renews his soul.'
The rustle of feathers and systrum ceased. Everyone in the chamber was silent.
Si-Amun slowly toppled from his stool to the pavilion floor. His feathered headdress fell from his face revealing his shaven scalp and features streamed with beads of sweat. His mouth was drooling spittle while his hands quivered finely by his side.
'Is your Oracle alright?' Suetonius asked Kenamun as Surisca tried to help raise the ageing man from the beaten earth floor. He was reviving from his drug trance.
'He puts his all into it,' was Kenamun's simple answer. Suetonius delivered a small gold coin from his purse into Si-Amun's sweaty palm.
'Well, what do we make of that?' Clarus asked when the four had departed the Egyptian pavilions. 'It was quite a show. Did you get a full record, Strabon?'
The scribe nodded.
'What do you think he was telling us?' Suetonius queried. 'Was it all nonsense, or was there some truth to it? Surisca, what do you think, you know the ways of these people?'
'I know very little of the Amazigh tongue of the desert barbarians,' she responded, 'but I've picked up some words and phrases from clients of the Libyan Desert. Their unusual language and bloodline are found in many places across the African provinces.'
'And, so?' Suetonius queried.
'I don't think the priest Kenamun was translating the Oracle's words at all. I think he was imposing his own views upon the Oracle's pronouncements.'
'You mean he deceived us?'
'No, not at all,' Surisca explained. 'I think he was giving us his inside knowledge of what may have occurred, but disguised as the Oracle's insights. In fact, perhaps he was giving us a view he would be afraid to communicate directly. Perhaps he knows more than he tells? Or else he aims to deflect our investigation away from Pachrates towards other suspects.'
'How so?'
'The oracle talked of stalking wolves and a she wolf. What or who are these wolves? Where are they?' she queried. 'Is this a deception, or is it code for some group among your travelers?'
'Kenamun told us earlier he wondered at the absence of blood in Antinous's veins. He said the fellow did not die by drowning, he died of blood loss despite being found beneath the Nile. Yet the Oracle's words spoke of a she wolf drinking his blood? Of a wolf's sword exacting revenge? Where is this bizarre wolf pack? There are no wolves in Egypt,' Clarus was evidently as perturbed as anyone.
'He tells us to identify the She Wolf. A female. How do we identify this beast?' Suetonius asked rhetorically. 'We have to ask those who mixed with the youth. We have to ask Lysias, Julianus, Geta, Arrian. Is Thais the She Wolf? Is that possible? But Thais is no wolf creature, I am sure!'
Surisca submitted some thoughts.
'The women in the dead youth's circle appear to be few in number. There is Thais, yes, but there is also the woman Balbilla.. there is the empress, the Augusta… there is the priestess Anna Perenna. Is there anyone else? Is one of these the She Wolf? If so, which?'
A few moments elapsed. They then responded in unison with a single name.
'Anna Perenna.'
CHAPTER 29
'Welcome back, even if so late at night,' Secretary Vestinus offered politely through sleepish eyes. 'You realize it is now two hours before dawn?!'
'It's two hours before dawn and we've not been to bed!' Clarus snapped.
'The entire Household will soon start to come to life to meet Caesar's summons,' Vestinus said. 'He's called everyone of quality to assemble an hour before dawn. No excuses.'
A muted cornu sounded as troops calling the hour echoed from watch to watch.
'We need to see Geta the Dacian. We have something important to discuss with the fellow. Can you have someone summon him here?' Clarus enquired.
'Better. I'll do it myself. While you wait you should freshen up and take some nourishment. You will need to, good people, because Caesar's project today could be a lengthy one,' the dour Ab Epistulis advised. He clapped hands for service.
Slaves escorted the three males to a washhouse to attend to their toilet, while Surisca was led by a serving girl to a separate women's chamber to spruce.
Suetonius and Surisca were the first to return to Vestinus's courtyard. They now exuded fragrant oils announcing refreshed cleanliness. They were greeted by a table spread with edibles beneath the dancing light of flaming torches burning into the night sky.
'Surisca, my dear, it seems how for the third occasion on two days and nights I am not to partake of your charms and arts, whether I like it or not?' the Special Inspector lamented. 'Another night has passed and I am no closer to the promise of your sensuality than anytime earlier.'
Surisca affected a demure manner with her face downcast in shame.
'Master, it has not been my purpose to deny you your purchased pleasures. Have I been remiss in this? Should I return your fee to you? You have been so patient.'
'No, no, my dear. It's just the way things have turned out. And I assure you, you have more than earned your fee with your perceptions about aspects of our enquiry. Perhaps with interest!'
'You flatter me, master,' she offered modestly.
'When this imbroglio has passed, Surisca my dear, and hopefully before Caesar demands my head be removed, I hope to reward you in a more worthwhile way for your endeavors with us here. I wish to assist you to pursue your chosen future for your contribution to our searches. Tell me, my dear, what is your greatest desire for the future?'
The Syrian hetaera was smitten silent for a few moments. No one had ever before asked her such a generous-minded question. No one was interested. Except perhaps one single person, she recalled. She stumbled her honest reply.
'I think, master, I wish to leave my trade before I am too old to attract custom or am afflicted with a deadly pox. I hope to devote myself instead to creating beauty aids and perfumes for market. I already know the crafts of their manufacture; but I need the capital to buy the necessary tools and time to create sufficient stock and to rent a suitable trading shop. I have monies stored away securely, but it is only half the sum I am likely to require. You see, I have thought through this matter well during many long nights satisfying a client's pleasures.'
Clarus and Strabon returned to the courtyard.
'What about marriage? A husband? A family?' Suetonius continued. 'Does this appeal to you?'
Surisca grew clouded in her response.
'Very few men seek the companionship of women of my profession, my lord. My trade breaks trust. Though there are those who wish to live off the earnings of such as I. But here in the East a woman loses her wealth when she falls under a husband's aegis. I have worked far too hard and long for my wealth to be so easily acquired by another. I've heard it said women at Rome possess greater freedom of property ownership in retaining their wealth in marriage? Is this so, master?'
Clarus intruded on this pragmatic conversation.
'Where are we with our investigation?' he demanded. 'What have we learned? In an hour we join Caesar's assembly, and we're likely to have few opportunities to interview others after his ceremony. So we're back to: Why did Antinous die? And: was it an accident, suicide, or murder?'
'Well, what do you think yourself, Septicius?' Suetonius asked.
'I don't really know. It's very complicated and I sense we're missing something essential. Two days and nights is insufficient time.'
'But, cui bono? Who benefits from the death?' Suetonius probed.
