‘You’re already that. And you can’t even contemplate turning back; the only possible way to survive this is to go forward and claim a victory, claim Memphis and defeat Ptolemy.’
‘Yes, but how?’
‘Quickly.’
‘That is not helpful.’
But Perdikkas was surprised by the speed with which the solution presented itself for, knowing that retreat was suicide, he had no option but to press on that night up the Pelusiac Nile towards Memphis. It’s what Alexander would’ve done; speed, always speed. Ptolemy won’t expect me to go south. Let’s see what the new dawn brings me.
‘It’s an island,’ Peithon confirmed as the rising sun revealed a new stretch of the river, ‘right in the middle of the channel, large enough for the whole army to camp on.’
Seleukos threw a stick out into the river and watched it float away, gaining speed as it drifted further from the bank. ‘The current is much stronger here than downstream, but we can cross in two stages.’
Perdikkas looked to the north. ‘There’s no sign of Ptolemy, we’ve given him the slip; let’s do this as quickly as possible. Antigenes, take your lads over first and check for a good crossing on the other side. I’ll follow with the rest of the army.’
In they went, the first units of the Silver Shields, in up to their necks. Bracing themselves against the swifter current – for it was but a league to where the Nile had branched into its narrower delta streams, increasing the pressure of the flow – the veterans of many a river crossing struggled to reach the island, a few being carried away, their equipment taking them to the bottom.
‘Send the elephants across to form a barrier a hundred paces upstream,’ Perdikkas ordered Seleukos as the rest of the army formed into column, ‘it’ll stem the current whilst Peithon and I lead the rest over.’
Seleukos looked dubious. ‘Is that wise? They’re heavy beasts; they’re not horses.’
‘Just do it!’
Seleukos shrugged and sauntered away, in no hurry to obey the order.
Taking his place at the head of the column, Perdikkas strode into the river, keeping his gaze to the north. Still no sign of Ptolemy; we’re really going to do this.
More units followed as the Silver Shields completed the first stage of the crossing to the island. Just to the south, the elephants waded in, spanning the river to the island and breaking the pace of the current. But big beasts cause big effects and it was as Perdikkas was approaching halfway that the size of the elephant effect became clear: in the middle of the river, where the deepest point of the ford was neck-high, there came a swirling of dark-brown, silt-laden water; it churned through the lines of men and then the screaming started. Under they went to burst back up, gasping for air as the silt, dislodged by the elephants, washed away downstream, scraping the river bottom as it flowed, loosening the deposited mud and gouging it away so that Perdikkas felt his foot sink into what had been a solid bed and then lose contact with the bottom completely; what had been neck-deep now became a deadly depth. Panic spread as all those with their heads still above the water either pushed on to the island or turned to return to the bank; but the silt weighed heavy in the river and the force of the current increased.
Down Perdikkas was dragged, the heavy water tugging at his clothes; he struck out with his arms and pulled himself back to the surface, breaking it with huge gasps, spluttering the water from his mouth. Seeing the crossing now in chaos, he turned, grim with despair, and pushed for the shore, fighting the current that had just recently been manageable and now had become so forceful that even a footing on the riverbed was no guarantee of survival. Scores and then hundreds were swept away, arms flailing as they shrieked and gasped for breath. Their comrades on the bank and on the island looked on in horror for their distress had attracted a new threat, a more bitter death, as splashing and slithering with monstrous ease through churning waters came the crocodiles of the Nile intent on feeding upon the bounty she now bestowed.
Past a thrashing beast Perdikkas swam, grateful that it was not him being dragged under by ripping teeth to be drowned and eaten, not necessarily in that order, as the brown water thickened with blood. Panic rose within him, repressing the despair, as more of the knobbled-backed beasts appeared, mouths yawning open then snapping shut and tails whipping them through the water. Pulling hard with his arms, Perdikkas soon found the shallower reaches and, gaining a footing, kicked himself forward, scrambling for the bank. Strong hands hauled him from the river and he collapsed, flat on the ground, breathing hard and letting his panic subside; and as it did, so did the despair return, for, in front of all, he had once again blundered.
‘There’s Ptolemy,’ Peithon said, sitting down next to Perdikkas. ‘He’s arrived just in time to see you waste the lives of your men. And, frankly, after what you did to me, I haven’t any sympathy for you.’
Perdikkas looked up to see Peithon sneering at him. He opened his mouth to reply and then shut it, realising that there was no defence that would acquit him of being profligate with his men, the evidence was all around him, screaming as limbs were chewed away, struggling in swirling water or just floating, face down, the worst now over.
‘Still, at least Ptolemy has some respect,’ Peithon observed, ‘he’s already sending parties to collect the dead washed up on his shore.’
Bright did the pyres burn, well into the evening, for there was much fuel to feed them and their stench tormented Perdikkas as he sat, drinking in his tent alone, for he had summoned none of his officers such was his humiliation.
‘I demand to be allowed in!’ Roxanna shrieked at the guards outside. ‘How dare you impede a queen?’
‘You’re no queen,’ Adea shouted. ‘I’m the queen and I demand to see Perdikkas; I demand that we return to civilization; the king is being made to look stupid with defeat after defeat.’
‘That fool is no king,’ Roxanna hissed, ‘and you are no queen. I demand to be let in.’
‘No one is to be admitted,’ the guard captain said, for such were his orders as Perdikkas could face no one.
‘Then I stay here until he comes out.’
‘And I stay too!’
Perdikkas’ head slumped forward into his hands, a ghost of a smile on his lips. How ironic that such a disaster should unite the two bitterest enemies. Let them wait. He downed his cup and then poured it brim-full, contemplating Alexander’s ring on his forefinger as he did so. Curse you for giving it to me, Alexander; curse you for not naming me; curse you for cursing me with the epithet ‘the Half-chosen’.
SELEUKOS,
THE BULL-ELEPHANT
‘HUNDREDS, MAYBE EVEN thousands, of good lads, Macedonian lads, drowned and eaten; that’s a death that I would only wish on the worst of my enemies.’ Seleukos gazed into the glow of the oil-lamp as its flame fluttered in the gentle breeze blowing through the open flaps of his tent; he shook his head in disbelief and then looked at his two companions. ‘And for what? Perdikkas’ ambition? An ambition that far outpaces his ability; I warned him the elephants were too heavy, but did he listen? Does he ever listen?’ He bunched his fist and slammed it down on the camp table; the oil-lamp and half-full jug of wine flew into the air as the fragile construction splintered beneath the weight of the blow. ‘We’re all at fault here for letting it get this far so that brother fights brother; can we afford to let it go further?’ But I’m not going to be the first person to suggest what we must do; let Antigenes or Peithon do that. I will not be the one who suggests murder. Seleukos studied his two companions as they sat, heads bowed, staring at the contents of their cups; from outside came raised voices in heated argument. From the sounds of it the lads are feeling the same way as I do; they should be easy to convince. And then…well then Babylon will be within my grasp. I’m so close now; just a little more patience.
And patience was what Seleukos had been practising ever since Alexander’s death; for, although he was not one of his seven bodyguards, he was a man of military prowess as well as men
tal and physical consequence. In short, he knew that as those over him fell then he would surely rise. Leonnatus had gone and now Perdikkas was about to join him; the gaps above him were opening.
‘Over four hundred of my Silver Shields died today,’ Antigenes said, his voice laden with gloom, his cup almost empty. ‘Four hundred! They’ve stood against Greeks, Persians, Bactrians, Sogdians, Indians, the lot; and yet they died either at the hands of fellow Macedonians or through the incompetence of their commander.’
Time for a little false caution. ‘Perdikkas still retains the authority of the ring, even though he himself is no Alexander.’
‘As he proved by taking elephants into the river against your advice,’ Antigenes said, not taking his eyes off the cup in his hands. ‘But a ring doesn’t make a man great nor does it give him authority; it’s making quick decisions that men trust because they believe in his grasp of strategy and tactics that give him that, not jewellery; there’s a big difference.’
‘And where were the boats?’ Peithon thundered. ‘Boats are what you need to cross a river, not elephants.’
Well, if that has penetrated even Peithon’s mind then it must really be obvious to all; one more defence of Perdikkas and then I’ll let myself be convinced. ‘Ptolemy blockaded the river so Attalus couldn’t bring the fleet through to us.’
‘But we knew we had to cross the Nile,’ Antigenes stressed, ‘and yet we brought no small boats with us. Would the supreme tactician, Alexander, have made that mistake?’
Seleukos smiled with regret. ‘If he had have done he would have made rafts like we did crossing the Hydaspes.’
‘And that is the difference,’ Peithon growled before draining his cup.
Good, it seems that we have established that; now to get them to come up with the solution.
‘Gentlemen.’
Seleukos turned his head to the entrance, whence the voice came; a figure stood in silhouette. ‘Arrhidaeus?’
‘Yes, Seleukos; I’ve come with a message from Ptolemy.’
Arrhidaeus sat back once he had finished talking and a silence fell within the tent as the significance of the message was contemplated; outside the mounting anger of a defeated force grew.
Seleukos glanced at Antigenes and Peithon, neither would meet his eye. It would seem that it’s down to me to reply. ‘So Ptolemy will keep Alexander’s body and in return for that he will give Perdikkas absolutely nothing; is that what you’re saying, Arrhidaeus?’
Arrhidaeus inclined his head. ‘Perdikkas is in no position to demand anything from Ptolemy; Ptolemy is showing restraint by not calling upon his fleet to transport his army over the river and forcing a pitch-battle, Macedonian against Macedonian. He wishes me to say that today he killed an old comrade with whom he had shared many a wineskin by the fire and he does not wish to repeat the experience. It was not him that instigated the fighting; he was just doing the gods’ work by bringing Alexander to Egypt. Perdikkas’ attack on him was an act of impiety.’
Seleukos choked back a laugh. ‘Let’s skip the religious nonsense, Arrhidaeus. We all know that Ptolemy’s dream was very convenient for him politically; just as Perdikkas taking Alexander back to Macedon would have been for him. So, in pragmatic terms, what we’re saying is that Ptolemy has Alexander and no one can take him back so let us stop the fighting before we reach a point of no return and all go back to our satrapies and leave each other in peace. Is that it?’
‘Very nicely put; yes.’
And the only sensible thing to do; with one little refinement: we won’t all be going back. ‘And if Perdikkas won’t agree to this when we put it to him?’
‘Then Perdikkas is the only obstacle to peace.’
Finally, it’s been said. ‘And Ptolemy would sanction the removal of that obstacle?’
‘Ptolemy wishes only for no more Macedonian blood to be spilled; to that end he’s waiting across the river for my signal to sail across and talk peace with whoever is in command.’ The eyebrow he raised was arched and knowing.
Seleukos looked again at his two comrades; this time they both met his eye and gave a brief nod. He turned back to Arrhidaeus. ‘Very well. Signal Ptolemy to come over; I guarantee his safety. When he arrives he will be able to talk peace.’
‘Will he be able to address the army?’
Seleukos glanced again at Peithon and Antigenes; neither showed any objection. ‘I don’t see why not.’
‘Good.’ Arrhidaeus rose. ‘I’m pleased we have an understanding, gentlemen; Ptolemy will be here very soon.’ With a curt nod of the head he strode from the tent.
‘I think we can all see where our duty lies,’ Seleukos said after a few moments of reflection; he patted his sword and got to his feet. ‘We’d best go and see if Perdikkas understands his.’
It was through an atmosphere bordering on rage that they walked towards Perdikkas’ tent at the centre of the camp and it took all the efforts of their escort to keep them moving such was the men’s desire to bring their grievances to their commanders.
‘This will be resolved very soon,’ Seleukos called as they walked. ‘Let us pass; we are going to speak to Perdikkas on your behalf.’
The crowd thickened the closer they got to Perdikkas’ tent; guards struggled to keep a perimeter, forming a wall with their shields. Shrill voices pierced the raucous, masculine hubbub; at the front of the crowd clamouring for admission to Perdikkas’ tent, Adea and Roxanne railed at the guards. United in a loss of dignity; that’s a true indication of just how bad things have got in the Royal Army, if those two see common cause.
‘Seleukos! We need to talk.’
Seleukos turned to see Kassandros pushing through the crowd to him; he signalled to his escort to let him through. ‘So, you found Babylon too hot at this time of year, did you?’
Kassandros smiled, with all the charm of a rabid dog, and looked up at him. ‘I slipped away as soon as I could; if Perdikkas thought that I would stay there waiting for the assassin’s knife then he is sadly deluded.’
‘That, I think, is something that we can all agree upon. So what are you doing here?’
‘I’ve come from my father; he suggests that we all sit down around the table and talk.’
‘Ptolemy has just suggested the same thing.’
‘Then hopefully Perdikkas will see sense. Neoptolemus has joined our forces and he and Krateros have gone east to deal with Eumenes. My father is heading south and Krateros will follow once Eumenes has been defeated.’
‘Is there any news as to how that campaign is going?’
Kassandros shrugged. ‘There was nothing when I left four days ago; but it’ll only be a matter of time before Krateros corners the Greek and either persuades him to surrender or crushes him; his army is twice the size.’
‘And he is Krateros,’ Seleukos added. ‘Stay here; whoever comes out of that tent will be willing to sit down with your father and Ptolemy.’
‘He suggests the Royal Hunting Parks known as The Three Paradises in the hills north of Tyros; the cool breezes might do us all good.’
Seleukos squeezed Kassandros’ shoulder. ‘I pray that they will.’ He turned and walked towards the officer commanding the guard.
‘No one is to be admitted,’ the man said with finality.
‘You will make an exception for us. We don’t want any more unnecessary deaths today, do we?’
The man looked down at Seleukos’ hand gripping the hilt of his sword and easing it out a thumb’s breadth. ‘But my orders—’
‘Are inappropriate; the army’s on the verge of mutiny and the commander-in-chief has locked himself away and refuses to speak to anyone. Stand aside.’
With another glance down to Seleukos’ sword hand and then up at the resolute face towering above him, the man stepped aside; Seleukos pushed the tent flaps aside.
PERDIKKAS,
THE HALF-CHOSEN
FEMALE SHRIEKS JERKED Perdikkas back from introspection; the tent flaps were pushed aside.
&nbs
p; Perdikkas stood as Seleukos, Peithon and Antigenes barged past the guards who scrambled to stop Roxanna and Adea from following them in. ‘I said I didn’t want to be disturbed.’
Seleukos’ smile did not reach his eyes. ‘Yes, another inappropriate order; you must be getting fed up with issuing them.’
‘What do you want?’
‘Kassandros has just arrived in the camp.’
‘Kassandros, but he’s—’
‘Supposed to be in Babylon, I know. But he ran to his father as soon as you were out of the way, as you surely knew he would.’
Perdikkas frowned, confused.
‘Oh, so you thought he would do as you said and hold himself as a hostage in Babylon. And I thought that you were being clever by giving him a chance to escape and not having another reason for war between you and Antipatros. Silly me, when you were just being your normal stupid self. Anyway, he’s here on behalf of his father who suggests that we should sit down and talk before things get even worse.’
Perdikkas squared up to his second-in-command. ‘Antipatros has got Eumenes and Neoptolemus at his back; he can’t come south and therefore is in no position to dictate terms.’
‘Wrong. Neoptolemus has defected, just like Kleitos did and has now joined Krateros to crush Eumenes. Antipatros is free to come south and he and Ptolemy could crush us between them. Is that what you want? More Macedonian blood on your hands?’
Perdikkas looked from Seleukos to Antigenes to Peithon, dumbstruck, touching the ring on his forefinger. They really do believe that I am responsible for all this; me, the holder of Alexander’s ring. It’s those who disobeyed me that have brought this about, not me.
‘It’s over, Perdikkas!’ Seleukos snapped. ‘Ptolemy has also sent a message and is now crossing the river in a boat!’ He took a couple of steps forward. ‘Fancy that, Perdikkas, a boat; why didn’t we bring boats with us? Anyway, he wants to talk too.’
‘What about? I’ve nothing to say to him until he gives me back Alexander’s body.’
Alexander's Legacy: To The Strongest Page 40
