Thirty priests stood in a line to greet us as we rode down the dusty path, and they prostrated themselves. ‘Welcome, Alexander, Son of Zeus, to the oracle of Amon,’ said the head priest, when he’d raised himself from the ground and brushed off his robes.
‘Ptolemy must have sent a messenger ahead,’ I declared.
Alexander nudged his camel with his whip, and the elegant beast knelt down. Alexander hopped off lightly. ‘How did you know I was coming?’ Then he added, ‘Hadn’t you heard I was dead?’
‘The oracle said you would arrive,’ the priest said. ‘And we did hear the rumours, yes. Apparently they are false.’
Alexander flushed, something his skin did easily. However, it wasn’t to be confused with a blush of shyness. He flushed with pride or pleasure. Any emotion could change the colour of his skin. Now his eyes glittered with something I didn’t recognize. He turned away from the head priest and helped me descend from my camel. I hated when it pitched forward and backward as it knelt down. Even Cleopatra squealed loudly.
‘I’ve got you,’ I said to her reassuringly. Then I was in Alexander’s strong arms with my feet on the sand. ‘And I’ve got you,’ he said.
‘Where do we go from here?’ I asked.
‘I don’t think you will be admitted.’
‘Baloney,’ I said hotly.
‘I have no idea what you just said, but if it’s anything like ‘holy shit’, I think you should be ashamed of yourself. You’re in a sacred sanctuary here.’
I looked at him sternly. ‘Baloney is not a bad word. It’s a kind of meat and also a bunch of nonsense. It means I don’t believe that I can’t consult the oracle. Tell them I’m a goddess’s daughter.’
Alexander made a choking noise.
‘What’s the matter with you?’
‘It just doesn’t seem right. You drag your identity out and only use it when you need it.’
‘I’m tired of being a second-class citizen. Women have just as much right as men to …’
‘Fine, fine. I’ll tell them. Let’s not get into another argument about what men and women can and cannot do.’ He spoke to the head priest, and the man, after dubiously consulting his colleagues, shrugged. ‘You will be allowed into the adyton, which is a restricted area. It is a great honour, but you have to take off your clothes,’ Alexander translated for me.
‘Oh, really?’ My voice turned icy. ‘Or is that a rule made up just for me because I’m a woman?’
‘No,’ Alexander spoke hastily. ‘Everyone takes off their clothes. And we bathe in the sacred spring before going to the Temple of the Question.’
I was mollified. ‘All right. I believe you.’
‘I thought you never wanted to see another oracle?’ Alexander asked me.
‘This is an Egyptian one. I know nothing about their gods. It’s going to be very educational.’
Alexander continued to look doubtful, but we handed Cleopatra to Brazza and walked up the stone stairs together.
Once at the top, I turned to see the view. The oasis stretched its green arms around us, keeping the desert at bay. The edges were lost to view – it was a two-day ride in any direction to reach the desert sands. Mountains surrounded the oasis like a gold setting holding an emerald. It was breathtaking.
The priests motioned us toward the doorway. I took Alexander’s hand in mine, then we disappeared into the gloomy darkness of the temple. The hallway ended in a stone courtyard. There, a spring bubbled out of the ground and flowed into a large square basin. The pool had been cut out of solid black stone. There were no benches, flowerpots, or anything decorative. It was stark. On one wall, wooden pegs were driven into the mud daub. Alexander took off his short linen tunic and hung it on a peg, then jumped in the pool. The water was waist deep.
‘Come on in,’ he called to me, ‘the water’s fine.’
I took off my tunic, hesitating a second before shrugging off my home-made underwear. Then I stepped into the pool and gasped. The water was like ice.
Alexander grinned widely, then sat down, ducking completely underwater. He came up again, shaking water off his hair, letting his breath out with a ‘whoosh!’
I shivered but did the same, closing my eyes as I sank beneath the dark water. When I got out, I felt refreshed.
We padded barefoot down another hallway before coming to an antechamber. This one was lit by a lamp, and benches lined one wall.
‘Wait here,’ Alexander told me. ‘I’ll go first.’
‘Fine.’
He disappeared through a doorway. I looked around. There was nothing to see or hear, so I sat on the bench and leaned back against the wall. I was in the middle of a bored yawn when I turned and met the faintly disapproving stare of the head priest.
He motioned me through an open door. I found myself in small chamber. There was a torch flickering on one wall, but no windows. I wondered what I should do. Did I speak first? Did I wait for the oracle to speak? As I stood there, undecided, smoke from the torch billowed outwards and a choking cloud surrounded me.
I stepped backward, waving my arms. That’s when the voice spoke.
‘Hello again, Ice Queen.’
I froze. It was the same deep voice I’d heard twice before, in two different places. For a minute, I panicked. I tried to find the door, but the smoke was thick.
‘Aren’t you going to ask me a question?’ The voice was softer now. I hesitated. It sounded almost human.
I coughed. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘That’s your question?’ Amusement coloured the words.
‘All right.’ I sighed. I might as well get used to it – I was being followed by Apollo, even here in the deep desert. I thought for a minute, then asked, ‘Will my daughter Cleopatra marry Ptolemy’s son?’
‘That’s a good question. The Ptolemys’ reign shall begin with a Cleopatra and end with one; how’s that for an answer?’ The voice was sly, deep, and mysterious. The perfect oracle voice.
‘Cleopatra is a common name. You didn’t answer anything.’
‘Oracles rarely do. That way, we're never wrong.’
‘You told me I’d return to my own time, but I didn’t. I saved Alexander and I didn’t go back.’
‘I said you would go back to your own time?’
‘Yes, you did.’
‘No, I said you would have the choice to return.’
I thought of the terrible yearning I’d felt when I’d seen the blue magnetic field, that urge to throw myself into it and go back to my own time. ‘I didn’t go back.’
‘I can see that,’ the voice said dryly. ‘And now you are here with the king.’
‘He says he has lost his soul; is that true?’
Silence. I craned my head, trying to see past the haze and the flickering torchlight. Smoke swirled lazily in the air.
‘Are you still here?’ I asked.
‘I’m here. I think I’ll answer you.’
‘Where is Alexander’s soul?’
‘He hasn’t lost it. It has been stolen. To find it you must go to the land of the Eaters of the Dead.’
I shivered. ‘Where do they live?’
‘In the land where the sun never rises or never sets. Your ancestors are waiting for you, O Queen of Frost and Ice.’
I stared into the smoke. ‘Will I speak with you again?’ I asked.
‘Perchance. I like speaking to you. Do you remember everything I told you when we first met?’
‘I think so.’
‘Be sure you forget nothing, child. Or else the search for Alexander’s soul will be in vain. Beware of two things: the sickle moon and the Thief of Souls. He is very powerful. I can say no more than this.’
I wondered what a ‘thief of souls’ was, but when I asked, I was met by silence. I sighed. ‘All right, don’t bother. I suppose I’ll find out. I would like to know one more thing though.’
‘Ask. Perhaps I will answer.’
‘I always wondered why you decided to help the Trojans? In Th
e Iliad it says you were on their side.’
‘I liked Hector,’ said the voice, a smile in it now. ‘And I thought Achilles was an ass for sulking so much.’
‘Well, you certainly showed him,’ I said.
‘I did, didn’t I?’ He chuckled softly.
‘ So why did you forsake them in the end? They loved you, they believed in you and in your power to help them. So why did you let them down?’ I asked.
There was a long silence. I thought perhaps he wouldn’t answer me, but at last he sighed. ‘I suppose that we gods always forsake you mortals in the end,’ he said sadly. ‘We love you, but we love ourselves more. Do you know what your namesake is called?’
‘My namesake?’ I was startled. ‘No, I don’t.’
‘Persephone the Terrible. All men fear her, the cold bride of Hades. You must learn her chants – the Chants to Persephone – Child of the Future.’
‘I’m not a child,’ I said, ‘I’m nearly thirty.’
‘And I’m nearly thirty centuries. To me you’re just a whisper, a faint breeze that stirs my hair, the trilling of a bird at dawn, a leaf that moves on the tree.’ The voice was fading away, growing steadily fainter. ‘Learn the chants. Tell Iskander to give his shield to his son.’
The smoke swirled and disappeared, leaving a smell like dry leaves in its wake. The torch flared and a warm glow filled the room. A thumping noise sounded above my head, and a man spoke.
‘Ask your questions, my daughter.’
I frowned. ‘Your voice has changed,’ I said. ‘Are you still there, Apollo?’
He said, ‘Er…I am but the messenger. I will hear your question now and pass it on to the oracle. Only three questions, mind you.’
I thought for a moment. What other questions could I ask? ‘Will Alexander and I have any troubles in Africa?’ I asked.
There was a pause. ‘Is that all?’
‘Yes.’ I frowned. I should have prepared a list.
‘Very well, I will transmit your message. You may leave now.’ A door opened and I saw a glimmer of sunlight. I followed the hallway to the courtyard, and I saw Alexander standing in the sacred pool again. I was feeling warm so I jumped back into the water. It was just as cold as before, taking my breath away. I rinsed the smoke out of my hair and felt much better. Afterwards we dressed, and a servant led us to another antechamber.
‘What questions did you ask?’ Alexander turned to me, his eyebrows raised.
‘Well, it was more of a conversation. I chatted with him for a while. I asked him if Cleopatra would marry Ptolemy’s son.’
Alexander looked flabbergasted. ‘You talked to the oracle?’
‘You’ll never believe this, but I spoke to Apollo again. He seems to be following us around. He said that we had to go to the land where the sun never sets and never rises to find your soul. Isn’t that strange? Then a different voice came from the ceiling and asked for another question, so I asked …’
‘Wait a minute, two voices? But, there’s only one messenger.’ He shook his head.
‘It wasn’t a messenger, it was Apollo. I asked him why he sided with the Trojans, and he said it was because he liked Hector and he thought Achilles was an ass.’ I said smugly. ‘Oh, and he said something about a soul thief, my learning Persephone’s chants, and that you should give your shield to your son.’
Alexander was leaning toward me, an expression of disbelief on his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
A knock sounded on the door and a very old man entered. Alexander sprang to his feet and bowed.
The old man greeted Alexander as Son of Amon, King of Egypt. Then he bowed to me and called me Daughter of Demeter, and he held out two scraps of papyrus with some hieroglyphics on them. ‘Here are your answers, O Mighty Ones.’
‘Thank you.’ I said, taking my papyrus and looking at it. I turned it upside down and sideways, but I had no training in reading hieroglyphics. ‘Can you translate these?’ I asked the priest.
‘Certainly.’ The priest first took Alexander’s papyrus. ‘“Will I go to the land of the wild elephants?” Answer, “You will go, but not until you’ve found what you are seeking.” Question, “Where will I find my soul?” Answer, “In the land of the never setting sun.” Question, “Will I live to be an old pan?” Answer, “You are not a pan, how can you grow old as one?”.’
‘I didn’t say “pan”, I said “man”,’ said Alexander.
‘The messenger is hard of hearing,’ said the old priest. ‘Two out of three questions isn’t bad.’
I gave him my papyrus and he cleared his throat. ‘Question, “Will Iskander and I have ant troubles in Africa?” Answer, “Definitely. There are many ants in Africa and some are quite dangerous. Beware of ants in Africa.”.’
‘I didn’t ask about ant troubles, I said, any troubles!’ ‘Well, now you know that you’ll have troubles with ants. I would consider your question answered.’ The old priest shrugged.
I took the papyrus back. ‘Thank you.’
‘It was my pleasure.’ The priest bowed, and we bowed back, all of us bobbing until he finally backed out the door. Alexander tossed his papyrus into the brazier’s flame. I did the same. Supposedly, you couldn’t take your answer out of the temple.
‘Ant problems.’ I shook my head. ‘If I had known he was deaf I would have spoken louder.’
Alexander put his arm around my shoulders. ‘What do we do now?’
‘We find your soul.’
‘Do you have an idea where it could be?’
I spoke hesitantly. I had no clear idea what Northern Europe was like in 300 BC. ‘The land where the sun never sets or never rises is near the Arctic Circle.’ I tried to imagine the journey in my head. ‘Our best bet would be to take a boat to Marseille, and then go up the Rhône River as far as we can. Then across land to Paris and, if Nearchus wants, we’ll take a boat again at Calais and go up the coast.’
‘Nearchus will be glad about the boat part.’
‘The voyage will be long. We’ll be gone for months. I believe the best thing would be to leave the children with Usse and Chirpa in Alexandria,’ I said.
‘I agree,’ said Alexander. ‘We have to be careful. I’ve heard stories about the Eaters of the Dead.’
I was so startled I jumped. ‘Eaters of the Dead? You’ve heard of them?’
‘Yes, why? Ashley! You’re so pale!’
I took a deep breath. I’d had a fright. ‘That’s where Apollo said your soul was.’
Now it was Alexander’s turn to lose a few shades of colour. ‘Are you sure?’
‘I’m not deaf yet.’ I clung to his arm.
‘The Eaters of the Dead.’ Alexander shivered. ‘I don’t like the sound of that. Especially since I’m supposed to be dead myself.’
Chapter Six
We decided we would take a boat to Marseille and then plan the rest of our trip. Even in the year 323 BC, Marseille was known as a busy port, and we were sure of getting information about the north of France, or Gaul, as they called it then. We could join up with merchants, and that would be even safer.
We left one windy December day with Nearchus, Axiom, and Millis. Axiom wouldn’t let Alexander go anywhere without him, Millis wouldn’t leave me, and Nearchus was thrilled to be going on a sea voyage to the great unknown. I was miserable to be leaving my children. Cleopatra was only five months old, but she had been weaned, and Brazza, Chirpa and Usse would take care of her. Cleopatra was too little to understand, but I knew that she would be a toddler when I next saw her. I was devastated, although part of me was reassured as I watched her tuck her head under Brazza’s chin and fall asleep in his arms. She would be well loved.
Paul had been upset when I’d told him he had to stay behind, because I’d promised never to leave him again. I tried to tell him that he would be happy in the house, and that Plexis would buy him a pony of his own, but he still begged to accompany us.
Plexis stayed behind as well. He had business to attend
to and would make sure everyone was well cared for.
I didn’t know whom I was going to miss more; Cleopatra my sweet daughter, my precious boys, or Plexis.
As the boat sailed away, Alexander and I stood on the deck and waved. Plexis stood on the dock, seeing us off, with Chiron by his side.
Paul was nowhere to be seen. He had been begging to come with us so much that Alexander had lost his temper and yelled at him. Paul had never been yelled at in his life, I think, and it had crushed him. I tried to comfort him, but his pride had been hurt, and he wouldn’t speak to me. I cried as the boat left the dock, but Alexander told me not to worry.
‘Paul will be fine, he’s a big boy now.’
‘I hope you’re right; I feel dreadful leaving him like this.’
‘We’ll be back in less than a year. You can bring him loads of presents and he’ll get your letters, never fear.’
I nodded, my hair whipping around my face. I waved until I couldn’t see Plexis and Chiron any more then went to sit down on the deck and leaned against the mast. The boat creaked and the wind whistled in the sails. The water made a wonderful whooshing sound as it flowed by, and Alexander leaned over the rail and was sick.
‘I miss everyone so much,’ I said. It was our fourth day at sea and we’d entered the deep currents now. Dolphins leapt at the bow.
‘I do too. It seems so strange not to have Brazza and Plexis around. I keep expecting them to show up.’
I looked around the boat. ‘Me too, but most of all I miss my children. It’s awful. Every time I think of Cleopatra I want to cry. I hope that Chiron is behaving and not making too much mischief for everyone. And I wish I could see Paul. I wanted to speak to him before we left. He wouldn’t even talk to me. I’m so worried about him.’ I sniffed loudly.
‘Don’t worry, Mother, I’m right here!’
I spun around, gaping. Paul popped his head out of a hatch. His blond hair was tousled and his eyes were as bright as his father’s when he’d accomplished a particularly difficult feat.
‘Wha … wha … what are you doing here?’ I managed to gasp.
‘Paul!’ Alexander lifted his son out of the hatch. ‘What are you doing here? Answer me, boy!’
Chants to Persephone: The Future of the World Hangs on a Knife's Edge - and Only a Human Sacrifice Can Save It Page 4
