They all stood waiting as they always do when I’m rambling on like this.
“I read an article a few years back that suggested, specifically about an episode of plague in Athens, that rather than bubonic plague, it might have been Ebola or some other type of hemorrhagic fever. That would be a virus and so, antibiotics wouldn’t do any good even if we have them. The good thing about these hemorrhagic fevers is that they’re only passed by direct fluid exchange.
“Either way, our course of action is the same. First set up a class for me with as many medical personnel as we can find. All the army doctors too. Then get some tailors to make up masks, as many as possible. I’ll give them instructions. Direct our warehouses, here and in Athens to distribute all the vodka and antiseptic lotion we have. No charge. Have the print shops print up tags to attach to every jar with instructions to wash hands frequently with alcohol and avoid contact with bodily fluids. Saliva, blood, urine, diarrhea.
“Bodies are to be handled as little as possible. No washing. The ill are to be cared for with as little contact as possible, I know it sounds cruel, always followed by washing hands and any other exposed areas with vodka or antiseptic ointment. ‘
“Print the tags, and booklets and distribute everything free and as quickly as possible. Use the army. I’ll expect the first batch of doctors within the hour. All this is top priority. Nothing else matters!”
Pericles mounted his horse. “I’m off to Athens. I’ll start organizing the army and the doctors in the city. Follow when you can.”
“Wait! Take as much vodka and ointment as you can carry! But don’t open our warehouses in Athens until the tags are ready. We can’t afford to waste any.”
Everyone scattered shouting order and calling for assistants.
It cost us a fortune, Isodemos can tell you exactly how much, and it’s hard to get people to follow instructions (many people drank their antiseptic supply). The body washing was an especially hard practice to break. And as a result women were over-represented among the victims (since this was traditionally a service performed by women). Still, instead of a death toll of 30-50% we kept the body count to just under 1000 or less than 1%. It was devastating (1% means almost everybody in the city knew someone who died within the same month), but it could have been (would have been, was?) much worse.
As it was, there was tragedy enough. Because of our instruction to limit contact with the ill, families often turned their sick members out of their homes into the streets.
One evening, as I returned to my Athens apartment after a doctor training session, I came across a dead man in the street. His open eyes accused me directly. It’s as if he knew that I hadn’t made antibiotic research (what we are looking for is an extract from the blue green mold that grows on bread or oranges that inhibits infections or the growth of bacteria. We need to develop something that can be injected or swallowed) a priority. I’d had had a small team looking at it before, but I hadn’t made it a priority or given it sufficient resources. That was a mistake on my part and I’ll never forget that almost 1000 people are dead because I didn’t clearly prioritize research resources (probably many more. Sometimes the guilt is overwhelming).
‘An orphans curse would drag to hell an angel from on high, but oh more terrible than that is the curse in a dead man’s eye.’ (Rime of the Ancient Mariner – Samuel Taylor Coleridge, if it was still written)
Needless to say, the popularity of the Great God Einstein was through the roof! Everyone likes a god who puts on a good show, and even better a god who wins battles, and better still a god who brings in the money, but they love a god who saves lives.
Also, sales of our antiseptic product lines skyrocketed (although Isodemos still complains about the expense of giving away all our stock).
Once the plague was under control (I’m going to assume that the plague was indeed some hemorrhagic fever or other disease transmitted only by direct bodily contact, because I doubt that our hygiene approach would have been as successful on a flea borne disease), preparations resumed for our rescue mission.
I also asked the lab people to put more resources into developing antibiotics. But I was too late. Too late by far.
Chapter 28
Light is reflected by all surfaces. This light enters the eye through the pupil and strikes tiny rods and cones in the back of the eye. These rods and cones contain light sensitive chemicals. Rods are sensitive to light in general and support black and white vision and night vision. Cones come in three kinds, selectively sensitive to red, blue, or green light and support color vision. All visible colors can be made by mixing these three light colors.
Book of Questionable Facts - 191
Finally everything was ready. Our army was loaded unto ships for the trip to Macedonia. We controlled most of Macedonia, but the capital, Pella, was resisting. Our ships would land at Methone, and most of the army would disembark and travel overland to Pella while other ships would blockade Pella from the sea.
That was the plan anyway. We were barely under sail when word came (by signal lamp) that Pella had surrendered (without loss of life! Hurray!), so we altered course to land directly at Pella.
Once Macedonia was under control, we built signal lamps, installed governors and priests, and continued on into Thrace. Apparently, until recently, the Thracians had been part of the Persian Empire, only breaking away after the Greek defeat of the Persians. There would be no love for the Persians in Thrace and we hoped to pick up some reinforcements for the army. But more importantly, from Thrace, we could cross over the narrow straits into Persia proper.
So, the fleet sailed ahead to Elaious, on the Thracian side of the strait while the army marched overland taking cities along the way, ensuring our control, building supply and signal lines.
The army was surprisingly well disciplined, for a relatively recent creation composed more than half of former slaves with little previous military training. However, the former slaves had a history of harsh discipline and order following that meshed well with military culture.
The real problem was, still, that most of our troops had never fought in an actual battle. The vast majority of cities that we had taken had surrendered without much resistance. Even those that had resisted, had generally surrendered once the cannons brought down their walls.
I won’t say our conquest had been completely blood-free after the massacre at Sparta, but once word got around about our capabilities, there weren’t many willing to stand against us. Even as far away as Italy and North Africa, our reputation preceded us and we hardly ever had to fight.
But, Persia was going to be something different. Rather than a collection of independent city-states, Persia was a unified empire, which meant a unified army that could be deployed around the empire as its rulers saw their strategic goals.
The long and short of it was, one day our giant army was probably going to find itself face to face with another giant army (probably more gianter) and there was going to be a lot of blood.
It kept me up nights and kept my stomach in knots. As we approached ever closer to Elaious, I grew more and more anxious. I could barely eat and I think I was beginning to lose some hair.
Melite actually made me sleep on a different cushion, because I was interfering with her sleep!
“Very sympathetic Melite.”
“Look, I’m letting you drag Rose and I off to our deaths. The least you can do is let us die well rested.”
“I didn’t drag you off! And we’re not going to die! You can go back to Megara! I begged you to stay!”
“What and live the life of a rich widow after you get yourself killed? No thank you!”
I softened my voice – to be serious “Look Melite, things are different now. Before, if I’d gotten myself killed, you would have had to be on the run. But now, well, the union is on a good footing. Megakreon and Isodemos and Tros, well Ok. Let’s assume that Tros gets killed too, but Megakreon and Isodemos would hold the union together. The labs are increasingl
y independent. Life could be good. If not for you, think about Rose!”
“I am thinking about Rose! She needs her father! Alive! The deal is the same as always, remember I was pregnant with her back then. We go where you go. If you want to keep us safe, keep yourself safe. If you get killed,”
“You kill us too.” We both finished the formula together.
“Ok, so, no pressure. Thanks!”
She punched me “Just don’t get yourself killed. Look, I married you knowing that you would probably die first. You were already pretty old.”
“The compliments just keep coming. If you were thinking that this was going to help me sleep, you might want to think again.”
“It’s just the facts. You were already pretty old and everybody knows that male slaves don’t live as long as female salves, so I was prepared to be a widow one day. But I’m not going to let you push that day forward, not even a little.”
You have to look for it, but she can be sweet, in her own way.
“Ok,” she continued, “You can sleep here with me.” She patted the cushion beside her
We lay down together and she snuggled against my back. “We going to have another baby.” She whispered in my ear.
“Damn it Melite! Why do you always do this just before a major campaign?! Can’t you ever think about the military necessities?”
“I didn’t do this all alone, you know. Besides, you want another baby too.”
“OK. I do. I don’t suppose that this changes your mind about going back to Megara?”
“For a guy who’s supposed to know so much, you are incredibly stupid. Now, let’s get some sleep.”
Of, course I didn’t sleep.
The next night, as we readied for bed, she put her hand to her back and shoved her un-swollen belly forward to accentuate its size. “You need to sleep on your own cushion. Not sleeping isn’t good for pregnant women. Sorry.”
I put on my pouty face, so she said, “OK, you can drag your cushion over here next to mine, but I want to sleep tonight, so if you feel like tossing and turning all night, just slide over onto yours. Deal?”
“Deal.”
With Melite pregnant, I worried even more. Every time I saw Melite and Rose, I was reminded exactly how much I stood to lose. But also why we needed to go forward.
I didn’t really think Pericles was interested in freeing slaves and making the world safe for Science and Kindness, but I was. I didn’t want my daughter, my children now, to grow up in a world with slaves and kings (Philosopher Kings, excepted) and ignorance. And Persia was, more or less, the next step in changing the world.
Rose was walking now and we had a hard time keeping track of her. She became a big favorite of the army. And they cheered for her every time they saw her. I tried to stop it, because I was worried that she would become spoiled by the attention, but as well try to stop a tsunami. Anyway, she was still too young to really understand and I hoped we would be finished campaigning before she was much older.
After about a month’s march, we stood outside the gates of Elaious. They were already open. Its conquest had been a formality. By the time the full army arrived, we already had our priests and governors in place and were conducting the first indoctrination classes and performing small miracles for the populace. We also tied the local populace into our union by purchasing supplies and hiring craftsmen and translators (since many of the locals spoke both Persian and Greek).
We rested in Elaious for a few weeks before attempting to cross the strait. During the Persian invasion of Greece some 60 years earlier, Xerxes had built a pontoon bridge to transport his troops, but Xerxes had controlled both sides of the strait. We didn’t have that luxury. The luxury we did have was the ability to take a port with few ships, using our combination of fireworks and cannon that had proved so effective in the past.
We would have to cross by ship. So, we hired as many local captains as possible. The winds and currents in the straits were dangerously strong making it difficult to simply sail across the strait. After consultation with the local captains, we decided to attempt a landing at Ophrynium on the Persian side and if currents and winds prevented us landing there, to continue on to Dardanus, further up the coast. Failing that, we would be forced to pass through the narrowest and most dangerous part of the strait and try for a landing at Abydos.
“I don’t like all this uncertainty. Do we have any idea about the Persian fortification at any of these ports?”
Pericles replied. “They should be lightly fortified, because only a madman would try to invade by ships through the Hellespont.” He was smiling like a madman.
“So, assuming we aren’t all killed in the crossing, how do we take the ports?”
“Well, the traditional way to do it is win a sea battle against the defenders, then land as many soldiers as possible at the port and kill all the defenders. But, as you have no sense of tradition, I knew you wouldn’t like that plan. So, our current plan is to anchor most of the ships out of the currents and send a small contingent of ships, equipped with cannon, rockets, and other miracles, try to take the port without a fight. If they refuse to surrender, we’ll have to fight.”
“Ok, you and I will go across in the first ship.”
“It would be safer for you to come across after we’ve secured the port.”
“I know. But there is a battle coming and I want the troops to see me out in front. When we’re face to face with the Persian army, I want them to remember.”
“Yes Sir Boss.”
Soon everything was ready. The night before we were to leave, I found Socrates down by the docks talking with a man about the nature of reality. Something about a cave.
They stopped when the saw me. “Lord Robert!” Shouted the man.
“Just Robert actually, I’m not a lord. Sorry to interrupt.”
“Friend Robert!” Socrates took my hand. “We were just discussing the possibility that we are all deceived by our perceptions of reality! Come join us!”
“Um, I really have to get going. Maybe some other time.” And the man was gone.
“Oh, well, he really wasn’t much of a conversationalist. Shall we drink?” He held up a bottle of vodka. Socrates could drink all night but never seemed drunk and never seemed to have a hangover the next day.
“Sure, I’ll have a little. I was actually looking for you. I want to ask you a favor.”
“Here you go. What can I do for you?”
“I need a man who is not afraid of death.”
Socrates thumped himself on his chest “Socrates is your man!” he said in clear imitation of Megakreon.
“I also need a man who isn’t afraid of tarnishing his reputation.”
“Socrates is your man!”
“I also need a man who isn’t afraid of Melite.”
“Look elsewhere friend. I’m not afraid of death or a bad reputation, but Melite, she scares me.”
“She scares us all, a little bit. You know she’s really sweet, right?”
He looked skeptical. “If you say so. You know her better than me. What is this task where a man must risk death, dishonor and Melite?”
“Ok, here is the thing: Tomorrow we cross the strait into Persia and sooner or later we are going to come up against the Persian army and a lot of people on both sides are going to get killed. I need someone to make sure that Melite and Rose get away in case things go badly.”
“So, you need someone willing to face the dangers of traversing a battle field with a woman and child, and willing to be called a coward for fleeing rather than fighting and willing to fight Melite, who will not go easily.”
“As always, Socrates, you see to the heart of the matter. Will you do it?”
“I will. I will try to master my fears of Melite, for the sake of Rose.”
I gave him a big smile and put my hand on his shoulder. “Great! Thanks. I’ll assign you a troop of soldiers
“I can see that the dangers of this campaign haven’t escaped you. It’s
good for a commander to have a sense of the danger his troops face, but, not too great a sense. On this count, rest your mind. I’ll do my best to follow your wishes. Come what may, be it death, dishonor, or even Melite.”
“Thanks Socrates. Now, let me ask you a philosophical question.”
“Socrates is a philosopher.” And he thumped himself on the chest. This imitation of Megakreon was a little out of character for Socrates and I wondered if the stress of the impending campaign was effecting him too. Or maybe it was just the vodka.
“In my land we have a saying, ‘Power corrupts and absolute power, corrupts absolutely.’. But, I don’t feel corrupted and I look at my friends, Tros, Fotis, Isodemos, Dikaiopolis, even Megakreon and I don’t see much corruption. Pericles had power before I knew him, but on the whole he seems an honest man, although his dealings with us and Aspasia indicate a certain lack of concern for fairness in the details. Also I haven’t forgotten your warning about him. So, what do you think? Are we corrupt, and I just don’t see it?”
“What is corruption?” He asked, “Do we talk merely of fiscal probity? If so, does it even make sense to talk of fiscal probity about a man who, literally, coins his own money? Or do we speak of corruption on a larger field? Can we say, for example, that a man who destroys a way of life that has existed for thousands of years, on a whim, is corrupt? Or that a man who assembles an army and risks the deaths of thousands to fulfil his personal vision, is corrupt?
“Before I met you,” He continued, “I would have tended to answer both of those questions with a yes. But insight matters and motives matter. You once called yourself a Philosopher King, a term I rather like, and I agree. I think you and the others have avoided corruption because you never sought power, but took it as a duty, rather than a prize. When you pass away I doubt our next generation of leaders will be so. It all makes me think. I was talking with one of the students in your traveling school, a young man who goes by the name of Plato, he asked me what I thought was the best form of government. Maybe he and I will work on this problem together.”
A New York Lawyer in the Court of Pericles Page 21