The Curse of Babylon

by Richard Blake

  Chapter 37

  After the slightest pause, Shahin spoke. ‘My dearest Timothy,’ he called, ‘it is an absolute treat to see you again.’ He giggled, and there was the firm smack of a kiss I was rather glad I didn’t have to see.

  ‘Cousins?’ Eunapius asked. ‘How can you be cousins?’ I heard the scrape of a chair. Had Eunapius sat down in shock?

  Timothy laughed. I heard the groan of a chair beneath his immense bulk. ‘My dear Eunapius,’ he said with pitying contempt, ‘that question disproves the whole claim you keep making that you are one of us. Beneath the squabbles of our rulers, the governing classes of both empires are really one big happy family. We’ve been marrying each other since time out of mind. You really aren’t one of us. Like our current Emperor, you’re a man from the provinces. If we have so far allowed you and your associate to speak for us, I am here to tell Shahin that our patience is worn out. From now on, I will deal with the Persians. You will take my orders.’ His voice brightened. ‘Be in no doubt, Shahin, that I speak for the old nobility. Whatever Eunapius has told you is probably wishful thinking.’

  ‘Would you care to elaborate on this?’ Shahin asked, a scowl in his voice.

  ‘Well,’ said Timothy, ‘I think we can rule out Nicetas as next Emperor. This little provincial here may have been telling you the same as he’d told us – that the Emperor’s cousin is in the plot. From what I saw of his behaviour this evening, he’s as ignorant of things as young Alaric was until yesterday. And Alaric, I have reason to believe, is a couple of days at most from rumbling us all. We never wanted Nicetas. We’ve now decided that we’ll not lift a finger to make him Emperor.

  ‘But it’s all arranged!’ Eunapius cried, horror in his voice. ‘You can’t go back on your word.’

  Timothy cut straight in. ‘Do correct me if I’m wrong, dear boy, but I was under the impression that Nicetas was to lead the revolution. You never told me he’d have to be dragged squealing from behind a curtain, like Claudius after Caligula got it in the neck.’ He laughed. ‘Do try to see reason. When you change emperors, it’s a good idea to make a clean sweep. Now I mention Claudius, wasn’t his first act to round up and kill everyone who’d been in the plot against his nephew? Don’t suppose Nicetas will stay grateful longer than it takes to drape the Purple about his shoulders. Even if he doesn’t have the heads off our shoulders, the armies may not obey him. Also, he’d never dare get rid of Sergius as Patriarch, or purge Alaric’s men from the upper reaches of the Church.’ He laughed again. ‘These are general considerations, I know. But after tonight’s display of underlying concord between him and Alaric, we’re not having Nicetas.’

  ‘So, who is to be next Emperor?’ Shahin asked. ‘We’ll need someone to seal the peace agreement.’

  ‘It may be an ambition that has come on late in life,’ Timothy yawned, ‘but I do have several emperors in my blood line. And there can be no doubt the nobility is with me, and that the bureaucracy would obey me. Oh, and I’ll repeat that I am the City Prefect. That’s a fine base from which to launch a revolution.’

  ‘And you would still consent to our peace treaty?’ Shahin asked.’

  ‘I see no reason why not,’ Timothy rumbled. ‘You give us Alaric’s head on a plate, and you can keep Syria with my blessings.’

  Shahin leaned forward in his chair so I could see his bald patch. ‘Then it’s a pity you didn’t catch our earlier conversation,’ he said. ‘We don’t actually care who is Emperor. But the deal we offer is the same. You give us the Horn of Babylon and we’ll fall in with whatever you decide among yourselves. Until you give us that, you’re all on your own.’

  There was yet another silence. Then Timothy spoke. ‘I believe Eunapius did mention a certain object of ritual importance to Cousin Chosroes,’ he said grandly. ‘I have still to know, however, what exactly it is. Can you enlighten us, Shahin?’

  ‘No,’ was the answer. ‘I don’t ask questions of Shahrbaraz, nor of the Great King. I can simply repeat my orders. You’ll get nothing from us until you put the Horn of Babylon into my hands. At the moment, Alaric has it. Have you any idea of how to get it from him?’

  ‘I have an idea,’ Simon broke in, plainly and comically desperate to pull the conversation back in order. Timothy grunted very loudly. Simon ignored him. ‘The barbarian boy’s taken up with a girl who seems to have turned his wits. I spoke briefly with her yesterday morning. She’s from Trebizond.’ He paused to let the significance of that trickle into every mind. ‘She must have relatives there. Perhaps we can use that when the Persians move in.’

  Shahin laughed. ‘Oh, I saw that for myself yesterday. The poor boy is utterly smitten. I couldn’t resist having a little fun over it. If you can find a use for that, good luck to you. However, must I repeat that we shan’t move against the Black Sea cities until we have the Horn of Babylon? That’s all that matters to us. You give me the Horn of Babylon and I’ll make anyone of your choice Emperor.’ He got up. ‘Now, much as I’ve enjoyed my first visit to Constantinople since the outbreak of war, I am alarmed that Timothy knew I’d be here. If he could find out, Alaric might. You obviously have much to discuss among yourselves and it isn’t for me to involve myself in that conversation.’ He moved towards the door. ‘Please don’t feel obliged to stand on ceremony. I can find my own way out.’

  Shahin went out, leaving the room in the longest silence yet. I was aware once more of Antonia beside me. Simon had spoken as if he didn’t know who she was. Yet it had been my impression that he did know. Was he trying to be more in this than a middle man? Worth thinking about when I had the time. For the moment, I turned my attention to the continuing silence below. It was broken by a quiet laugh from Timothy. ‘Now you’ve gone and done it,’ Eunapius cried bitterly. ‘You’ve muddled everything.’

  ‘On the contrary,’ Timothy said with evident pleasure, ‘I’ve saved my people the trouble of hearing more of your lies. This Horn of Babylon, I now learn, is not some incidental token of good faith. It is the only thing that Shahin actually wants. I therefore propose to leave aside the matter of who is to replace Heraclius. Our present task is to prise the Horn of Babylon from Alaric’s grasp.’

  ‘It has magic powers,’ Eunapius said quickly. ‘Whoever knows how to use those powers can make himself master of all things. Isn’t that so, Simon?’

  ‘My Lord,’ Simon came straight back, a nervous tone in his voice, ‘the Persians believe any number of things at variance with the teachings of Holy Mother Church . . .’

  ‘Shut up unless you’re spoken to,’ Timothy snarled. ‘What’s this about magic powers, Eunapius?’ Even someone brighter than Eunapius would have had trouble evading the brief but effective interrogation that followed. It ended in more silence. Timothy broke this with one of his long and appreciative burps. ‘Well, this being the case,’ he said thoughtfully, ‘why are we giving the thing to the bloody Persians?’ he burped again. ‘Magic powers?’ he asked again, now wonderingly. ‘That might explain why Shahin took the risk of coming ashore. Magic powers, eh?’ He paused for thought, then: ‘Very well,’ he said, now brisk, ‘I say we keep Shahin dangling, just in case we need Plan B. The new Plan A, though, is that we put all effort into getting this Horn of Babylon for ourselves – and before that bastard savage works its powers out for himself.’

  He stopped and grunted his way through various workings of his mind. ‘Now we’ve seen that Nicetas isn’t committed,’ he began again, ‘getting my people to act is out of the question. Without Nicetas to back me, I can’t arrest another member of the Imperial Council. I suppose we could have another go at waylaying the little shit as he goes unguarded about his business. Or, since we’ve tried that now more than once, there is the girl. I believe I saw her this evening. She’s a pretty enough creature, and I could well understand how he was almost squirting into his leggings every time he looked at her. Perhaps Eunapius could use his own connections in Trebizond to see what pressure may be imposed from that direction.’ His voice brighte
ned. ‘Yes, we’ll get the Horn of Babylon, and then we’ll see if it can make me Emperor – and then what sort of Emperor!’ He laughed, and there was another alarming creak of his chair.

  ‘You can’t be Emperor!’ Eunapius said, aghast. ‘It has to be Nicetas. Without him to take over at once, Heraclius can’t be arrested in Cyzicus.’

  ‘If you must reopen the matter,’ Timothy snapped, ‘I can and will be Emperor. There’s nothing more to be said.’

  ‘There’s a great deal more to be said,’ Eunapius replied. ‘Everyone knows your brother was deprived of his governorship for heresy. The Church would never stand for you.’

  ‘Do I hear right, that Nicetas has offered you his daughter in marriage?’ Timothy asked with a sudden sneer. ‘I wouldn’t take his word on anything. Everyone knows how he just “forgets” promises. Otherwise, don’t count on staying alive long enough to step into his purple boots once he is Emperor.’ He went into a long and wheezing laugh. I glanced quickly into Antonia’s face. It had the dead look a fine lady is trained to put on for a chariot race in the Circus. All else aside, why was Simon keeping her identity to himself?

  ‘Just stick with me, Eunapius,’ Timothy said with a return to easy humour. ‘How about the Lord Treasurership – and Alaric’s palace, of course?’ Eunapius said nothing. ‘Oh, but let’s call on the Will of God,’ Timothy sighed. His chair creaked again. ‘I’ve one of Alaric’s new coins here. The reverse, for some reason, has a motto in Latin.’ He read slowly and with a misplaced accent: “Deus Adiuta Romanis.” I’m told it means: “May God Help the Romans.” Heads, and you can have Nicetas, and Shahin too. Tails, and it means God wants me.’

  There was yet another silence in the room, this time ended by the ring of silver on marble. ‘Fucking thing bounced,’ Timothy snapped. ‘The result doesn’t count.’

  Another silence. This time, it was Eunapius who spoke. ‘That was a cheat,’ he shouted. ‘I saw you move your hand. If we must do this, let’s do it fairly.’

  ‘My Lords,’ Simon broke in, ‘I do suggest . . .’

  ‘. . . that you shut up in the presence of your betters!’ Timothy said quickly. ‘I’ll do the toss again.’ He moved directly beneath me and flicked the coin upwards. I watched it come closer, glittering as it turned over and over in the lamplight. This time, it stuck against one of the glass panes and bounced into the upper gatherings of my toga. I pulled myself back and went through my clothing. I found the coin too late to throw it back down.

  ‘Can we talk about Alaric?’ Simon asked despairingly.

  Neither Eunapius nor Timothy was listening. ‘Get that table over here,’ Timothy ordered. ‘We’ll climb up together and see what God has decided.’ There was a loud scraping of wood and another cut-off protest from Simon.

  I jumped to my feet. The plan of escape I’d worked out involved continuing along the roof to the far end of the corridor. From here, we could climb down into a little area used for holding deliveries of wood for the furnaces. There was a little door I could unbolt that led into a side street. Unless Timothy’s weight was too much for the table, we’d never get out of sight in time. I took Antonia by the arm and hurried her back the way we’d come. We were barely on to the stairs down to the main hall when, with a smashing of glass, the window flew fully open and Timothy was braying how God had indeed helped the Romans.

  ‘I’m not marrying that creature!’ she whispered fiercely. ‘I’d rather die.’

  ‘Shut up!’ I hissed. I took hold of Antonia by the shoulders and pushed her against the curving wall of the stairway. ‘So long as no one realises I was watching,’ I said, ‘it’s a stalemate. The Greeks daren’t move without Shahin. He won’t help without my silver cup. All we need to do is get away unobserved. Now, keep quiet, and let me go first.’

  ‘But you’ve got to stop Daddy,’ she breathed. ‘You don’t understand how he hates you.’

  I stood up straight. ‘Arresting Nicetas while he’s Regent – and with an unknown part of the administration on his side – isn’t something I fancy trying,’ I said firmly. ‘I’ll write to Heraclius in the morning. He can hurry back with the small army he took with him. In the meantime, we carry on as normal.’ I listened for any sound of approaching footsteps along the roof. There were none. No one would follow us down this way. Timothy had found his coin. He and Eunapius might well argue over its answers till dawn. Shahin and his men should be halfway back to whatever dock he was using. I thought of what I had to do. It was a two-day journey by fast courier to Cyzicus. I suppressed the urge to go there myself. That would only alert everyone. I’d have Simon and half the city guard after me. And what of Antonia? What of Theodore and Maximin and all my other people? No – it had to be business as usual.

  We crept down the stairs. There were a couple of lamps burning there, but the main hall should be empty. Our luck ought to hold.

  It didn’t. I poked my head briefly round the corner and, in a parodic echo of the previous day, found myself looking into Shahin’s face.

  His eyes widened for a moment in the gloom. He blinked and then smiled. ‘Hello, Alaric,’ he cried softly in Greek. He steadied himself against the statue of Antinous. ‘I never doubted you were listening overhead. But I was beginning to fear you’d found a less obvious way out of here.’

  I shoved Antonia backward and stepped into the hall. ‘Were you fellating that statue?’ I asked with mock outrage.

  He shrugged and grinned. ‘From the shine on that perfectly formed member,’ he sniggered, ‘I’m hardly the first. Such admirable men, these Greeks of the olden days, don’t you think?’ He kissed one of the thighs and stood reluctantly back.

  I thought of going for my sword. That would never do. I could cut my way past Shahin, and take out the two men who were still squatting on their haunches beside the bronze of Hercules. But the noise would send Timothy and Eunapius into a foaming panic that was the last thing I wanted. Shahin gave a friendly smile and spread his arms. ‘I think I can guess yours,’ he said, ‘but I do have my own reasons for avoiding any public fuss. Any chance of a quick word in private?’

  Chapter 38

  Shahin turned from his inspection of the book racks. ‘Not much of a library,’ he sniffed. ‘Most of this stuff is barely fit for heating the baths.’ I was by the door. His two men had followed him up the wide staircase to this upper level and were looking impassively in at me. I smiled at them and shut the door in their faces.

  Again with his back to me, Shahin pulled another book from its leather case and unrolled it a few turns. ‘So this is the latest fashion in poetry?’ he asked accusingly. He dropped one of the spines and allowed the book to unroll completely. ‘These modern Greeks are sadly decayed, don’t you think? Perhaps Chosroes is right that the time is come for a new language to dominate the East.’ He sniggered and went back to his inspection. ‘But look at this metaphor. It doesn’t even scan.’

  I walked across the room and, keeping just out of reach, bent down to look at the opening sheet of the book. Shahin tipped the lamp forward so I could read the neat rows of text. ‘It’s not so very bad,’ I said. ‘You should have been where I was earlier tonight.’ I straightened up. ‘But I don’t think your main interest here is literary criticism. Can I take it that you’d like to bypass those losers downstairs and deal directly with the possessor of the Horn of Babylon?’

  He sniggered again. ‘It has its convenient side,’ he said, now in Persian, ‘that you overheard everything. So, yes – let’s talk about the Horn of Babylon. I do wish I’d known, when we had that yummy dinner onboard my ship yesterday, that you had it. We could have saved much time – and avoided so many embarrassments.’ He dropped the other spine of the book and perched himself on one of the reading tables. ‘How can I persuade you to give it to me? I don’t imagine money will tempt you. I daren’t make you Emperor: you’d find a competent general, and ease his path straight to Ctesiphon with gold and diplomacy. So what price has pretty young Alaric in mind?’

&n
bsp; ‘You could try guessing,’ I answered. I moved the lamp to another table, where Shahin’s rhythmical swinging of legs wouldn’t tip it over. I pulled over a chair and sat down a couple of yards from him. If I could arrest him, I’d kill the plot stone dead. But he was easily a match for me with his sword – that was one exercise he’d never neglected. And there were his men to keep in mind. At best, he’d get away. At worst, the noise would bounce Timothy and Eunapius into a revolution that might succeed.

  Shahin watched my face. He smiled knowingly. ‘You can’t keep the silver cup,’ he said. ‘You can’t give it to Heraclius. But you’ve probably worked that out for yourself. As for those idiots we left snapping at each other, you can’t make a deal with them. Since old Priscus croaked his last, Timothy has taken over as shitbag in chief. He’d have a knife in your back before he could draw breath from saying “Many thanks, dear boy.” So why not bring it to me while I wait at the docks? You can come with me to Shahrbaraz. Bring the girl too. You’ll be surprised how merciful and forgiving Chosroes can be to those who give him what he wants.’

  ‘That would be a side to the Great King’s character I haven’t yet seen,’ I said. ‘How about telling me why the cup is so important?’

  He giggled again. ‘Since the cup goes where you go for the moment,’ he said, ‘let’s talk about you.’ He straightened his face. ‘Look, Alaric, my orders include an express instruction to keep you from harm, so far as I can, and to beg you to come back to Ctesiphon. Chosroes promises a total safe conduct and will swear any oath to that effect.’

  ‘I’ve seen how your boss keeps his promises,’ I said. Far down in the main hall, I heard a noise. It was followed by one of? Timothy’s rumbling laughs. Either they’d finally settled on the next Emperor, or they were sick of arguing. I walked across to the door and listened. I turned back to Shahin. ‘Supposing I refuse to do business with you?’ I asked.