Tomb of the Lost by Julian Noyce Read Free Book Online

could now see why.
    “ The rot goes all the way to the top of the apple.”
    “ I beg your pardon Caesar,” Pothinus asked.
    “ Nothing. I was just muttering under my breath. The crowd seems hostile. I think I’m beginning to see why.”
    The Roman stepped over to the heavily armed man and looked into the liquid blue eyes.
    “ General Achillas is it?”
    “ Yes Caesar.”
    Caesar had heard of this mans prowess.
    “ Your soldiery is legendary in Rome.”
    Achillas nodded slowly, greatly honoured.
    “ Thank you Caesar.”
    Julius guessed they were about the same age.
    “ Then tell me. General to General. Man to man. Where is the queen?”
    “ She is not here. It is as the Lord chamberlain said. She was unhappy so she left. She intends to raise an army and return here to take, as she put it, ’what is rightfully hers’.”
    “ Left or was driven out.”
    Their eyes met. Caesar could tell the General was an honest man. He held the Roman’s stare easily.
    “ She left.”
    “ Thank you.”
    Caesar whirled on the others.
    “ Very well. I accept what the General has just told me at face value. I’m sorry to doubt you but these are foul times and suspicions arise. Now I have another pressing problem. The whereabouts of my son-in-law, the General Gnaeus Pompeius. Tell me where he is.”
    Ptolemy nodded at Pothinus. It was a pre-arranged signal between them. The Eunuch came forward and held his arm out, his hand in a fist. Caesar recognised the gesture and held his own hand out, but open, the palm up. Pothinus opened his hand and something fell into Caesar’s palm. Caesar turned it over. It was a large, man’s ring. On its face a lion bearing a sword.
    “ Pompey’s ring,” Caesar said turning it over, studying it.
    “ Correct,” Pothinus said. He clicked his fingers at two guards standing away from the party. Between them was a plain terracotta pot covered with a towel. They brought it forward and set it down in front of Pothinus. One of them pulled the towel aside and reached in and took something out.
    Caesar’s bodyguards drew their swords and jumped into action completely surrounding him.
    “ Protect the General,” Dolabella ordered.
    The Egyptian guards now took up positions. Caesar raised his hand to his men.
    “ At ease.”
    From behind him Marcellus said.
    “ Pompey the great.”
    Though spoken quietly everyone heard it.
    Julius Caesar looked at the severed head being held before him. The eyes were open. Eyes he recognised. Eyes he knew. His hand had in-advertantly strayed to his sword hilt and he felt his fingers tighten around it. Achillas saw and without moving he readied himself for the Roman’s attack if it came.
    Caesar’s face had gone red but he managed to remain calm.
    “ Who did this?” he asked finally “Achillas did you do this?”
    “ Like you said Caesar. Man to man. Generals don’t kill Generals.”
    The Roman stared at him again. But as before Achillas held his gaze. Finally Caesar turned back to the severed head. He half bowed to it and the Egyptian holding it put it back into the pot and replaced the towel. A sudden gust of wind suddenly blew up. The large Roman sails crackled as they filled out. Caesar’s robe whirled about his expensive boots.
    “ Are you not pleased Caesar?” Ptolemy asked.
    “ Pleased?”
    “ With the gift. My advisors said you would be pleased with the gift. Is this not your hated enemy?”
    “ Hated? No. Friend. Yes.”
    “ But they said….” Ptolemy spoke in a high pitched voice looking at each of his advisors in turn.
    “ Caesar has had something of a shock. It is not everyday that you receive your enemy’s head so readily. Now I’m sure my King that Caesar will excuse us. He will no doubt wish to leave for Rome straight away and leave us to our own problems.”
    Julius was still staring at the jar. He looked up into Pothinus’ eyes, then up at
    the sky. The breeze was still tugging at his cloak.
    “ I won’t be returning to Rome just