Alexander (Vol. 3) (Alexander Trilogy) by Valerio Massimo Manfredi Read Free Book Online

of wonder came from the audience arranged on the terraces while the rhythmic lament of Oedipus himself came from the stage: ‘ Oitoitoitoitoitói papái feu feu!’
    Alexander, sitting in a position of honour, gave long and enthusiastic applause. Immediately afterwards came the performance of Alcestis and the audience were even more taken aback when at the climax Death, decked out in Thanatos’s costume, sprang up from below ground and proceeded to fly about the stage, flapping his bat’s wings, while Hercules sought to bring him down with great sweeping blows of his club. Eumenes had arranged for the stage machinery to be designed by the architect Diades, the same one who had built the assault towers that had brought the walls of Tyre tumbling down.
    ‘I told you he would do a good job,’ the Secretary whispered in Alexander’s ear. ‘Just look at the audience – they’re lapping it up.’
    At that precise moment Hercules’ club caught Thanatos with a direct hit, the hook holding the actor was released from the swivelling arm and he fell to the stage with a loud thump and Hercules immediately set about massacring him with a series of blows while the public went wild.
    ‘You’ve done a marvellous job. Make sure that everyone receives a prize, especially the architect who designed the machinery. I’ve never seen anything like it.’
    ‘Thanks also to our choregi, our sponsors: the King of Cyprus spared no expense in financing the sets and . . . just one last thing,’ he added. ‘There is news from the Persian front. I will inform you of everything this evening after the audience.’ Then he left to organize the prize-giving ceremony.
    The judges, among whom were some Athenian guests who had been nominated out of courtesy, retired to the council chamber before reaching their decisions: the prize for best stage set went to Alcestis, while best leading actor went to Athenodorus for his interpretation of the Queen of Argos with a female mask and a falsetto voice.
    The King was disappointed, but he sought to hide the fact and then courteously applauded the winner.
    ‘Don’t fret about it,’ said Eumenes, ‘they’ve given him the prize for his fairy voice.’
    ‘If I know Alexander then this will not help the Athenian government’s petitions at the audience this evening,’ Ptolemy whispered to Seleucus.
    ‘No, but even without this decision of theirs they wouldn’t really have much hope: King Agis of Sparta is attacking our garrisons and it’s best to nip in the bud any temptation the Athenians might feel.’
    Seleucus had read the situation well – when the moment came the King received the Athenian ambassadors and listened carefully to their requests.
    ‘Our city has been loyal,’ began the leader of the delegation, a senior member of the assembly with many years of experience, ‘we have supported you throughout your conquest of Ionia and we have kept the sea free of pirates, guaranteeing your communications with Macedonia. We therefore ask you to release the Athenian prisoners who fell into your hands at the Granicus. Their families are anxious to embrace them once more, the city is ready to welcome them. It is true that they acted unwisely, but they did so in good faith and they have paid for their mistake.’
    The King exchanged rapid glances with Seleucus and Ptolemy, then he replied, ‘In my heart I want to satisfy your request, but the time is still not ripe for us to put the past to one side. I will release five hundred men drawn by lots or chosen by you. The others will remain with me as prisoners for some time to come.’
    The leader of the Athenian delegation did not make any attempt to discuss the matter; he was well aware of the nature of Alexander and swallowed the bitter taste in his mouth as he withdrew. He knew that the King never went back on any of his decisions, especially where anything connected with politics and strategy was concerned.
    As soon as the delegates had left, all the