believe.”
“The guilt of the Areopagus is obvious, whether my father had a hand in it or not. All that’s lacking is the proof.” He stopped his pacing once more, this time by the window, and looked down into his courtyard. He was silhouetted by the light streaming in.
I said, “Then the answer is for someone to find out who killed Ephialtes.”
“I think you must be right.”
“But keep in mind, the answer might not be as certain as you think, Pericles.”
Pericles waved his hand in dismissal. “I’m not worried about that. Now, be silent for a moment, I must think about this.”
Pericles remained silent for such a long time that I became uncomfortable. I’d begun to wonder if I should take my leave when he turned to me and said, “You seem a remarkably logical man, Nicolaos, especially for one so young. How old are you?”
“Twenty. I’ve just finished ephebe training.” Every young man, when he reaches eighteen, is required to spend two years in a training unit in the army. After that, he is expected to volunteer for service whenever the state needs him.
Something in my tone must have alerted Pericles, because he laughed humorlessly. “Ah, and did you enjoy it?”
“I did well enough.” I was careful to keep my voice and face expressionless.
In fact, I was relieved to be done with it, but it would never do to complain. I hadn’t minded too much the rough lifestyle, the deliberate starvation, and the punishments-the sergeants do that to toughen us-but I found having to be part of a squad claustrophobic. I preferred to rely only on myself.
Pericles studied me critically. “Yes, you have that starved, weathered look. Don’t worry, everyone’s like that when they finish training.”
Two years in the army had left me thin, and my normal light olive skin was dark where the armor didn’t cover me, especially my face and arms. I’d already been well muscled when I’d joined-working with my father from an early age had seen to that-but the army had taught me combat, with only a few small scars to show for my pains. I’d decided to follow the latest fashion among the young men and shaved my beard. I’d thought it would enhance my looks, but instead, where the beard had been, my skin was noticeably lighter than the rest. Now I was spending a lot of time out of doors to even the color.
“What are your plans now?” Pericles asked.
I was as free as any citizen. Free to be a young man in Athens, and free also to consider my future. I knew what I wanted, but had no idea how to achieve it. I wondered what Pericles would say if I told him I wanted his position.
“I have no particular plans.”
Pericles nodded approval. “I noticed back at the Rock of the Areopagus you didn’t panic and you didn’t run away. Instead you stayed calm, kept your head about you, and dealt with the situation as you thought best. That would be remarkable in a man twice your age. For one as young as you, it’s astonishing. I like that. I want you to investigate this crime. Find out what really happened.”
“Me?” I couldn’t believe he meant it.
“You. Athens is poised between the powerful old oligarchs, led by the Areopagus, and the Ecclesia, led by Ephialtes until this day. If you can prove he was struck down by the Areopagus, then they’ll be finished as a political force and the democracy will be safe.”
“But…when I said someone should find the killer, I wasn’t talking about myself!”
“I will reward you greatly if you succeed.”
Pericles was the son of an aristocratic family, and therefore wealthy. He could afford whatever sum he had in mind, and I could certainly use the money and, more to the point, I needed the democracy as much as he did. Did I want to investigate this murder? I knew immediately that I did; I was burning with curiosity to know what had happened.
But Pericles had something I wanted more than wealth, only it was something he probably wouldn’t care to give me. Should I ask? I decided not. Why court failure, when already before me was a fine offer he might easily retract? I began to say yes, then stopped, realizing I was being a fool. Here was an opportunity that would never come again. It was up to me whether I grabbed it with both hands, or let it pass by for fear of rejection. I took a deep breath.
“You offer great reward, sir, so I will ask for two things,” I said.
“The first?” Pericles didn’t blink. He’d been expecting me to bargain!
“Sufficient wealth to establish a modest home and a small, steady income.”
Pericles grunted. “No wish to follow in your father’s footsteps, eh?”
“None whatsoever.”
“I accept. The second?”
“You will teach me politics.”
Pericles pulled up short. His eyes widened, and he stood still for the briefest of moments.
“You’re right, Pericles. I don’t want to follow in my father’s footsteps. I want to follow in yours.”
“You surprise me. Are you sure about this? No one can simply become a successful politician, like putting on a hat. It’s the same as any craft, it takes years to learn.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Am I correct in thinking you support the democracy?”
“I’m not going to rise any other way. My father’s a sculptor, he isn’t wealthy like yours.”
“Good, because I’m hardly going to agree to train an opponent. Let me think.”
Pericles folded his arms, and considered me as if I were some horse he might buy. It was lucky I’d chosen to wear my best clothes that morning: a chitoniskos-a little chiton, of the same style as Pericles’, but stopping at the thighs rather than full length-and a small chlamys cloak pinned about my neck. My chitoniskos was new and therefore still white, with a fancy red key pattern about every edge. Pericles probably thought I was of a higher station than I was.
He held his pose for what felt an interminable time, during which I could feel my heart thudding. I looked back at him, attempting to keep my expression neutral and, I have no doubt, failing miserably.
Pericles frowned. “You must learn rhetoric. With your logical mind that should be easy.” He paused. “Your voice. There’s nothing we can do about your voice.”
I clutched my throat. “What’s wrong with my voice?” I asked, alarmed.
“But perhaps it can be trained a little, to remove the roughest edges.”
I relaxed.
“You’re young, of course. The bumptious manner will wear off with time, I hope. You’ll have to learn to fake being calm and confident. Acting is a large part of the skill, but you must learn it without ever being seen on a stage. That would be shameful. No one in their right mind would vote for an actor.”
“I’m willing to learn.”
“You realize I can teach you the basic skills, to whatever degree you can learn them, but in a democracy it’s the will of the people that decides who leads? I cannot guarantee your success as the second price.”
“Of course. I accept your commission.”
We heard commotion from the front of the house, slaves exclaiming, and running feet. Four men burst through the doorway.
“Pericles, Archestratus is saying Ephialtes is dead!” They were so agitated they were almost jumping on the spot.
Pericles waited until they had relaxed a little, then said, “It’s true. I have seen the body.” Before, in speaking to me, there’d been fear and worry in his voice. Now it was pure calm, which I knew for a pose.
“And is it true too, then, what Archestratus is saying, that he was murdered?”
“Yes,” Pericles said quietly.
One man wailed, what would become of the democracy with Ephialtes gone, another shouted revenge against the Areopagus, and the third demanded the men of Athens take arms immediately to defend the democracy. The fourth man thought for a moment, then asked who would lead the democrats now.
“Pericles,” answered the first man, calming down.
