IT IS DARK under the trees along Elephant Row. Colossus moves his trunk along the ground as he catches Gajendra’s scent. He rubs the top of his trunk, feeds him some apples. The elephants sleep only a couple of hours a night. Like me, Gajendra thinks. But with them it’s just the way they are.
They are restless tonight, they have set up an incessant rumbling. It’s as if they know.
‘Tomorrow is our day,’ he whispers. ‘You have to be brave and strong. If we win tomorrow Alexander will make us the heart of his army. His Elephantarch will be even more important to him than the captains of his cavalry. He will build his strategies around us.’ He feels the rough skin quiver under his touch.
A sound behind him. He turns, a knife in his hand. Mara lets out a little gasp as the needle point draws a small trickle of blood from the soft white flesh of her neck. ‘It’s me,’ she murmurs.
He pulls her away. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I was looking for you.’
‘Why?’
‘I wanted to talk to you.’ She slides her hand down his arm. ‘I saw her today.’
‘The most beautiful girl in the world. She was with the other women, they were taking them to the rear so they would be safe. I saw her with Nearchus. That is the one, isn’t it?’
‘Yes.’
‘You will excuse me but to me she appears a little… bovine.’
‘Perhaps it’s just her eyes, then. There is no light in them. Have you not noticed? She will go where she is led, that one. Believe me, I have known many girls like it, I can sniff them a mile away. You should be bored with her in a week.’
‘I could spend the rest of my life loving her.’
‘Have you ever spoken to her? Apart from the negotiation about money, I mean.’
‘Why?’
‘You are young, Gajendra. Have you ever had a woman you haven’t paid for?’
‘Plenty.’
‘Well.’ She smiles. ‘I think we both know that’s a big lie.’ She takes his hand and slides it around her waist. ‘Catharo told me what you have done for us.’
‘Is this my reward for saving you?’
‘It would have made more sense to offer this before you found us the horses, if you think about it.’
‘Yesterday I kissed you and you pushed me away.’
She is tugging at her hair again, he imagines she must have had luxuriant curls once, for it is a persistent habit of hers. ‘Ravi told me what happened to you.’
‘Ravi? He has a big mouth.’
‘He loves you. He cares about you. Why didn’t you tell me?’
‘So you could feel sorry for me?’
‘I let you feel sorry for me.’
‘You tried. I didn’t take up the invitation.’
She puts a hand on his chest. Above them the leaves rustle in the wind. The moon trails a filigree of black clouds.
‘Why are you doing this?’ He can feel her breath on his neck.
‘You said to me that I should let go of the past in order to have a future.’
‘But I may be dead tomorrow.’
‘Then I should let go of the future, too, in order to have a past. If you die I should always regret not taking this moment.’
‘What about your husband?’
‘He was a good man, he would not want me to stop loving. I was punishing him, you know.’
‘Punishing him?’
‘I blamed him for dying. I wanted him to see me suffer down here. I imagined him up there with the gods, crying over me.’
She has lifted his shirt and runs her hand along his bronzed skin and finds the nipple. She frowns as if she has never seen such a thing before and then takes it in her mouth. The effect is startling. He gasps and claws at the bark of the tree.
When he catches his breath again, he says, ‘What if he is watching now?’
She shakes her head. ‘He is not watching. I have set him free. It’s what you said to do, isn’t it? It’s what you meant.’
‘Yes,’ he says. ‘It’s what I meant.’
He lies her down.
‘Gajendra,’ she whispers.
Her body coils around him. He is stunned by this first glimpse of her flesh. He had not imagined her so beautiful. Her eyes shine. Who would have imagined such a moment?
He is overcome, wants all of her at once. She grabs him by the shoulders and pushes him away. ‘I am not a door to be battered down. Have you never greased a lock? You tease it, Gajendra. If you are to make a woman a good husband one day I will have to show you.’
‘I am willing to learn,’ he says.
‘Well then. Let us begin the lesson.’
When Mara returns, Catharo is sharpening his knife on a rock. He is stealthy about it; it will not do to have anyone see what he is doing.
‘What are you doing?’ she hisses.
‘Alexander is coming to inspect the elephants tomorrow.’ His face is a study in concentration. He wants it nice and sharp when he slides it between the ribs of a living god.
‘But we’re leaving here tonight.’
‘You are. I’m staying here. Once you’re gone, I’ll be free to ply my trade in peace.’
‘That’s madness. He will be surrounded by his bodyguards.’
‘That didn’t save his father and it won’t save him. I know what I’m about. It’s not the first time I’ve done this.’
‘It’s suicide.’
‘That’s what I said to you but somehow you made it sound reasonable. I am persuaded.’
‘They’ll crucify you for this, Catharo.’
‘I’ll do it and fall on the knife afterwards.’
‘What if you don’t have time?’
‘My life doesn’t count compared to what’s at stake here. Now get some rest. You have a long ride ahead of you.’
For a while she lies there, watching the stars wheel above her; she imagines it is the eyes of the gods, watching.
‘Where were you tonight?’ he says.
‘In the bushes. I was unwell.’
‘You were with the Indian.’
‘Don’t question me, Catharo. You are not my father.’
A noise from him, a grunt of irritation perhaps. She is growing fond of him and does not like to think that this time tomorrow he will be dead. It bothers her more than when she was contemplating her own end.
‘Why did you not do it when you had the chance?’
‘Do what?’
‘That night you were in Alexander’s tent, you had my knife with you, and I suppose now that you took it from me for that purpose.’
‘I found it is not in my nature.’
‘It was in your nature when you thought they were going to kill the Indian. You were handy enough with a blade then.’
‘It is different to do something in cold blood than when you are panicked and there is no time to think about it. If I had not done what I did, Gaji would be dead.’
‘Gaji now? Do you have a pet name for him as well?’
She feels her cheeks burning in the darkness.
‘He reminds me of you,’ he says.
‘Of me?’
‘He’s arrogant, headstrong and young. Sometimes he’s very kind. You might be twins.’
Twins? She hardly thinks so. ‘I may be young but I’m not arrogant.’
He grunts. ‘If you say so, princess.’
You must never give up. No matter what happens, no matter how hard things are, you don’t give up. You never know if there is something just around the corner that will tip the balance back in your favour and give you back your life.
‘Don’t do it, Catharo. Keep your pledge to my father and ride out of here with me tonight as my bodyguard as you promised him you would. Let someone else rid the world of Alexander.’
‘I’ve made up my mind,’ he says to her and will say no more about it.