulling at her lead, snarling and snapping at Vangue, the slave dealer came forward with two of the queen’s guards and had the Egyptian dragged away.

  “I don’t expect much for them,” Sophonisba said coldly to the slave dealer, as she handed Felicia’s leash to a guard. “They are short on loyalty. Make an easy deal—to a harsh master. I will make it worth your while.”

  Gaia fell to her knees at the queen’s feet. “Oh why, my lady, have you chosen to sell me when it was Nycea that killed Zanthia?”

  Sophonisba glared at the young woman. “A loyal slave would have told me right away—even at the risk of her life. Now get out of my sight.”

  CHAPTER 94

  Laelius, just back from Cirta, went straight to Scipio’s headquarters outside Tunis. Scipio lounged on a divan, wearing a toga and slippers, and reading from a scroll, when Laelius entered. I stood beside the map table, detailing a map of Carthage. Scipio sat up quickly, then rose from the divan.

  “Laelius, your safe return is a welcome sight. What news do you bring?”

  “We defeated Syphax outside Cirta, sir. He’s here now in shackles. Cirta fell without resistance. Carthage’s only ally is no more.”

  Scipio embraced his longtime friend and advisor. “This is the news I have been waiting for. Without Syphax, Carthage is defeated.” Scipio paused and stood back from Laelius. “There’s something more? I can see it in your face. What is it?”

  “It’s concern for Masinissa, sir. He arrived in Cirta one day before I did and immediately fell under the spell of Syphax’s wife—a young Carthaginian woman.”

  “Hasdrubal’s daughter, Sophonisba.”

  “He married her the night of his arrival. When I told him the woman was Roman plunder, he refused to annul the marriage.”

  “Did he return with you?”

  Laelius nodded. “He was at the rear of our train. He should be in camp soon, if not already.”

  “And the woman?”

  “I ordered him to bring her with us, but he refused. She’s in his palace at Cirta.”

  Scipio paced twice across the tent, talking as much to himself as Laelius. “I command the movement of tens of thousands of men. I plot and plan to force Hannibal out of Italy. I have Carthage on her knees on the verge of surrender, and this young girl has disrupted my efforts for a second time.” He shook his head in disgust and frustration, then faced Laelius. “Have Syphax brought in. I’ll talk to Masinissa later.”

  Laelius ducked out of the tent and called to his men. A moment later two soldiers pushed a chained and weary Syphax through the tent opening. Scipio motioned to the guards to go away. Laelius stood off to one side of the tent as Syphax, his face streaked with dirt, his hair in disarray, attempted to stand up bravely to the man who had conquered him.

  “Only two years ago, Syphax,” said Scipio with feeling, “I ate at your residence in Siga. It seemed then that we had become friends and had reached a worthy agreement. Now you are in my quarters as a prisoner wearing shackles. I find great sadness in this.”

  Syphax bowed his head, touched by the sentiment in the other man’s voice, then lifted his eyes to Scipio’s. “I wronged a good man. I went against my word, and it has cost me everything—my kingdom, my freedom, and your friendship. I am humbled to be in your presence at all.”

  “How is it that this has happened, Syphax? You pledged your support to the Republic of Rome, then suddenly reversed sides to fight against her. Was there anything in my actions or the actions of Rome to cause you to revok
e your word?”

  A disconsolate Syphax shook his head. “Only now in this sorry position can I see my madness. I was taken in by the caresses and words of a woman so beautiful I could not look away. For the graces of her bed I gave up my honor and my word. To admit this weakness before such a man as you shames me. I was not fit to be king.”

  “And what of this woman now?”

  Syphax’s eyes narrowed. “She has married my rival.” The anger that still boiled within him came out in his words. “If there can be anything to gain from my current situation, it’s watching Masinissa fall for the same blandishments that I did. If my marriage was a mistake for others to learn from, he missed an important lesson and has now proven to be a bigger fool than I.”

  “Could such a woman turn Masinissa from an ally to an enemy as she did you?”

  Syphax frowned. “You will soon find out. Sophonisba is an aphrodisiac of a woman. She’s like poison in a man’s blood. Masinissa will not be able to resist her or her wishes.”

  Scipio nodded to Laelius, then turned away to pace across the tent. Laelius lifted the tent flap and called for the guards. The same two soldiers who had brought the broken king into the tent escorted him out. Laelius started to leave with them.

  Scipio stopped him. “Have Masinissa sent to me.”

  When the tent was empty except for Scipio and me, I spoke on behalf of Masinissa. “Sir, I could not ignore the conversation you just had with Syphax. I believe the situation is different for Masinissa than it was for Syphax.”

  Scipio faced me. “How so?”

  “Masinissa met Sophonisba several years ago. He had hoped to marry her from that moment on. Only the politics of the war prevented it.”