Читать книгу The Tortoise in Asia - Tony Grey - Страница 8

Orodes II, divine ruler of Parthia, king of Kings, Brother of the Sun and Moon, hasn’t arrived yet. In the congress hall of his grand summer palace in the Zagros foothills, long-robed nobles and priests stand in little groups nervously chatting, awaiting the royal presence. Scouts are reporting the Roman army is at the Euphrates – a full scale invasion by the mightiest force in the world is under way and there’s no strategy. Normality has changed overnight.

Torches in sooty brackets on the walls extract blackness from the dark, leaving a dim visibility. Usually the gloomy light enhances the majesty of the marble hall but today it doesn’t; foreboding lurks in the corners like jackals in the night and impending catastrophe infects the air.

Four densely bearded soldiers with pikes and round shields stand rigid at the tall bronze – studded doors, massive enough to withstand a siege. Soft bonnets cover their long black hair which is tied in knots on top of their foreheads. The style looks like a battering ram. Outside, a huge stone lion reminds all who come of the glorious time when Cyrus the Great forged the Medes and Persians into the largest empire the world had known. These days the Parthians, of raw and lusty origin on the eastern steppes, are in power, having absorbed the cultivated ways of Persian civilization, or mostly so.

A priest separates himself from the little group of fellow clerics to shuffle over to where some nobles have gathered, and corners one he knows.

“My Lord Santruk, have you heard what’s going on? What’s the latest news? I’ve never seen people so worried. Everybody’s talking about it at the Temple. We’ve got to mount a national resistance and do it fast.”

“The situation’s really bad Your Holiness. The Romans have a daunting army – tens of thousand of troops I hear. They’ve never lost a battle in our part of the world. Remember Pompey? Meanwhile we’re bogged down in Seleucia. That rebellious brother of the King is dividing us just at the wrong time. I don’t know what we can do.”

“No defeatist talk my Lord.”

“No sense putting our heads under a pillow.”

The priest frowns and clasps his hands.

“This is a national emergency for goodness sake. Not the right time to be negative. At times like this that sort of talk doesn’t do any good, just drains courage. Besides, if we appeal to Ahura Mazda, he’ll save us.”

“We need strong leadership in this world Your Holiness. Will the King give it?”

By now the hall is in uproar, everybody talking without listening and milling around, too agitated to stand still. Priests are loudly advocating warlike action, nobles trying to draw courage from their faith. Ahura Mazda is on everybody’s lips. Nobody agrees on anything except the need for divine intervention. In the midst of it all, a sudden hush quells the chaos.

The Great King appears at the entrance. He’s silhouetted against a brooding sky, sunlight struggling uncertainly with lumps of stygian clouds. He looks supernatural in the gloom, a threatening figure who can harness the power of nature at will. The fear of the moment is heightened by his dark presence which seems not only backed by the sky but invested with its might.

Wearing a half moon crown encrusted with rubies and emeralds, a star of diamonds on each side, Orodes stands in gravitas. After a moment, he proceeds slowly over the tribal carpets that lead to a dais of polished wood which supports his throne. It’s made of lapis lazuli mined in the mountains of Bactria on the eastern border, worth more than gold. The blue mineral, with flecks like tiny stars, speaks of a sacred link to the life force of the sky.

The arms and legs are clad in gold leaf and lush, silk cushions soften the opulent stone. A window, cut high in the white marble wall, lets through a shaft of light when the sun breaks through the clouds, touching the royal seat like a celestial wand.

As the monarch passes by, the courtiers drop down progressively, like grass in a meadow bent by the wind, prostrating on the floor in his direction. He approaches the throne, and gravely turning, takes his seat, slave boys arranging his robes around his feet.

The Supreme Magus in turn sits on his high-backed wooden chair, intricately carved with symbols only the initiated would understand. He’s lower down, off the dais. His tall conical hat points heavenward and the star – patterned shawl over his black and silver gown bespeaks astrological wisdom for which Zoroastrians are famous. A large gold clasp that gathers it indicates he’s not entirely devoted to the ethereal.

Rising slowly, the rest of the assembly stands mute on either side of the carpet pathway.

The majestic solemnity of the occasion is somewhat blighted by the unimpressive figure of the King, now seen without his background, although no one would dare say it. Instead of a grand personage which many of his predecessors were, he’s a pouty-lipped, podgy little man with a peevish voice, saved from insignificance only by his sumptuous robes. Everyone knows, however, he can be very cunning where his personal interests are involved, and vindictive, suddenly lashing out at an offender without warning and always with an exaggerated sense of slight. Prison, or worse, can be the consequence. The reaction he engenders is not respect, certainly not love, but caution.

“My Lords, you are gathered here with ourselves to consider the threat to our sacred homeland. We are informed that the Romans are at our frontier.

“Why isn’t the Commander in Chief present? We’ve had to delay this conference for several days waiting for him. His emissary gave assurances he would be here by now and he hasn’t come. We can’t be kept waiting like this. It’s so annoying.”

As he slaps an over-fed hand on his thigh, thrusting his head up so violently his crown slips to one side, Surena appears at the doors.

The chief of the Parthian army is the second most powerful man in the realm, of royal lineage too, the one who placed the crown on the head of Orodes when the nobles and priests elected him king. But he’s not the first; so he has to prostrate before the throne. He’s of commanding presence, tall and handsome. Many say he’s like the great Cyrus, whose uncommonly handsome looks alone demanded admiration. His soft, symmetrical face might be envied by women for themselves, except for the tightly sculpted black beard. But his beauty doesn’t bespeak weakness, for he’s a formidable warrior and brilliant tactician. Not at all a man stifled by modesty, his self confidence is so high that it’s said he thinks he can dodge rain drops.

A deadly cruelty lurks beneath his skin, still smooth as he’s just under thirty years of age. Unwilling to quell an arrogance fed full on his achievements, he has a contempt for Orodes which he finds difficult to disguise. In turn, the monarch feels diminished in his presence.

Noting the look of displeasure in the King, he says,

“Noble Sire, I offer as many apologies as I have troops for being late. My reason, which I humbly ask Your Majesty to accept as an excuse, is that I had to stay in south Mesopotamia longer than expected. Your Majesty’s brother put up a stubborn resistance. I have come to Ecbatana as soon as I could.”

Never with an attention span longer than a child’s, the King interrupts.

“Yes, yes. But what success did you have?”

“I am pleased to report that Seleucia and Babylon are in Your Majesty’s hands and I have brought Mithridates here in chains. He is outside. As to be expected, he begs for clemency – remorseful for his foolish rebellion. He promises to be loyal from now on if your Majesty spares his life. The civil war is over Sire; the Kingdom is reunited. We are in a much stronger position now to turn back the Romans.”

Controlled satisfaction spreads over Orodes’ face – he has always hated his brother. Relieved murmurs fill the hall. He says in a reedy voice,

“We’re pleased with your work Commander. Our sad judgement is that Mithridates be put to death. It is not our wish but regrettably it must be done to ensure lasting order in our kingdom”.

Dabbing his eye with a handkerchief, a gesture that produces a nod from the Supreme Magus, he says,

“Though he is my brother, we must sacrifice him for the general good. See to it Surena.”

As the Commander bows his head, a thrill rises up in him, so euphoric it almost overcomes his reason. For a delicious instant he thinks of doing it himself, with a bow string pulled tight around the neck deep into the skin, tongue flopping out as the death rattle begins. But that would be unseemly. Too bad, it’ll have to be left to the professional executioner. He says.

“That is a wise decision Sire, in keeping with the prudence Your Majesty is renowned for. I will carry out the execution without delay.”

“Good, Surena. Now what’s your advice on how we are to deal with the invasion?”

“Sire, while I have confidence we can defeat them, to do it we will need more troops. I humbly request Your Majesty to give me at least another five thousand, more if possible. With them and my secret strategy we will win, throw them back into Syria.”

“What secret strategy?”

“I dare not disclose it Sire, even at this conference.”

“Come closer then and whisper it in our ear.”

He hesitates, momentarily contemplating an excuse, for it’s really too sensitive a matter to disclose to such an unreliable man, even if he is the monarch. However he thinks better of it and complies. Orodes smiles – more a crafty grimace than a smile.

“Very ingenious Surena. But that would only apply if we go to war. Have all opportunities for diplomacy been exhausted? Maybe we could negotiate a treaty. That would be better than chancing our arm. It would avoid the risk of defeat and, besides, save lives.”

The Commander’s face hardens, frustration rising like an attack of heartburn, searing his throat and constricting its air passage. Politeness struggles in his voice.

“Noble Sire, how can we deal with Crassus when he dismisses our emissaries without even a reply? The pig will not negotiate. I assure Your Majesty, the Romans are bent on conquest. It’s their nature.”

“There comes a time when war is the necessary next step in a dispute, and now is such a time. When that point arrives, the enemy senses cowardice in diplomatic overtures. They are emboldened by the contempt they feel when they are tried.”

“I humbly advise that the only response is for Your Majesty to show the same resolve that your illustrious predecessor did years ago when he stopped the wild Hsiung-nu after they pushed into our territory.”

Orodes winces and frowns to cover it up. He doesn’t know much history but he knows that. The insult is clear, all the more as it highlights a weakness that he keeps wrapped in denial. But it would be undignified if not downright risky to argue the point with one so admired for valour, so he lets it pass. Anyway, he feels exhausted by these hard decisions. Why can’t those tiresome Romans just leave him in peace? What has he ever done to deserve this? He’s never fought them, never even threatened them.

He dislikes the unpleasantness of war, has no skill in battle, no interest at all in military strategy. He detests the arduous conditions on campaign, and having to deal with men so much stronger, men he knows will never respect him. Valour is not in his character, just not there. All he wants is a quiet life, self indulgent of course, but what’s the use of being a monarch if he can’t do what he wants? Being soft is not a sin, as long as he doesn’t hurt anyone. Besides, plenty of people are that way. Let the warlike have their hardy ways; there’re enough of them to keep the Kingdom safe. The moral capital the Parthians have built up over years of self denial is enough to allow for a little spending.

To skirt the risk of battle would be the most desirable strategy. But it’s obvious that diplomacy has run its course. What makes matters worse though, is the ascendancy of Surena, a threat even more proximate than the Romans. That ambitious man placed the crown once; he’s sure to want to put it on his own head next time. Having just subdued the rebellion, if he wins a great victory against the invaders his popularity could well shake the throne.

“If it has to be war you have got to make do with the force you have. We need those men you requested for the autumn palace we are building. Why can’t you defeat the Romans with your present strength?”

Surena is aghast. Not even his contempt for Orodes has prepared him for this. With fury bending his brow, he looks down at the floor, then around to the nobles and priests who’re riveted in apprehension. After a silence of half a minute, he says in a stifled, quiet voice, both arms outstretched,

“The Roman force is forty thousand, Sire. We have only ten thousand horse archers in the regular army plus a few thousand from the local satrap. The odds are overwhelming, especially given the reputation of the Roman army.”

A hooded look falls over Orodes. It’s useless to argue with the famous Commander. The plan his old friend and mentor, Versaces, suggested last week should be adopted. A nobleman with no independent power base and in need of royal favour after catastrophic losses on his estate, he can be trusted. Besides, he too is jealous of Surena for having superseded him as head of the army before he was ready to retire. If war’s inevitable, then let Surena fight the Romans and lose.

Before the battle starts he’ll go to Armenia with a second army commanded by Versaces to punish King Artavasdes for helping the Romans. It’ll be an easy campaign and will remove any threat from the north. After his defeat, Artavasdes can be bribed to join forces with Versaces’ army. Then, with Crassus’ army weakened by the battle with Surena, the allies will either defeat the Romans or compel them to leave with threats from a position of strength. Surena can be blamed if he loses and executed. If he wins, another excuse will have to be found, but, given the likelihood of a Roman victory, that may not be necessary. It’s best not to provide more troops.

He’s about to announce this but before he can speak, the Supreme Magus, a white-bearded and pious scholar, whose hard eyes imply that any compassion he might possess is learned and not felt, enters the debate. He owes his office to a profound knowledge of the Avesta text.

“Noble Sire, Ahura Mazda, the one god of the universe, commands us to combat Evil wherever it is found. It is here, now, in our ancestral land. Our holy prophet, Zoroaster, bless his name,” (the assembly mumbles a repetition) “requires constant vigilance in the eternal struggle between Light and Darkness. These Romans, these devils who worship nothing more evolved than images of humans in the sky, come to our country as emissaries of the Evil One. They must be expelled at all costs.

“We cannot endure foreign armies on our sacred soil, especially this one. No loss is too great for us to suffer in expelling them, no horror too cruel; death in this just struggle is a noble sacrifice that Ahura Mazda will reward at the time of judgement.

“The Romans are disrespectful of our culture. They eat our crops and degrade our women. Their air of superiority and intention to dominate the world are an abomination. We must mount a holy war against these people who seek to pollute the purity of our ways. Sire, you must, in the name of the Avesta, give Commander Surena what he asks for.”

As the nobles and priests nod their heads, Orodes shifts on his cushion and grimaces. The only sensible choice is to cave in; not a good time to brook opposition in the Court, especially since Mithridates’ insurrection shows he doesn’t have universal support.

“All right, Surena, you shall have your five thousand. War it is. But see to it that you expel the hated invaders. We are tired of these discussions now; they bore us. You are all dismissed.”

It would have been better if the King had volunteered more troops, but the outcome is acceptable – war will be declared and he has another five thousand men. More fruitless negotiations will be avoided and his hatred of the Romans, greater even than the old priest’s, will be given full rein.

Hatred and its sibling, anger, are a constant in his psyche – flaring up especially whenever that feeble man on the throne comes to mind, when he, eminently more qualified and from a family just as exalted, is relegated to second place. Spiced with cruelty, they’re nourishment for him, generating energy to excel in every competitive action. They justify a sense of entitlement and naturally lead to demands for obedience and hard work from others without any requirement for gratitude.

The feeling keeps him alert, ready to counter threats which can emerge at any time out of the toxic intrigues at Court. People however acknowledge that his patriotism is genuine, drives him to prodigious efforts on behalf of his fellow countrymen. He’s a good man for war, more than good; he’s one of the best generals the Parthians have ever produced. His restless personality suits mobile warfare, his specialty as the Parthians rely on cavalry not infantry. Provoking change and doing the unexpected are as natural to him as galloping is to a horse. And what exhilaration it is to catch the enemy wrong footed. A hungry lion can’t spot and exploit a weakness more mercilessly. He enjoys a respect bordering on adulation from his troops, although nothing approaching affection. He’s more a weapon than a human being.

The King rises suddenly and exits quickly through a door next to the throne, followed by the pages, struggling to keep up. There’s no point being slow about it. What a relief the proceedings are over. He’s ready for a break with his musicians and dancers, particularly that luscious one from the Zagros Mountains. Thankfully, the prospect of carnal pleasures for the rest of the day is enough to erase the distaste of having to deal with that obnoxious general. Some of the strong wine from Shiraz – maybe more than usual today, will help too.

Later he’ll give the order to Versaces to get his troops ready for the Armenian invasion. It’s a good plan, with the sort of deviousness that appeals to him, and ought to deal with the Surena threat, even if the dreadful man has a few more troops. On the way out he feels mellow again, mellow enough to think about what reward he should give Versaces for success. He can be generous when pleased, noted for it. It makes up, at least in part, for the less admirable aspects of his character.

As soon as Orodes departs, the nobles and priests file out of the hall through the massive front doors, calmed down now that a clear and credible strategy has been adopted. The Supreme Magus was good today, a hard man for a spiritual leader but strong in a crisis. The King looked wobbly until he brought religion into it. All have unbounded faith in Surena and his well trained troops, thankful he’s there to save the nation so they don’t have to rely on Orodes. Let the King have his harmless indulgences as long as order is kept under him and a competent military commander does the fighting.

Surena stays behind, not mixing with the others. He wants to be alone for a moment to collect his thoughts. The King’s decision was satisfactory, even though it didn’t go as far as he would like. But what a cretin! He was going to refuse any more troops until the old priest intervened, and for such a frivolous reason – building another palace while the country was being invaded! It was almost impossible to be civil to him. That such a man should be on the throne is a travesty. He himself should be there. The sense of injustice that he isn’t boils his heart, heats an anger that he can’t hold in. At the top of his voice, not caring who might hear, he shouts into the empty hall.

“Why, just because he’s king do I have to ignore his faults, suspend my judgement of his stupidity? Why do I have to extol virtues that don’t exist? No virtues whatever are there, none, none, none.”

He leaves in a foul humour and rides immediately to the army which is encamped outside the city. After calling the senior officers together, he gruffly orders them to incorporate the reinforcements. They’ve seen him in bad moods before so say nothing and merely go off to carry out the command. Secretly he’s already made the selections, counting on getting the authority. Putting the finishing touches on that was the real reason why he was late for the conference.

❧

As soon as the new recruits are equipped, they link up with the main body. Fifteen thousand Parthians plus a few thousand allies begin the march towards Carrhae, a small town several days north east of the Euphrates as it approaches Armenia. It’s not far from the Road. There, he’ll wait for Crassus, for he’s sure the Roman general will continue his march east of the river. He has a plan to make certain of it.

The troops make fast progress since they’re all skilled horsemen, trained to ride on the open grasslands since childhood, hardy and at one with their mounts. There’s no infantry to slow them down. He rides by himself, deep in thought, working out, rejecting, working out again surprises to spring on the enemy. This is the biggest challenge of his career; he must not fail. The whole nation’s survival rests on him, him alone, on his creativity, his ingenuity. To overcome this enemy, with its numerical superiority, he’s got to be unpredictable, even quirky. He’s up to it, no question – never known defeat. This will not be, determinably not be, the first one. Even so, though hard to admit and never to anyone else, the odds are against him.

As he always does for his campaigns, he brings two hundred chariots filled with concubines. Special agents are charged with scouring the Empire for the prettiest. Freshness is assured by continual replacement. The current favourite is Daka, a sloe-eyed beauty from Tabriz

Bringing so many on campaign is an indulgence politely ignored by the Supreme Magus and his entourage of priests which accompanies the army. The sacerdotal presence is required to convince the pious troops that Ahura Mazda is on their side. They need to be reminded that the single god is a far more powerful force than the disparate and often quarrelsome pantheon of the Romans. Besides, just before the battle, the priests will deliver the divine message that sacrifice of life in the name of the one true god will ensure a place in Paradise.

Given the dire circumstances they’re in, the men can use a spiritual lift to animate to the fullest their natural desire to rid their homeland of the foreign infidels. These agents of the Evil One are reputed to be the best soldiers in the world; moreover they’re more numerous. They’ll test the power of Ahura Mazda as never before; it’ll be a primal contest between Light and Dark.

At the end of the day’s march, which accomplished a good part of the distance to Carrhae, he calls Sillaces, his Second in Command, to the headquarters tent.

“Sillaces, here’s the strategy. After we deploy the secret weapon, we’ll hit them with a punch from the cataphracts. The Romans aren’t used to heavy cavalry, probably never seen it before. Then we’ll follow up with the light horse archers.”

“Yes, my Lord. Their manoeuvrability will make up for the enemy’s greater numbers – plus of course your notable tactical skills, especially in territory you know well.”

Surena nods.

“It’s critical though, that we fight on flat and open ground. If our cavalry get bottled up in trees or rough terrain, their infantry will cut us to pieces. In the open space we’ll have the advantage. We must try everything to ensure that.”

“How will we do it my Lord?”

“I’ve got an idea I’m working on. Leave it with me.”

He dismisses Sillaces and calls for Daka to come to his personal tent. He plans dinner with her tonight. The day’s ride has been hard and he’s had a brain-wrenching time working out how to cope with the Romans. He needs a little relaxation. Before long, Daka appears at his sumptuously decorated tent, colourful silks draped from the apex and finely woven carpets covering the ground. A low table is set with a deep-cushioned couch opposite. Sleeping quarters are nearby, discretely closed off with a curtain.

“Hello my dear. Come in. I’ve brought you a present.”

“Oh, what is it my Lord?”

He produces a solid gold pectoral, inlaid with stags fashioned from lapis lazuli, to be worn flat just under the neck.

“Here, I bought it especially for you, as I know you love lapis. It comes from the main market in Seleucia. Remember, we were there for the civil war? I hope you like it. Come, sit down with me.”

“It’s beautiful, the most beautiful necklace I’ve ever seen. You’re really so generous my Lord. I don’t know what to say, except thank you, thank you, thank you.”

She throws her arms around his neck and gives him a long kiss on the lips, and he smiles, for the first time today, the first time for many days. It’s not the thing he normally does. In fact sometimes he looks a touch artificial when he does it. But not tonight.

He feels the cares fall away like a piece of silk slipping from a table as she tells him about her day – the bumpy ride in the chariot, the antics of the horses, the gossip of the other women, the heat, and, best of all her longing to see him. Her voice is beguiling, like a cascading mountain stream, sparkling in the sun.

He calls for wine and drinks with her. He feels comfortable, gruntled, as her open and affectionate attitude begins to penetrate his skin, so hardened by the demands of his character. Dinner comes and goes in a happy haze. She might well do for a bride, but no of course not; he must marry into a noble family.

The night passes in quiet pleasure and he feels refreshed in the morning. It’s just as well for he’ll have to spend the day’s march completing the action plan he’s been forming in his mind. One more day after this and he’ll be close to Carrhae where he expects to meet his adversary.