goddess of waters and moistures prayed, and three days later Asar was reborn, brought back to life. It was a miracle! It is the promise by the gods how the sun will be reborn too after the shortening days of winter. The sun will return and the river will flood another year to bring prosperity to all. He who drowns in the Nile on the day of Asar's death becomes Asar. He is divine. He will be reborn on the third day. It is a miracle!'
Superstition again, Suetonius thought. 'And what about a gift to Mother Nile?' he repeated. Urbicus translated.
'We are told how if the river rises too high the dikes will be destroyed. If it's too low the peasants at the edge of the desert will starve. Then the fellahin will riot. They will have nothing to eat. So the priests will have to throw someone into the river to appease the gods to make it flow as we need. That person becomes Asar. It is a great honor,' Hetu explained with cheery enthusiasm.
'You mean you sacrifice a human to the gods?' Suetonius had to confirm. The fishermen nodded brightly. Clarus spoke at last to one side.
'You see where this might be leading, Suetonius? Antinous dies on the same day as Osiris in the annual Isis festival. He dies in a year when the Nile has not properly performed its annual inundation. It's the second year in a row which threatens famine to many folk. Is there a connection? Don't you think it's a bit too convenient by half?'
'Hmm,' Suetonius murmured. He had one more question to put to the fishermen through Urbicus.
'Was there any other boat on the river so early in the day? Another fisherman perhaps? Or was it still too dark?' he asked as Clarus, Vestinus, and Macedo looked querulously at him. Urbicus again translated Ani's reply.
'Yes, great lord. There was a stranger's boat. It was barely at first light. We know all the fishermen and ferrymen at this place. We know their vessels and their daily habits. We all know everyone here well. Even though it was some distance away, we could see this craft was a different sort of boat to local boats, with strangers onboard.'
'Describe it. Why was it a stranger's boat?'
Urbicus paused as he tried to translate the fisherman's terms.
'It was a strong wooden felucca of quality, sir, well made and costly, not a boat of bundled reeds, tied leathers, or palm fronds.'
'And who would own such a boat at Besa or Hermopolis?' Suetonius asked.
'I did not know either this boat or the two boatmen,' Ani replied. 'It could have been a new boat from Shmun across the river we had not seen before, but I would still know the two crew. Perhaps it was a boat sailed by priests from upstream for The Isia, or a boat belonging to Pharaoh's people,' Ani said.
Urbicus added an aside.
'Shmun is the native name for the city of Hermopolis across the river.'
'Did the boat have any identifying features? Would you recognize it again?' the Special Inspector queried. Urbicus translated the question with careful emphasis.
'Yes. The felucca was painted the color of the sky, and was marked with the ever-watching Eye of Horus at the prow,' Ani responded. Urbicus translated hesitantly. 'The sail had no insignia.'
'I see. Thank you, my good fellows,' Suetonius gestured. 'I think we can let these fellows go home, but we should note how we can locate them if we need them again,' Suetonius suggested to Macedo's dismay.
The security chief looked to Clarus and Vestinus with concern. He was not used to releasing prisoners in his grasp, especially peasants, foreigners, or slaves, without a little rough violence to pass the time of day and impress respect of their betters upon them.
'I think Suetonius is right, Tribune,' Clarus nodded, 'they merely retrieved the body from the river. Release them.'
Macedo reluctantly snapped to attention as Suetonius reached for his belt-purse and found a few small coins to toss to the fishermen.
'Here's something for your day's labors.'
The two fishermen fell avidly upon the trove.
'Urbicus,' Suetonius asked the trooper, 'what do you make of this tale?'
Looking to Macedo for permission to speak, who nodded grudgingly, Urbicus responded.
'I was one of the Praetorians who brought both the body and the two fishermen back to the camp. When we arrived at the river and saw who it was, we were amazed and alarmed. We had all come to know Antinous quite well one way or another over the past few months, and he was well liked.
We carefully drained the body of waters and removed his armors, partly to search his flesh for wounds or other indications of the cause of death. We simply could not understand what Caesar's companion was doing in the river in full parade armor, which is far too heavy in water.
We wondered if he had tried to swim in the river in his regalia for a drunken bet or some other lark. Had he fallen overboard while he risked crossing the river at night in a reed canoe? Had he been attacked and thrown into the river by robbers? There were many unknowns. Especially, we wondered, why he was dressed in his formal uniform on a night when the entire imperial retinue was partying and no parade for Caesar was scheduled anyhow? Also, it seems noone felt compelled to report him missing.'
'What about the incision in his left wrist?' Suetonius asked to test the officer's competence. Urbicus was amazed.
'How did you know about that! You have seen it? We saw it too,' he stammered. 'But we didn't mention it to anyone, because it makes even less sense to us. Why would Antinous have a slit wrist? It raises a prospect which we have no authority to comment upon. It would be idle speculation. We decided such comments must await a proper inspection by Caesar's physician. It implies death by suicide.'
'Centurion Quintus Urbicus, we are the investigating team,' Clarus announced with stentorian authority. 'Would you agree the incision was consistent with Antinous slicing his wrist with his own weapon?'
'As an accident or as an act of suicide, my lord?' Urbicus daringly responded.
'Whatever, soldier,' the senator snapped.
'There may be many ways someone might slice their left wrist, accidental or not.'
'There is a problem with that proposal, Clarus,' Vestinus interrupted. 'To my knowledge Antinous was by nature left handed. He dressed his weapons at his right hip for left-hand use. If he was to slash a wrist in suicide, I guess it would more likely be his right wrist, not his left wrist, he would slice. Make of that what you will, gentlemen.'
Suetonius, Clarus, and Macedo, looked to each other. Suetonius considered the situation.
'An accident? A suicide? Some sort of assault? Each is one possibility among several. There must surely be other options yet to be detected? But who should be next to interview who may offer fresh insight? Who will possess sufficient understanding of Antinous's circumstances to throw light on this mystery?'
'I think, gentlemen,' Clarus called, 'it is time to visit the inner sanctum of the deceased himself, to see for ourselves.'
'His living quarters?' Suetonius asked.
'Yes. I visited his apartments in this tent complex when we were camped at Arsinoe a few weeks ago. The general layout of the camp remain similar. Follow me, I think I can find his section!'
Macedo and his Praetorians including Urbicus stalled behind.
'We will attend to releasing the prisoners, as you request,' the Tribune muttered grudgingly.
'I too will return to my duties,' Vestinus excused himself. 'But remember, your time is fast elapsing, gentlemen,'.
'Follow me then, those who remain,' Clarus proclaimed.
CHAPTER 5
Senator Clarus led Suetonius and the scribe Strabon through a maze of tented passages in the labyrinthine complex. They passed Horse Guard or Praetorian sentries posted at intervals who simply nodded knowing recognition as they passed. Familiar faces wearing togas are sufficient password for some.
