"Which means," said Theophrastos, "that our assassin was 'ired by 'Arpalos to make way with you. Now why should he do that? I remember 'ow you escaped him, but that's not enough to make him send murderers after you."
"I also reported his misdeeds to Alexander," I said. "I suppose Harpalos heard of this, perhaps through his brother Philippos in India."
Theophrastos said: "It's a shame the fellow is such a scoundrel; 'e really knows something of botany. I've 'ad letters from him about the plants of the East."
"Well," said I, "in any case, my guardian spirit tells me I'd better get along home to Thessalia, ere worse befall. Next time he'll hire a whole gang of ready-for-aughts to screed me."
"Methinks you need not leave so precipitately," said Aristoteles. "We'll take the matter up with the magistrates. Harpalos is unlikely to try another attempt soon. Besides, I haven't finished my notes on the animals of Persia and India."
As Aristoteles seemed to me only a little lower than Zeus himself, I let him talk me into staying on against my better judgment. Looking back, it now seems as though he cared little what became of me or anybody else so long as he collected his scientific data.
I reported the attack to the Board of Eleven, but the magistrates only raised their eyebrows and spoke of the rise of crime that resulted from having so many foreigners in the city. The president of the board said:
"After all, man of Thessalia, nobody knows who your attacker is, and this Harpalos person is out of our jurisdiction. But most important, you are not even a citizen, are you?"
"Nay; I'm a citizen of the Thessalian Federation, and thus a subject of King Alexander."
"Then are you registered as a resident alien?"
"Nay."
"How long have you been in Athens?"
"Since last Thargelion."
"Oh dear me! Then you are liable to arrest, imprisonment, and a fine."
"Say you so?" said I, rising. "What for, fellow?"
"You should have registered and paid the alien tax long ago!"
"Bugger that talk! I'm an officer of King Alexander, at present on inactive duty, but still carried on his rolls. I have a letter at my landlord's house to prove it. So it were better not to speak of imprisonment."
"Oh well, that's different, blessed one. Nevertheless you cannot bring suit save through a patron."
"How does one acquire a patron?"
"Go to the Thessalian consul. He can either act as your patron or find you somebody who will."
So I went to the consul. "Yes," said Epikerdes, "I could act as your patron. It would cost you money, though. The Thessalian assembly doesn't pay me for this, and I'm entitled to a return for time spent representing foreigners."
"How much?"
"Let's say a hundred drachmai as a retainer. Then there'll be your alien registration fee of twelve drachmai, and legal work will of course be more."
I gulped and said: "I'll let you know." I suspected that the consul knew of my discharge bonus and hoped to dig his claws into it.
I went back to Aristoteles, who said: "I fear you waste your time, Leon. What this individual doesn't extract from you, Demosthenes and the other speech writers will."
"Can these Scythian archers do nought?"
"You can try their commander, but I doubt if it will help. Lie's responsible only to the Board of Eleven, and the slave watchmen are good only for patrolling the streets at night and keeping order at meetings and festivals. You'd have to apprehend your attacker yourself."
"An he's still in Attika, I'll find him!"
"Ah, but he's probably far from Attika by now. Even if you caught him, you would still have to prosecute him, and that's no light matter. Nothing is less predictable than an Athenian board of judges. They're nought but common men, chosen by lot, and as stupid and capricious as such people normally are. You'd better abandon this chase, old boy, but go armed henceforth."
Elisas returned to Athens with a pile of Egyptian wares from his voyage. He came to me, purring with success, carrying a bag and a wicker basket with a lid. I asked him for news.
"Very good journey," he said. "Made good profits and paid off Dareios and Pamphylios. We were chased by a pirate ship off Crete, but a warship frightened the pirate away."
"Did you see the pyramids?"
"No, I had no time for sight-seeing—"
The basket gave a sudden yowl. "What in Hera's name have you in there, man?" I asked.
"You leave soon for Thessalia, yes?"
"As things are going, I may. But the basket—"
"When I was in Egypt, I thought, my old friend Leon will want some nice gifts for his family. So I bring some things. Very reasonable prices; hardly any profit to me. Here in the basket is an Egyptian cat, for your mother."
He brought out the animal, which I could see was a high-bred pussy. These creatures are popular with the Athenians, who say they catch mice, but the only cats we have in Thessalia are the wild kind.
"And here are bracelets and other jewelry for the ladies of your house; a fancy walking stick for your father ..."
"Elisas, you'll be the death of me!" I reached over to pat the cat, which scratched the back of my hand and drew blood.
"Pheu! Off goes half the price of this villainous beast," I said. "Now let's get down to prices."
In the end, he got nearly a hundred drachmai from me. He probably swindled me on some items; but, if he had not come around with these goods just then, I should never have thought to buy home-coming presents at all.
A few days later, our calm was shattered again by the news that Harpalos was back. He had arrived at Peiraieus with two triremes and demanded admission as a suppliant.
Aristoteles excused his classes to go down to Peiraieus to see the sight. It was a cool, windy morning, and the wharves of Peiraieus were crowded. Philokles had lowered the chain to let the ship bearing the treasurer into the Kantharos. The ship anchored a plethron from shore, Harpalos on the forecastle. A plain brown cloak flapped about his gross body as he spoke slowly, gasping and wheezing with the effort of making himself heard by thousands.
"Athenians!" he bellowed. "Men of the violet-crowned city, star in the crown of Hellas! Behold me, a poor suppliant, a fugitive from the wrath of the terrible Alexander! Ah—the Macedonian monster is now marching westward, covered with gore from his Eastern conquests. All who have tried to protect the rights of the conquered are slain without mercy, Hellenes and foreigner alike! The small degree of freedom that Alexander has left you will not long remain you, do you not halt this all-depraved blood drinker ere he reach your holy city. Now comes the great, perhaps the last chance for Hellas to throw off the barbarous Macedonian yoke. Remain supine, and—ah—you will be ground into the mire; rise, and all Asia, now groaning under Alexander's despotism, will rise with you!
"Ah—join me ere it be too late! Though a fugitive, I am no beggar. I bring—ah—material help. Eight thousand stout soldiers, thirty warships, and five thousand talents' worth of money!"
He spoke for two hours, then went back to his cabin. The Athenians dispersed, chattering like magpies. The prytaneis called a special assembly for the next day. On my way to the Lykeion next morn, I heard their trumpets winding in all the towns of Attika.
At the school, Aristoteles looked sharply at Vardanas and me and spoke one word: "Pack!"
"Will they vote to let that scoundrel in?"
"Perhaps. You'd better be ready in any cathe. Once he's in, his bribes will range the magistrates against you, no matter what violence he undertakes."
"Can I attend the assembly?"
"No; not even I may attend, not being a citizen. I'll send Pyrraios to the entrance. As soon as the vote is tallied, he'll athertain from the Scythians how it went and run to your house with the news."