Caesar merely grunted. A warning shout made them both look up. The Alexandrian ballistae were starting again and the first heavy blocks of stone began to fall.
“Do they not give up? We’ve sunk their best ship and captured two more.”
“Yes but they have another twenty seven to come and more everyday.”
Julius watched the missiles for another minute then spoke.
“Pull our ships back to the dock….”
“But Sir!” Agrippa interrupted, “Forgive me sir but you said before that if we let them in.”
“They’ll not be able to get past that sunken ship without moving all these others first. That will buy us time. We cannot defend our ships with so few men. Take our fleet back to the dock and burn it.”
Agrippa couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
“I’m sorry sir what did you say?”
Now Caesar snapped.
“Does every one of my orders have to be questioned! I said burn them! Tonight!”
A low sunset hung over the Royal harbour making the sea appear red. It was quiet. The only people to be seen were the Roman guards. Admiral Agrippa walked along the dock flanked by his bodyguards. He stopped at the water’s edge and surveyed the ships bobbing gently at their moorings. He bent and picked up a small stone, turning it over and over in his hand, reluctant to begin his orders.
A dog was scavenging near one of the Roman ships and he threw the stone at it. Though he missed the animal the dog whimpered and ran away. He turned at the sound of heavy wagons. His men were pulling laden carts into the square. The carts were carrying large jars of pitch and oil. Officers began instructing men to their tasks. Oil was soon carried onto the ships and splashed over everything. Once the oil was all used the ships were vacated. Now men carrying burning torches boarded and quickly began touching the oil with the flames. Once an area had been ignited they moved on, always working towards the boarding ramps.
Within minutes fires were burning on all of the Roman ships. A nervous officer was standing near Agrippa.
“It doesn’t seem right somehow sir. How are we supposed to get home without….”
Agrippa turned on him angrily.
“Hold your tongue!”
On the other side of the harbour the new Egyptian admiral Darios was asleep in his bunk when he was roughly awakened.
“What is it?”
“Sir you’d better come and see this.”
He was on his feet quickly, wobbly from just having woken.
“Are the Romans attacking?”
“No sir.”
“Then what?”
“You’ll never believe it,” the other man said, no longer able to contain his excitement, “The Roman fleet is on fire.”
Darios stared at the other man for a moment while his brain digested what he’d just heard.
“On fire?”
“Yes. It’s brilliant news. Come and see for yourself.”
Darios rushed up the steps barely able to keep up. Once on deck he rushed to the rail at the side of his ship, his eyes wide, his mouth open. The Roman ships were ablaze in the evening sky.
“What happened? Did some of our fleet attack?”
“No. The Romans did it themselves.”
“Did it themselves. Why would they in their right minds….?” Then the answer hit him.
“Isn’t it wonderful news Sir. We’ll be rid of them for sure now.”
“On the contrary I think it means they intend to stay.”
“But how could they get home, I mean why would they….”
“I believe Caesar has realised that he could not hold us off indefinitely and couldn’t afford the troops to defend his fleet so rather than let it fall into our hands he’s put it to the torch.”
“But then he must know sir that he’s trapped now, with no escape route. He can’t possibly defeat us now. Can he?”
“I sincerely hope not.”
A messenger arrived.
“Yes what is it?”
“Admiral. Achillas has been murdered!”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Julius Caesar couldn’t believe the news. He and his Generals were in the war room.
Caesar refused a cup of wine from Dolabella and asked for water instead. He wanted his head to remain clear tonight. The Generals were excited. If the rumours were true then this threatened to blow their whole Alexandrian campaign wide open.
“It must be true sir,” Marcellus said, “Our source is not usually wrong about such a matter.”
“It is true,” Caesar held up a scroll, “Queen Cleopatra was sent this in an attempt to win her away from our side. She dismissed it and sent it to me.”
“Can I ask what it says sir,” from Dolabella.
“I’ll read it. Just the facts. Not word for word.”
Julius opened the scroll and began.
“Basically it states that Arsinoe along with her servant Ganymedes, I believe he may have been or is her teacher, escaped from Roman confinement and quickly sought out the forces of Achillas. Once with the army of Achillas she was almost instantly hailed as the Queen of Egypt. She then almost repeatedly quarrelled with Achillas over his leadership of the Alexandrian army. Unable to oust him willingly she then bought his soldiers with promises of gold and had him assassinated. She then installed Ganymedes as his successor and her representative in the war against Rome. Ganymedes is now General in chief of the Alexandrian army.”
“Is Ganymedes a capable General sir?”
“We don’t know certainly, not for sure. But then of course Achillas was. Arsinoe? Unlikely because of her youth but I must stress that we should not, for one minute, underestimate her intelligence.”
Lucius rushed up to Caesar and whispered into his ear. Caesar listened, thanked and dismissed him. Julius looked at his expectant officers.
“It seems gentlemen that our fire has spread.”
There was the sound of raised voices from outside the door and then a female shriek. All attention turned to the door.
“Marcellus!” Caesar gestured towards the commotion.
Marcellus strode to the door and ripped it open. Now they all heard and recognised Cleopatra’s voice. Under Marcellus’ orders the guards moved out of the way and allowed the young Queen entry. Apollodorus attempted to follow but the guards stopped him.
“The Queen only,” Marcellus said.
Apollodorus craned his neck for as long as he could see before the door closed on him.
It was the most beautiful Caesar had ever seen the Queen. All conversation in the room had ceased. Each man watched in awe as Cleopatra gracefully approached them. Julius, expecting trouble, stepped around his desk and sat down. Cleopatra strode through the generals, who moved out of her way, and stopped at the desk. Caesar was rummaging through sheets of papyrus ignoring her. Irritated by his attitude she placed her fists on his desktop and leaned her face in close. Finally he could ignore her no more and he looked up.
“Yes Cleopatra what is it?”
“Do you smell burning?”
“Yes Cleopatra I can,” he replied without looking up. He continued to read a sheet of papyrus.
She waited, speechless. He still hadn’t looked at her.
“Well what do you have to say for yourself?”
“Can we do this some other time Cleopatra,” he said leafing through more sheets and choosing one to read. She suddenly reached out, snatched it from him and bunched it in her fist and shook it under his nose.
“How dare you set fire to my city!”
Dolabella came forward to restrain her but Caesar shook his head. The general stopped. Cleopatra was shaking with rage. Caesar pushed himself away from the desk, stood up and flexed his legs.
“Gentlemen if you could all wait outside please, only for a minute, this won’t take long.”