Iron Winter

Arnuwanda studied her warily. ‘I know you, Aunt. When I was a boy you played tougher games with me than my father did, and he was a seasoned soldier. I still have the scars. . You have a plan, don’t you? Something bold, something outrageous-’

‘Something you would never have thought of, that’s for sure. Or my much-lamented husband. But it’s actually a plan brought to me by another. General?’

Himuili looked embarrassed for once, as the eyes of the elevated company turned to him, and Kassu understood for the first time why he had been summoned back from the Simoeis. ‘It’s my plan, of sorts. It’s this. New Hattusa is becoming increasingly unviable.’

‘Yes, yes,’ Arnuwanda said. ‘So?’

‘So we move.’

‘We?’

‘All of us. Like the Rus. The whole population.’

That made jaws drop, including Kassu’s.

‘I’m the city’s Hazannu,’ said Tiwatapara. ‘And I can tell you now that the population won’t stand for it. To wander around the countryside like booty people? No, sir — not Hatti!’

But now Palla discreetly stepped forward. ‘If I may. .’

‘Go on, priest,’ Himuili said, before anybody could shut him up.

‘There may be a way to persuade them.’ He glanced at Angulli, his superior. ‘Of course, there is the historical precedent; the Hatti capital has moved before, a thousand years ago. And under the wise guidance of the Father of the Churches, I have been considering theological precursors also. Remember that Jesus Himself was once booty; He was transported across Anatolia to Old Hattusa, after the Judean uprising.’

‘Ah,’ Hastayar said. ‘And it did Him no harm in the end, did it? Now He can lead us all on a new journey, into the sunlight. The people may not follow me, but they will certainly follow Jesus.’ She nodded at Himuili. ‘You’ve found a smart young man in that one, General.’

Arnuwanda demanded, ‘And, if we move — where, in the name of Teshub?’

Hastayar regarded her nephew slyly ‘Where would you suggest, Prince?’

‘We have a whole empire, much of which is south of New Hattusa. I suppose anywhere to the south would be preferable.’

‘And if we went beyond the empire?’

Arnuwanda goggled, clearly out of his depth. ‘Beyond?’

‘Egypt,’ Angulli said. ‘What about Egypt? We could go to the grain, rather than have the grain come to us. We could live in the sun on the banks of their great river, whose waters, as you know, never fail, even in the worst drought.’

Himuili nodded. ‘Egypt is the key, I agree with you there. But even if we succeeded in taking it from the Muslims we would be vulnerable to attack from the rest of their domains, which are pretty extensive as you know, sir. And there would be the Carthaginians to deal with, who want the grain for themselves. We would step off the boat and immediately be under attack on two fronts, east and west, which is a poor deal militarily. Sir.’

‘Then where, man? Don’t drag it out. Where?’

Himuili deferred to Hastayar.

And she said: ‘Carthage. We go to Carthage. All of us, every Hatti who can walk or ride or swim. We fight a monumental war, and we drive those pagan camel-traders out of their own city, and we establish a new kingdom in the name of Jesus Sharruma. And then we take Egypt at our leisure.’

Arnuwanda said, ‘And the empire?’

‘The whole of the empire,’ Hastayar said coldly, ‘will serve as a buffer between the new capital and whatever savagery comes out of the freezing north, while we make our escape.’

There was a stunned silence.

‘It’s insane,’ blurted Tiwatapara.

‘It’s magnificent!’ cried Angulli, and he half-stood and raised his cup. ‘More wine, boy. I say, more wine! For tomorrow we will be warming our feet in the smoking ruins of Carthage itself.’ And, overcome, he fell back, tipping over his chair. Guards rushed to his aid, and the gathering broke up in confusion.

21

While the chaos inside the pavilion was sorted out, Kassu waited outside, in snow that was gathering despite the efforts of frantically sweeping slaves.

At last Himuili came striding out, blowing on his hands. ‘Shut up,’ he said, before Kassu could say a word. ‘Listen to me, soldier. You asked for my advice. Far be it for me to lecture you on the state of your marriage. My two previous wives will assure you I’m no expert on that. I’ll tell you this, though. Our laws on marriage here in Hattusa, and our customs too, are pretty civilised, at least compared to some shitholes I’ve fought in. The Germans, for instance — well, never mind. Civilised — you know what that means, man? Liberal. Practical. Fair to all parties.

‘Having said that, and I consulted a lawyer friend, I can tell you this. You do have a right to prosecute your wife and her lover for their adultery. If you can gather the evidence, and since they both seem to be admitting it that won’t be a problem, you’ll secure a conviction. And then you’ll be able to request the sentence.’ He said this last heavily, emphasising every word. ‘For that is the way we Hatti do things. And you know what the maximum is, don’t you? Tell me, man.’

‘Death. For either of them-’

‘Shut up. No. Not for either. For both. Both or neither, and that’s the law. If you want to punish your wife for spreading her legs for this Jesus-chaser — well, that’s up to you, but he goes with her. If you want to take revenge on him — fine, that’s your choice. But you can’t keep her, you lose her too. Understood? Good. Shut up.

‘Now here’s the next thing.’ He moved subtly closer to Kassu; he smelled of leather, woodsmoke, the expensive wine he’d been drinking with the queen. ‘Here’s why I’m bothering to speak to the likes of you on such a day as this. No matter what you may think of Palla, and I tend to agree with you that he’s a horny little bastard who needs his arse kicking, I dragged your sorry weight along with us today because I wanted you to see what he can do. Do you understand?

‘First of all there was the Rus. I can tell you this, it’s Palla who’s been the leader among the priests in our dealings with them. He’s worth ten of that flabby drunken fool Angulli. And then this business of the great walk. As soon as I floated the idea, he was immediately able to come up with the analogy with Jesus. He’s a sharp man, for all his mild looks — a man who knows how to use his religion for the good. I think he could be priceless in the months, the years to come. But you have his life in your hands, and he knows it.

‘I understand how you feel. Well, I don’t, it’s never happened to me. You want him dead. And you know what — I want him dead, in a way. Cheating on a serving soldier is despicable. But look, Kassu, you’ve done your duty in the past. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. Not just in the lines, but taking on your farm too. If we had a thousand like you maybe we wouldn’t have to move at all. Now I’m asking you to think about your duty again, before you decide what to do about the priest.’ He stepped back. ‘All right? Good man.’ He clapped Kassu on the shoulder, and turned to walk back to the pavilion.

Kassu had to ask one question. ‘Sir — will the walk happen? Will we leave Hattusa? Has it been decided?’

Himuili looked back at him. ‘Ah. If we don’t have to walk you’ll be free to get the priest topped. Is that what you’re thinking? We resolved to wait until the spring. If it looks like a good season, we’ll stay and make the best of it. If it’s bad. .’ He grinned. ‘I suppose Palla will be praying to Jesus for the snow. Now get on with it.’

‘Thank you, sir-’

‘Shut up.’