Tanakil raised her hands to her face in confusion. “Forgive me for prattling so in my joy. But as I understand it Dorieus, as Herakles’ heir, considers himself the only legal king of Eryx and hence also of Segesta. As a woman I am not nearly so interested in this matter as he is. A man has to engage in all kinds of political activities and it helps to pass his time. But I noticed how approvingly Dorieus told me time and again about Herakles’ dressing like a woman. He has also told me that Spartan boys are separated from their mothers at the age of seven to live only among men. It is obvious that poor Dorieus secretly yearns for the motherly care and tenderness that he never enjoyed. This explains his inclination for a woman as old as I. I understand his secret desires better than any other woman could.”
“But we are bound to our commander Dionysius. As soon as the sailing season begins we must follow him across the sea to Massilia.”
Into my mind came the senseless thought that with the aid of Aphrodite I could abduct Kydippe and take her with me on the voyage.
But Tanakil shook her head and said firmly, “Dorieus will remain obediently at home and will no longer sail the uncertain seas. After all, he has been trained for land war. Why should he go to some barbaric country when his legacy matter must be pursued here?”
“Are you really going to encourage Dorieus in his wild dreams?” I demanded. “Haven^t those altars and monuments to the invaders warned you sufficiently? You have already buried three husbands. Why let the Segestans bury a fourth?”
Tanakil pondered a moment, chin in hand. “Men have their own pursuits,” she said finally. “In all honesty, I really don’t know what I’ll do. Physically Dorieus is, without a doubt, a regal man and the dog crown of Segesta would become him. But I fear that he is entirely too stupid to be a king in Sicily’s complicated political situation. The rattling of shields and the cleaving of skulls with a sword does not suffice as statesmanship. But if he wants to make me a queen as well as an honorable woman, I must bow to his will.”
3.
Mikon and Aura returned from the temple in the morning, both deadly pale and with dark shadows under their eyes from being awake all night. Mikon put Aura to bed, covered her and kissed her forehead. Then he came to me with trembling knees.
“I promised to tell you about the goddess’s appearance so that you might be prepared,” he said, wiping his forehead, “but it is so bewildering that I can find no words to describe it. I suppose she appears in different ways to different people and to each according to his needs. Besides, I had to swear that I would never reveal the manner of her appearance. You probably noticed that Aura was completely silent upon our return. All this may be similar to the tranquilizing of the sick in Aesculapius’ temple, but I have only to touch Aura with my hand to silence her so that I may contemplate supernatural matters.”
Late that afternoon Aura awakened and began to call Mikon. He winked at me, sat on the edge of her bed, pulled down the cover and with his fingertip touched the tip of the girl’s breast. A deep sigh escaped her, her face grew even paler, her eyes stared into blankness, her body twitched and became still.
“You see, Turms,” said Mikon proudly, “what powers Aphrodite has given me. But the person on whom the goddess lavishes such gifts will die young. I don’t mean myself but Aura. I feel no physical enjoyment whatsoever; merely spiritual satisfaction in knowing that I have control over her body.”
“But how do you know that you and only you affect her like that?” I asked. “Perhaps any other man could do the same; in which case I truly don’t envy you.”
Mikon stared at me. “I am the one she has pursued ever since I initiated her into the embrace of Aphrodite of Akraia. Now Aphrodite of Eryx has shown her power by making Aura so susceptible that the mere touch of a finger induces an erotic exaltation. It saves me much trouble and time which I can utilize in the meditation of divine matters. But I can’t understand how anyone else could produce the same effect.”
Blinded by the goddess, I suggested, “It would be wisest to make sure, if only for scientific reasons. I don’t know why you should be any different from other men if Aura is once so sensitive.”
Mikon smiled a superior smile. “You don’t know what you are saying, Turms. You are younger than I and less experienced in these matters. But why don’t you test it if you wish? Then we shall see.”
I assured him that I did not mean myself and suggested that we let someone else, for example the innkeeper, make the experiment. But Mikon said that he was reluctant to let a stranger’s hand touch his wife’s breasts.
The more I protested, the more anxious he was that I try, swelling like a frog in sheer smugness. Thus, when Aura’s lids began to flicker and she sat up in bed, asking in a weak voice what had happened, Mikon thrust me to her side. I extended my forefinger and hesitantly touched the tip of her breast.
The result of the unhappy experiment exceeded all expectations. A spark flashed from my finger and I felt the flick of an invisible whip on my arm. Aura’s body twitched, her mouth opened, her face darkened as the blood rushed to her head, and she fell back in the bed, her limbs jerking convulsively. A rattle sounded in her throat as the air was ejected from her lungs. Her eyes became lifeless and then her already weakened heart failed and she passed away before we even realized what had happened.
But even in death the glassy eyes and open mouth were touched with a smile of such an agonizing ecstasy that I can never forget the sight. Mikon hastened to chafe her hands but soon realized the futility of his effort.
Our cries of distress brought Tanakil and Dorieus, and the servants fetched the innkeeper. At first he wrung his hands and shouted and cursed, but then came to his senses, indicated Aura’s face and admitted, “No one could hope for a happier death. Her face shows of what she died.”
While Mikon sat with his head between his hands, crushed by sorrow, Tanakil arranged with the innkeeper to have the body washed and removed and the bed cleaned. Dorieus was so shocked by the event that he again cut a tuft of hair from his head and burned it. He patted Mikon’s shoulder and spoke words of comfort.
The same night we gathered in the yard of the temple where Aura, clothed in beautiful garments, with her cheeks and lips colored and hair ornamented with pearl combs, lay on the pyre of white poplars fairer than she had ever been in life. The temple sacrificed incense and perfumes for the pyre and Mikon lighted it saying, “To the goddess.”
At the suggestion of the priests we did not engage wailing women but instead young girls to dance the goddess’s dances around the pyre and to sing her praises with Elymian hymns. So moving was the sight that, as the flames shot up against the limpid sky and the smell of burning flesh was lost in the fragrance of the incense, we wept tears of joy for Aura and wished one another as beautiful and quick a death in as sacred a place.
“A long life is by no means a desirable gift from the gods,” said Mikon pensively. “Rather does it indicate that a person is slow and stubborn and needs a longer time to fulfill his mission than some faster person. A long life is usually also accompanied by a dimming of the eyes and a tendency to believe former times were better than the present. If I were wiser, I would perhaps throw myself on Aura’s pyre and follow her on her journey, but a binding omen would be needed for that. In all that has happened, however, I can see no other binding sign but that this marriage was a mistake. That realization enables me to bear my deep sorrow manfully.”